Love Shock well spotted in Hung To Handicap
The last time Love Shock ran on turf, he swept past nine rivals in the stretch to win a minor handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on Dec. 7.
On Thursday, Love Shock returns to Happy Valley for a slightly tougher race, the $159,163 Hung To Handicap at six furlongs on turf. Love Shock is well suited to the conditions of the race, which is open to horses rated 60 to 85. Love Shock won a race for horses rated 60 to 80 in December. More recently, Love Shock was second in a race on the all-weather track at Sha Tin Racecourse on Jan. 18.
Love Shock, who is rated at 82, is a 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding who has won 3 of 8 starts. The December race was his first win of the Hong Kong season, which began in September.
Love Shock will carry 130 pounds, three fewer than topweight Divine Boy.
The Hung To Handicap is part of an eight-race card that begins at 7:15 a.m. Eastern.
Two other runners in the field of 12 are winners this season – Green Card and Lucky Day.
Green Card won a six-furlong race at Sha Tin in September but is winless in his last six starts. Green Card was second in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Jan. 14.
Lucky Day won a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley on Nov. 30 and was fifth in a similar race there on Dec. 14.
Divine Boy won three consecutive races in late 2015 but is winless in his last 15 starts.