Ng hopes Valley maestro Le Zonda can convert in Sa Sa Ladies' Purse

By Declan Schuster

Trainer Pierre Ng couldn’t be happier with Le Zonda (115lb) as his rising talent attempts to convert his scintillating Happy Valley form to Sha Tin when he is tested in Sunday’s (8 November) HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m).

Le Zonda has dominated Hong Kong’s tight-turning and unforgiving city circuit – conditions some horses thrive under – with a hat-trick of wins in his past four starts.

But Ng is hopeful the dual Class 2 winner can become as effective at Sha Tin – the city’s more spacious track with a longer home straight – in what is his hardest test to date.

“It’ll be interesting to see how he runs. He’s in perfect shape. Hopefully, he can show something with the lightweight,” Ng said.

“He’s trialled well on the dirt track at Sha Tin, so I do think the track won’t bother him too much. Hopefully, he can do it at Sha Tin, too.”

Rated 90, Le Zonda is unplaced at Sha Tin from three tries, finishing sixth twice and 14th once, although these were before his winning spree began in June – on his seventh Hong Kong start – before tasting defeat last start on 14 October.

“He was unlucky in his last run with the slow pace and tempo. He didn’t get cover and a lot went wrong for him, but he still finished fifth. We can forget about that run,” said Ng of the strong-headed Irish import’s effort behind a resurgent Massive Sovereign.

Sunday’s 13-runner feature includes Beauty Joy (135lb), Numbers (129lb), Sky Jewellery (124lb), Massive Sovereign (123lb), Soleil Fighter (122lb), Ensued (119lb), Speed Dragon (119lb), Gentlemen Legacy (115lb), Silvery Breeze (115lb), Romantic Thor (115lb), Californiatotality (115lb) and Stunning Peach (115lb).

Ng said: “Massive Sovereign is in good form. Numbers is in there, and he should be up on the pace. Even the top-weight, Beauty Joy, he always runs well.”

Vincent Ho, the only rider to win on Le Zonda in 10 Hong Kong starts, is replaced by Richard Kingscote, who partners the four-year-old for the first time on Sunday. Le Zonda is expected to carry 117lb – two pounds overweight.

“Vincent can’t make the weight. Hopefully, he can switch off (in the run), relax and run well,” Ng said. “I was happy with his trial. He had a nice easy trial – he finished off well.”

Le Zonda is entered for the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at the HK$130 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 13 December.

Championship-leading Ng, who has 16 wins this season, saddles a six-strong team on Sunday for Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day, including the hat-trick-seeking Storm Mirror (124lb), who rises to Class 3 for the first time in the La Estephe Handicap (1400m).

"He’s racing really well,” Ng said. “It seems as though his last two runs haven’t been too tough, so I’ve put him in a Class 3 this weekend. Hopefully, he can get more (rating) points. Vincent is on him again.”

Classic-winning rider Saffie Osborne debuts at Sha Tin, and she is booked to ride Ng’s Aeroinvincible (115lb) in the Class 2 Santa Monica Handicap (1400m).

Owned by the Fortune Owners Syndicate, Aeroinvincible has won four of his past eight starts and also jumps in grade this weekend. The Per Incanto gelding has finished no worse than sixth across his previous 14 starts, including three seconds.

“He always earns prize money. We have Saffie on this weekend in Class 2 with bottom-weight. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes,” Ng said.

Sunday’s (8 November) Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day is headlined by the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at 4.05pm.