Romantic Warrior hard to oppose at Sha Tin

Luke Middlebrook

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday for an 11-race fixture highlighted by the running of the final Group 1 race of the season, the Champions & Chater Cup over 2400m.

Hong Kong’s top stayer Romantic Warrior is poised to claim back-to-back Group 1s in the feature event.

The 10-time winner and two-time runner-up from 13 starts, Romantic Warrior stretches to 2400m for the first time in his illustrious career, which has yielded three wins and two second placings at Group 1 level so far. Romantic Warrior was last seen bouncing back to his winning ways after a couple of second placings, easily winning the G1 QEII Cup over 2000m over Japan’s Prognosis and the UK’s Dubai Honour.

Champion jockey Zac Purton will take the reins on Romantic Warrior for the first time in a race on Sunday. With no international talent contesting the staying feature, Romantic Warrior has local hopes, Straight Arron and Russian Emperor, to stave off.

Elsewhere on the card, four-year-old gelding Supreme Lucky is capable of bouncing back into the winner’s circle when he contests the Class 3 Handicap (Race 10).

Supreme Lucky  has been an impressive three-time winner from his seven career starts so far, and has often been up against it from wide barriers in five of those races.

Last start at this track and distance was the second consecutive time he had barrier 13 to navigate, and he was forced to race wide and without cover from the 800m in a slow-run race, but was still strong late into third-place, beaten two lengths.

Purton will be taking over Matthew Poon as the rider of Supreme Lucky , and the pair looked well in a recent trial. In what appears a race much weaker, the four-year-old can prove the one to beat.

Race-by-Race Previews

Race 1: Kaholo Angel holding form with recent good trial and looks well placed to bounce back for the win. Chancheng Glory was an easy last start winner and must be respected, but it was on a rain-affected surface. Super Bonus gets Purton in the saddle and looked well in a recent trial. He can give a sight. Joyful Prosperity had genuine vet excuses last start and consider again. Holy Lake placed last start and looks a chance to run well again in an open race for the Griffins.

Race 2: Packing Hurricane winner of last two starts and is a big chance here to land a hat-trick in the small field and stepping away from barrier 1. He is the clear standout. Serangoon having third start and may improve. Above slow to begin, settled back, no show. Chance to improve in a race like this on true form. Hit The Shot rises in distance with Purton taking the reins. Chance to improve in a race like this.

Race 3: The Good Deal changed stables recently and has improved. An open Class 5 race, but he is the form choice and has drawn well low to map a winning chance. Turbo Power looks ready to run a big race in Class 5 if the 10lb claiming apprentice gives him a good steer. Vamos drops down in grade and start following. He showed enough at the bottom of Class 4 to run a race in the cellar grade. Birdsville ran the third fastest sectional time last start and looks on track to figure in Class 5 soon. Fingers Crossed looks capable of improving to be placed.

Race 4: We Are Hero racing in career-best form and must be rated a good chance to continue his winning ways despite the class rise. This is his acid test. Nervous Witness good performance when returning to form last start and he loves this track and distance, so he is well placed to bounce back for a win. Ping Hai Galaxy fresh up from a break and should run well. Stoltz should be highly suited by the drop back in distance and Purton riding suggests improvement is coming. Carroll Street has a better chance on this track and should run well if he shows up in true form.

Race 5: Moduleconstruction looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form. The low barrier should provide a better chance for him to score an overdue win. Multidarling had genuine excuses last start and consider again. He can improve back on a good surface. Gluck Racer can bounce back a winner anytime in this class and barrier 1 should ensure a world-perfect run. Champion Instinct having third start and may improve here, each-way claims. Trust Me had excuses last start when racing wide without cover. Purton rides, but a wide barrier seems awkward.

Race 6: This is a wide-open race. Yellowfin remains a maiden galloper but clearly gets a chance to win here. He is worth taking an each-way punt on. Super Winner has ability and should not be underestimated in this grade. The stable’s form is the query, but is suited in this grade to be a genuine chance. Circuit Mighty has a chance based on past form in this class of race and start to follow. Purton knows him well. Singapore Sunshine second start in this grade after dropping in class and could improve. River Views showed good speed to lead last start and gave a good sight, the low draw should ensure the same.

Race 7: Simple Hedge more than capable of winning again in this race and he looks to have upside. He will take beating again. Lost Child holding form with recent good trial and looks well placed to bounce back for a win. The lower draw would make a world of difference. Perfetto can upset some more fancied rivals on best form and blinkers go on first time. Blue Marlin last start winner who remains in the same grade, chance again. Togepi good performance when storming home for third place last start.

Race 8: Romantic Warrior, Hong Kong’s best stayer, is hard to beat after his facile last-start win in the Group 1 QEII Cup over 2000m. The extra 400m is the query, but he should be handling it as Purton takes the ride for the first time. Straight Arron clearly appears to be the biggest danger to the favourite as he is simply flying after a stable change and has any amount of improvement to come. Russian Emperor is better than recent form indicates and can improve. Money Catcher showed good speed to lead last start and gave a good sight. Senor Toba had vet excuses last start and forget the run. He’ll lap up the trip if he shows up in better form.

Race 9: Red Lion was an easy last start winner over stablemate Beauty Eternal and looks the one to beat again. With luck from the wide draw, he will take holding out. Sauvestre fresh up from a break and should run well after showing good improvement at the trials. Erimo racing in career-best form and must be rated a good chance if he can measure up on turf again. Galaxy Witness did nothing first-up on the AWT but can improve on turf. He gets back and races for luck. Flagship Warrior has shown ability and gets his chance to win here first-up from a low draw.

Race 10: Supreme Lucky nice horse who is a model of consistency and looks a chance. Dancing Code goes well first-up from a break and should be respected to run a big race here. Good Buddy looks overdue for a win and enters this race in good form, another genuine chance. Colourful Emperor recent barrier trial was good, suggesting an improved run can be expected. Eighty Light Years finished powerfully with fastest sectional time ranking last start on debut but at massive odds, time will tell if it was a fluke or not.

Race 11: Happy Together recent runs have been encouraging and can run well. Helene Feeling nice 3yo with a good chance here and he looks suited switching to Sha Tin after racing at Happy Valley. Ching nice horse who is a model of consistency and is a genius winning chance. Run Run Buddy has early speed and can always surprise with the right run. Each-way claims. Owners’ Praise go on solid previous efforts where form looked okay as last run was one to forget. He can bounce back with a good steer