Kings Shield has good history on course and distance

The last time Kings Shield raced at about a mile on the infield dirt track at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong he led throughout to win a handicap in late May.

Kings Shield lost three subsequent starts, two turf races at Happy Valley and Sha Tin in June and July and a seventh-place finish in a six-furlong handicap on dirt at Sha Tin on Oct. 18.

Wednesday, Kings Shield starts in the $283,870 Hebe Hill Handicap at about a mile on the dirt track at Sha Tin, where he figures to have a leading chance in a field of 12. Trained by Frankie Lor, Kings Shield will be ridden by Zac Purton, who was aboard for the win last May.

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A Kentucky-bred gelding by Scat Daddy, Kings Shield began his career in England, where he won two minor races on all-weather tracks in 2017 and 2018. Later in 2018, Kings Shield was sixth in the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp, and fifth in the Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot when trained by John Gosden.

Kings Shield joined Lor’s stable in late 2018 and has won 2 of 17 starts in Hong Kong. Through Sunday, Purton was second in the jockey’s standings in Hong Kong with 21 wins, 10 fewer than leader Joao Moriera. Wednesday, Moreira is suspended for a riding infraction in a race at Sha Tin on Oct. 4.

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Kings Shield will carry 129 pounds, four pounds fewer than joint topweights Elusive State and Helene Leadingstar. Elusive State was a game second in a similar race as the Hebe Hill Handicap last December. This is his first start since an 11th-place finish in the Group 3 Celebration Cup at seven furlongs on turf on Sept. 27.

Helene Leadingstar won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Sha Tin in April, but is winless in his last four starts, including a second in the Group 3 Premier Plate at 1 1/8 miles in June. Wednesday’s race is Helene Leadingstar’s first start on the dirt track at Sha Tin.

Touch of Luck is one of three runners in the field carrying low weight of 113 pounds. An Australian-bred gelding, Touch of Luck has won 3 of 11 starts on the Sha Tin dirt track, including a handicap at about a mile in his last appearance on the track in June.

The Hebe Hill Handicap is the eighth and final race on a program that begins at 6:15 a.m. Eastern, or 3:15 a.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.