Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday for a nine-race fixture with some decent races across the night.
Of those is the Class 2 1650m Handicap (race 6), which sees quite a few in-form horses do battle but also quite a few that like to race handy – the speed should be genuine and that will suit trainer Francis Lui’s handy five-year-old SUNNY STAR down to a tee.
SUNNY STAR drops back to his pet distance (7:3-1-2) after a strong second place to ZEBROWSKI in the G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) two weeks ago.
SUNNY STAR has been dealt barrier 1 under Alexis Badel on Wednesday night, which should see him map ideally in a race where at least four of the nine contenders like to race press forward.
After a four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday, Joao Moreira looks set to continue his winning ways and will be hard to beat on ZONE D in the Class 3 1650m Handicap (race 8).
Not a prolific winner, ZONE D is fourth-up this week and has been knocking on the door for a second career win after going close in all three runs since resuming in late November.
First-up at this track and distance he charged home late into third and was only beaten a neck before going one place better when dictated to by a wide barrier second-up, again only going down by a small margin.
Last start, when rising to Class 3 for the first time, a wide barrier once more forced the jockey to ride for luck out the back, but ZONE D was far from disgraced closing off strongly into fourth place against the race shape.
Wednesday’s race is a winnable race for ZONE D to bounce back in and with a lower draw he can map handier which will prove the winning component.
A change of fortune with the barrier gods can also see trainer Chris So’s SHOWINA bounce back for a win in the Class 4 1200m Handicap (race 5).
After four starts with David Hayes last season, which accumulated with one win and three unplaced efforts, SHOWINA has been racing well for So’s yard in three starts this season without winning.
In his last two runs at this track and distance, the four-year-old has been dealt barrier 12, forcing the race-day jockey to settle back and run on for luck.
On each occasion, SHOWINA has caught the eye finishing strongly, finishing runner-up to A SMILE LIKE YOURS two starts ago before a sound 2.5 lengths fourth at his most recent effort.
With Zac Purton taking the ride from barrier 1 on Wednesday, it looks opportune for SHOWINA to land a second career win.
