Hong Kong: Ivictory seeks rebound with blinkers in Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap

His first two seasons racing in Hong Kong, Ivictory lived up to his name, winning seven races in eight starts, including a perfect four-start 2017-18 campaign capped by a half-length win over top Hong Kong sprinter Mr. Stunning in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Cup.

But this season Ivictory has turned into Idefeat. He’s finished sixth, seventh, and 10th in his last three races and seeks a turnaround Sunday at Sha Tin dropping in class to start in the Group 3, $414,829 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap while racing in blinkers for the first time.

Ivictory faces just five foes, none nearly as accomplished, but under the race’s handicap conditions gives all of them 20 pounds (133 to 113).

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Ivictory’s connections took some heart in the manner of a recent training-race win, where Ivictory, fitted with his blinkers, went straight to the front and crossed the line 10 lengths in front of his closest pursuer while never asked for run.

Wishful Thinker and Styling City are the progressive horses in this 1,000-meter dash, run down a straight course in front of Sha Tin’s towering stands.

The Bauhinia comes early on the card, as race 3, while the 10-race program that begins at midnight Eastern ends with a noteworthy Class 2 handicap. This 1,600-meter race includes a number of horses eligible to the three-race 4-year-old Classic Series, which culminates in the Hong Kong Derby and begins with the Hong Kong Classic Mile on Jan. 27.