Lightning to strike at Sha Tin

Luke Middlebrook

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Wednesday (4 May) for a nine-race fixture – eight races on dirt and one on turf.

Trainer Danny Shum will be hopeful four-year-old LIGHTNING BOLT can bounce back into the winner's enclosure when he returns to the all-weather in the Class 3 1200m Handicap.

LIGHTNING BOLT has done little wrong in his five-start Hong Kong career to date, amassing one win and one second placing but arguably his record should read better than that had he had better luck in running.

Shum switched LIGHTNING BOLT to this track and distance three starts ago where he has acquitted himself well, shedding his local maiden tag in fine style before going on to miss by a head on the wire after jumping from a wide draw.

Last time, LIGHTNING BOLT was hampered in the early stages, which forced him to race further back than what was probably intended. He then raced tight for some time from the 900m before charging home late into fourth place, beaten 2.5 lengths to the winner who made all.

LIGHTNING BOLT goes up against some old foes in LIKE THAT, who may face an uphill task drawing widest this time in, and FLYING DRAGON, who has drawn well low to get the gun run. Zac Purton’s mount CAPTAIN WIN could be a big improver after a luckless last start effort but the 1200m is seemingly his minimum trip.

Elsewhere on the card, Purton has a good ride for trainer Francis Lui when they combine with talented-looking newcomer YELLOWFIN in the Class 4 1200m Handicap (race 5).

Three-year-old YELLOWFIN has been well-prepared for his debut, with Purton trialling the Territories gelding on five occasions.

YELLOWFIN has shown likeable gate speed throughout his education, which will hold him in good stead for his first race start on the dirt – he should at least be in the first three in running after 200m.

The likely leader, HAPPY TANGO, can give a bold sight and will be giving them all something to run down at the 300m.

Luke Middlebrook’s Selections:

Race 1; 7-11-1-5

Race 2: 5-7-6-1

Race 3: 1-2-11-3

Race 4: 7-10-4-2

Race 5: 4-2-7-6

Race 6: 6-11-13-8

Race 7: 3-1-7-4

Race 8: 7-10-9-5

Race 9: 4-3-1-5