Australian bred gelding Fair Trade stamped himself a genuine contender for the G1 Hong Kong Derby this Sunday with an impressive trial at Sha Tin earlier this week.

Fair Trade is still unbeaten and will start one of the favourites despite an unorthodox preparation due to injury.  Shane Dye put his classic mount through a serious workout prior to the big race and will be even more confident after the gelding clocked 1.36.97s over 1600m.

Fair Trade (3g Danewin – Villa Igea by Papal Power) was unbeaten in two starts at Flemington last year for trainer Mick Kent before he was sold to clients of trainer Caspar Fownes.  He caused an upset on debut at Flemington last January and then returned to headquarters a fortnight later to capture the Listed C.S Hayes Stakes.

Fair Trade is a Wingrove Park homebred for Joe Vella who bought his dam Villa Igea from Coolmore (as agent) for $75,000 at the 2001 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.  Vella nominated Fair Trade for the 2007 Magic Millions HIT Sale but withdrew the gelding before the Sale.

Fair Trade has a 3yo half-sister (Hearts And Arrows) and a 2yo half-sister (Fair Honour) by Kempinsky and their dam also has a weanling filly by Artie Schiller.

BEAUTY FLASH will have the services of champion rider Frankie Dettori in the HK Derby.  The NZ bred Golan gelding will give Dettori his best chance to win the domestic classic after unplaced rides on Golconda (2002) and Helene Momentum (2003).

Beauty Flash won the HK Classic Mile in January and can give Tony Cruz his sixth Derby.  He won four as a jockey and two as a trainer with Lucky Owners (2004) and Helene Mascot (2008).

Trainer Sean Woods will saddle up G2 HK Derby Trial winner King Dancer (Danehill Dancer) and Jolly Good (Dashing Blade) on Sunday.  “Everything seems to have gone to plan,” Woods said.  “King Dancer has raced here since last year and that is a massive advantage.

Jolly Good had good form in France and Germany before he arrived in the Far East and Woods maintains he’s not in the field to just make up the numbers.