Booming Delight likely to be heard from in Panasonic Cup

Booming Delight is the highweight and likely favorite on Saturday in Hong Kong in the featured $320,515 Panasonic Cup, the seventh of 10 races at Sha Tin.

The 1400-meter (about seven-furlong) Panasonic Cup is a Class 1 handicap for horses rated 110-85, and Booming Delight, who is down in class for this start, only barely qualifies. A progressive horse for trainer John Moore throughout the 2016-2017 Hong Kong season, Booming Delight won the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy on June 4 while very favorably weighted in a short field. He made the mildest of runs Oct. 1 in this season’s debut, but on Oct. 22 was second by a head in the Group 2 Oriental Watch Trophy behind high-class Beauty Generation, and his rating was raised to 109.

Booming Delight cuts back in trip Saturday from 1600 meters, and he totes high weight of 133 pounds, including jockey Sam Clipperton, but the 4-year-old Irish-bred still should make his presence felt.

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Moore has a second chance in Magic Legend, who still appears to be finding his ideal trip, but fits the spot after finishing a good-closing fourth behind top sprinters Mr. Stunning, Lucky Bubbles, and Amazing Kids on Oct. 22 in the Group 2 Premier Bowl over 1200 meters. Magic Legend raced under just 115 pounds in that start, but carries 131 on Saturday. Magic Legend looked more like a six-furlong horse last season, but his solid closing run last time suggests seven might now be within range.

Post time for the Panasonic Cup is 3:05 a.m. Eastern. First post Saturday is midnight Eastern.