Hong Kong: Circuit Three picks up weight in Class 2 handicap at Sha Tin

Circuit Three showed last racing season he could put together a Hong Kong winning streak, and two in a row is a good possibility when Circuit Three starts in the featured fourth race Saturday at Sha Tin.

Circuit Three is one of just eight entered in a Class 2 handicap for horses rated 100-80 and carded at 1,600 meters around one turn on turf. He drew post 7 and will be ridden for trainer Tony Cruz by Joao Moreira, who was aboard for Circuit Three’s sharp course and distance score at this class level on Jan. 1. Rallying from eighth while three wide with cover behind a slow pace, Circuit Three laid down a 21.99-second final 400 meters to tally by 1 1/4 lengths.

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That performance earned Circuit Three a rise in the Hong Kong ratings from 85 up to 92 and Circuit Three picks up eight pounds Sunday, toting 129. Last season, Circuit Three won three races in a row, the last two at the Class 3 level and the second of those under 130 pounds, so he’s proven he can carry the weight. The ability to rally into a slow pace also could prove helpful as there does not appear to be much speed signed onto the Sunday feature.

Meanwhile, Sea of Life’s connections have designs on the March 21 Hong Kong Derby for this 4-year-old Australian import, but before Sea of Life can be seriously considered for that 2,000-meter test, he’ll have to prove himself over 1,600 meters on Sunday. Before being exported from Australia, Sea of Life finished seventh in a 1,800-meter race, his only start beyond about one mile, and successive Class 3 victories in January came over distances of 1,200 and 1,400 meters.

Sea of Life did manage to successfully lug 132 pounds in his most recent start and is down to 120 while up in class Sunday, but he did get a near-perfect trip in that Jan. 24 outing.

Lakeshore Eagle, rated 90, has been slow to round into form after three starts this season but ended his 2019-2020 campaign on a three-race winning streak, the last of those in a Sha Tin Class 2 over 1,600 meters.

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The Rock has flashed encouraging enough form at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley and is in fairly light at 119 pounds.

Arthur’s Kingdom, who came from Aidan O’Brien’s yard in Ireland, has raced twice in Hong Kong, while well regarded Aussie import Conqueror has started only once, but neither horse showed much of anything in their respective races.

First post for this 10-race card is midnight Eastern. Catch all the action at DRFBets.com.