Bulb General’s long-awaited return headlines competitive Sha Tin Sunday

By Paul Ryding

After months on the sidelines, Bulb General’s comeback takes centre stage at Sha Tin on Sunday (29 March), where two competitive Class 2 contests anchor the 11-race programme.

Bulb General is the star of Jamie Richards’ yard, and the third-year handler has been bringing the son of Embellish back to full fitness after he suffered a right fore ligament injury in October last year, which derailed his rapid progress towards the lucrative Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Richards had hoped for a successful Classic Series campaign with the gelding, whom he sourced as a yearling at the Karaka Sale in his native New Zealand. He was left disappointed when the galloper suffered a “heartbreaking” setback just days after sealing his most impressive victory to date, a two-and-three-quarter-length demolition in a Class 3 1200m Sha Tin contest.

After 178 days on the sidelines, Bulb General (123lb), who has drawn gate seven and will bid for his fourth straight win under Zac Purton on Sunday, is ready to return to action in the Class 2 CW Chu Alumni Handicap (1200m).

“I thought his recent trial at Happy Valley was pretty good, and we just have to trust that he turns up on race day,” said Richards of the 86-rated sprinter, who was handed 11 points and a class promotion by the handicappers for that eye-catching win.

“He’s going up into Class 2 for the first time, which is never easy. He was probably the best four-year-old in town in the early part of the season, and then he went amiss. But he’s come back well from that,” Richards added. “He looks fantastic, and I’m very happy with him.”

With Bulb General’s Classic Series opportunity in the rear-view mirror, Richards was asked if there was a clear route forward for the bay.

“He’s sort of a run-to-run proposition, so I don’t think there’s any point getting too far ahead of ourselves. But whether he stays at 1200 (metres) or stretches out a bit further after this first-up run, we’ll just have to wait and see. Let’s get through Sunday and work it out from there.”

David Hayes will unveil a new addition to his yard in the day’s other Class 2 contest, the Shaw Alumni Handicap (1600m), when Pocketing (125lb) makes his bow, ridden by Purton.

The Grunt gelding is a Group 2 winner in his native Australia, snatching the Tulloch Stakes (2000m) by a nose last April. Two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer Hayes revealed he had attempted to fast-track the four-year-old’s integration to Sha Tin in an effort to run him in last week’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).

“He hasn’t been in Hong Kong a long time,” said Hayes, who has 40 wins so far this term and sits fourth in the trainers’ standings. “We were able to work him in quarantine, trying to prep him for the Derby. But it was just a little bit too rushed. He carries great condition, so instead of running in the Derby, we trialled at Happy Valley, and the way he trialled, I think I should have run him in the Derby! He trialled very well.”

Pocketing’s overseas form, which included five wins from 17 outings, sees him enter Hong Kong at a mark of 85, immediately pitching him against a strong field of seasoned milers on Sunday. From gate six, he’ll meet 2024 G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) winner Beauty Eternal (132lb), multiple Class 2 winner Californiatotality (134lb) and 2023 G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) runner-up Sword Point (128lb), himself a three-time Class 2 winner.

“He’s had a quicker-than-usual preparation. But he was able to work in quarantine. And he was working pretty hard before he got here,” Hayes said.

“I thought the handicap this weekend was a better introduction to Hong Kong. He’s rated 85, and that’s going to be a bit of a race, I think.

“I think he’ll be better for the run, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s competitive,” Hayes added.

Sunday’s (29 March) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.45pm with the Class 5 Chung Chi Alumni Handicap (1400m).