Vengeance of Rain heads Mile Trial at Sha Tin

Vengeance of Rain will try to get back on the winning track at Sha Tin on Saturday when he cuts back in distance for the Group 2, $385,000 International Mile Trial.

A New Zealand-bred 6-year-old trained by David Ferraris, Vengeance of Rain won the Dubai Sheema Classic going 1 1/2 miles in March but has been second in his last two starts, the 1 1/4-mile Hong Kong Gold Cup and the 1 1/2-mile Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup. He was beaten both times by Viva Pataca, who last week won the International Cup Trial.

Vengeance of Rain finished fifth in the Mile Trial last year. The Duke was second in that race and followed with a win in the Hong Kong Mile, but has been winless in six starts since then.

Good Ba Ba, second in the one-mile Group 3 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap for former German champion trainer Andreas Schutz, looms a threat.

* Absolute Champion used a victory in last year's Group 2, $385,000 International Sprint Trial as a springboard to victory in the Hong Kong Sprint.