Around the world, racing fans might think that international day in December is Hong Kong’s big racing day or maybe they think it’s Derby Day, but the truth is that the Chinese New Year meeting is on top.
The Sha Tin meeting on the third and final day of celebrating the lunar new year brings the biggest crowd and the highest betting turnover every season and this Saturday Hong Kong welcomes the Year Of the Goat.
There are no Group races but the Chinese New Year Cup is the fast class highlight, a race that launched Group One careers for the likes of Glorious Days and Good Ba Ba.
This year Divine Calling is looking for redemption in it at just his fourth start for Tony Millard. The former Australian grey has had a remarkable few months in his new home – touted as a coming champion after an easy debut win then disappointing twice as an odds-on favourite over 1,600m, where the consensus was that he could not run the distance. The CNY Cup sees him back to 1,400m and reunited with Zac Purton, the same scenario as his win.
Seven times champion trainer John Size had been steadily racking up a winner a meeting in 2015, until a big statement last Sunday winning five of the ten races.
He won’t have the firepower to win five this week but does have key runners in a few races. Real Specialist is his rep in the feature with Joao Moreira aboard, and the Magic Man rides other chances Teofilo Calva in the ninth, Super Silks (race four), Shining Champion (race six)and a very interesting newcomer in race one.
Earlier in the season, Chin Chun was beating smart horses like Eroico and Soul Achiever comfortably at the trials before health issues kept him from racing. He should be a hot favourite to be winning first time out.
By Nathan Mody
