Renaissance Art opens season in Yuen Long Handicap
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLERenaissance Art, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding who began his career in Ireland, has found his niche in Hong Kong.
In 18 starts in Hong Kong, Renaissance Art has won four times, including consecutive wins in handicaps in June and July. Trained by Caspar Fownes, Renaissance Art will have his first start of the 2016-17 Hong Kong season in Saturday’s $225,576 Yuen Long Handicap at a mile on turf.
The Yuen Long Handicap is the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 1 a.m. Eastern time Saturday, or 10 p.m. Pacific on Friday.
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Renaissance Art will carry 130 pounds, three fewer than joint topweights Harbour Master and Packing Llaregyb. Harbour Master was 12th behind Renaissance Art at Sha Tin on July 1 but won on the all-weather surface in May. Packing Llaregyb was a troubled 10th in a handicap at seven furlongs at Sha Tin on Sept. 11, his only start this year.
Star Majestic is another threat to Renaissance Art. A five-time winner, Star Majestic was fourth in the July 1 race after a wide trip, beaten a half-length. Star Majestic, who had one win in nine starts in Hong Kong in the 2015-16 season, will carry 123 pounds.
Renaissance Art, by More Than Ready, won his debut in Ireland in 2013, beating Australia. In 2014, Australia won the English Derby and Irish Derby for trainer Aidan O’Brien.