Sebring gelding Virtus Star has raced well without winning and looks to have found a suitable contest to finally break through for his maiden.
The four-year-old is coming off a last-start sixth over the 1800m at Sha Tin, so the step back to the mile should suit with Antoine Hamelin replacing Zac Purton in the saddle.
Mischievous Sundae is equally unlucky not to have found the winner’s circle. The John Size-trained gelding battled to the line for second las start behind Curling Luxury and will take a power of beating here from another soft draw.
Happy Hour is also worth forgiving on his first-up run when 11 of 12 last month. He’s fresh up after a month and has won second-up previously. Also has a win to his name over the track and distance back in December.
Shining On looks set to peak coming off a last-start second over the track and distance.
The six-year-old New Zealand import has won only once in 27 starts, but he should have every chance to claim his second here coming off a month-long break with Karis Teetan riding for the first time.
Fearless Fire also rates highly with Zac Purton back in the saddle. He finished half a length third a fortnight ago behind Bullish Brother, while the champion hoop has found the placings in four from six starts aboard the six-year-old.
With a few of these only lightly raced, everything lines up for Sprint Forward to get his second win on the board.
The four-year-old was unlucky not to win last time out finishing a nose second behind Bullish Brother over the track and distance. He’ll carry an extra 1.5kg here but has no excuses with Zac Purton booked to ride.
Harmony N Home has placed three times over this distance including two runs back under Joao Moreira. He has to overcome the wide draw here, but with even luck, he should be in the mix.
Kwai Chung Elite appears to be trending towards his maiden win having placed in all three starts since returning to the races back in March.
The four-year-old by Poet’s Voice was no match for Great Son last time out finishing two lengths second, but he should take great improvement out of this race with Antoine Hamelin retaining the ride.
The tricky gate is the only fault, but considering he’s well overdue for a win, I’m happy to have him each-way.
Andenode was a real eye-catcher last start finishing a length second to Jazz Steed over the track and distance.
The Irish raider gets in light again at the weights and has a similar wide draw to contend with. He’ll only need to improve slightly off his latest effort though and should be found doing his best work late under Matthew Poon.
We The South has been charged with the top weight again and should give them something to chase.
The son of Your Song is a two-time winner already this term and is more than capable of winning from barrier to box.
Dionysus Collin got the job done in his last start where he broke through for his maiden over the 1800m.
He’s back here coming off a 49 day freshen up and maps to get a lovely run on the inside under Vincent Ho – a jockey that has a decent track record on the four-year-old.
King’s Man is a definite threat stepping back to the mile. He did well to run fourth last start over the 1800m and has plenty of strong form lines to suit over this track and distance.
Little Bird is much better than his latest run suggests where he finished dead last over the track and distance under Derek Leung.
The six-year-old son of Starcraft is yet to find the winner’s stall this term, but he does own a pair of wins over the 1200m and tends to save his best for the turf. After drawing wide in his last three outings, he should go close here from the inside draw.
Wind N Grass could be worth a look each-way. He’s finished well back behind Good Luck Friend in his last two starts but has found the placings in two from four runs at Happy Valley.
With only 55.5kg on his back from the inside draw, he’s a definite chance for the minors.
Grateful Heart looks a real chance here first-up and I think we might get a decent price.
The son of Written Tycoon is still searching for his first win since venturing over to Hong Kong in February, but he does have some experience under his belt now alongside two wins over the 1000m at Wyong and Gosford last year.
He resumes off a two-month break here and has won first-up before, while jockey Matthew Poon has a decent strike rate for trainer Danny Shum.
Pretty wide-open race to close out the program, but I do think Brave King is a chance from the soft gate.
The Irish import has shown steady improvement recently and it appears he wants further after rattling home for third last start over the mile. He’s unproven over this distance, but there’s lots to like, especially with Antoine Hamelin on board for the first time.