Sha Tin Sunday Champions Day Preview - 25/04/21

The first event of the day is the Class 4 seven furlong Handicap and Enchanting Start looks to be the most interesting horse in the field.

Zac Purton rides the gelding and the four year old has been fairly consistent on his four starts to date, placing in both his events in 2020 and then on his first run in 2021, finishing a close up fourth over course and distance.

Excuses can be made for his last run and now stepping up a furlong with first time blinkers on, he should be a big player and is definitely on the shortlist.

The next contest of the day is the Class 4 six furlong Handicap and Packing Award for trainer David Hayes looks the obvious selection.

The three year old gelding is set to be ridden by Zac Purton and will be looking to build on his debut second over course and distance in March.

That run looks to be some of the best form on offer and if improving could be a class above this field.

Another six furlong handicap follows this time in Class 3 company and we are siding with the top weighted Fantastic Way for John Size.

This three year old has been foot perfect on all three of his runs to date, running over course and distance on all of his starts and winning them all in good fashion.

His latest win came at the end of March when upped to a mark of 69 and taking the extra weight in his stride to win fairly comfortably.

He is joined by Joao Moreira again and although up another 10lb he should be difficult to beat.

The Class 3 Handicap over a mile sees a decent field go to post over a mile and All For St Paul's looks to have a big chance to land the hat-trick.

The four year old has been a seriously consistent horse of late winning three of his last five events and going to place in another race.

This year the five year old has raced five times, having excuses on his first run of the year over a mile, but then improving massively to win over the same course and distance.

The second placed horse has since gone on to frank the form and so did All For St Paul's when winning over 9f last time out.

He is up 6lb for that run, but that should not stop his progress with how he has been running of late

The first big race of the day in Hong Kong is the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize over six furlongs and Wellington for Richard Gibson.

The five year old has been highly consistent for the yard of late winning over five furlongs in December and then backing that up over the same course and distance on his first run of the new year when second.

Stepped back up to six furlongs, the gelding got back to winning ways and then doubled up in a Class 1 event at Sha Tin.

Favourite for the Group Two Sprint Cup at the start of the month he could only finish fifth and although needing to bounce back he holds bundles of ability and pace and can't be overlooked.

The seven furlong handicap looks extremely winnable and Gallant Express near the bottom weights looks to be a big player off the back of his debut.

The John Size trained three year old has only been once to date and he made his debut over six furlongs at Sha Tin and was a very taking winner.

He gets into this event as bottom weight and the step up in trip is sure to suit with his pedigree suggesting he needs this.

Interesting runner.

The feature race of the day is the Group One Champions Mile and we cant look the past the odds on favourite Golden Sixty looking to make it 18 wins in his last 17 races.

This superstar is one of the greatest horses to come out of Hong Kong landing numerous Group One events over a mile and is still is only five years old.

If running to anywhere near his best he wins this race comfortably, having landed three straight Group Ones in a row at this track

The final Group One event of the afternoon is the QEII Cup over 1m2f and the seven year old Exultant has been the bridesmaid far too many times of late and is due to get his head infront.

Having won numerous Group One events in the past, over the last year he has had to settle for second and third place in these events.

Two starts ago he finished a close second in the Group Three Centenary Vase over 1m1f at the track and then last time out over todays trip he was a good third behind the superstar Golden Sixty.

He will have to be at his best against a very good field but holds leading form and having been there and done it in the best he could role back the years.

The penultimate event of the day is the one mile Champion Handicap and top weight Savvy Nine for Douglas whyte could be a big player.

The five year old will be ridden by Harry Bentley who has settled in nicely to life in Hong Kong and this gelding dropping back in class could be too much for the field.

Savvy Nine has raced four times this season winning at Happy Valley over 1m1f on his first run of the year and then stepping up to the Group Three Centenary Vase was outclassed.

His last two runs have been below par, but have come in better races and if bouncing back in this class of company, he should be thereabouts.

The final runner of the afternoon from us at Sha Tin comes in the Class 2 My Legend Handicap over six furlongs and second top weight Winning Dreamer looks interesting.

The four year old has been slightly below par on his three races since the turn of the year, but before that landed all six of his first six races.

He flew up the handicap winning off a mark of 52 and then gaining his last win off a mark of 95 and although now 6lb higher, he is worth taking a chance again if being able to recapture his form of old.