SMASHING EXPRESS

On March 28th, a turf trial at Conghua over 1200m saw the horse deliberately held back and not fully tested. Four weeks prior, it delivered a strong performance on Sha Tin’s 1600m turf, jumping moderately before settling towards the rear and finishing with fast final sections to secure third place, beaten by two lengths – a respectable showing. One barrier trial was completed but wasn't pushed to its full potential. Another Happy Valley mile trial saw the horse receive a one-pound weight relief; it clocked similar times as its rivals and drew a favorable barrier. The tactics are expected to be holding back for a strong finishing kick, making it a contender in this group. Hugh Bowman takes the reins, with some familiarity of the horse’s capabilities, and trainer/jockey trust is high, suggesting a potential for improvement.