Sha Tin: C P Brave looks ready for first Hong Kong win

Three races into his Hong Kong career, C P Brave is poised for his first win in Asia and third career victory in a class 2 handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.

Trained by Tony Millard, C P Brave finished fifth, third, and second in starts at Sha Tin and Happy Valley in class 3 handicaps in May and July, losing the last of those races by a half-length.

In the Hong Kong handicap system, a class 2 race is slightly tougher than a class 3, but still below class 1 races which are a level below stakes.

C P Brave, who will be ridden by Joao Moreira, will start from the rail in a field of 11 in Sunday’s race, formally known as the $308,443 Woodpecker Handicap.

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A 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding, C P Brave runs from off the pace, which will allow Moreira to take a patient approach through the first half of the race in search of a favorable position.

C P Brave won races at Ascot and Yarmouth racecourses in England last year before being transferred to Hong Kong. C P Brave raced under the name Paranesi in England. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are transferred to Hong Kong.

In the early part of Sunday’s race, C P Brave will be joined at the back of the field by Super Football, a winner of two of his last five starts for trainer Jimmy Ting. Super Football has not raced at the current Hong Kong season, which began earlier this month.

A 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Super Football won a class 2 handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sha Tin on July 1 and won a handicap at a mile in February.

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Highland Fortune is a threat from a slightly closer position, if he can stay out of trouble. In his last two starts, Highland Fortune raced in traffic in the last half-mile, which cost the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred a chance at a win.

Highland Fortune, who is trained by Francis Liu, is winless in his last 12 starts. The booking of jockey Karis Teetan will draw attention to Highland Fortune.

Sha Tin has a 10-race program that begins at 1 a.m. Eastern, on Sunday, or 10 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.