Fabulous One ends seven-month layoff in Penfold Park

Slightly more than a year after he compiled a four-race winning streak, Fabulous One returns from a layoff of more than seven months in Wednesday’s $322,368 Penfold Park Handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Fabulous One won four consecutive turf races at Sha Tin from early October to mid-December of 2015. A 5-year-old gelding, Fabulous One will have his first start on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin on Wednesday. Fabulous One won a handicap at six furlongs on turf at Happy Valley last June.

The Penfold Park Handicap is the third race on an eight-race program that begins at 7:15 a.m. Eastern, or 4:15 a.m. Pacific.

Fabulous One has been assigned 130 pounds, three less than topweight Dundonnell, a Group 2 stakes winner in Hong Kong in 2015 who was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in 2012. Dundonnell has not raced on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin.

Dundonnell was last of 10 in the Flying Dragon Handicap at seven furlongs on turf Dec. 11.

The Penfold Park Handicap drew a field of eight, including Eroico, who won a minor handicap on the all-weather when favored at Sha Tin on Dec. 17. Eroico is the only runner in Wednesday’s field with a win on the all-weather track.

Born in China, who will carry 125 pounds, will race for the first time since an eighth-place finish in a handicap Sept. 11. Born in China was scratched from the Flying Dragon Handicap after he was found to be lame when he arrived at the gate prior to the start.

Almababy, who was assigned 124 pounds but gets a 10-pound break because of apprentice jockey Dylan Mo, won his last start in a minor handicap at five furlongs on turf Dec. 7. The Penfold Park Handicap is Almababy’s all-weather racing debut.