Kwoon Chung Bus Cup appears wide open

The $249,169 Kwoon Chung Bus Cup at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on Wednesday lacks a standout in a field of 12.

There are several runners seeking to end losing streaks, led by Packing Dragon, Sichuan Dar and Stimulation, who have faced tougher fields in recent starts.

Sichuan Dar, who will carry 123 pounds in the race at 1 1/8 miles on turf, was ninth in the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy at Sha Tin Racecourse on June 3 in his final start of the 2017-18 Hong Kong season. On Sept. 12, in his first start of the current season, Sichuan Dar was eighth in a handicap at a mile and 50 yards at Happy Valley, closing with interest.

The longer distance of Wednesday’s race could suit the 7-year-old gelding, who has won 5 of 32 starts.

Packing Dragon is the highest-rated horse in Wednesday’s field. He was assigned 129 pounds, but will carry 124 pounds because of the presence of apprentice jockey Matt Poon.

Also a 7-year-old gelding, Packing Dragon was fifth in the Lion Rock Trophy, seventh in the Group 3 Premier Plate at 1 1/8 miles at Sha Tin on June 24 and fourth in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Sept. 9. He should do better around two turns, considering his 2017-18 season form.

The Kwoon Chung Bus Cup will be the third start in Hong Kong for the Japanese-bred Stimulation, a 4-year-old gelding by Deep Impact. In France in 2016 and 2017, Stimulation raced under the name Akihiro and was trained by Andre Fabre. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are transferred to Hong Kong.

Stimulation was a three-time winner in France, including the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at Chantilly for 2-year-olds in 2016.

Last year, Stimulation was third in the Group 3 Prix Greffulhe behind Recoletos and Waldgeist, who have since won Group 1 races this year. Waldgeist is nominated for Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris.

In his first two starts in Hong Kong, Stimulation was second and sixth in handicaps at Sha Tin in June and July.