Dirt just fine for Big Time Baby in Cho Kwo Ling Handicap
Big Time Baby is one of the few runners on the Hong Kong circuit equally as effective in turf races and on the infield dirt track at Sha Tin.
On Jan. 29, Big Time Baby finished second in the Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at five furlongs on the straightaway turf course at Sha Tin. Earlier in the current Hong Kong season, which began in September, Big Time Baby won six-furlong handicaps on dirt at Sha Tin in September and December.
Those credentials make Big Time Baby the 133-pound highweight for Wednesday’s $270,339 Cho Kwo Ling Handicap at six furlongs on dirt at Sha Tin, the last of eight races on a rare program entirely of dirt races. The Cho Kwo Ling Handicap is the richest race on the program.
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Trained by Manfred Man, Big Time Baby will break from post 6 in a field of 12. Jockey Matt Chadwick, who has been aboard for Big Time Baby’s two recent wins, is likely to have the 6-year-old gelding in a stalking position.
Big Time Baby is the only runner in the field with a placing in a graded stakes this season.
Two other runners have won twice on the dirt track this season – Encore Boy, who will carry 119 pounds, and Elite Patch, who carries 113, the lowest weight.
Encore Boy beat lower-rated rivals in dirt races in October and January and was fourth to Big Time Baby in a race at this higher level on Dec. 1.
Elite Patch is in a similar situation, having won consecutive races on dirt against lesser rivals in November and December. He was a troubled 11th on Jan. 5 in his latest start, racing in traffic more than three furlongs from the finish as the 2-1 favorite.