Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham previews Sunday's card at Sha Tin live on Sky Sports Racing.
King rules on National Day as Size reaches for the Sky
One by one, the good horses are starting to make their mark on a new HK season.
COLOURFUL KING got Thursday’s public holiday card off to a flyer with a decisive National Day Cup success under Zac Purton, prompting trainer David Eustace to hint that overseas targets (and possibly Royal Ascot) could be on the agenda next summer.
And SKY JEWELLERY capped a good day for File fancies with a thrilling success in a hotly contested Beijing Handicap, edging out the highly promising Hot Delight under Jimmy Orman to give veteran handler John Size the option of a tilt at the G2 Sha Tin Trophy on October 19th.
Emerging stars are harder to identify at Sha Tin on Sunday, but there are plenty of potential improvers on show and Solid State will be many people’s idea of something to bet on in the Class 3 that concludes an eleven-race card at 10.45.
Frankie Lor’s gelding demolished some fair sprinters from the front on his HK debut in July and will be well suited by this return to 1200m after finishing second over the minimum trip three weeks ago.
Purton partners the Aussie import for the first time in a race where quite a few are hard to fancy, so what’s not to like?
Well, Solid State relished a wet track in July shouldn’t be forgotten and he also looked a bit awkward off the bit last time. Add in the fact that he looks set to start at 2.5 or thereabouts and it could pay to take him on with HELENE SUPAFEELING.
A dual AW winner as Port Light for Archie Watson, this gelding made a strong start for Eustace last season, winning over Sunday’s course and distance on his debut and running some fine races in defeat, including when fourth over 1400m on his final start behind a winner who’s gone in again since.
The way Helene Supafeeling travels indicates that he should be effective back at 1200m. He’s nicely drawn in 4 for a stalking trip behind what ought to be a good gallop and, with the stable going well, he looks worth a win and place interest under Jerry Chau.
Reduced turnover has been causing headaches at HKJC and, with ‘only’ eight declared, Sunday’s feature event on the AW has been bumped to the front of the card at 6.30.
It’s not a race I have a strong view on, in any case, but INVINCIBLE STEED and FLOW WATER FLOW are names to note at a more civilised hour for Euro-based viewers.
Flow Water Flow looks a very solid favourite for the Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup at 9.05 after following a rewarding first season – wins over 1600m and 1800m – with a highly promising reappearance.
A step down to 1400m was never likely to prove ideal for this Kiwi import last month but he shaped with plenty of promise, travelling sweetly then keeping on for fourth after being short of room more than once at important points in the straight.
The fact that Purton is aboard for this return to 1800m means we won’t be looking at a flash price, but Flow Water Flow clearly has a lot in his favour, with the progressive HYMNBOOK (formerly a Nottingham winner for Sean Woods) nominated as the saver and Quinella option after a promising Happy Valley appearance.
We don’t get many 5-1 the field races in HK but the Shing Mun Handicap at 10.10 looks one such, with a host of old foes crossing swords for a dash down the straight course.
Alpha Strike is the recent winner in the field having defied a right-handed drift over course and distance on his reappearance, while Horsepower is another in good form after a sound effort at the Valley.
But lightly raced Aussie import INVINCIBLE STEED appeals as the value option here.
This gelding showed plenty in two starts last season and caught the eye again behind Alpha Strike on his reappearance, caught on the wing from stall one until halfway then keeping on for an encouraging fifth.
A hefty pull with the winner helps matters, as does a better draw in gate 7, and in a wide-open race he ought to give his supporters a fair run for their money under Vincent Ho.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
- 9.05: Flow Water Flow/Hymnbook
- 10.10: Invincible Steed
- 10.45: Helene Supafeeling (EW)
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