Reunited with Super Sunny Sing, Matthew Chadwick hopes the gelding’s improved physique and maturity will allow Chris So’s stable star to push for victory in the HK$4.2 million Gr3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Chadwick replaces suspended Vincent Ho on Super Sunny Sing as the Hong Kong Classic Cup winner attempts to advance claims towards a possible start in the HK$32 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on 10 December.
Spelled after finishing eighth in the BMW Hong Kong Derby behind Voyage Bubble in March, Super Sunny Sing has benefited from the break, according to Chadwick.
Super Sunny Sing is a six-time Hong Kong winner (Pic – HKJC)
“After his Four-Year-Old Classic Series preparation, he had six months off, and he came back this season and he’s now a different horse. When I trialled him, he was heavy, but he was more mature. His last trial was definitely his best as far as how he’s come along in his career and with his physique,” said Chadwick, who has partnered the five-year-old to a win and two placings from three rides.
“He’s well weighted at 118lb, it’s a small field so it will be interesting to see how it pans out. I’m going to ride him to his merits and I’m confident with him. He’s got a lovely action now and he’s matured a lot better now, so he’s becoming a proper racehorse.
“Fingers crossed and I’m looking forward to the run.”
Matthew Chadwick has six wins for the season so far (Pic – HKJC)
Winner of the Tony Cruz Award in 2021/22 as Hong Kong’s leading home-grown jockey, Chadwick hopes to guide Super Sunny Sing to a maiden Gr3 victory against Money Catcher, Encountered, Senor Toba, Straight Arron, Running Glory, Tourbillon Diamond, Nimble Nimbus, Champion Dragon and La City Blanche.
Six-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton will ride John Size-trained Running Glory as the lightly-built gelding bids for an eighth victory from 22 starts.
“He’s a little bit of a victim of his consistency. He always runs well and, unfortunately, he weighs a little less than 1,000 pounds and quite often has to carry quite a bit of weight, so it’s not easy,” Purton said. “But he tries – that’s one thing he does, he tries. He gets in with a reasonable weight this time.”
Zac Purton is chasing a third Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse triumph (Pic – HKJC)
Purton has twice previously tasted Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse glory aboard Viva Macau in 2008 and Time Warp in 2018.
Purton has a full book of 10 rides on Sunday, hoping to add to the 20 wins and 41 minor placings he has accumulated from 125 mounts so far this season before he travels to Australia to ride Willie Mullins-trained Absurde in the Gr1 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, 7 November.
Sunday’s 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap at 07h00.
