It’s an April fool’s day meeting at Sha Tin for the Easter holiday on Monday, with the feature the Bauhinia Sprint up the straight course and its time for Amber Sky to make a comeback in a small field.
The boom on the three-year-old at the start of the season has worn off now that he has won only one of four runs lately, but the latest was at Group One level and he gets into this handicap much better weighted.
Freshened by his trainer Ricky Yiu after that, Amber Sky has the pace to lead in the field of seven and may well keep going, with his main danger John Moore’s Straight Gold.
Brett Prebble has become the go-to jockey again for John Moore with Weichong Marwing suspended, and he takes the ride on Exciting Dream in a very deep Class Three ninth race.
Smart Volatility has looked well above average winning two of his three starts, two former Australian gallopers having their first Hong Kong run – Santa Fe Sun and Master Sommelier – have been trialling the house down and Bundle Of Joy was an impressive debut winner up the straight in Class Four.
But Exciting Dream has also looked well above average finishing fourth and third in two local starts. The former UK-based three-year-old is a half brother to Moore’s former high grade sprinter Let Me Fight and has produced great sectionals. Prebble also has good rides for Moore in Principal and Victory Master.
Zac Purton has the right horse but the wrong barrier with Bobo Dragon in the sixth race as he seeks to replicate his treble Wednesday night and rejoin Douglas Whyte in the premiership. Bobo Dragon has run well for seconds at both starts and is the one to beat but Purton’s skills will be key from gate 14.
By Nathan Mody
