Hong Kong: The Rock could get the trip in Class 2 feature at Sha Tin

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Hong Kong programming for a Wednesday card of dirt racing at Sha Tin.

The eight-race program kicks at 7:15 a.m. Eastern, which is standard, but the typical weekday card of turf racing at Happy Valley gives way to an evening of dirt competition at Sha Tin.

Also out of the ordinary: The feature comes early, race 2, a Class 2 handicap carded for 1,650 meters open to horses rated 105-80.

And just like in American dirt racing, a speed duel could percolate here, with established front-runners Hong Kong Great, Kings Shield, and Telecom Fighter among the eight entrants.

Telecom Fighter enters after his rating received a massive 11-point boost, to 94, on the strength of a 3 1/4-length victory in his most recent start. That also was a Class 2 race, but it came on Happy Valley turf and Telecom Fighter has no dirt-racing experience. He does get a break in the weights from his pace rivals, carrying 125 pounds to Kings Shield’s 131 and top-rated Hong Kong Great’s 133.

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This trio, in any case, is likely to go fast enough to set things up for The Rock, who is making his third start this season and should be ready to improve for trainer Caspar Fownes. A three-time winner during the 2020-21 Hong Kong season, The Rock raced once over Sha Tin dirt, rallying from last of 12 to finish second, albeit more than five lengths behind Hong Kong Great, at this class level and distance. Hong Kong Great got one pound from The Rock in that start and got away with a pressure-free lead, and circumstances look much different Wednesday.

* Master Eight, a 4-year-old, ran his career mark to three wins from three starts with a dominant front-running victory Sunday at Sha Tin in a Class 3 handicap over 1,200 meters. He was one of three winners on the day for Joao Moreira. Master Eight, first at every point of call in his three races, won a Class 4 and a Class 3 during the 2020-21 season and soon will move up the ladder to test Class 2 competition for trainer Frankie Lor.