The day’s closer at Sha Tin on Sunday, the Class 2 Albert Handicap (1400m), shapes as a fascinating race with a number of horses aiming to step up to the next level.
One such horse is the Fownes-trained Bombay Blitz (115lb). The chestnut, a Listed winner in Australia when named Detective, was finding his feet late last term, with Fownes believing he will be able to measure up in Class 2 in time.
“It’s been a wet summer so the moisture in the track is definitely a concern for me,” he said. “He wants a mile too, you’ll see the best of him at that trip. I’d be confident that, once he gets over a longer trip, you’ll see what type of horse he is and I believe he’ll be able to get towards the top of Class 2.
“Horses that can perform at the top of Class 3 with a big weight can usually handle Class 2, it’s been proven time and time again. That race he ran in two starts ago, where you had the Derby winner (Ping Hai Star) and Frankie Lor’s horse (Simply Brilliant) with him not far away, to me that shows that he should be able to measure up.”
Rattan, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
At the top of the weights is the Richard Gibson-trained Rattan (133lb). The Savabeel gelding finished midfield in both the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), but he showed that his future may lie over shorter trips with an electrifying win over 1400m at the end of last season. Jockey Neil Callan, who was aboard that day, is in the plate once more.
“He couldn’t have been more impressive that day – I thought he could win that day, but not like that – and I think Richard has found the key to him,” Callan said. “He’d had a long break since the Derby to really let himself down and then he came back quite fresh, and obviously that’s the way to train him.
“He’s gone up in the ratings, he’s still in the same class but he has to carry quite a bit more weight. He seems to have done well for the break, physically he looks like he’s improved and he’s quite laidback. It’s a good starting point for him, but I really hope he can take the next step into Group company. I believe he’s capable, and if he does step up, then the programming will really suit him as the races are quite spaced.”
The Albert Handicap brings the curtain down on the season opener at 5.45pm, with the first race, the Class 4 Harcourt Handicap (1000m), to kick off the 2018/19 term at 1pm.
