Lavender Handicap looks like good spot for Simply Brilliant
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A fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup last month ended a two-race winning streak for Simply Brilliant, a 5-year-old gelding by Frankel.
In November and January, Simply Brilliant won handicap races at Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong. Sunday, Simply Brilliant appears well-placed to win for the third time at the current Hong Kong season in the Lavender Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin.
As of Friday, it was unclear who would ride Simply Brilliant, who is trained by Frankie Lor. Silvestre de Sousa is booked to ride Simply Brilliant, but he sustained a lower back injury at Happy Valley on Wednesday and was listed as questionable by Hong Kong officials in a statement released on Thursday.
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Simply Brilliant was bred in Britain and began his career there, winning twice in 2016 under the name Senator. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are sent to Hong Kong.
Simply Brilliant has been assigned 128 pounds in the Lavender Handicap, five less than topweight Seasons Bloom, who is winless in five starts in Hong Kong since the current season began in September. Seasons Bloom, trained by Danny Shum, was fifth in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Feb. 17, finishing four lengths behind Beauty Generation, the reigning Horse of the Year in Hong Kong.
This will be the first time Seasons Bloom has not started in a group race in 11 starts, since September 2017.
The race distance should suit Dinozzo, who was third behind Exultant in the Hong Kong Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles, overcoming trouble in the stretch to close from ninth. Grant Van Niekerk rides Dinozzo for leading trainer John Size.
Dinozzo was second to Exultant in the Group 3 Centenary Vase at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin on Jan. 27.
Size also runs What Else But You, the two-length winner of a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Feb. 7. Leading rider Zac Purton rides What Else But You, who will carry 126 pounds.
