Imperial Gallantry (120lb) can be a bit of a handful in his races and Alexis Badel knows it. The Frenchman is nonetheless looking forward to climbing back aboard the Paul O'Sullivan trainee in race five, the Class 3 Cleveland Handicap (1800m).
Badel, whose short-term contract concludes at the end of this month, partnered the five-year-old to finish third over 1650m at the course last month.
"He's not an easy horse to ride but I think the distance will be perfect for him," Badel said. "Last time it was at the mile and he was a little bit outpaced, which is difficult at Happy Valley, but he finished very well."
And as for the Hong Kong experience, Badel is enjoying the lifestyle and the sport.
"When you come to Hong Kong, the brain is not fast enough in the first races but then it becomes good after a few meetings," he said. "French races are slow and tactical, but here it's special, you have to be quick, you have to be tough and you have to make decisions very fast." -HKJC
Badel, whose short-term contract concludes at the end of this month, partnered the five-year-old to finish third over 1650m at the course last month.
"He's not an easy horse to ride but I think the distance will be perfect for him," Badel said. "Last time it was at the mile and he was a little bit outpaced, which is difficult at Happy Valley, but he finished very well."
And as for the Hong Kong experience, Badel is enjoying the lifestyle and the sport.
"When you come to Hong Kong, the brain is not fast enough in the first races but then it becomes good after a few meetings," he said. "French races are slow and tactical, but here it's special, you have to be quick, you have to be tough and you have to make decisions very fast." -HKJC