The superstitious buyer who rejected Apache Cat on the belief his distinctive white markings were bad luck will have more cause for regret after Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint.
Already a winner of more than $3.4 million, Apache Cat - a $2.80 favourite in Australia and top pick with many agencies in Europe - is tipped to significantly swell his owners' coffers in the $2.4 million dash over 1200m.
In doing so, he will continue the domination in the race by Australian-bred sprinters, which have won all nine stagings of the race.
The only concern from barrier two is whether Apache Cat, to be ridden by Corey Brown, can muster enough early speed to capitalise on his excellent barrier.
The speed will come from Moorehouse Lad (barrier one), Laurel Guerreiro (three), Waikato (six) and Abbadjinn (seven).
He drew barrier one in the Winterbottom but was able to park behind Takeover Target in the box seat so the inside draw will be more an aid than a hindrance.
His second in the Winterbottom showed his first-up failure was merely an aberration and it will take a brave punter to bet against him on Sunday.
Marchand D'Or is second favourite after winning each of his past three starts - all at Group one level.
To line him up with Australian form, Marchand D'Or finished sixth in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m), 1.4 lengths behind Takeover Target which finished fourth.
Former Australian galloper Green Birdie, now trained in Hong Kong by Casper Fownes, has the credentials to cause a boilover.
While his best form in Hong Kong has been between 1600m to 2000m, he ran second behind Miss Andretti in the weight-for-age G2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) as a three-year-old in 2006.
Enthused hit a career-high last start winning the Sprint Trial over the same course and distance after holding off a late charge from fellow Hong Kong star Sunny Power. Both should be kept safe in multiples.
Douro Valley will find the going tougher in the Vase than Apache Cat in the Sprint, but do not discount the Danny O'Brien-trained galloper, which is a $12 chance despite being the second highest rated horse in the field.
He races on the pace, is in fop form and has the services of Darren Beadman, who is second in the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership.
The small query is his ability to handle the Hong Kong way of going. In Australia he has failed at each of his three runs in Sydney and Brisbane.
Doctor Dino, last year's winner, has raced consistently this year but failed in October in the Canadian International (2400m). This will be the third continent in as many races for the six-year-old, which at his best is a worthy favourite.
Second favourite Packing Winner, a Hong Kong-trained Zabeel gelding, ran poorly last start when resuming and can be risked as can Muhannak, which rises from Listed grade to the elite level as he shoots for four wins on the trot.
Buccellati ($7) was well beaten by Mad Rush in July in a 2382m handicap but has since won in Listed and Group Three class. Last start he beat Blue Monday, which ran fourth in the 2007 Caulfield Cup.
Last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon has reportedly improved in Hong Kong after finishing ninth in the Japan Cup.
He meets Douro Valley two kilos better for being beaten 4.4 lengths from last year's