Five things to keep in mind when having a bet at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Golden Sixty supporters look away now
Francis Lui Kin-wai’s superstar Golden Sixty is going to start a short-priced favourite in the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy – but history says that is not a good pointer to success. In the past 29 editions of the 1,600m Group Two, just three favourites have won. The positive is that those three have come in the past seven years – Gold-Fun (2013), Contentment (2015) and Beauty Generation (2018). Beware.
Light weights might not help in Premier Bowl
The past seven winners of the Premier Bowl have each carried 122 pounds or more – including two with the top weight of 133 pounds (Able Friend in 2015 and Mr Stunning in 2017). Just two horses meet that criteria in Sunday’s Group Two sprint – Hot King Prawn (133 pounds) and Voyage Warrior (127 pounds). The favourite Computer Patch is carrying just 117 pounds.
Stretching out to 2,000m
For the first time this season, there will be a race held over 2,000m. The race programmers typically give trainers (and their horses) time to build up, so the Class Five Tin Sam Handicap – the opening race of the day – is the first over the trip. Just one of the 11 runners have won over the course and distance – Peter Ho Leung’s Amazing Agility.
Dragon knocking on the door
Super Red Dragon is yet to break to break his maiden, but he seems to be getting very close. Chris So Wai-yin’s grey has placed six times from his past eight starts – including five seconds. Alexis Badel, who has been aboard for two of those seconds in his first two starts of the campaign, retains the ride and will jump from barrier four.
Red Desert loves the dirt
John Size’s Red Desert is building an impressive record over the 1,200m on the all-weather track with two wins, a second and a third from four starts. Chad Schofield was aboard for his most recent victory and has been very committed to the four-year-old since then, riding him 28 times in trackwork or trials. He jumps from barrier five in the Class Two Fo Tan Handicap (1,200m).
