Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Borntoachieve looks set to roll back the years
BETTORS in Hong Kong can look forward to an afternoon of entertainment on the all-weather track at Sha Tin today. Dirt racing under floodlights can pose numerous problems when trying to find winners, especially with the temperature likely to be in the mid-to-high twenties, but humidity is low for this time of year.
How much kick-back there will be during racing is anyone’s guess.
The best option for finding winners on the dirt surface over the last few seasons has been to find a horse drawn low who could ping from the stalls, lead or be up with the pace, glide along the rails, and then kick for glory down the home stretch. Now it has suddenly all changed.
Trainers complained to the racing authorities that the dirt surface was too quick and should be dug up and made to provide a ‘soft dirt surface’ which would be fair to everyone.
Consequently this season, winners on the surface have been coming from all over the place, be it in front dashing from behind, or coming down the centre of the track.
Even the draw has lost its normal importance, with winners spread evenly throughout. However, it is still worth noting that horses drawn with double-figure numbers in extended mile races have a major disadvantage.
With the start close to the first bend, jockeys from high draws have to work hard trying to slot into good positions from the off, or they suffer wide transits throughout their journey.
One trainer who has shown a distinct liking for the all-weather surface is local handler Me Tsui.
The 58-year-old, who joined the training ranks in Hong Kong back in 2005, has a staggering record on the dirt over the last few seasons, especially in six furlong races.
Last season he raced 58 horses on the surface over that distance, with a record of 13 winners and 12 places. With the 2018/19 season just underway, he has already managed to saddle three winners and one place, from just seven runners on the sprint track.
With his stable in top form at present, lying fourth in the trainers’ championship table with ten winners, his half-dozen contenders must all be worth serious consideration.
Dashing Gainer in the 1.20pm and highly-progressive Go Public in the 2.55pm are likely to be near the forefront of the betting market and are capable of going close.
But the horse with the most interesting profile is BORNTOACHIEVE who lines up in the 12.45pm over six furlongs.
This unpredictable old campaigner is not the most consistent performer, but does have a good record on dirt and looks to have been earmarked for this contest since the beginning of the season.
Two runs on turf over the last month have obviously been used as a stepping stone to bring him to peak fitness, and in the last couple of weeks he has been showing strong signs of improvement in his trackwork.
Having won on this surface last November in Class 3 company from an 8lb higher mark in the handicap, he could be difficult to beat, especially with smart claimer Jack Wong, who rode a double at Happy Valley on Sunday, in the saddle and taking a further 3lbs off.
POINTERS
Borntoachieve 12.45pm Sha Tin