Beauty can Bolt Purton closer to 2000 Hong Kong winners
WITH jockey Zac Purton nearing a landmark 2000 winners in the city, the mounting hullabaloo could reach fever pitch during the action at Sha Tin.
The eight-time champion, who’s soon to make it nine, needs only a handful more wins to reach the staggering record and has plenty of ammunition to fire on the card.
With rides in 10 of the 11 races, and a host of winning chances including last start winner Packing King in the six-furlong Standard Chartered Corporate & Investment Banking Handicap (7.00am), and well-handicapped View All Things in the seven-furlong Standard Chartered Priority Banking Handicap (8.00am), his many thousands of fans will be on tenterhooks.
One galloper the Zac-Man will be looking forward to renewing his association again is BEAUTY BOLT who seeks to get his career back on track after failing to make an impact in the Classic Four-Year-Old Series.
The son of Night Of Thunder reverts to seven furlongs in the Standard Chartered Global Private Bank Handicap (9.45am), having won with Purton aboard over the course and distance at the end of last season.
Having been freshened up after a two-month break, and an encouraging winning trial bringing him to the boil again, he should be hard to beat.
Purton also rides strongly fancied Aerodynamics in the nine-furlong Standard Chartered Wealth Solutions Handicap (8.30am), but it could prove best to look for an alternative.
The likes of Seraph Gabriel, Enthusium, and The Golden Knight all have claims on their best form, but it may be worth taking a chance with long-shot POPE CODY who looked all at sea on soft ground on his last start.
The four-year-old son of Showtime has performed consistently all season and finally draws a good gate of five for the first time this year.
Having overdone the waiting tactics when producing one of the fastest closing sectional times in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, he is capable of a surprise at attractive odds.
With Caspar Fownes stable back in form with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday, keep an eye on MONARCH COUNTY in division one of the seven-furlong Standard Chartered Priority Banking Handicap (8.00am).
The five-year-old has looked a picture of health according to track watchers, and his recent trial suggests he is back to his best form.
POINTERS
Monarch County 8.00am Sha Tin
Pope Cody (e/w) 8.30am Sha Tin Beauty Bolt 9.45am Sha Tin