Our Jet is lined up for take-off
He produced two of them - Our Jet and Momochiko - at the trials run off at Sungai Besi on July 22.
Taking off in the first of six hit-outs on a track rated good, the pair were without a doubt the morning stars.
Jumping from the two outermost gates and ridden by Andre da Silva and Haikal Hanif respectively, Our Jet and Momochiko were in a trial of their own, especially the former.
Once the starter said "go", there was no stopping him. After dismissing an early challenge from Sabahcai, he had daylight in front of him.
Momochiko threw down a challenge at the top of the straight but, with engines at full thrust, Our Jet opened up to a sizeable lead to eventually beat his stablemate by three lengths.
Besides the convincing margin, Our Jet also broke the minute mark when clocking 59.69sec under a good hold.
A four-year-old by Bradbury's Luck, Our Jet certainly looks like a youngster going places and it will be interesting to see him on debut.
The same goes for Momochiko. The All Too Hard mare showed plenty of grit to beat Fu Bao to third place by a short head.
Right on the heels of that swift show from Our Jet, came another winning performance from Storm To Finish.
From trainer Ricky Choi's yard, Storm To Finish won with a whole lot of authority.
The unraced Anders two-year-old did it like his name seemed to suggest. He saved the best for last.
Holding third behind Dashing Speed and Mega Titan, Storm To Finish played the stalking game until the top of the straight.
Pushed into gear by Marc Lerner, he went full throttle and, in a move which must have given Mega Titan and Dashing Speed windburn, he hit the front and drew away to win by six lengths.
In doing so, he clocked a smart time of 1min 0.23sec for the trip.
Already a winner of his first trial on July 15, Storm To Finish should not be left out of your calculations. From what he has shown so far, he is ripe and ready for a really impressive debut.
As for runner-up Mega Titan, his racing debut could come sooner rather than later.
Trainer Ananthen Kuppan has entered the Strasbourg two-year-old in a Restricted Maiden sprint to be run over the 1,200m - which is Race 8 on July 27.
These races are always tough and Mega Titan will have his work cut out.
However, it is clear that he does possess good early speed. If he is up to it and makes a sharp getaway, he could give his rivals something to chase.
Then there was Bold Runner. He owned the fifth trial of the morning, leading from go to whoa and never using up much petrol on the sand track.
Another one of da Silva's mounts, Bold Runner controlled the tempo and strode out easily. He was never going to get nabbed.
Taking the shortest route home, he went further and further away and eventually took the honours with four lengths to spare.
Benbo held on for second with Banker's Two Seven holding down third spot. Both will see action on July 27, with Bold Runner entered in Race 6, a Class 4 sprint (1,300m) and Banker's Two Seven entered in Race 3, a Class 5 (A) race (1,150m).
A close third to Yes Man at the last of his seven starts on May 18, and on the strength of that impressive trial win, Bold Runner should indeed live up to his name.
brian@sph.com.sg
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