Hong Kong: Fast Most Furious gives weight in Shan Pui River Handicap
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEFast Most Furious has the recent win, but Storm Signal has the better weight assignment when the two meet in Wednesday’s Shan Pui River Handicap, the eighth race at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Within the race, there is the ongoing battle for leading rider between Joao Moreira, who leads with 104 victories, and Zac Purton, who is second with 95 wins. Moreira rides Storm Signal, while Purton rides Fast Most Furious in the six-furlong turf race.
Fast Most Furious, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, won a minor handicap by two lengths on April 18, his first win in Hong Kong in his fifth start on the circuit. Fast Most Furious closed from off the pace to take the lead in the final furlong.
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Fast Most Furious was seventh and 10th in races last October and November before he was given the winter off. He returned to finish second by a nose on March 7.
Fast Most Furious carries high weight of 133 pounds on Wednesday.
Storm Signal will carry 128 pounds and is second in the weights in the field of 12. Storm Signal is winless in 10 starts during the Hong Kong season, which began in September. He was beaten a nose in a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley on April 25 after being bumped at the start.
Storm Signal can race near the pace and is likely to be in pursuit of Exceptional Desire, who has won twice in 10 starts this season in Hong Kong. Exceptional Desire, who will carry 111 pounds, was third in a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley on April 11, with Storm Signal fourth.
Back in Black, second by a nose in the April 11 race, is part of Wednesday’s race. He is seeking a win for the first time this year in his 10th start. Back in Black, who will be ridden by Tommy Berry, has been assigned 122 pounds.