Chad Schofield returned from an eight-meeting suspension with a winner as Circuit Three (118lb) cruised to an easy success in the Class 3 Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 8 February).
“I knew he had a good finish and I knew dropping in weight would make his finish just as good even up in grade but today he really impressed me – he really let go quickly and quite hard. It's good to get a win back and also for Tony Cruz – hopefully there is more to come,” Schofield said.
The Tony Cruz-trained gelding burst clear at the 200m mark to score and make it two wins from three starts this campaign. The five-year-old was sold at the 2018 Hong Kong International Sale and is a now a three-time winner from 11 attempts.
Joao Moreira racked up a treble, kicking off aboard Excel Delight (115lb) in the Class 4 Ngau Tau Kok Handicap for John Size. He followed that with a dashing run from the rear aboard Fantastic Show (120lb) in the Class 4 Sau Mau Ping Handicap.
The championship leader made it three in the nightcap and took his tally for the term to 72 as Beauty Loyal (120lb) held on ahead of a wall of challengers in the Class 3 Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1400m). Race favourite Farhh Above (130lb) was squeezed for room in the straight but let down for an unlucky dead-heat fourth.
Champion jockey Zac Purton was on the mark in the opener as El Jefe stormed down the stand-side rail in the Class 4 Lok Wah Handicap (1000m).