Chefano seeks first circuit win in Beas River Handicap at Sha Tin

The $269,427 Beas River Handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on Saturday is a gathering of horses dropping class and a promising 5-year-old seeking his first win on the circuit.

In a field of 13, Insayshable is the 130-pound highweight in the race at 1 1/4 miles on turf, but is winless in 11 starts. The losing streak includes two third-place finishes in Group 3 races.

Chefano, 5, has never run in a group-level race in Hong Kong, but was third in the Group 2 Dingaans Stakes in South Africa in 2017 when he raced under the name Vaquero. Chefano, trained by John Moore, will carry 113 pounds and will be ridden by leading rider Joao Moreira, an assignment certain to catch the attention of bettors.

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Chefano has been second in three of his last four starts, and was a troubled fourth at Sha Tin on Oct. 1. The Beas River Handicap will be Chefano’s first start at 1 1/4 miles.

The Moore-trained Classic Beauty, who will carry 116 pounds, is one of two runners in the field with a win at the distance, along with Tianchi Monster (120). Classic Beauty won a minor handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Sha Tin in July, but is winless in three starts during the current season, which began in September. Classic Beauty was 10th in a minor handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sha Tin on Nov. 17, a race in which Chefano was second.

Insayshable was a troubled ninth as a longshot in a minor handicap at a mile at Sha Tin on Nov. 23. In his last two starts at 1 1/4 miles, both at Sha Tin since December 2018, Insayshable has been second and third, suggesting the longer distance of Saturday’s race will be helpful.

The distance should suit Helene Leadingstar, who was third in the Nov. 17 handicap behind Chefano. Helene Leadingstar finished with interest in the final furlong to be beaten three-quarters of a length.