A huge weekend of racing continues on Sunday with the annual Hong Kong International Races Day kicking off at Sha Tin.
The Hong Kong Sprint, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Cup, and Hong Kong Vase make up four Group 1’s on the program, and you can find our best bets for the entire card below!
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Race 1 – 2:25pm – Class 2 Handicap (1600m)
Fast Most Furious came close first-up over 1400m and then found himself a little too far back in his next assignment over the mile.
Despite running seventh, he still made up plenty of late ground, suggesting he’s one of the main dangers with some fitness now on his side.
Zac Purton takes over the reins, and with two wins to his name second-up, I’m happy to put him on top.
Race 2 – 2:55pm – Class 4 Handicap (1400m)
Super Mission looks set to peak third-up and back out to his preferred distance.
The five-year-old returned a place when resuming over this track and trip back in October and is worth forgiving on his latest run where he was forced to shuffle back.
The Ricky Yiu-trained gelding narrowly missed out on a win third-up last time in and should be much improved for recent racing.
Race 3 – 3:25pm – Class 3 Handicap (1800m)
Superbella looks a decent each-way chance in what is a very wide-open race.
The British import has been racing well without winning of late and wasn’t far off in his last start over further.
This is tougher, but he’s got the right rider, and a couple of wins over 1800m working in his favour.
Race 4 – 4:00pm – Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m)
It would be fitting for the aptly named Glory Vase to win the Hong Kong Vase in his first run back.
The son of Deep Impact won this race by a comfortable 3.5L margin two years ago under Joao Moreira, and the pair will combine again on Sunday for the first time since.
More recently, Glory Vase has gone on to run a clear second to Loves Only You in this year’s QEII Cup, prior to a last-start third in a Group 2 race in Japan.
He’s a three-time winner over 2400m and absolutely flies fresh, so there’s really no reason he won’t be winning.
Race 5 – 4:40pm – Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m)
Pixie Knight is the dominant favourite in Hong Kong Sprint betting and it’s not hard to see why.
The lightly-raced colt by Maurice won the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan earlier in October, and while this is his first look at Sha Tin, he’s expected to run well with a decent first-up record.
The turn of foot he showed at Nakayama last time out was impressive to say the least, and if he can push forward again and stalk the speed, he should be winning.
Race 6 – 5:15pm – Class 2 Handicap (1200m)
Fantastic Way is a four-time winner over 1200m at Sha Tin, a record he tacked onto last month with a narrow win over Sunday’s rival Trillion Win.
The John Size-trained four-year-old strips fitter for two runs back now and should find this a little easier after finally drawing an inside gate.
He’ll carry an extra few kg’s for his troubles, but after rattling off some big wins last time in over this trip, he should be very hard to beat.
Race 7 – 5:50pm – Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m)
Five-time Group 1 winner Golden Sixty is a champion miler that is well-deserving of his status as favourite.
Not only is he the defending champion of this race, the six-year-old son of Medaglia D’oro is also a perfect 7-0 over the distance after adding to his record with a first-up win in the Group 2 JC Mile.
Winner of 15 straight, the only real danger to this world-class horse is Danon Kingly, who is coming off a narrow runner-up in a Group 2 race over in Tokyo.
The son of Deep Impact is a three-time winner over the journey, but he’ll need to produce something special to knock off the favourite.
Race 8 – 6:30pm – Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m)
This is a wide-open edition of the Hong Kong Cup with a few making their Sha Tin debut.
Glorious Dragon is a big price, but I think he looks up to it after holding ground for third last time out in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup.
He’s got plenty of experience racing at Sha Tin and has won fourth-up previously.
Slight query on Dubai Honour journeying over from Europe, but his recent form is very tough to fault. He made up some late ground for second last time out in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot, a run he can only improve on.
The son of Pride of Dubai is a three-time winner over the 2000m and should get a lovely run in transit for barrier 7 under Tom Marquand.
Race 9 – 7:10pm – Class 3 Handicap (1200m)
War Weapon wasn’t far off first-up when a length fifth to The Golden Scenery over the track and distance.
He lacked a turn of foot in the concluding stages, but he should be better for the run and has drawn well again under Joao Moreira.
The Caspar Fownes-trained four-year-old has won twice over this distance previously and looks a decent value play in a race that could be full of surprises.
Race 10 – 7:50pm – Class 3 Handicap (1400m)
Sauvestre has been working towards another win and is coming off a four week let-up.
He was strong to the line over the track and trip last time out for second and really hasn’t run a poor race this time in work.
Fitter, and with Ryan Moore steering, he rates as one of the major players.
