Limitless in good spot with Wan Fu Handicap

Limitless salvaged his 2017-18 Hong Kong season with a victory in a handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse on July 4, days before the circuit had its summer break.

The 2018-19 season began earlier this month and Limitless will have his first start of the new campaign in Wednesday’s $248,423 Wan Fu Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards at Happy Valley. The last of eight races, the Wan Fu Handicap is a race Limitless is capable of winning for trainer Caspar Fownes.

A 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, Limitless will carry 128 pounds, five less than topweight Sichuan Dar, who has not started since a ninth-place finish in the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy at Sha Tin Racecourse on June 3. Interestingly, Sichuan Dar won a race similar to the Wan Fu Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards at Happy Valley in September 2017, his only win in eight starts last season.

The favorite may be Turin Redstar, who was second to Limitless on July 4 in his first career start at Happy Valley. A two-time winner in nine career starts in Hong Kong, Turin Redstar will be ridden by Zac Purton, the leading rider of the 2017-18 season. Purton is off to a modest start this year, winning with three of his first 24 mounts, which leaves him one behind leader Vincent Ho after three racing days.

Ho does not have a mount in the Wan Fu Handicap.

Tony Cruz leads all trainers with four wins this season, and starts Circuit Glory in the Wan Fu Handicap. A 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Circuit Glory was second by a half-length in a handicap on Sha Tin’s all-weather track on July 1 in his final start of the previous season.

Circuit Glory, who will carry 119 pounds, is winless in 11 starts in Hong Kong, but was a five-time winner in New Zealand in 2017 racing under the name Tavidream. Horses often have their names changed when they are imported to Hong Kong.