With Singapore again Hong Kong-dominated, Able Friend’s confirmed trip to Royal Ascot still a few weeks away and the final Group One of the season to come on Sunday week, attention is back on domestic matters at Sha Tin this weekend.
That doesn’t mean things are totally low key though as the day features a high quality event to finish the 11-race card.
After Rewarding Hero ran second to Able Friend in the Champions Mile, John Moore said the under-rated galloper would go to Japan for Group One Yasuda Kinen if invited but that invitation hasn’t arrived.
So Rewarding Hero is back in a handicap against a very talented Class One field that he won’t find an awful lot easier to win with 133 pounds to carry and he will give big weights away to some handy types including All You Wish, Kabayan, Flame Hero and Beauty Only, the Classic Mile winner and one of the favourites in the Derby when beaten by Luger.
Young Australian jockey Damian Lane has battled for good opportunities and is still sitting on just two wins in almost two months of riding but gets a chance to improve. His first Hong Kong winner, Happy Chappy drops back to the 1,000m where he won on debut, after things didn’t work out over 1,200m last time, and he has trialled very strongly to confirm he is holding form.
Paul O’Sullivan has Lane on Jolly Jolly in the fourth race and looks a chance in a weak affair. He finished a much improved second last time, chasing home the likely race favourite Diamond Mysterious at huge odds but he won’t be that price this time.
Nash Rawiller rides Diamond Mysterious and will be hoping to build momentum after a double on Wednesday night. His book isn’t big on numbers but he does also have winning prospects on Spitfire for Tony Millard in race six.
By Nathan Mody
