Hong Kong: Waikuku puts streak on line in Lion City Handicap

It’s an easy name to remember, Waikuku, and probably one worth remembering.

After winning one of two starts in Ireland, Waikuku was purchased and transferred to Hong Kong, where his natural ability has continued flowering. Waikuku, a 4-year-old now and trained by John Size, finished second by a nose making his Hong Kong debut Dec. 23 and has come back to win three straight. He’ll try to make it four in a row while advancing toward stakes competition when he starts Saturday at Sha Tin in the featured Lion City Handicap.

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

The race, a class 2 for horses rated 105-80, marks a distance test for Waikuku, who stretches from 1200- and 1400-meter races out to 1800 meters, about 1 1/8 miles. Up seven pounds in the ratings following his most recent win, Waikuku is top-rated here and packs 133 pounds, including jockey Joao Moreira. The step up in trip, the high weight, and post 12 in a 12-horse field throw impediments into Waikuku’s path, but he might yet be up to the challenge.

Waikuku, by Harbour Watch and out of the Danehill Dancer mare London Plane, made his first start at 2 over 1400 meters and has finished off his Hong Kong starts like added ground won’t hurt. His listed weight is now up to 1,096 pounds from the 1,079 measured for his first Hong Kong start 2 ½ months ago.

Size also trains Enrichment, another 4-year-old rising in the rankings and up six points to 91 following a comfortably class 2 handicap win Feb. 10 going 2000 meters at Sha Tin. Enrichment has potential over longer-distance races but has so far lacked Waikuku’s local brilliance, and it is not a random act that Moreira sticks with the top-rated horse here.

Post time for the Lion City, race 9 of 10, is 4:10 a.m. Eastern.

*Pakistan Star, who has mixed high-level ability with mercurial behavior during his Hong Kong career, was moved recently from trainer Tony Cruz into the stable of trainer Paul O’Sullivan. Pakistan Star has won important Hong Kong races but also has been temporarily banned from starting after pulling himself up on the backstretch in 1800-meter races at Sha Tin, and occasionally refusing to train.