Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday featuring the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) and the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) to see in the New Year.
Unbeaten four-year-old MASTER EIGHT aims to extend his winning streak to five when his mettle is put to the test in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy.
It’s been a rapid rise in the ratings for trainer Frankie Lor’s talented MASTER EIGHT, kicking off his career on a rating of 52 four starts ago in mid-May last year and winning his way to a current mark of 95.
The Oamaru Force gelding has defied the handicapper each and every time, most recently dominating down the straight – his first try at the track and distance under race day conditions – as he put 1.75 lengths on a handy Class 2 field.
With nowhere to hide now, MASTER EIGHT faces his toughest challenge yet on Saturday, coming up against some sharp straight course sprinters such as trainer David Hayes’ SUPER WEALTHY, who returns to his pet track and distance, while trainer John Size’s five-year-old SIGHT SUCCESS continues to thrive this season with three wins from six starts.
Lor’s chances for a swift start to the New Year don’t end there. The current championship-leading trainer, leading his former boss John Size 31 to 30, sends out a host of up-and-coming talent, including BEAUTY LIVE on debut in the Class 4 1200m Handicap (race 2) and EASON, who aims to go one place better on his debut second-place, in the other Class 4 1200m (race 5).
Elsewhere, trainer David Hayes’ good run with youngsters can continue with four-year-old LUCKY WITH YOU in the Class 3 1200m Handicap (race 9).
LUCKY WITH YOU has racked up two wins and a second placing from his short three-start career and was last seen at this track and distance 20 days ago when first-up off a five-month spell.
The speedy son of Artie Schiller was crunched late in the betting from 2/1 into even money and never gave his rivals a look in, leading from pillar to post to score by a soft 1.25 lengths.
Granted he wasn’t pressured much on that occasion, but again LUCKY WITH YOU looks to map well in this week’s race and his win two starts ago rated well from a sectional point of view, so he is able to withstand faster splits.
