The upcoming Group 3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap marks a rare moment in the current Hong Kong racing season, with superstar Ka Ying Rising not among the contenders. His absence significantly reshapes the competitive landscape of Saturday’s 1200m sprint, opening the door for familiar rivals to pursue overdue victories. Among them is Lucky With You, who enters with momentum following a pair of Class 1 wins in this campaign.
Guiding Lucky With You is 23-year-old jockey Luke Ferraris, enjoying a standout season in the Hong Kong ranks. Ferraris has steadily built his profile with consistent performances and heads into this contest looking to make the most of a slightly more open field. He acknowledges the softer challenge without Ka Ying Rising but remains cautious of strong opponents like Helios Express, who has been a consistent runner-up behind the absent star.
Helios Express, who has seen the back of Ka Ying Rising multiple times this season, remains a threat despite a gap since his last victory. He, too, is hungry for a top-tier success and could shine in a field that lacks its usual headliner. Another key name in the mix is Lucky Sweynesse, who is looking to rebound after a challenging start to the current term.
Outside the feature sprint, Ferraris will also be aboard Chancheng Glory in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap over the mile. The gelding narrowly missed out on this title a year ago and comes off a career-best effort in January. Though typically reserved in his morning training, his proven tenacity on race day keeps expectations high.
Earlier in the week, Ferraris partners with Chateauneuf at Happy Valley in the Class 3 Seine Handicap. Trained by David Hayes, Chateauneuf carries top-weight and a wide barrier this time, making the task more complex than his last outing. However, his early speed and consistent form offer hope for another strong showing despite the positional disadvantage.
Trainer David Hayes also reflected on the recent effort of Rubylot, who ran second in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. The four-year-old will now be rested ahead of the next season, having cemented his place among Hong Kong’s promising stayers with that runner-up finish.
Meanwhile, Karis Teetan eyes another solid effort aboard Management Folks in the Class 4 Loire Handicap. The gelding has shown consistency and a fighting spirit, with Teetan optimistic about another strong outing.
In the same midweek card, Jerry Chau teams up with My Day My Way, a progressive runner with improving trial performances. Trainer Danny Shum’s charge continues to move forward, and expectations are that the gelding is nearing a breakout run in the Ciron Handicap.
The Wednesday night meeting at Happy Valley features nine races, beginning with the Class 5 Dordogne Handicap at 6:40pm. With several notable horses entering off strong recent efforts and key riders like Ferraris, Teetan, and Chau actively involved, fans can look forward to a competitive and entertaining evening of racing.
