KEEPING FAITH PAYS OFF WITH BIG RETURN

Tardy start cooled Hong Kong buyers off, third-up win may make them regret

- Michael Lee

After three impressive barrier trial wins at Kranji, a deal to sell the unraced Big Return to Hong Kong was almost inked.

With only a few months left before Singapore racing winds up on Oct 5, it made sense for owners Cat Racing to explore such a lucrative option. The cat was not quite in the bag, though.

At his Kranji debut in a Restricted Maiden (1,200m) on July 28, the then two-year-old son of Divine Prophet a winner of his three trials by an aggregate margin of 12 lengths bombed his start.

Even after a monumental effort to still finish fifth, around two lengths off the winner Ocean Jupiter, the buyers pulled the pin.

First impressions count, especially in racing when it comes to unknown quantities at their baptisms of fire.

The Hong Kong scene being even more competitive, such ordinary barrier manners would be about as desirable as cold dumplings at a Kowloon dim sum restaurant.