True Grit can make it four in a row at Happy Valley

Victory Machine
2.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

Country Star
3.15 Happy Valley
2pts win

True Grit
3.50 Happy Valley
2pts win

Champion John Size is pulling out all the stops to repel the determined late challenge of rival John Moore in the battle for the trainers’ title in Hong Kong.

With six meetings remaining both are going all out to be top dog, and this Happy Valley meeting under lights could be a turning point, particularly as Size has called on two of his most talented young horses.

Country Star (3.15) has been one of the discoveries of the season, chalking up five wins before his run of success came to an abrupt end in early March. He hasn’t been seen since on raceday, though he has been trialing well, so should be ready for this Class 2 sprint over 5f.

Size said the three-year-old had probably had enough, so it is relevant he has freshened him up for one more race before the curtain drops on the season, clearly because Moore is breathing down his neck only five wins behind.

Joao Moreira will be wanting to get over from stall seven in the first two furlongs, but as long as he can get some cover the son of Starcraft can do the rest. He has looked Class 1 material for some time.

Moreira is also entrusted with True Grit (3.50), another budding Size-trained star. He comes into this Class 3 handicap off the back of three consecutive wins over course and distance.

From stall three he should take the box seat behind the leaders in the charge to the first turn. He is one of the bets of the night.

Of course, Moore has long had his sights on the title and can be relied upon to keep producing horses fit and ready for the task to the very last day.

It is interesting he has booked in-form Aldo Domeyer for Victory Machine (2.15) in the Class 3 sprint over 6f. The South African will need luck from stall ten but he has proved he rides the Valley particularly well.

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