Systematically assembling a quality stable, Jamie Richards will unveil Chilean Gr1 winner Alacrity in the Class 3 Des Voeux Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday when the talented import crosses swords with a cluster of BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) contenders.
It’s also another great chance to enter the free-to-play Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge with a bonus jackpot of R465 000 up for grabs if you select all the winners on the card.
A must-be-won prize of R5000 will be shared amongst the top 20 on the leaderboard.
Entries close 5 minutes before the start of the first race.
Debuting in Hong Kong in an intriguing programme finale headlined by John Size’s Beauty Eternal and Frankie Lor’s Majestic Colour, Alacrity has a rating of 78 after stringing together four successive wins in Chile, culminating with Gr1 Club Hipico de Santiago Falabella (2000m) success when he was known as Viejos Tiempos.
Jamie Richards will saddle a pair of newcomers at Sha Tin on Sunday (Pic – HKJC)
By Lookin At Lucky – the same sire as 2020/21 Hong Kong Champion Stayer and multiple G1 winner Panfield – Alacrity closed off nicely for fourth under Karis Teetan behind Allgreektome, Kurpany and Nervous Witness in a 1200m Happy Valley trial on 28 January.
Teetan, who partnered Panfield to his most important victory so far in Hong Kong when claiming the 2021 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) for Tony Millard, believes Alacrity (133lb) is a quality galloper but will need further than Sunday’s assignment to show his best.
“It was a nice trial for him at Happy Valley. I think he’s a progressive horse. He’s ready to run but I think he’ll need a bit further,” the Mauritian said. “With the barrier draw (13), we are going to have to give a chance to finish off but he’s a nice horse, a promising horse and when we go further, we will see the best of him.”
Beauty Eternal, who starts from barrier one for Zac Purton, fellow last-start winner Majestic Colour, who will be ridden by Derek Leung from gate 12, and Find My Love, who starts from barrier 14 for Matthew Chadwick, have all been entered for the HK$12 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 19 March.
Richards, who has prepared 14 winners to date in his first term, will also introduce unraced Brazen Beau gelding Laser Victory in the Class 4 Ko Shing Handicap (1200m) under Zac Purton.
A three-year-old, Laser Victory impressed with an untested third in a 1200m trial at Happy Valley on 28 January under Purton, but starts from barrier 12 on Sunday.
Karis Teetan – 21 winners for the term so far (Pic – HKJC)
Teetan will have his first ride on John Size-trained Bourbonaire (127lb) in the Class 2 Belcher Bay Handicap (1400m) as the Darci Brahma gelding attempts to regain top form after a consistent 2021/22 season.
“Of course, it’s a bit short for him. He’s last couple of runs haven’t been his best and he needs to find his form again. He’s the drawn the outside (barrier eight) in a small field, so he will get his chance especially if we get a bit of rain,” Teetan said.
The field is headed by Benno Yung’s Ka Ying Master (130lb), who will be ridden by Harry Bentley. Bentley has been confirmed as Senor Toba’s rider in the QAT G1 H. H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) at Al Rayyan Racecourse, Qatar on 18 February.
Boasting two 1400m wins on Sha Tin turf this season, Stunning Impact will make his debut on the circuit’s dirt in the Class 3 Cleverly Handicap (1200m) from barrier eight under Vincent Ho.
Ng made the decision to switch the seven-year-old to the all-weather surface based on trial form.
Pierre NG – looking to add to his 23 winners (Pic – HKJC)
“During this season, he’s been trialling well on the all-weather track and this race is very suitable for him and I’m looking forward to seeing him in this race,” Ng said. “This race fits our schedule and he’s a very honest horse – very easy to train. We just keep him fit and he’s kept his form up.
“There will be always strong pace on the all-weather track, so he should be strong finishing from the back.”
- Sunday’s Sha Tin programme kicks off with the Class 5 Sutherland Handicap (1400m) at 07h00.
