Hong Kong: Sha Tin surface a plus for Perpetual Joyance

Perpetual Joyance has not won on Sha Tin's all-weather surface since November 2016, but his liking for the surface is a vital factor for bettors to consider when the 5-year-old gelding starts as the 133-pound highweight in Wednesday’s $237,748 Hoi Yuen Handicap at the Hong Kong racecourse.

Perpetual Joyance has won 7 of 26 starts in his career and has one win in two starts on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin. The 2016 win was his first start on the surface. Last October, Perpetual Joyance was fifth in a handicap on it after a poor start.

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The Hoi Yuen Handicap, the seventh race on an eight-race program, will be Perpetual Joyance’s third start of the month. Trained by John Size, Perpetual Joyance won a six-furlong handicap on turf at Sha Tin on Feb. 10 and was a troubled fifth against better competition in a six-furlong handicap on Feb. 21 at Happy Valley Racecourse.

Big Time Baby is a course specialist on the all-weather surface and a realistic threat to Perpetual Joyance on Wednesday. Big Time Baby, who will carry just 116 pounds, has finished in the first three in his three starts on the surface, all since early November. Big Time Baby, a minor stakes winner on turf at York Racecourse in England in 2016, was beaten a length when third in a handicap on the all-weather surface in his last start on Jan. 24.

The Hoi Yuen Handicap will be the Hong Kong debut of Great Honour and Gunnison, Australian stakes winners at Royal Randwick Racecourse in early 2017. Gunnison, unbeaten in two starts, won the Todman Stakes last March in his most recent race.

Great Honour, who raced in Australia under the name Acatour, won the minor Carbine Club Stakes at a mile last April and was beaten in three subsequent starts in Australia.

Gunnison is more highly regarded by Hong Kong’s official handicapper than Great Honour. Gunnison will carry 119 pounds for Wednesday’s race, while Great Honour will carry 115 pounds, the lowest assignment in the race.