Jockey Zac Purton is hopeful that the David Hall-trained Maldives (NZ) (Burgundy) can atone for his wayward misfortune last start in Wednesday’s Class 4 Tsun Yip Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley.
“It was disappointing – he threw the race away and hopefully he can atone for that,” Purton said.
The New Zealand-bred gelding was a winner two starts ago under Purton but arguably cost himself the race at his most recent outing by shifting out severely in the straight to subsequently lose his momentum and finish third.
“He did a similar thing the start before but obviously to a lesser extent and that time I had the whip out so that I was able to coax him a long a little bit better,” Purton said.
“I was (lucky to stay on), for a stride there it looked like I was certainly going to come off but when he shifted he stopped so he came back underneath me a little – it is what it is, it could have ended up a little bit worse what it did,” he added.
Also lining up at the Hong Kong meeting is the Peter Ho-trained Wood On Fire (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the first section of the Class 4 Mut Wah Handicap (1200m).
“In the beginning he was very immature in the mornings and at the races, now he’s getting better and better, he always used to make mistakes and he needed everything to go right for him before.
“He’s a lot smoother now in the beginning and in the run, he’s not as keen and with the racing he’s improved a lot,” Leung said.
Leung is looking to guide the New Zealand-bred gelding to his third win, having partnered the bay in both of his most recent two wins.
