Glorious Spectrum still seeking first Hong Kong win

Glorious Spectrum was winless in four starts in the 2018-19 Hong Kong season with valid excuses – he never had a clean trip.

Glorious Spectrum was hampered, crowded a few times and forced to check in the stretch on one occasion. Despite all that, he finished second in his final two starts.

In December, Glorious Spectrum was transferred from trainer Frankie Lor to Ricky Yui. Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, Glorious Spectrum will start for the first time since July in the $269,438 Cheung Shan Handicap at seven furlongs on turf.

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Neil Callan will have the mount for the first time replacing Umberto Rispoli, who now rides in Southern California.

Glorious Spectrum, a 5-year-old British-bred gelding, has won 4 of 10 starts in his career. He won three minor stakes in Italy in 2017 and 2018 racing under the name Met Spectrum. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are sent to Hong Kong.

In the 14-runner Cheung Shan Handicap, Glorious Spectrum will carry 125 pounds, six less than topweight Decrypt who was eighth in the $1.28 million Hong Kong Mile on Jan. 27 for Lor. Decrypt was third in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh last May in his final start before being sold to race in Hong Kong.

Cordyceps and Super Wealthy have been assigned 123 pounds and have attractive credentials. Cordyceps was fifth, beaten a length, in a one-mile handicap at Sha Tin on Feb. 8 despite racing in traffic.

Super Wealthy won six-furlong handicaps at Sha Tin on Jan. 1 and Jan. 27 against lesser competition. Super Wealthy faces a tougher field here, having risen in ratings from a 77 on Jan. 27 to a current mark of 85 in Hong Kong’s handicap system.

The 10-race program will not include leading rider Joao Moreira, who is serving the last day of a two-day riding suspension for an infraction at Sha Tin on Feb. 2.