Leading 4yo names edging upwards

Not a big week for the 4yos heading towards the classic series, with the major event on Saturday at Sha Tin seeing a five-year-old get the best of the rising stars.

Mighty Giant is too old to be a classic participant but not too old to be eyeing a tilt at Group 1 events in the coming months and continued to build his case as a contender by winning the 1400m Class 2 at Sha Tin.

In his wake were the highly-rated 4yos Lucky Express and Sky Field, while a newcomer from the Tony Millard yard also made a good fist of his debut, Maximus.

Lucky Express was the top-rated 4yo in the race on our figures, edging out Sky Field, who beat him home but carried 2 pounds more. Both edged up on what they had done already this season and are well in the Classic Mile zone in the low 90s, though, it usually takes a mid-90s figure to win the Classic Mile.

Maximus was an interesting addition, as he has form in France that puts him in the ball park and he should be able to improve on his opening salvo of 86, just on the basis of fitness.

Elsewhere on the Sha Tin card, we thought Helene Wisdom Star, another new horse who was formerly Aerclub in Ireland, made a good debut after doing some work outside the lead in the middle stages of his 1600m Class 3. He knocked up in the straight and didn't post a high enough figure to make the list this time but has scope for at least a figure of 88 on his Irish form and is so lightly-raced a step beyond even that seems likely.

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We'll add new names to the list as horses register ratings to put them in the Derby ball park or those horses with achievements overseas begin to show their wares locally.

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