Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday (July 1) for a 10-race fixture.
Highly progressive three-year-old DREAM WINNER is a standout on the card as races to keep his unbeaten record intact as he chases a hat-trick of wins in the Class 3 Handicap over 1000m.
DREAM WINNER made his debut in Class 4 at this track and distance in late May, scoring a comfortable victory by 5.25 lengths. He recorded the fastest 1000m time this season of 55.14 seconds, although aided by a tailwind on that day. Tailwind or no tailwind, DREAM WINNER clearly demonstrated above-average potential, as shown in his second-up performance when he won easily, despite being 12 points higher in the handicap and moving up to Class 3.
The official winning margin of 2.5 lengths could have been greater but the aim of the game is to win prize money, not ratings points. Another subsequent 12-point rise in the ratings means DREAM WINNER remains in Class 3 this week and meets moderate opposition again.
Earlier on the card, honest four-year-old SWORD POINT looks like a strong chance to win the Class 2 Handicap over 2000m.
The Frankie Lor-trained gelding has one win and three second placings from nine Hong Kong starts so far, after arriving as a two-time winner from eight starts in Australia, where he raced under the same name. Performing well throughout this season’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series, in which he was the runner-up in the Classic Cup (1800m), SWORD POINT has been knocking on the door for a second local win.
In his last start over 1800m at Happy Valley, he had no luck in the run, racing wide throughout, and he also pulled up lame in the left hind. Despite these setbacks, he managed to finish fifth, beaten by 2.5 lengths. With Zac Purton back in the saddle and a conducive gate in barrier 4, SWORD POINT has plenty of boxes ticked for a comeback win
