A deep and highly competitive Class 2 sprint will provide the feature attraction at Sha Tin Racecourse on Saturday, where several rapidly progressive young sprinters are set to clash in the closing event of the 11-race programme.
Much of the attention centres around Francis Lui’s unbeaten three-year-old Hot Delight, whose swift rise through the grades has already prompted inevitable comparisons with stable legend Golden Sixty.
Lui, who guided Golden Sixty to 10 Group 1 victories and widespread acclaim in Hong Kong racing, generated headlines earlier this season when suggesting Hot Delight was further advanced than the champion was at the same stage of development. Those remarks have only heightened anticipation around the son of Too Darn Hot, who arrives at Saturday’s Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1200m) with an unblemished record.
The Australian-bred gelding has powered through Classes 4 and 3 with three authoritative victories, scoring by margins of one-and-three-quarters, two-and-three-quarters and one-and-a-quarter lengths. His current rating of 81 already places him firmly on the radar for next season’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Regular rider Vincent Ho, synonymous with Golden Sixty’s glittering career, steps aside this weekend due to the handicap conditions, with Harry Bentley taking over at the lighter weight of 115lb.
Bentley is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge awaiting the rising star.
“He’s certainly a horse coming through the ranks nicely,” Bentley said. “He’s been eye-catching in each one of his starts to date. He’s putting it all together, isn’t he? It’s easy to get excited with these types who have an unblemished record. I hope to keep that intact.”
The wide draw in stall 11 presents a fresh obstacle for the front-running colt in what shapes as one of the strongest Class 2 contests staged at Sha Tin this season. Bentley, however, appeared relaxed about the assignment.
“He quickens off whatever pace he seems to be running on,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to Francis just yet, but it’s a less-than-ideal gate to have. There seems to be quite a bit of speed in the race, so we’ll have to discuss tactics and go from there.”
Among the principal dangers is Jamie Richards-trained Bulb General, another progressive sprinter who resumed with a fast-finishing third after almost six months away from racing. The effort extended the four-year-old’s impressive recent form following a sequence of three consecutive victories.
Richards believes the run has brought the gelding forward significantly.
“He ran well. He obviously needed it, because he hadn’t had to run for a while,” Richards said. “But we were pleased with him, and he’s had a couple of trials since and done some nice work. It’s a very strong race, but he’s a nice horse.”
The booking of Joao Moreira adds further intrigue. Moreira has enjoyed a flying return to full-time riding in Hong Kong, recording eight winners from his opening seven meetings since resuming his stint in the jurisdiction.
“I asked the Fownes stable if he would be available, and they said yes,” Richards added. “It’s lucky I got him early, because I think a few other people were after him. But we’re glad to have Joao on him. He’s galloped him three times now, and been happy with how he’s been going.”
Another major contender is Crimson Flash from the yard of championship-leading trainer Mark Newnham. The four-year-old will attempt to complete a winning hat-trick under Andrea Atzeni despite carrying top weight of 129lb.
“He’s been great. A very consistent horse,” Newnham said. “He’s good on all tracks, which is helpful. Easy to place when they’re like that. He’s come up with an awkward barrier, and he’s up in weight, but he keeps improving.”
Newnham indicated race tactics would be dictated by the tempo from the outside draw.
“We just have to have a look at the field and see where he’s best placed in running. But from 10, he’s either going to be all the way up or all the way back. So I’ll just have a look at the speed of the race before we make that determination.”
Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting begins at 12.30pm local time with the Butterfly Bay Plate (1000m) for Griffins, before building towards a compelling finale featuring some of Hong Kong racing’s most exciting emerging sprint talent.
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