Jolly Banner vs. Western Express in Tolo Harbour Handicap

Jolly Banner and Western Express are a cut below the best runners in Hong Kong. When placed in minor handicaps, they have been very effective the last six months.

They meet for the first time Sunday in the Tolo Harbour Handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse. They will share the role of highweights at 133 pounds in the field of 11.

The Tolo Harbour Handicap is a Class 2 race, restricted to horses rated from 80 to 105. Jolly Banner and Western Express have ratings of 105. For comparison, four horses have the highest ratings in Hong Kong – Aerovelocity, Amazing Kids, Lucky Bubbles, and Peniaphobia – at 128.

Jolly Banner won consecutive starts in Class 2 handicaps in November, and was second by a short head in a Class 2 handicap in January. He was seventh in a Class 1 handicap at seven furlongs on turf March 5, his most recent start.

A 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Lonhro, Jolly Banner has won 5 of 13 starts in Hong Kong.

Western Express won Class 2 races Feb. 2 and March 19. In higher-class races earlier this year, Western Express was 10th in the Hong Kong Classic Mile in January and 12th in the Hong Kong Classic Cup in February, losing both races to Rapper Dragon, who won the Hong Kong Derby on March 19 to sweep the Triple Crown.

Jolly Banner and Western Express are part of a competitive field in the Tolo Harbour Handicap. Simply Invincible, who will carry 131 pounds, was a game second in the same Class 1 race as Jolly Banner on March 5.

There are imports from England and South Africa in the field. Nassa was third in the Group 1 Cape Guineas in South Africa in December 2015 in his latest start. Beauty Way won minor races in England in 2015 and 2016.