Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham previews Saturday’s card at Sha Tin live on Sky Sports Racing.
Sha Tin enters Saturday Twilight Zone
Sha Tin racing moves to Saturday this week before a brief lull as the usual Happy Valley slot is filled by five days of World Pool action from Royal Ascot.
The race to the airport will be run at strong gallop as a host of star riders jet off for a break but first comes an eleven-race twilight card with over £1.5m in prize money on offer.
Zac Purton has a typically strong book, with eight of nine mounts prominent in the market, and it’s tempting to tackle the card using the champ as a starting point.
12.05: Anser Handicap (1200m)
The first three from a similar event reoppose here and Superb Spirit needs to defy a 7lb hike to confirm recent form with Lucrative Eight and Island Buddy.
A 6lb pull for a 0.75L beating makes Lucrative Eight a key player again – and Ricky Yiu’s gelding is well worth noting as a saver and Quinella option – but SUPERB SPIRIT was nicely on top close home after taking a while to hit top speed on yielding ground.
Stall 2 looks ideal for Purton to stalk the freewheeling Island Buddy again and, with further progress on the cards, Francis Lui’s good-looking youngster can go in again.
12.35: Peacock Handicap (1600m)
The fact that David Hayes has booked 10lb claimer Nichola Yuen means Soleil Fighter is sure to roll forward in this valuable Class 3 and that should suit PACKING ANGEL and MIGHTY MASTS very well indeed.
Lui has brought last year’s Derby third Packing Angel right back to his best after knee surgery and his last two runs – a decisive win followed by a strong-finishing fourth in a tactical affair at the Valley – both read well.
Another bold effort looks assured with Purton aboard for the first time this season, while Mighty Masts has been progressing nicely over 1400m and looks well worth another crack at this longer trip.
1.05: Snipe Handicap (1200m)
Can we take BLAZING WIND’S runaway dirt success from last month at face value?
Purton barely had to move a muscle as Danny Shum’s gelding crushed a useful field headed by Victory Sky and Aurora Patch that night and the same pair loom large again in race that looks bound to be run at a searching gallop.
Logic suggests an 11lb hike for a horse who had looked well exposed prior to that rout poses a new question and stall 10 is another possible negative for BW.
In short, this looks a very complex puzzle, but VICTORY PATCH didn’t find his usual early rhythm for a claimer last time and, with the excellent Jerry Chau booked here, he looks one of the safer place options from the inside alley.
2.15: Owl Handicap (1400m)
Super Express returns from a short break with solid claims in a tough finale, but Purton could pose the likely favourite problems on AEROVOLANIC and fellow Queenslander Jimmy Orman can also look forward to a good spin aboard Perfectday.
Aerovolanic has been very consistent at this level, most recently when a strong travelling third from gate 14 on an unusually wet track last time out.
Stall 2 and a faster surface ought to suit him well this time, while Perfectday came home with real zest to forge clear of Chill Easy on his latest outing and that form was given a healthy boost when the runner-up landed a decent race in good style last weekend.
Saturday’s Sha Tin Selections
12.05: Superb Spirit
12.35: Packing Angel/Mighty Masts
2.15: Aerovolanic/Perfectday
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