Sha Tin Sunday Preview - 12/12/21

The first selection of the afternoon from Hong Kong comes in the Group One Hong Kong Vase and the British raider Pyledriver is primed to run a big race from stall 3.

The now four year old was a real success story for the fairly small yard last term having made his seasonal debut in June when finishing second at Kempton, but since then improving with every run and showing he is a real black type contender.

He headed to Royal Ascot for his second start of the season and he was a shock winner of the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes.

The colt was given a Derby entry and went to Epsom but having being bumped in the big field early on he ran no race and as a far as Muir was concerned they drew a line through that run.

He proved how special he can be next time out when taking the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at York's Ebor meeting, being eased down in the final stages.

The St Leger was next on the agenda and with many pundits fearing he would not stay, they were proved wrong as the three year old finished a length third behind winner Galileo Chrome.

Although seeing out the marathon trip his trainer believes he is best over 1 mile 4 furlongs, but he did not give his best running on his final start of the season when only seventh of 10 in the Group One Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Back for another season this term the son of Harbour Watch finished a decent second in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket behind the smart Sir Ron Priestley.

With that run under his belt Muir, as ever, was bullish about the chances of his star in the Group One event at Epsom and in a very gritty fashion, he got back up late on when passed by Al Aasy to land the Coronation Cup.

A setback saw him miss some big engagements, but the camps targets turned to this event and ahead of it he had a prep run at Lingfield in the Listed Churchill Stakes where he narrowly won, with his class telling all.

He has travelled over well and is primed to go close.

Next up is the Group one Hong Kong Sprint over six furlongs and the John Size trained Hot King Prawn should go well with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

An up and down performer, this seven year old normally saves his best runs for these types of events, winning two of his last five races including the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup and the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint.

Hot King Prawn was last seen having his first run since March when eighth of 10 in a Group Two and it was an obvious prep for this event.

Moore in the saddle is a big bonus and being drawn in stall two makes him a big candidate.

A stylish handicap on the Sha Tin card is the Class Two Kanaloa event over six furlongs and the horse we like the look of is another for John Size.

Fantastic Way is a very consistent horse racing six times during his career and going on to win four of those events.

The four year old landed a hat-trick of wins on his first three starts over course and distance moving up through the handicap.

He was then second off a mark of 79 and then when up to a mark of 81 was an extremely close fourth of 13 in October.

Up to a mark of 84 he got back to winning ways, dead heating with Trillion Win and now up to 89, if improving like he has, he should have big claims.

Back to Group One action and at the prices Mother Earth for Aidan O'Brien looks massively overpriced in the betting for the Hong Kong Mile.

Mother Earth has been one of the stars of the mile fillies division this term running superbly in two Group One events and off the back of those she is the worthy favourite for this event.

The filly was a fair juvenile landing a Group Three event on her third start, and then towards the end of last season finishing second at the Breeders' Cup meeting in a Group One and also finishing a good third in the Group One Fillies' Mile.

The yard did not know what to expect for the daughter of Zoffany but on seasonal debut this term she managed to land the 1000 Guineas in taking style.

Off the back of that she was sent to France looking to land the 1000 Guineas double, but she could only finish second, giving another good account of herself.

Next time out the filly was seen finishing a close third behind Alcohol Free and Snow Lantern at Royal Ascot, but reversed some of the form when a narrow second in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Looking to get back to winning ways she went to France for the Group One Prix Rothschild and beat off a strong field of 13 runners to land the event.

Seen once more, next time out she found all kinds of traffic in running and in the end had to settle for third in the Group One Matron Stakes on Irish Champions weekend, with her getting no run at all.

Next time out she was consistent as ever finishing second behind the runaway winner Saffron Beach in the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes.

Seen twice more since then she finished fifth of 10 in the QEII on British Champions Day only just over three lengths behind the superstar Baeed and then unfortunately flopped at the Breeders Cup.

Given some time off for this event she should be fresh and her record this term puts her in the frame.

The penultimate selection on Sunday from Hong Kong comes in the Group One Hong Kong Cup and the Japanese Loves Only You is a big contender at the weights.

A highly consistent mare, the five year old daughter of Deep Impact has been seen five times this year, winning three times and then placing in two other nice events.

Starting in February in a Grade Two in Japan she won the event in nice style and then backed that up in Meydan in March when a neck third behind Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Sent to Sha Tin in April over 1m4f, she got back to winning ways in fine style, staying out the trip well.

Moving back over to Japan for a Grade Two she was a narrow second over 1m2f, but it acted as a perfect prep run for the Grade One Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar as she took the event.

Not seen since then she heads into this event a leading contender if putting up a similar performance.

The final selection of the afternoon from us comes in the Snow Fairy Handicap over six furlongs and Prime Minister looks to have a huge chance with Tom Marquand taking the ride.

The six year old is weighted to go well, especially now his trainer has found a trip that suits running him over further in the past and him struggling to finish off his races.

In November he was tried at 6f for the first time in his career and finished a good second behind a nice type over course and distance and only 1lb higher for this event he is a player.