This is Class might have tougher time in Kowloon City Handicap

This is Class could not have had an easier trip when he won a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong from the front on Feb. 5. Sent off favored, This is Class led by a length shortly after the start and cruised to a two-length victory.

The same scenario is unlikely to occur in Wednesday’s $186,420 Kowloon City Handicap at six furlongs at Happy Valley, but that may not be a concern for fans of This is Class. The 5-year-old gelding could certainly take an early lead, but has shown to be equally as effective when stalking the pace.

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Trained by Francis Liu, This is Class will start from post 6 in the field of 12, a good position for jockey Vincent Ho to send his mount to the front or stalk rivals such as Hinchinlove or Super Wise, who have shown speed.

Hinchinlove won a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley on Jan. 22 and was a close third at 46-1 in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Feb. 8. Super Wise set the pace in a six-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Feb. 16 before fading to finish fourth, beaten two lengths.

The Kowloon City Handicap, the last of eight races on the Happy Valley program, will be the third start of the Hong Kong season for This is Class, an Australian-bred who has won three of nine starts. This is Class was second in his first start of the year on Jan. 22 following a layoff of more than seven months.

Wednesday, This is Class will carry 130 pounds, and is essentially the topweight. Mr So and So was assigned 133 pounds, but apprentice jockey Victor Wong claims five pounds.

Mr So and So is winless in seven starts during the season, and has won 3 of 29 races in his career. Mr. So and So has lost 12 consecutive races since he won two straight races at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in December 2018.