Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Sunday's Sha Tin card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Moore makes hay as Soleil shines again
There are various reasons why Ryan Moore feels HK has the best run racing in the world.
Some of it relates to the emphasis on quality and integrity, for sure, but high prize money helps and Moore cashed in at Happy Valley on Wednesday with two winners (and a second and fourth) that earned him his percentage on around £450,000.
British import Soleil Fighter continued his fine run with a third Valley success under Moore, while the former British champ produced Moments In Time with an irresistible run to score for Danny Shum.
Aussie rider Jimmy Orman also made Valley headlines with his first HK winner aboard Charming Babe, while Harry Bentley and Andrea Atzeni continued the Euro theme with a winner apiece.
Lui team Packing punches in a tough Classic Cup
The second leg of HK’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series tops the bill at Sha Tin this weekend and recent history shows elite horses have a mixed record in the £1.3m Hong Kong Classic Cup (8.05).
Golden Sixty and Rapper Dragon both landed Sunday’s race on their way to Derby glory but Romantic Warrior couldn’t overcome a high draw in 2022 and Voyage Bubble faded into sixth in ’23.
Tactics and the draw will both play their part again this year and, whichever way I approach it, this looks a complex choice between those who contested the Classic Mile and those arriving via a different route.
My Wish refused to be denied when holding Divano and Packing Hermod in the Classic Mile, while Packing Angel and Noisy Boy are firmly on the up after impressive wins in Class 3 and Class 2.
In summary, this looks tough. All the indications suggest it’s is a 3-1 or 7-2 the field job but Francis Lui has a powerful hand with five runners and Angel (Joao Moreira) and Hermod (Blake Shinn) could be Packing a punch when the whips are cracking.
Elite on the Glory trail
John Size always likes to get Ryan onside on his fly-in visits to HK and Masterofmyuniverse is bound to corner a fair chunk of the market for the closer at 9.50.
But for all that he’s won twice, this gelding shows a few too many quirks for my liking and GLORY ELITE and BLAZING WIND offer some value against him.
A three-time winner over course and distance, Glory Elite has excellent early speed and lines up in fine form after being collared close home two weeks ago in a truly-run race that’s already been franked.
Jimmy Ting’s gelding should set them a target again under Derek Leung but Blazing Wind receives a lot of weight from most and he’s running well enough to warrant a saver with Matthew Poon aboard.
Lucy In The Sky – with diamonds?
A few old favourites meet again in the Tai Hing Handicap at 8.40 and it’s possible to make a solid case for several horses, with Moore aboard the useful Dancing Code for the first time and Young Champion another with much to recommend him.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Healthy Happy outrun his long odds from a slipping mark but LUCY IN THE SKY looks a danger to all from the foot of the weights.
This gelding has lost six in a row since his October win but he’s remained in good heart, finishing a solid fourth on his latest start in the race where Glory Elite finished third.
There were no real excuses that day but Lucy In The Sky has a perfect draw (2) for his handy running style and he looks sure to run another solid race under his feather weight with Karis Teetan aboard.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
8.05: Packing Angel/Packing Hermod
8.40: Lucy In The Sky
9.50: Glory Elite/Blazing Wind
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