With trainer David Eustace starting to gather pace after a slow start to the season, his star 4yos were out on Sunday to show off the yard's potential big race players.
This page is intended to be about the 4yo classic series so the final race winner, Dazzling Fit is more relevant, but it is Eustace's exciting 4yo sprinter Colourful King who deserves more attention.
We noted last season that Colourful King was posting ratings at Happy Valley that were up to the best races, if he could bring those numbers to the big track at Sha Tin, where all the big sprints are run. His two prior runs at Sha Tin had rated well below his Valley figures, perhaps with extenuating circumstances, but Sunday's win down the straight under Zac Purton left no-one in any doubt that he is just as much at home at Sha Tin. Posting a 96 Winning Factor rating, Colourful King's performance was the third best at Sha Tin so far this season, behind only Ka Ying Rising and Bulb General and he did it in a breeze. While he would need a bit more to compete with KYR, that figure is good enough to talk about Colourful King in the same conversation with Helios Express.
As for Dazzling Fit, well, he was back in winning form despite a wide run but it was a slowly-run race, which would have helped with covering extra ground, and rated moderately as a result.
That's not a negative for Dazzling Fit - the Eustace Derby hope is on track - but he rated well below the high standards he has already set as a 3yo last season.