Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Sunday's card at Sha Tin live on Sky Sports Racing.
All about the Numbers
It’s a Numbers game as the Hong Kong racing season approaches half time.
David Hayes has moved to within one (34-33) of Mark Newnham atop the HK trainers’ table after Romantic Son swooped late under Harry Bentley at Happy Valley in midweek.
Caspar Fownes is level with Hayes and needs just one more winner to reach 1,200 in HK after a Wednesday double.
And Frankie Lor, currently in mid-table on 19 winners, is hoping to take a significant step on the 2026 Derby trail when one of his very best prospects runs at Sha Tin this Sunday.
Frankie and Derek on the Derby trail
NUMBERS joined Lor after a busy and productive career in Australia – signing off with a good second in the Queensland Derby last June – and his two HK runs mark him out as one of the most promising four-year-olds around.
Third in a strong handicap at the Valley on his debut, Numbers went keenly from the front again in a valuable Class 2 over 2000m at Sha Tin over Christmas and kept finding extra when pressed to win in determined style.
Derek Leung will need to keep the pace honest back at 1800m as Sunday’s opposition contains a couple of strong finishers including bang-in-form January Cup winner Speed Dragon.
But Numbers needs to go very close in the G3 Centenary Vase (8.05) to enhance his Derby claim and, given that his first HK win has already been franked more than once, there’s a good chance he can do just that.
Sky’s the limit
The key numbers relating to the Wu King Handicap at 8.40 relate to one horse who has won both his races on dirt and another who is unbeaten in four trials on the AW surface.
Magnifique has thrived since those early trialling days, winning four out of five on turf and returning from a lengthy break with an emphatic success over the minimum trip in December.
His morning exploits suggest the surface switch shouldn’t be a problem, but VICTORY SKY has gone from strength to strength since being switched to the dirt, leaving a lengthy losing run behind to bolt up off marks of 62 and 69 for Hollie Doyle and Zac Purton.
Ricky Yiu’s gelding is up to a career high mark of 77 here but he clocked striking closing splits in those two wins - 22.51s and 22.2s – and that powerful finish could prove decisive again with Purton back aboard.
SPEEDY SMARTIE is another who has taken a huge step forward for the switch to dirt of late.
True, it was just an ordinary Class 4 that this lad won last month.
But Brett Crawford’s gelding took his rivals apart from the front – surging clear in a time that compared very well with the other sprints on the card – and early risers might find that a 10lb rise isn’t enough to stop him following up in the 6.00.
Feeling the Chill
Sunday’s card concludes with a very tricky Class 3 puzzle for the Yau Oi Handicap at 9.50 and, although Stunning Peach makes some appeal under top weight after a fine second last time, there are too many dangers to be confident.
But the Tai Hing Handicap and the Yan Tin Handicap make more appeal from a punting standpoint.
LOYAL BRIGHT was heavily backed and made all to get off the mark with authority for the Lor/Leung combo last month.
He’s the obvious starting point for the 7.30 but CHILL BUDDY was another to catch the eye last time – reeled in late after helping force a strong pace – and he’s well worth noting for saver and Quinella purposes.
Emblazon made it three wins from four starts this season with a gutsy success here three weeks ago, but his old rival JUNEAU PRIDE has a 6lb pull for a short head in the 9.15.
John Size’s reliable gelding looks to have plenty in his favour despite his big weight, though ONE MORE has shown plenty of dash from the front on his last two starts and he’s another to have on your side in a race where half the field look hard to fancy.
Sunday’s Sha Tin Selections
- 6.00: Speedy Smartie
- 7.30: Loyal Bright/Chill Buddy
- 8.05: Numbers
- 8.40: Victory Sky
- 9.15: Juneau Pride/One More
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