Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Santa to make Christmas come early for punters

EARLY risers will be rewarded with a fantastic card of racing on Sunday morning as Sha Tin hosts FWD Champions Day.

There is almost £7 million and three Group Ones up for grabs and the headline act will be Beauty Generation, rated the joint-best racehorse on the planet, when seeking his ninth successive victory in the Group One Champions Mile (9.00am).

With John Moores stable star having scared off any overseas visitors, the six-year-old has only six local rivals to contend with and should turn this contest into no more than an exercise gallop.

Though he wont be a betting proposition for most, Beauty Generation will at least create a piece of history by becoming the biggest prize money earner in Hong Kong and the first to win eight times in one season should he come home in front.

The 1m2f QEII Cup (9.40am), is a tougher race to call with the likes of Exultant, winner of the Group One HK Vase, HK Cup Glorious Forever and last years winner Pakistan Star lining up.

Competing against them are three Japanese raiders, headed by DEIRDRE, recent Group Two winner Win Bright, and Lys Gracieux, second to Exultant in the HK Vase in December.

This is going to be a stiff test of stamina, with leading HK hope Exultant, ridden by Zac Purton, certain to make sure there is no dawdling in the middle stages of the contest having already won over 1m4f.

Japan have already won this race four times, and it may be worth taking a chance with the Mitsuru Hashida trained Deirdre making it five, after her strong finishing effort in this contest last season.

With legendary Japanese pilot Yutaka Take in the saddle, Deirdre has looked as good as ever this season, and was noted staying on strongly in the closing stages when fourth behind all-conquering Almond Eye in the Group One Dubai Turf over 1m1f.

She has certainly caught the eye of work watchers, looking like a ball of muscle at Sha Tin this week, and will be very hard to keep out of the frame.

Local sprinters are normally the dominant force when it comes to Group One events in the territory over recent years, Australian sensation Chautauqua was the exception in 2016, but this season they havent matched expectations.

Leading HK speedsters Mr Stunning and Beat The Clock have kept beating one another all season, aRead More – Source

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