SHINING ACE

26th May 2019

It was the turn of honest Price Bloodstock galloper Shining Ace to get the luck of the draw he was looking for when he broke through for a maiden victory at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The three-year-old son of Testa Rossa had racked up minor prizemoney at his previous four starts, finishing second to fifth each time, but hadn’t been able to crack it for a win.

But, after draws of 9 and 10 in those four lead-up starts, Shining Ace had barrier five this time and that enabled Joao Moreira to give him a more comfortable run to the lead soon after the start.

Shining Ace didn’t get to slow them up too much midrace and he was tiring in the final stages but stuck on to see off the challengers late in the piece.

“He had a bit of luck with the barrier this time so his run through the race was pretty straightforward. And I think coming back from 1400m to 1200m helped him too. He had got to the front in a couple of his other runs but something came along to beat him. He was stronger today coming back in distance – when he got a margin on them this time he was able to maintain it,” trainer John Size said afterwards. “He’s only a three-year-old so he’s going to get stronger, he’s got some tactical speed and he has a good attitude in general so I think he’s going to pay his way and has more wins ahead of him.”