“He (Awesome Fluke) looks like a real staying proposition – 1400 (metres) first-up is going to be on the sharp side – but you would like to see him taking some ground off them late, that would be nice,” Fownes said.
“He looks like a dead-set 2000 (metres) to 2400 (metres) horse. On his trials and everything, he sorted of stayed through the line strong. Let’s see on Sunday, the racing pace up front might suit him and just make him hit the line better.
“He’s starting on a rating of 77 and you just like to see them hopefully after a couple of races adjust to Hong Kong’s tempo and put the writing on the wall with a win. Hopefully, once you get to a rating of 85, you’re there.”
Since joining Fownes’ stable, Awesome Fluke has had five trials for his new trainer with the latest over 1700m at Happy Valley on 25 November when fourth behind Legion Of Merit.
With 16 wins so far this season, Fownes is fifth in the trainers’ championship and will saddle eight runners on Sunday at Sha Tin including Kurpany, who contests the Class 2 The Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup (1200m, dirt) under Ellis Wong.
“It’s nice that the handicapping department are looking at these races and making a couple of changes so that horses can get an opportunity to race. He’s rated 102, he’s a very honest horse, he handles the dirt surface well, he’s got a 10-pound claim on and I just think he’ll make his presence felt on that surface,” Fownes said
“He should be a first-three chance.”
Sunday’s (3 December) 10-race Sha Tin meeting starts with the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1650m, dirt) at 1pm.
