Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Sunday's Sha Tin card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Game, set and match as Zac and Dennis go 6-3
What a difference a few days make….
Former champion trainer Dennis Yip spent last weekend digesting news that his Derby winner Massive Sovereign has been moved to David Eustace, while champion jockey Zac Purton went winless from ten rides including several leading fancies at Sha Tin.
Fast forward to Happy Valley’s Boxing Day fixture and it was a completely different story, with Purton riding three winners for Yip and adding another three to leave himself just 16 shy of matching Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 HK winners.
Yip was saddling his first treble since 2018, while Purton emulated Brett Prebble (2010) in riding a Valley six-timer ahead of a festive Sha Tin Sunday that features several key questions:
Markwin to land in Eagle’s Nest?
Cody Mo’s gelding is progressing with every run and deserves to head the market for the closing Eagle’s Nes Handicap (9.45) after producing an impressive late burst – ripping home in 22.27s for the final 400m – on his Class 3 debut over course and distance recently.
Markwin put paid to several of Sunday’s rivals that day, notably Charming Legend, Beauty Crescent and Tamra Blitz, but the winner wasn’t the only improver on show.
CHARMING LEGEND followed his 2-2 record in Australia with an encouraging HK debut success for the Shum stable and he caught the eye again in defeat last time, producing a good kick to lead 300m out and keeping on for second as Markwin asserted.
Still lightly raced and 6lb better off now, Charming Legend can progress again if he relaxes and Hugh Bowman looks the right man to ensure he settles in a good spot from stall 7.
Master Phoenix or Endeared?
Endeared beat subsequent crack miler Charyn in a Newmarket novice on his final start for James Fanshawe in 2022 and did well to finish third at Sha Tin three weeks ago, coming home strongly having been left well back from stall 14 and passing the keen-going Master Phoenix on the line.
Gate 9 is less troublesome here and, with Purton back aboard for the first time since they scored together on New Year’s Day, Endeared clearly has plenty in his favour for the Class 4 at 6.30.
Credit where it’s due?
I hope so as FULL CREDIT bids to run down the trailblazing Packing Bole in the D’Aguilar Peak Handicap at 9.10.
Packing Bole blazed from the off when holding off the reopposing Self Improvement by half a length over course and distance recently and the gameplan won’t change as Britney Wong bids to offset a 7lb rise on another bang-in-form Shum runner.
But the 10lb claimer will need to get the fractions just right if Full Credit is at his best.
Mark Newnham’s gelding ran a belter on his AW debut four weeks ago, coming home strongly to beat all bar useful stablemate Sing Dragon, and stall 2 looks ideal for Lyle Hewitson to stalk and pounce in what’s sure to be a fast-run race.
Mr the man?
The Luk Keng Handicap (7.35) features a clutch of possible winners - including Offroad Master, Sunny Darling, Nebraskan and Fortune Warrior – but Mr Energia has at least as much to recommend him and possibly more.
David Hall’s gelding unleashed an irresistible 21.85s closer in blinkers first time to score with authority on his dirt debut in September. Three turf defeats have followed but Mr Energia has continued to run well and the return to dirt with Purton aboard looks a canny move.
Irish imports in the Class 2 feature?
Romantic Thor showed smart form to win the Dee Stakes when known as Capulet on his final start for Aidan, while Naval Force won 3-5 for Donnacha and left Ireland with a rating of 101, but we’re guessing as to whether they have adapted to HK just yet.
Bravehearts looks a safer call for the featured Buffalo Hill Handicap (6.00) after showing improved form in three runs this season, while Money Catcher is on a losing run of 18 but has been shaping like he might be ready to go close again from a vastly reduced mark.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
- 6.30: Endeared
- 9.10: Full Credit
- 9.45: Charming Legend (EW)
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