Trainer Pierre Ng will look to Le Zonda as the four-year-old targets the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse at Sha Tin on Sunday, November 8. The HK$4.2 million G3 contest over 1800m will present a new challenge for the rising talent, who will attempt to transfer his impressive Happy Valley form to Sha Tin after winning three of his last four starts.
Le Zonda will enter the 13-runner contest in good form, having established himself as a consistent performer on Happy Valley’s tight-turning circuit. However, the more spacious layout and longer home straight at Sha Tin will present a different test. Ng will remain pleased with the gelding’s condition and will hope his lightweight assignment will help him produce another strong performance.
The trainer will also draw confidence from Le Zonda’s recent trials on Sha Tin’s dirt track. Although the Irish import will have failed to finish among the first five in his previous three appearances at the venue, recording two sixth-place finishes and one 14th, those performances will have come before his winning campaign began in June.
His latest fifth-place finish behind Massive Sovereign on October 14 will not significantly affect Ng’s confidence. The trainer will consider that performance an unlucky effort after Le Zonda encountered a slow pace and failed to secure cover during the race.
Le Zonda Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Faces Strong Opposition
The contest will feature several established performers, including top-weight Beauty Joy (135lb), Numbers (129lb), Sky Jewellery (124lb), Massive Sovereign (123lb), Soleil Fighter (122lb), Ensued (119lb), Speed Dragon (119lb), Gentlemen Legacy (115lb), Silvery Breeze (115lb), Romantic Thor (115lb), Californiatotality (115lb) and Stunning Peach (115lb). Massive Sovereign will arrive in good form, while Numbers will be expected to race prominently. Beauty Joy will also remain a notable contender despite carrying the highest weight in the field.
Richard Kingscote will take over the ride on Le Zonda from Vincent Ho, who will be unable to make the weight. Kingscote will partner the four-year-old for the first time and will be expected to carry 117lb, two pounds above the allotted weight. Ng will hope the jockey will help the gelding settle during the race after expressing satisfaction with his latest trial, in which he finished strongly.
Le Zonda will also remain entered for the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), scheduled for December 13 as part of the HK$130 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
Ng will also saddle five other runners during Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day, including Storm Mirror (124lb), who will attempt to complete a hat-trick in the La Estephe Handicap (1400m). The horse will make his first appearance in Class 3 after progressing through a successful run of performances.
Aeroinvincible (115lb) will represent the stable in the Class 2 Santa Monica Handicap (1400m), with classic-winning jockey Saffie Osborne booked for her Sha Tin debut. The Per Incanto gelding will step up in grade after winning four of his previous eight starts and finishing no worse than sixth in his last 14 appearances.
Le Zonda will face a major Sha Tin test in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap on November 8, with Richard Kingscote taking the ride for trainer Pierre Ng. The 11-race programme will begin with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1800m) at 12:30pm, while the main contest will be scheduled for 4:05pm. Admission to Sha Tin will open at 10:30am.
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