Seven Heavens may have found right spot in Dongcheng District Handicap

Seven Heavens is overdue for his first win in Hong Kong. With a little luck in recent starts, the elusive victory would have occurred.

Seven Heavens, trained by Caspar Fownes, will have his 15th start in Hong Kong in Wednesday’s $180,053 Dongcheng District Handicap at six furlongs at Happy Valley Racecourse. Seven Heavens will be ridden by leading rider Zac Purton, who is aboard the 5-year-old British-bred gelding for the first time since January.

On Feb. 10 at Sha Tin, Seven Heavens closed well to finish second by a half-length in a six-furlong handicap. On March 24 at Sha Tin, Seven Heavens finished fourth by three-quarters of a length in a six-furlong handicap and was promoted to third after he was interfered with by a rival in the final furlong.

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

Seven Heavens, by Frankel, was well regarded when he was shipped from England to Hong Kong in the summer of 2017. In England, Seven Heavens was trained by John Gosden and won twice in seven starts. In his final two appearances, Seven Heavens was third in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket and second in the Surrey Stakes at Epsom Downs in the spring of 2017.

For the Dongcheng District Handicap, Seven Heavens will carry 130 pounds, three less than topweight People’s Knight, who is trained by John Moore. People’s Knight is winless in three starts since a victory in a six-furlong handicap on dirt at Sha Tin in December. This race is a drop in class from his recent starts.

The appropriately-named Speed Vision is expected to set the pace, a style that led to a win in a similar race at Happy Valley on Feb. 20. Speed Vision was 12th in a tougher field on March 6. Trained by Frankie Lor, Speed Vision will carry 124 pounds since jockey Victor Wong claims five pounds as an apprentice.