HONGKONG GREAT IS ALL CLASS AT TRIALS

Full marks also to Silent Is Gold, while Red Maned wins hit-out with plenty in the tank

- Brian Miller

We have heard it said: the cream always rises to the top. Well, you had better believe it.

Take the trials held at Kranji on Tuesday morning.

Hongkong Great was having his first hit-out since that awesome run in November, when he lifted the time-honoured Singapore Gold Cup from under the noses of Kranji's elite.

After a nice break, the tough stayer is back and is looking as awesome as ever.

Come to think of it, he appears to be in even greater shape than the horse we knew from the season just concluded.

Down to contest the second of four trials on Tuesday, Hongkong Great was the one who caught the eye.

That alone was an honour, more so when the other runners including the likes of Mr Black Back, Trumpy and Silent Is Gold.

And when the trial got under way, your eyes were drawn to him.

As it turned out, he was not difficult to follow.

Ridden by Vlad Duric, he was always prominent, holding second spot behind Silent Is Gold who had Ronnie Stewart doing the steering.