A hugely competitive Class 2 contest headlines the Sha Tin meeting on Saturday (9 May) with a host of fast-rising youngsters set to go head-to-head in the card-closer.

Perhaps the most exciting of them all is Francis Lui’s Hot Delight, about whom the 2023/24 champion trainer made headlines when he drew comparisons with the great Golden Sixty.

Lui, who also trained 10-time Group 1-winning Golden Sixty, did little to quell the excitement surrounding the three-year-old’s rapid rise after a series of commanding victories to start his career. The trainer was quoted as saying the son of Too Darn Hot was more advanced than the superstar galloper at the same stage of their careers.

After speeding through Classes 3 and 4 with winning margins of one-and-three-quarters, two-and-three-quarters and one-and-a-quarter lengths in his first three starts, the Australian-bred lands on a mark of 81 – comfortably in the frame for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series next season – and makes his Class 2 bow in the Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1200m).

Vincent Ho, who rode Golden Sixty in each of his 31 career outings, has been ever-present aboard Hot Delight so far, but he gives way on Saturday, with Harry Bentley more suited to the minimum 115lb impost.

“He’s certainly a horse coming through the ranks nicely,” Bentley said. “He’s been eye-catching in each one of his starts to date. He’s putting it all together, isn’t he? It’s easy to get excited with these types who have an unblemished record. I hope to keep that intact.”

Front-running Hot Delight faces the added complication of challenging a talent-packed Class 2 field from stall 11, but Bentley seemed unfazed.

“He quickens off whatever pace he seems to be running on,” said the Englishman. “I haven’t spoken to Francis just yet, but it’s a less-than-ideal gate to have. There seems to be quite a bit of speed in the race, so we’ll have to discuss tactics and go from there.”

One of the speed factors Bentley referred to is Jamie Richards’ Bulb General (116lb), who delivered a race-fastest closing sectional last time out, when a narrow third on his return from almost six months off the track ended a run of three straight wins.

“He ran well. He obviously needed it, because he hadn’t had to run for a while,” Richards said. “But we were pleased with him, and he’s had a couple of trials since and done some nice work. It’s a very strong race, but he’s a nice horse.”

Joao Moreira, who has made a sparkling full-time return to Hong Kong racing, posting eight wins across his first seven meetings, climbs aboard Richards’ four-year-old on Saturday.

“I asked the Fownes stable if he (Moreira) would be available, and they said yes,” Richards added. “It’s lucky I got him early, because I think a few other people were after him. But we’re glad to have Joao on him. He’s galloped him three times now, and been happy with how he’s been going.”

Championship leader Mark Newnham presents Crimson Flash (129lb) in the same contest. Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, the four-year-old will be looking to complete a hat-trick of victories to aid his handler’s title bid.

“He’s been great. A very consistent horse,” Newnham said. “He’s good on all tracks, which is helpful. Easy to place when they’re like that. He’s come up with an awkward barrier (10), and he’s up in weight, but he keeps improving.

“We just have to have a look at the field and see where he’s best placed in running. But from 10, he’s either going to be all the way up or all the way back. So I’ll just have a look at the speed of the race before we make that determination.”

Saturday’s (9 May) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Butterfly Bay Plate (1000m) for Griffins.

By Paul Ryding

Photo: HKJC