MY WISH

Ten days ago, this horse recorded a trial over 1700m at Happy Valley (6-6-6-1), moving out on the bend and overtaking rivals in the straight. Six weeks ago in a similar race, the performance was below expectations with a slow start and settling towards the rear but maintaining a steady pace, lacking a strong finishing burst. He finished sixth, beaten three lengths. A subsequent trial showed improvement. This time, he carries no additional weight; despite two previous wins over this distance and respectable times within his group, drawing a good barrier provides an opportunity to lead. Based on the horse’s ability, he is currently considered the strongest contender in the race. The jockey change to Alexis Badel is notable as the rider has a good understanding of the horse's temperament, with gate work being performed. However, a weak finishing kick and a potentially unfavorable trainer-jockey relationship suggest a more conservative approach may be needed.