Little Bird should be flying early in Elgin Handicap

The geldings Little Bird and Fantastic Feeling should be easy to spot in the opening furlongs of Wednesday’s $176,380 Elgin Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

The speedy Little Bird is almost certain to set the pace in the field of 12. He has disputed the pace in recent starts, when he breaks well. The style led to a win in a minor handicap by 3 1/2 lengths at six furlongs at Happy Valley on Nov. 7.

Fantastic Feeling is a threat from off the pace, and a legitimate one. He was beaten a neck as a longshot when closing well in a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley on Nov. 7, running in a different race than Little Bird on that program.

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In Elgin Handicap, which is run at six furlongs, bettors may favor Little Bird, who will be ridden by Grant Van Niekirk, a South African riding in Hong Kong for the first time this season. Little Bird was favored on Nov. 7 and will carry 132 pounds in the Elgin Handicap, one less than Fantastic Feeling, the mount of Neil Callan.

Fantastic Feeling has been beaten in his last two starts following a win in a six-furlong handicap – from off the pace, of course – at Happy Valley on Oct. 3.

Fantastic Feeling shares the role of topweight with Harrier Jet, a five-time winner who is winless in four starts since May; and Sir Redalot, who was third to Little Bird on Nov. 7. Harrier Jet was eighth in the same Nov. 7 race.

Of the lower-weighted horses, Powermax, who will carry 122 pounds, has attractive recent form. A 6-year-old gelding, Powermax won a six-furlong handicap against a lower class of competition at Happy Valley on Oct. 3 and made a successful jump in class to win by a nose with an off-the-pace move in a six-furlong race at the same track on Oct. 24.