A hefty jackpot makes Tuesday's Triple Trio at Sha Tin an enticing proposition and the John Size-trained sprinter Golden Addictionlooks a solid banker in the opening leg, says the Racing Post in Hong Kong. More than HK$30 million is already in the pool, but with the rail in the treacherous "C+3" position the TT will take some picking with three wide-open races.
Golden Addiction doesn't look like he will be storming through to the top grades, nor does he look particularly suited to straight racing at Sha Tin, but he has a solid run under his belt and enough improvement left to suggest he won't be in Class Four for too long. He is drawn to be a major player in a tricky contest.
When Golden Addiction resumed on the first day of the season, Douglas Whyte was at the horse to keep up for most of the 1,000m event. Straight races at Sha Tin tend to be run at breakneck speed, especially through the middle stages, often with splits faster from the 800 metres to the 400m than the final 400m to home. Golden Addiction was really starting to motor home after chasing through a sub-21 second middle sectional. Golden Addiction's 800m-400m (21.59s) and final 400m (22.59s) were the best in the race, and only being tardy away made the difference in being beaten 11/4 lengths by Roman Legend. An even start, and Whyte getting close to the outside rail from gate seven, should see the four-year-old right in the firing line this time.
Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Fantastico (Weichong Marwing) is next in. He was set down to run first-up at last Sunday's postponed meeting, so another week of work won't hurt a horse that hasn't trialled in the lead-up. He looks a likely improver this term after two runner-up efforts late last season over the course and distance.
There are plenty of question marks around some of the others. Zac Purton will ride Tayside for Tony Millard, over Hong Kong International Sale-topper Gorgeous Debut (Keith Yeung Ming-lun), making his debut for Danny Shum Chap-shing. A case can be made for either, particularly Tayside, who is drawn hard against the outside rail, which is a distinct advantage in these races.
Disadvantaged by their "low" draws, but with claims, are Joy Together (Alvin Ng Ka-chun), Pure Force(Ben So Tik-hung) and speedy debutante Might And Vision (Matthew Chadwick), but it's hard to know what to make of him after trainer Tony Cruz gave the newcomer a solitary 800m turf trial in the lead-up.
Rather than risk those drawn in the middle, take a punt on O'Halo (Andreas Suborics), drawn 12 after a stable change to Chris So Wai-yin.