Two hotly contested Class 2 races headline Sunday’s (26 January) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Raceday, where trainer Mark Newnham is optimistic up-and-comer Full Credit (127lb) can rebound in the HK$2.84 million Para Equestrian 1200m Handicap.
The 88-rating speedster had Wunderbar and James Tak hot on his heels last start, contributing to his overhauling as he attempted to make all, finishing a brave sixth, while Wunderbar and James Tak also faded to fifth and ninth, respectively, on 5 January at Sha Tin.
Wary of another fierce charge early in this weekend’s race, Newnham hopes the four-time winning four-year-old can be adaptable when he faces eight rivals: Son Pak Fu (132lb), Superb Capitalist (131lb), Gorgeous Win (129lb), Harmony N Blessed (128lb), Bundle Of Charm (125lb), Baby Crystal (124lb), Wonder Kit (121lb) and Gummy Gummy (120lb).
“The tempo was too strong with Wunderbar and James Tak. You could see that they were doing too much. I was happy with his run though, he’s shown that he doesn’t have to lead and in his two efforts on the dirt he has sat in behind and finished off strongly,” Newnham said.
“He’s only a lightly raced horse and he had a couple of trials in Sydney (in Australia). He was pretty green when he got here and he’s continued to improve, so there’s no reason he won’t (improve more).”
Lyle Hewitson has built a strong relationship with Full Credit by steering him to all four wins at Sha Tin over 1200m. The South African rides again this weekend.
Expected to line-up in Friday’s (31 January) HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), Talents Ambition (135lb) first seeks a third dirt course win in Sunday’s HK$2.05 million Class 3 Paralympic Value 1650m Handicap (dirt) for Newnham.
“I’ve been happy with him. His form has been consistent and I thought his last trial was very good and his work since has been good. I had a ride on him recently and I’m very happy with him, he’s going in there in good shape and Hughie (Bowman) sticks with him – it looks like a good race for him,” said Newnham, who has 24 wins this season.
The 78-rating grey could face the likes of Packing Hermod and Rubylot in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, which kicks off the three-race HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
“He’ll be a good back up horse. He eats well and he gets through his races well, he actually hasn’t raced on the turf this season but the last time he did he ran second over a mile, so he’s earnt a right to be there and it’ll be interesting, but we’ll get through Sunday first,” Newnham said.
Francis Lui’s Packing Hermod is on a mark of 93 alongside Rubylot. Both horses are the highest rated in the Hong Kong Classic Mile priority to run list.
“Packing Hermod is good and I expect he will keep improving. He’s more relaxed now, before he was a young horse and he jumped around and his mind was immature. He’s more mature now, but it’s a tough race this time,” Lui said.
Baby Crystal represents Lui in the Para Equestrian 1200m Handicap. The trainer said: “The 1000 metre straight is good for him but around the bend, I don’t know, the jockeys always say that he isn’t quite comfortable going around it. But he’s fit and I hope after his last win he can keep his form.”
The HK$3.12 million Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Cup Handicap (1600m) is the first of the afternoon’s Class 2 races. Lui saddles Yellowfin (118lb) against The Golden Scenery (135lb), Woodfire Bro (124lb), Karma (123lb), Sunlight Power (121lb), Atullibigeal (120lb), Voyage Samurai (120lb) and Flaming Rabbit (118lb).
“He’s (Yellowfin) ok. He also has the condition but his rating is a bit high at the moment, it’s a tough race,” Lui said.
Voyage Samurai represents trainer Frankie Lor in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Cup. Lor said: “He’s galloped good and I think Class 2 is still ok for him, I want to see how much more he can improve.”
Pursuing a maiden trainers’ championship in Hong Kong, Pierre Ng saddles 12 runners on Sunday – including Fighting Machine (126lb), Frantanck (125lb) and Winning Steps (122lb) in the Paralympic Value 1650m Handicap.
Fighting Machine goes into Sunday’s race following three consecutive runner-up efforts. Ng said: “He’s flying. He’s been running consistently and he’s been knocking on the door for some time, so hopefully Zac (Purton) can help us a little bit and hit the front.”
Ng has Macau import Wonderstar tackling hot opposition, led by the unbeaten The Boom Box (126lb), in the Class 3 Para Archery 1200m Handicap.
“He’s (Wonderstar) been unlucky always carrying heavy weights. We have Angus (Chung) on this time, which is only three pounds off, but the horse is getting there slowly,” Ng said.
David Hayes fields Lucky Man in the Class 4 Para Badminton 1400m Handicap. Hayes said: “I think he’s a horse that if he gets the right run could go very close in Class 4.”
Sunday’s (26 January) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Para Swimming 1650m Handicap (dirt).
By Declan Schuster
