Tony Millard’s horses have been flying and Little Thunder looks capable of returning the stable another winner in Race 1 at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
The four-year-old son of Hussonet dusted off the cobwebs when fifth at this track and trip first-up from a spell, before returning an impressive and dominant win last time out.
There’s a bit more depth to this race, but he is drawn to receive a lovely run again and gets a relief in the weights with an apprentice board.
2 Units Little Thunder
Sky Gem will take winning form into the second and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding did take a few to get going this time, but everything played out in his favour over the 2200m last time out and he was rewarded with a lovely win.
The drop in trip is something of a query, but Blake Shinn should be able to lob somewhere behind the speed from barrier 9 and with even luck, he can finish over the top of his rivals again.
2 Units Sky Gem
Excel Delight looks set to jump favourite in Race 3 and he is ready to win.
The Exceed And Excel gelding has been a model of consistency this preparation and while he hasn’t won since February, he also hasn’t missed a place and his last four appearances, finishing second three time.
He’s drawn ideally in barrier 4 and probably won’t be offered a better opportunity to win.
4 Units Excel Delight
Buddies has continued to improve with racing recently and will take beating again at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
The John Moore-trained four-year-old flashed home to finish second over 1400m here three back, progressing to a credible third behind Mongolian King before proving too good for a decent field over 1400m last time out.
At this point of his preparation, getting out to the mile looks ideal and he is another horse that will benefit from a claim, with Jerry Chau engaged to ride.
4 Units Buddies
This looms as one of the more open races on Wednesday’s card at Sha Tin and there is a case to be made for several horses fighting into the winner’s stall.
Elite Boy has stripped fitter for a couple of fair efforts back from a spell and third-up he looks ready to strike.
The Align gelding finished on the placegetters’ heels at this track and distance before another competitive performance which heralded a fifth placing in what was a tougher race.
If he can navigate to a positive position without excerpting too much energy, he’ll be tough to catch.
1 Unit E/W Elite Boy
Super Power Man is seeking a hat-trick of wins when he contests Race 6 at Sha Tin on Wednesday and looks up to it.
The three-year-old son of Anacheeva needed the run when he finished down the order on debut in January, but couldn’t have been more impressive in the wake of that, recording two smart wins from as many starts.
He hasn’t raced since April but seems to be responding to his races being gapped and he’ll have conditions to suit again this week. I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
3 Units Super Power Man
Jade Fortune hasn’t been competitive without setting the racing world on fire recently, but I am happy to give him another chance at Sha Tin this week.
The Manfred Man-trained gelding filled the minors behind the talented Megatron here two back and finished only a couple of lengths from the winner in a similar race last time out.
He’s rock-hard fit, Zac Purton is an obvious bonus and he’ll have options from the rails draw. Happy to have something small on each-way.
1 Unit E/W Jade Fortune
This is another wide-open race and subsequently one of the tougher betting prospects on the card.
California Concord will take good improvement into the contest and has claims at around the $9 mark.
California Concord returned some excellent performances when saddled in Australia and was competitive in his Hong Kong debut a couple of weeks ago – mustering a smart turn of foot to fill the minors before Victoriam.
He’s drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 3 and with even luck, will be hard to hold out again.
2 Units E/W California Concord
I’m eager to have a play at odds in the last and more specifically, La Yakfi at a double-figure price.
He finished at the tail of the field when first-up in late March but returned a far better effort when fifth in a tougher race last time out, albeit well beaten.
Fitter third-up and with in-form hoop Karis Teetan aboard, I think he can fight out the finish.
1 Unit E/W La Yakfi