Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Sunday's Sha Tin card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Purton rings in the new as record march continues
They’ve rigged up a bell outside the Sha Tin weighing room to be rung each time Zac Purton moves one closer to Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 HK winners.
It’s a neat photo opportunity and Purton – along with young son Cash - is getting used to the ritual after ringing in the new year with a New Year’s Day treble that showcased his talents to the full.
Howdeepisyourlove pounced on Magic Control with perfect timing in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy and could head to Dubai for the Al Quoz Sprint in April.
Legend St Paul’s and Storming Dragon moved Purton within ten of Whyte and the Aussie – with twelve wins from 28 rides over the holidays – is aiming for more campanology from nine rides at a Sha Tin Sunday fixture that features some strong improvers.
Angel to earn his Classic wings?
Winning the Broadwood Handicap (9.45) off 63 would still be far removed from the Classic Mile but PACKING ANGEL took a major step forward on the HKIR undercard, putting a decent Class 4 to bed in a few strides to beat subsequent winners Legend St Paul’s and Endeared with bundles in hand.
New Future Folks finished ahead of Packing Angel when the pair hooked up in a damaging pace duel here in November and has gone on to record an emphatic success on his first start over 1400m.
Michael Chang’s gelding adds another layer of strength to this £190,000 contest, while LIGHT YEARS CHARM caught the eye coming home strongly after being short of room on his HK debut.
David Eustace’s gelding is a fair saver/Quinella option at long odds but Packing Angel shrugged off stall 13 in style last month – clocking a sharp 22.45s closer under hands and heels from the champ - and he should be hard to beat again despite a couple of pounds overweight on his Class 3 bow.
Wunderbar worth another chance?
This season hasn’t thrown up many sub-par Purton rides but Wunderbar’s pre-Christmas fifth behind stablemate Raging Blizzard was one that didn’t go to plan.
John Size’s chestnut couldn’t quicken after being caught wide and unable to lead from gate 11 in a fast-run race two weeks ago but he has a tempting 10lb pull with the winner and a much kinder draw in stall 2 here.
This is much more than a Size showdown, mind. Swift Ascend, Full Credit, Gorgeous Win and James Tak are all in fine form but Wunderbar was most progressive prior to his December blip and the feeling remains that he’s fairly treated from a mark of 98.
Sword to cut loose back on dirt?
Short fields tend to mean one thing in HK and, having attracted ‘only’ eight runners, the featured Pak Tam Chung Handicap has been consigned to the early part of the card on the AW track at 6am UK time.
The whole field are proven AW performers and Sword Point was mighty impressive on his dirt debut in October, making useful rivals look leaden footed under Derek Leung.
But the market clearly hasn’t forgotten that commanding success.
Whether Sword Point will represent value at around evens giving 16lb plus all round is debateable but there are a couple of others on Sunday’s card worth a positive mention.
King on the road to Profit?
Flying High’s recent form figures don’t inspire maximum confidence but he hasn’t had the best of luck, including when drawn wide and not knocked about at Happy Valley on his latest start.
Chris So’s gelding looks a fair place chance in the Class 3 dash at 7.35 and KING PROFIT is also worth noting in the Class 4 over 1200m due off an hour earlier.
Debut winner Hong Lok Golf and promising newcomer Ka Ying Radiance will both be popular but King Profit showed much improved form on his latest start, running on well to chase home the useful Divano at 184-1.
The winner has gone in again since and King Profit, with a good draw in stall 4 and eager Frenchman Alexis Pouchin aboard, looks to have plenty in his favour moving down a grade under top weight.
Patch following Golden trail
Golden Sixty used the Chinese Club Challenge Club in 2020 as a springboard to the big time and the Lui team are hoping Patch Of Theta can do likewise after his impressive win in the NYD feature.
The muscular chestnut went off a heavily backed 2.2 favourite under Karis Teetan and settled things in short order despite racing freely, forging clear of admirable front runner Drombeg Banner as mercurial star California Spangle faded tamely.
A tilt at the G1 Stewards’ Cup is up next but Patch Of Theta, raised to a mark of 108 for his sixth success, will still have a stone or more to find if the HK Mile hero Voyage Bubble is at his peak when he bids to repeat last year’s success on January 19th.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
6.30: King Profit
8.05: Wunderbar
9.45: Packing Angel/Light Years Charm
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