Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham previews Sunday's card at Sha Tin live on Sky Sports Racing.
Gongs given out as Sha Tin hopes enter Last Chance Saloon
One by one, Hong Kong racing’s champions for the 2025-26 season are being crowned.
Zac Purton has had a ninth jockeys’ title sewn up for months, while his superstar sprint partner Ka Ying Rising and the evergreen Romantic Warrior shared the prestigious Horse of the Year title at a red-carpet event on Friday night.
A breakthrough season saw Jerry Chau land the Tony Cruz award for leading homegrown rider at the same bash, while Derby winner Invincible Ibis and exciting youngster Hot Delight were named Champion Four-Year-Old and Champion Griffin respectively.
One gong has yet to be given out and, although it seems more a matter of ‘when’ than ‘if,’ Caspar Fownes and his team will have to wait a little longer before popping the champers to celebrate a fifth champion trainer title.
The King of the Valley lies six clear (69-63) of Danny Shum after the two handlers saddled a treble and a double apiece at the city track in midweek, but a host of fellow handlers will be keen to make their mark at the final Sha Tin meeting of the season on Sunday.
Peach ready to ripen again
Early signs suggest punters are keen to be with Sagacious Life in Sunday’s Class 1 feature at 12.35 and the Brazilian G 1 winner – who showed smart form for Pierre Ng in the first half of the season – made a promising start for Fownes when third behind Soleil Fighter in a valuable handicap over course and distance last month.
Soleil Fighter snagged a soft lead under 10lb claimer Nichola Yuen that day – ambling through the first 800m in a leisurely 48.97s - and that made life tricky for Sagacious Life.
But the tepid pace didn’t suit STUNNING PEACH, either.
Tony Cruz’s gelding ran respectably in the circumstances and, having dropped to a mark just 1lb above the one he last won from, he looks a sporting win and place shout under Angus Chung in an open race.
Patch and Fortress an appealing pair
Hong Kong markets tend to take on a life of their own in the final meetings of the season and it’s a fair bet that a couple of John Size horses will attract tons of support in two of the last three races on Sunday’s card.
Step forward Crossborderpegasus and Super Express, who have been sent off at 2-1 or shorter in no fewer than 19 of their 21 combined starts, winning thrice and twice respectively while testing the patience of their followers on a regular basis.
The good news about Crossborderpegasus is that he finally seems to be learning to run in a relatively straight line having ruined his chance by hanging badly right numerous times.
The presence of several front runners will help him in the Joy And Fun Handicap at 1.10 but I’ve been burned a little too often by this lad and GOLD PATCH (speedy and progressive) and FLYING FORTRESS (fairly treated after catching the eye last time) look a handy pair against the field in this valuable Class 3.
Lightning to strike twice
‘Always heads the market and nearly always runs well’ is the story of Super Express’s life over the last two seasons and the Kiwi import, who bustled up the useful Baby Sakura on his latest start, looks bound to jump as favourite yet again.
But ALMIGHTY LIGHTNING and MONARCH COUNTY catch the eye at longer odds in the concluding All You Wish Handicap at 2.20.
Almighty Lightning progressed nicely over 1200m and took a big step forward under Andrea Atzeni on his 1400m debut here three weeks ago, travelling powerfully throughout and settling things decisively to earn an 8lb hike.
That hike asks a new question, but this gelding looks on the up.
An inside draw and plenty of pace should see him bang there ata the finish again while Monarch County has hit a new level of late – following a commanding win with a luckless fifth behind Almighty Lightning – and he looks another to have on your side as Caspar bids to nail down the title he’s been chasing so hard all season.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
- 12.35: Stunning Peach (EW)
- 13.10: Flying Fortress/Gold Patch
- 14.20: Almighty Lightning/Monarch County
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