Perfect Proves More Than A Match For Griffin Trophy Rivals
It wasn’t all plain sailing in the pre-Christmas drizzle, but Perfect Match (125lb) overcame a little adversity to add his name to an illustrious Griffin Trophy (1400m) roll of honour at Sha Tin today (Sunday 23 December).
Danny Shum’s gelding lined up with two emphatic Sha Tin successes to his name and was sent off as 1.3 favourite to emulate subsequent BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Luger and Pakistan Star in landing this HK$2 million contest restricted to three-year-old PPG and ISG imports.
Those short odds didn’t look especially generous as he was hemmed in on the inside and pushed along briefly swinging off the final bend, but Perfect Match had shown an ability to kick for home strongly in his previous wins and did so again once Karis Teetan eased him off the fence just over 300m out.
The Not A Single Doubt gelding was firmly on top as he passed the post with his ears pricked a length and a half clear of the front-running Quadruple Double (120lb) and Teetan, stepping in for the suspended Zac Purton, was more than satisfied with the way he settled matters.
If I would have had a choice I would have led but the leader had me in tight early,” he said. “As soon as he gets behind a horse he just sleeps I felt that when I worked him but he’s a very smart horse with a nice turn of foot.”
Teetan is well aware that Perfect Match went into this contest rated just 69 and that further progress is essential if he is to ascend through the grades.
However, he senses there is potential for the winner to “climb the ladder,” especially in the longer term. “He’s still only three and when they get one more year into them they just show much more improvement. He’s smart – no problem.”
Shum feels Perfect Match will derive benefit from having to race in tight in a well-run race and is already eyeing his next option.
Credit: HKJC