Caspar Fownes will head to Sha Tin on Sunday with a team of seven runners and believes Papaya Brose can make his presence felt again as the promising three-year-old steps up in trip.
The gelding was an impressive debut winner over 1,200m and now tackles the second section of the Class 4 over 1,400m as he looks to remain unbeaten from two starts.
“I think it isn’t an issue for him, going from the 1200m to 1400m second-up,” Fownes said. “Quite a versatile horse. I would say he is going to be competitive. I only study the fields when the card comes out. On face value, off a rating of 60, he looks like a horse who is going to get through his grades.
“He’s not a one trick pony, and he's got a great mindset for a horse who gives himself a chance to go up in the ratings.”
Fownes also saddles Sky Vino in the Class 3 over 1,650m, with the galloper reverting to the all-weather after a late-fading seventh over 2,000m last time.
The trainer felt there was merit in that performance, given the run the horse had in transit.
“He had a horrible trip stepping to the 2,000 meters for the first time where, if he was ridden back he would have been a lot closer in the finish,” Fownes said.
In the first section of the Class 4 over 1,400m, Tycoon Express will be out to break through after a luckless fifth at his second start, although Fownes did not get the draw he was hoping for with the three-year-old posted in barrier 13.
“I think he is a nice horse. He probably should have been second last start if not for being held up,” Fownes said. “Again, I’d love a soft gate with him. He’s one who’s developing. He’s only a three year old, so he’s a chance to add to the winning tallies by the end of the season.
“He’s only had the two starts, he was off with injuries, so when you’re training and you have a good owner, we hope we can repay them for their patience.”
Sky Vino also has to contend with a difficult gate after drawing barrier 12, adding to the challenge for one of the stable’s more experienced runners.
Elsewhere, Fownes will saddle Family Fortune and Verbier in the two Class 5 races that open the card, while Perfect Triumph makes his debut in the first section of the Class 4 over 1,200m.
Fownes likes the horse, but expects improvement with experience.
“Nice horse, but then again, he’s not hardened,” he said. “He needs that racing. I’m sure he’ll run in the first five or six, but he just needs that little bit of time.”
