The Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy is the feature race at Sha Tin on Sunday and we have analysed the entire program below!
Hurricane Hunter strips fitter for his last start over the mile when third behind Humble Steed.
The six-year-old gets the services of Zac Purton for the first time on Sunday and looks well-suited stepping back to the 1400m after finding the minors now in back-to-back starts.
Soccer Master resumes and was a comfortable first-up winner over the track and distance last time in. Apprentice Matthew Poon retains the ride but he does have plenty of work to do from the wide draw.
Golden Cannon hasn’t found the winner’s stall in over a year but did show some improvement in his last run when sixth over the track and distance. He’s won here before and can figure with fitness on his side.
Seize the Spirit finished fourth and third in his last two starts over the mile and now gets his chance to find the winner’s stall dropping back in class and distance.
The New Zealand import won his maiden over the course and distance last time in and should appreciate the extra weight with Antoine Hamelin on board.
Joao Moreira just missed out on the minors two starts back over the mile at Happy Valley and is back on board Galaxy Racer looking to go one better.
The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding finished half a length fourth over the 1200m in his last start and should appreciate the step back up to the 1400m. If Moreira can overcome the wide gate, they look a chance.
NextModel ran on well for a place in his first-up assignment a fortnight ago over the track and distance and looks a sure-thing to break through for his maiden sometime very soon.
The four-year-old by Stratum showed a great turn of foot to charge the line after sitting off the speed and I thought he was unlucky to be beaten for second.
He’ll be better for that run and has an even better chance here from the inside draw with Matthew Chadwick dropping a kilo.
Metro Warrior is two-from-two first-up and can easily make it a hat-trick with the light weight of Neil Callan in the saddle.
The pair map to go forward from barrier 7 and we already know this son of Fastnet Rock can easily lead all the way after claiming a three-length win on debut at Geelong two years ago. The only question is whether he handles the track for the first time.
Quadruple Double has turned into a real horse for this course with four wins and seven placings from 15 starts.
The four-year-old by Zoustar gets the 4kg claim with Jerry Chau in the saddle and is another capable of leading from barrier to box.
Happy Victory comes off a 25-day let up after finishing 6 of 11 first-up over the 1200m at Happy Valley.
The Tony Millard-trained four-year-old has only placed twice in eight starts at Sha Tin but does rate as one of the main dangers dropping 1.5kg under Derek Leung.
General Trump won by half a length over the course and distance three starts back among Class 5 company and showed plenty of improvement in his latest outing running on for second behind Gallant Legacy.
He’s also drawn well with Antoine Hamelin retaining the ride and has found the placings in six of his nine starts over the distance.
The lightly-raced Party Genius has finally snapped his run of drawing barrier 12 in three consecutive starts and looks well overdue to break through for his maiden.
The three-year-old son of Deep Field has shown plenty of ability overcoming the wide draws when narrowly missing a win two starts back over the course and distance, right before coming close again in his last start for fourth.
I’ve been with him in his last two outings and with Zac Purton booked to ride from barrier 6, I’m happy to stick with him.
Victorious Seeker won his maiden last start over the 1800m at Happy Valley by two lengths, and while this is a rise in class, he should have no trouble seeing out the journey with Chad Schofield jumping on for the first time.
McMunigal ran on for fourth in his last start over the 1800m and seems to want further now.
The five-year-old is untested over this distance but was enormous two starts back winning by two lengths.
Natural Storm looks like one capable of winning at decent odds.
The three-year-old by Pins fought on bravely for second in his last start over the 1800m where he narrowly missed out on his maiden by a short half head.
He’s only lightly raced and untested over the journey, but I like the fact he’s coming off a 22-day let up with Vincent Ho booked to ride.
Trust Me is on the short backup and I think the booking of Zac Purton signals intent from the Yip yard.
The four-year-old New Zealand import finished dead last in his latest outing over the track and distance but tends to do his best racing from the wide draw, so I think he’s worth a look here jumping from gate 10.
Beauty Legacy was a first-up winner in his Hong Kong debut over the 1400m and looks ready for the step up to Group level now.
The son of Fiorente won the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield last year and placed in the Group 1 Australian Guineas over the mile behind Mystic Journey two weeks later.
He’s rock hard fit and gets in nicely at the weights, so I think the four-year-old is a serious chance if Joao Moreira can make full use of the inside gate.
Dances With Dragon is shooting for a hat-trick after beating home Enrichment in back-to-back starts. It’s worth noting Zac Purton isn’t booked to ride, but he does seem ready for the rise in grade.
Harmony Victory has won first-up before and is a three-time winner over this journey. He maps to get a lovely run in transit from the good gate and is well-deserving of a Group 3 win.
Private Rocket is yet to find the winner’s stall this season but has been racing consistently of late with two placings in his last four starts.
The four-year-old ran on for second three starts back behind Mighty Giant and showed plenty of improvement in his latest outing when two lengths fourth over the track and distance behind Beauty Spirit.
Fantastic Show is the obvious choice shooting for an incredible fifth straight win under Joao Moreira.
The son of a Not A Single Doubt continues to rise through the grades having won his last start over the course and distance by over a length.
Barrier 1 means he’ll be in the finish once again providing he gets a clean run along the rail.
Lucky More resumes at Class 2 level off a three-month break and is capable of running a big race with Zac Purton back on board.
The three-year-old colt out of the Danny Shum yard was a two-time winner over this distance during his maiden campaign and has also found the placings in four of his six starts at Sha Tin.
Stronger gets the 4.5kg claim with Jerry Chau in the saddle and warrants plenty of respect in the market.
The son of Not A Single Doubt ran on well for second over the 1000m in his last start where he finished half a length behind Hong Kong Win. He clearly wants more now and this looks to be the right race for him.