Breeze and Monarch can make chances Count at Sha Tin
SUNDAY’s Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy Handicap (12.35pm) over a mile holds centre stage for Sha Tin’s final meeting of the 2025/26 season.
Historically, records show gallopers in the lower half of the handicap have an advantage over top weights. That trend looks likely to continue with several well-rated performers lurking near the bottom of the weights.
The David Eustace-trained SILVERY BREEZE has already had a productive first season, with four wins and four places and importantly continues to improve with experience.
He produced a career best at the track last month, when a close-up fourth to rival Beauty Joy in the nine-furlong Group Three Premier Plate Handicap where he should have finished considerably closer.
On that occasion, having started from a wide gate 11, he found his passage blocked when making his move down the home straight and then had little room to manoeuvre when looking for daylight in the closing stages.
That form can obviously be upgraded, and he can give his trainer who celebrated his birthday in midweek a belated present.
Dangers are a plenty, and none more so than the Caspar Fownes-trained SAGACIOUS LIFE, who must have delighted the stable when placed behind Soleil Fighter on his first run for three months at Happy Valley in June.
The one-time BMW Hong Kong Derby hope lost his way after a series of disappointing performances for trainer Pierre Ng and was transferred to the Fownes yard in April.
Having been only ‘half-cooked’ on his reappearance, it is guaranteed this contest will have been the stable’s main objective for some time and he rates the principal threat.
With the Fownes stable certain to be crowned champions in the trainers’ title race at Happy Valley next Wednesday, he could sign off with a winner at Sha Tin with MONARCH COUNTY in the seven-furlong All You Wish Handicap (2.20pm).
Almighty Lightning is certain to go off a short-priced favourite following his impressive victory over the course and distance last month, but Monarch County who finished fifth in that contest ran into all sorts of trouble and now finds himself eight pounds better off.
This progressive handicapper still looks to have a few pounds in hand over the handicapper and is capable of a surprise.
POINTERS
Silvery Breeze 12.35pm Sha Tin
Sagacious Life e/w 12.35pm Sha Tin
Monarch County e/w 2.20pm Sha Tin