Circuit Hassler makes Hong Kong debut
Circuit Hassler ended his New Zealand career last April with a win in the Group 2 Championship Stakes for 3-year-olds. That was enough to merit a change of scenery.
Earlier this year, Circuit Hassler was transferred to Hong Kong, where he will make his debut in Asia in Sunday’s $322,347 Chevalier Cup, a handicap at a mile on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse. Circuit Hassler, who was known as The Hassler when he raced in New Zealand, has been assigned 111 pounds, and is part of a field of 14.
Now trained by Tony Cruz, Circuit Hassler has won 4 of 11 races, including his last two starts. His wins ranged from distances of a mile to 1 5/16 miles in New Zealand, all earlier this year. Last March, Circuit Hassler was ninth of 18 in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.
Circuit Hassler will face a field of established Hong Kong-based runners in the Chevalier Cup, the richest of 11 races on a program that begins at 12:15 a.m., Eastern, or 9:15 p.m., Pacific on Saturday.
The Kentucky-breds Harbour Master and Circuit Land, both geldings by Mizzen Mast, will each carry topweight of 133 pounds.
Circuit Land, 5, won a handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin on Sept. 25, but was 12th of 14 after a slow start in a seven-furlong handicap on Nov. 12. Circuit Land has won 5 of 25 starts in his career and four of 17 starts in Hong Kong.
Harbour Master, 6, won a handicap at about a mile at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Oct. 26, but was sixth of 14 in the Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin on Nov. 6. In his career, Harbour Master 8 of 42 starts and 7 of 37 starts in Hong Kong.
Twin Delight, eighth behind Harbour Master on Oct. 26, will carry 129 pounds, and can rebound from a 13th place finish on Nov. 12. Twin Delight was found to have suffered a cut leg in the latter race at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin.