Luke Middlebrook
Just eight meetings remain for the 2021/22 racing season and trainer Frankie Lor will go into Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting with a six-winner lead over John Size.
Both Lor and Size have a host of good chances, most notably in the final race of the card, the Class 2 1200m Handicap.
Lor sends out talented three-year-old Eason with Joao Moreira in the saddle from barrier No 1, while Matthew Chadwick will ride ultra-consistent five-year-old Rewarding Together from gate No 7.
Drawn wide, but a horse who usually comes from the back anyway, is Seizing The Moment for Size, stepping away from barrier No 10 under Frenchman Alexis Badel. If the pace is on, he is certainly one to relish it and can swoop late.
The one to beat - though winning a Class 2 in Hong Kong is never a gimme – would have to be trainer Manfred Man’s thriving three-year-old Lucky Sweynesse.
It's been a rapid rise in the handicap for Lucky Sweynesse, debuting on a mark of 52 in a Class 4 1200m Handicap in early February, to now boast a rating of 87 and firmly indentured in Class 2.
Two starts ago, Lucky Sweynesse tasted his first defeat at start No 4, checking home 0.75 lengths into third place on a rain-affected course and distance.
However, freshened up and a switch to 1400m at Sha Tin, saw him bounce back to his winning ways last start on 5 June – the best part being it was his first Class 2 start.
Lucky Sweynesse, from barrier No 2, should be well placed to get every winning chance in another brilliant test of his mettle.
At the other end of the handicap, in-form three-year-old See U Again looks on song to shed his maiden tag in Race 3.
See U Again is at his eighth time of asking on Wednesday and has been knocking on the door after placing third in his last two starts.
The Danny Shum-trained, Zac Purton-ridden gelding was last seen two weeks ago at this track over 1200m, sitting outside the leader throughout on the rain-affected track and doing well to hold onto a minor placing, but not looking comfortable late in the yielding going.
From barrier No 3 on Wednesday, See U Again should map one of the better chances in the race and the lack of depth among his competitors holds him in good stead to get the job done.
The clear standout to test See U Again is Moreira’s mount, Yellowfin. The Francis Lui-trained three-year-old is having his third start and turned in his best performance yet when a slashing second place to the smart Gorgeous Vitality at this course and distance 21 days ago.