Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Sunday's Sha Tin card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Caspar in the zone as Rising plans fall into place
We are preparing to enter the Twilight Zone, ladies and gentlemen.
Any parallel between Sha Tin meetings starting at 4pm local time to combat summer heat and the old American television series is coincidental, though both involve colourful characters dealing with strange events and dramatic plot twists.
Either way, Sunday’s ten-race card gets under way at a very civilised time (9am) for UK and Irish viewers and the news wires have been buzzing about various stars.
Caspar Fownes never gives up his ‘King of the Valley’ crown lightly and a midweek double from Joy of Spring and Kaholo Angel helped him leapfrog Mark Newnham to be leading trainer with 23 winners at the city track this season.
David Hayes moved to within six of John Size (60-54) at the top of the trainers’ table when Storm Rider bolted up at the Valley and had another good result on Thursday when it emerged that the HKJC have secured a slot for his superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising to contest The Everest at Randwick on October 18th.
Meanwhile, Ricky Yiu has dampened any suggestion that his stable star Voyage Bubble could be in action at Ascot this summer.
Jay Rooney of the South China Morning Post reported that the HK Triple Crown hero has been invited to run in the King George but Yiu wants to keep the six-year-old on home soil after fruitless trips to Dubai and Japan and simply said “he’s not going.”
Meanwhile, over a hundred horses will be making the shorter journey to the start in a ten-race Sunday card and the key questions are as follows:
Can Lunar cut a Dash?
You know it’s been tricky to unearth good bets when newcomers start to appeal but LUNAR DASH is worth keeping an eye on in the 9.30.
Wonderstar supplies the pace here and will be dangerous if he snags a soft lead but the fact that Newnham has booked Zac Purton for Lunar Dash is notable and a series of trials suggest this grey is a cut above the average 52-rated debutant.
What price Dancing Classics?
Caspar clearly had this Aussie import tuned up for his debut three weeks ago and Dancing Classics did what was expected of him, asserting late to reward those who backed him into 2.5.
Early signs suggest the four-year-old will jump at short odds again for Sunday’s 11.00 but a 7lb rise for a race that includes a few handy rivals – headed by Moon Rocket, Cheval Valiant and Lahore – means I’m happy to watch and learn.
Is Max Que worth another chance?
I hope so. RIDING TOGETHER (formerly Cool Dividend for Clive Cox) is a handy saver option for the 11.35 after running a fine race from the front on his latest start but MAX QUE looks well handicapped, just 1lb higher than when chasing home the progressive Shamus Storm recently.
Purton got the drop on Hugh Bowman that day, hemming Max Que in as the winner asserted. It wasn’t the difference between winning and losing but Max Que looks ready to salute and Brenton Avdulla gets the steer from a good draw this time.
What price Light Years Charm?
David Eustace’s muscular gelding is a horse I’ve been keeping onside all season and he’s progressed from a mark of 64 to 85 with a couple of wins, including a narrow yet decisive course and distance success under Purton last month.
But the market never misses Light Years Charm.
His fan club will be out in force again for his Class 2 debut in the featured Lee On Handicap at 12.05 – but the shortish odds might not look a bargain if his tendency to miss the break recurs.
Can Express take the high road?
Size and Bowman will have studied the pace map closely for the 12.35 and they may well conclude that the best way to offset gate 13 with BRILLIANT EXPRESS is to get out sharply and edge right.
True, this gelding paid for trying similar tactics on his latest start, fading late in a truly run race after a tough trip out wide, but aggressive front runners are hard to find in Sunday’s 1400m contest.
In short, Brilliant Express is a useful and reliable customer at Class 3 level. And, if Bowman gets him across and on the pace with less demanding fractions, then he’s very capable of going close in a shallower pool than he’s been used to of late.
Forza for the hat-trick?
Jamie Richards has a live one on his hands in La Forza, who has loads in his favour for the 1.10 after defying marks of 57 and 67 with authority down the Sha Tin straight track.
Two impressive trials suggest he’s continued in fine fettle during a ten-week break but Sha Tin’s 1000m handicaps are seldom straightforward and MAJESTIC EXPRESS and SPARKLING FELLOW warrant a positive note for those who prefer to trade at much longer odds.
Majestic Express can be too keen for his own good but the return to the minimum trip could suit after a good second over 1200m, while Sparkling Fellow failed to fire from gate 12 at the Valley last time but caught the eye as a winner in waiting when an unlucky third here on his previous start.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
9.30: Lunar Dash
11.35: Max Que/Riding Together
12.35: Brilliant Express
1.10: Majestic Express/Sparkling Fellow
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