GODSPEED is yet to win a race yet in Hong Kong but his seasonal return over the unsuitable 1,000m at Happy Valley was excellent (22.54 third-best last-400m at the meeting). That was his second run this season and with a similar gap to this outing he should nearly be ready to breakthrough. I like the cheek-pieces being applied; he can take a favourable position from a low draw and in a race that lacks pace that could be crucial. A gear change is also applicable to SMILING PRIDE who clearly looked in need of the blinkers (back on today) when being off the bridle some way from home when runner-up to Po Ching Treasure. Both runs this term by Smiling Pride have rated very similarly. HAY RUN has a series of runs that are good enough to win and the switch back to turf will suit, although a smaller field and potentially slow pace might work against him. That might also be a case in point for GOLD VELVET who ran on strongly again last time without every really threatening. MANAGEMENT STAR probably needs to drop a class but is holding his form well enough. Godspeed is the horse I’m happy to back in the first however.