LEAPING STAR

September 24th (Conghua dirt trial 1200m: 3-3-3) showed a strong burst but was not exceptional. October 9th (Conghua dirt trial 1200m: 2-2-4) followed the leaders, but the jockey's ride did not yield a strong run. April 9th (Conghua turf trial 1200m: 7-7-6) competed near the rail with modest changes in performance. This is the horse's early season outing; three weeks ago, he performed poorly over 1800m on Sha Tin dirt, starting slowly and running from the rear with a weakening finish. He suffered a heavy defeat. After three trial runs, there has been slight improvement. In the recent dirt mile run, his time was not particularly outstanding, and his position was somewhat disadvantageous; if he maintains a stalking running style, his late acceleration may not match the competition. The jockey and trainer do not appear to have a strong partnership, but his favorable draw and diligent training give him a slight chance, though he remains a low probability selection.