There really is a feast of racing at Shatin on Sunday as the big guns get their charges ready for the International Races and with Hong Kong seeing the first glimpse this season of champion galloper Ambitious Dragon (R9, #1)with new jockey Zac Purton aboard.
Away from these heavyweights of Hong Kong racing, there will be showbiz glamour around when local superstar Aaron Kwok will be on hand to watch the second run of his horse Called With Love (R8, #12).
When the horse made its debut around a month ago, Shatin was almost overrun with fans and the paparazzi who were more interested in watching and photographing Aaron Kwok’s impressions as he watched his first horse as a bona fide owner win with a leg in the air.
It really was a devastating win. The question now is just how good Called With Love is and if it beat much.
Racing up a class, the Caspar Fownes trained runner will be down in the weights and with regular jockey Brett Prebble riding two pounds over 116 pounds, a definite sign that the team believes the horse can win and which will start at very short odds. Prebble rarely rides this low in the weights.
As for this race, it’s not about odds, it’s all about ‘face’ and a loss will be a loss of face which certainly puts the pressure on everyone involved in the horse.
But they seem more than ready for the challenge even though up against two other last start winners that also won easily and will be racing up a class.
Win, lose or draw, if a fan of racing, Shatin is the place to be on Sunday. And get ready to take some pictures.
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