Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Wednesday's card at Sha Tin live on Sky Sports Racing.
Money talks as imports shine again
Two thirds of the way into the 2025-26 season and the three musketeers who left Britain behind are going very nicely, thank you.
Andrea Atzeni impressed again as Young Champion landed Sunday’s Sha Tin feature, while Harry Bentley got the most out of The Golden Knight in the finale and Richard Kingscote moved into double figures as Rising Force bolted up from the front.
A more manageable workload is clearly a big plus for HK’s international riders, while reduced travel time and a two-month break in the summer only add to the attraction.
But money tends to be the bottom line for sportsmen seeking to maximise their career opportunities.
Atzeni, Bentley and Kingscote have now ridden 43, 24 and ten winners respectively over the last seven months - and their combined prize money haul is the thick end of £14m with over three months of the season still to go.
That final third of the season will see a couple of new faces in the HK weighing room and Nichola Yuen makes her debut with five rides at Sha Tin.
The 25-year-old apprentice has garnered plenty of foreign experience – riding 61 winners in Australia, 10 in New Zealand and seven in South Africa – but she returns home with a 10lb claim and that can prove a big advantage in HK’s tightly-knit handicap system.
Speedy boarding for Crawford and Karis
Wednesday’s nine-race card looks a tough proposition for punters, with numerous old favourites locking horns again and numerous capable turf performers switching to the AW for the first time.
Siding with those who have been there and done it on the dirt is generally the safest policy and four races looks worth a second look.
A fast pace seems assured in the Class 4 dash at 1.15, with Pi Legend and Flowing Riches set to go hard under their claiming riders, and that can set things up nicely for SPEEDY SMARTIE and Karis Teetan.
This gelding has thrived for the move to Brett Crawford, improving from a mark of 33 to 58 with three wins and several brave efforts in defeat. A strong traveller who should get a smooth trip just behind the pace, he lines up fresh from a fine second to the progressive Good Chap and a 2lb rise looks fair given how well that race has worked out.
Sky’s the limit
Good Chap bids for an AW hat-trick at 1.45 but this looks a tight affair, with Conrad The Great and Jolly Companion high on the list of viable alternatives.
The speedy Fun N Fun Together can give new girl Nichola a good spin if he gets loose on the lead, but it’s probably best to focus on the last two races for Wednesday’s final selections.
VICTORY SKY and Zac Purton face several old foes in the 3.15, headed by Blazing Wind and Aurora Patch, but he finished ahead of them when second in a strong race over course and distance last month.
Quick and reliable, Ricky Yiu’s gelding still looks nicely treated after a 2lb rise and if the earlier races suggest the track is helping those on the front end, then so much the better.
Newnham and Purton poised to show their Talents
One horse who won’t be on the front end in the early stages is TALENTS AMBITION, but I’m happy to give Mark Newnham’s gelding one more chance in the concluding Choi Wan Handicap at 3.50.
The impressive Newnham vaulted to the top of the trainers’ table with a Sunday treble, and it looks significant that he has booked Purton to partner this muscular grey for the first time in this valuable Class 3.
Some people might be put off by the fact that he is 0-7 this season – including when fourth over course and distance recently – but Talents Ambition has been left with plenty to do in steadily run races several times.
The presence of hardened front runner like Telecom Fighters and Voyage Samurai means there will be no loitering here. Add in the presence of Purton, and the return of blinkers, and Talents Ambition looks all set to come home strongly and have a big say this time.
Wednesday’s Sha Tin Selections
- 13.15: Speedy Smartie
- 15.15: Victory Sky
- 15.50: Talents Ambition
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