The John Size-trained D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will return to Happy Valley on Wednesday night in the Class 4 Fukushima Handicap (1000m) for what is technically his first run of the season – on paper, at least.
D B Pin was a four-length winner of the "void race" on 26 October, when all gates did not open simultaneously.
Five horses out of that race are declared to run in the Class 4 contest, with the first three across the line – D B Pin, Lucky Seven and Isaac – leading the charge. However, jockey Zac Purton, who rode D B Pin last month and will do so again tomorrow night, believes the four-year-old's effort in late October should be treated like a barrier trial.
"It's hard to say how well he did in that race, because it wasn't a properly run race," Purton said. "The field was skittled and the majority didn't take part. I suppose it was just like a barrier trial. I guess, taking it as a barrier trial, he's going in off an impressive trial, but the make-up of this race is going to be a little bit different. There's quite a number of fast horses in this race and some of them are drawn inside me so it's not going to be easy, like any race here in Hong Kong. Hopefully we can get a nice run and he can produce again."
The Australian rider partnered D B Pin last season and said it was race experience that was allowing the son of Darci Brahma to show his talent now.
"He hasn't improved dramatically in the off-season," he said. "He's obviously got a little bit stronger, he did seem to hit the line a bit better in the void race and he's a bit more street-smart now as well with a couple of starts under him. Like every horse in Hong Kong, though, once they get in the ring and have a few rounds, they seem to improve quite quickly and pick things up. He's just another example of that."
The first race at Happy Valley, the Class 5 Kokura Handicap (1200m), jumps at 7.15pm, with the night's closer, the Class 3 Hanshin Handicap (1200m), scheduled for 10.50pm. -HKJC
D B Pin was a four-length winner of the "void race" on 26 October, when all gates did not open simultaneously.
Five horses out of that race are declared to run in the Class 4 contest, with the first three across the line – D B Pin, Lucky Seven and Isaac – leading the charge. However, jockey Zac Purton, who rode D B Pin last month and will do so again tomorrow night, believes the four-year-old's effort in late October should be treated like a barrier trial.
"It's hard to say how well he did in that race, because it wasn't a properly run race," Purton said. "The field was skittled and the majority didn't take part. I suppose it was just like a barrier trial. I guess, taking it as a barrier trial, he's going in off an impressive trial, but the make-up of this race is going to be a little bit different. There's quite a number of fast horses in this race and some of them are drawn inside me so it's not going to be easy, like any race here in Hong Kong. Hopefully we can get a nice run and he can produce again."
The Australian rider partnered D B Pin last season and said it was race experience that was allowing the son of Darci Brahma to show his talent now.
"He hasn't improved dramatically in the off-season," he said. "He's obviously got a little bit stronger, he did seem to hit the line a bit better in the void race and he's a bit more street-smart now as well with a couple of starts under him. Like every horse in Hong Kong, though, once they get in the ring and have a few rounds, they seem to improve quite quickly and pick things up. He's just another example of that."
The first race at Happy Valley, the Class 5 Kokura Handicap (1200m), jumps at 7.15pm, with the night's closer, the Class 3 Hanshin Handicap (1200m), scheduled for 10.50pm. -HKJC