Hong Kong: Mega Heart tops division of Ho Man Tin Handicap
There is one blemish in the four-race career of Mega Heart, who starts as the 133-pound highweight in Wednesday’s $167,927 Ho Man Tin Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.
After winning his first two starts in New Zealand in 2016, Mega Heart was ninth in his Hong Kong debut on Oct. 22. A 5-year-old gelding, Mega Heart rebounded to win a minor handicap a week later, leading to Wednesday’s race at six furlongs on turf.
Mega Heart is the 133-pound highweight in a field of 12, and his ascension through the Hong Kong handicap rankings can continue.
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The Ho Man Tin Handicap is one of three $167,927 races on the eight-race program at Happy Valley, which begins at 6:15 a.m. Eastern. Wagering is available on DRFBets.com.
Mega Heart is part of the second division of the Ho Man Tin Handicap, the seventh race on the program. In the Oct. 29 race, Mega Heart overcame trouble in the final quarter-mile of the six-furlong race to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Nash Rawiller was aboard for that race and has the mount on Wednesday.
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The first division of the Ho Man Tin Handicap is the sixth race, which also drew a field of 12. Harbour Alert, second in two six-furlong handicaps at Happy Valley this fall, is a leading contender and will carry 131 pounds, two less than topweight Flying Tourbillon.
Flying Tourbillon is winless in four starts in Hong Kong this season and is taking a much-needed drop in class after consecutive 10th place finishes in October. There will be good support for Master Albert, the mount of leading jockey Joao Moreira. Master Albert was third in his first career start at Happy Valley on Oct. 18, leading to the final furlong before losing by three-quarters of a length.
Rawiller has a leading chance in the last race, the $167,927 Hung Hom Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf, on Sharp Sailor, the winner of a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 20.
Sharp Sailor was fourth in a similar race on Oct. 11, and was found to be lame the next day. Since then, Sharp Sailor has trained regularly and has had three workouts, according to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s website.