Jumbo Treasure burst onto the scene with a smashing first victory last month and trainer Cody Mo’s young talent is aiming to recreate those heroics at Happy Valley in Wednesday night’s (April 23) Class 4 Lusitano Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m).
Overcoming barrier 13 last start, Jumbo Treasure exploded to the front under Derek Leung before scoring by a comfortable two lengths at Sha Tin on March 30. The Written Tycoon gelding steps from gate six tomorrow night and will again sport cheek pieces.
“He won well and the gear helped him a lot. He still doesn’t have much experience but he was quite professional. He jumped sharply, went to the front and led,” Leung said. “We’ll do the same again – if someone else wants to lead, we don’t mind and we can just sit to the outside – he can do either.”
Jumbo Treasure carries nine more pounds as top-weight with 135lb assigned for his debut at Hong Kong’s tight-turning inner-city track. He faces Magniac (133lb), Flying Wrote (132lb), Sky Cap (132lb), Judy’s Great (129lb), Big Stride (128lb), Rising Phoenix (128lb), Magic Beans (124lb), New Power (124lb), Bienvenue (123lb), View All Things (123lb) and Draco (119lb).
“The weight is against Jumbo Treasure but he isn’t a small horse, so I hope he can handle it. The field has more experience in it this time. I think he can keep improving and I hope he can win again,” Leung said.
Leung, 36, has 20 wins this season. He also rides Joyful Life, Strongest Boy, To Infinity, Healthy Healthy and Lean Hero at the Valley. A son of Maurice, Lean Hero (118lb) contests the Class 3 Roselle Handicap (1800m) from gate three for trainer David Hayes.
“He had an outside draw (nine) so we rode him quietly last start. Tomorrow, he has a nice draw and the 1800 metres is better for him. I hope he can be a bit closer,” Leung said.
Lean Hero has won four times at Happy Valley. He opposes Money Catcher (135lb), Turin Mascot (134lb), Beauty Alliance (132lb), Fallon (130lb), Jumbo Legend (127lb), Luck Is Back (125lb), Excellence Value (124lb), Charity Gain (123lb), Chain Of Gold (120lb), Northern Beast (117lb) and Good Luck Win (115lb).
Harry Bentley rides Jumbo Legend, and said: “If he can just relax and put his head down, which he did last time, then naturally he’s going to conserve that energy for later on when he needs it. Back down to 1800 metres – that’s not going to be an issue.
“I remember him winning over 1200 metres on multiple occasions and flying home. Credit it to the horse he relaxed really well over the 2200 and never gave me a feeling that he wasn’t going stay out the trip.”
Caspar Fownes’ versatile gelding Jumbo Legend has posted wins over 1200m, 1650m and 2200m at Happy Valley across his 35-start career.
Karis Teetan has five wins through April. He pairs with a lightly-raced Watch This One for trainer Pierre Ng in the Class 3 Kalanchoe Handicap (1200m). The import was trained by Adam Campton in Australia, where he won smartly on debut at the Gold Coast by an easy two lengths. He has finished fourth in two Hong Kong runs.
“I think he’s going to go out and be really competitive,” Teetan said.
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