A hot finale to Sunday’s (21 May) 10-race card at Sha Tin has attracted a talent-packed field of 14 – some proven, some burgeoning and some on breakthrough’s cusp. Nassa (121lb) fits into the last category and jockey Karis Teetan is hopeful that the classy South African import can springboard to victory off the back of a pair of eye-catching initiatory efforts, despite drawing an awkward gate.
“His two runs here in Hong Kong have been very good – he’s had a bad draw for both of those races and now he has a bad draw again but we have to deal with it. If I get a good run, he’s a really smart horse and he’s going to run to the line,” Teetan said of the Tony Millard-trained four-year-old, who will break from barrier 11 in the Class 2 Lotus Handicap (1600m).
The Dynasty gelding has two wins to his name from six starts in South Africa, that brace preceding a pair of high-class performances when third, beaten less than a length, in both the G2 Selangor Cup (1600m) and G1 Cape Guineas (1600m).
Nassa has given a couple of big hints at that latent ability since his arrival at Sha Tin, flashing home to seventh over 1400m first-up with a race-fastest closing 400m split of 22.35s, and then repeating the feat from gate 13 in a course and distance Class 2 contest with a singeing final sectional of 22.05s to claim fourth behind the re-opposing Eastern Express (133lb), Booming Delight (131lb) and Doyeni (122lb). Nassa is 7lb and 4lb better off with the first two for finishing a little more than two lengths behind.
“His last run was very good – he had about six lengths to make up on the first few horses and he was really flying home, he ran to the line in 22.05s, so that was fast,” Teetan said. “We know he has class, he went close in the Cape Guineas back in South Africa, so if things go his way on Sunday he’s definitely a chance.”
And the bay has done well since that last start, according to the Mauritian ace.
“He’s been working very well,” he said, “he’s coming good at the right time. He has a lot of ability and he’s a nice horse going forward. Tony has him spot-on, I just hope he can get a good run in the race and I’m pretty sure he’ll be hitting the line strongly. He’s a lovely horse.”
Sunday’s card commences with the Class 4 Balsamine Handicap (1200m), due off at 1pm.
– News from Hong Kong Jockey Club
