Sha Tin: Lakeshore Eagle may have difficult time extending win streak

At his most recent published weight, 1,037 pounds, Lakeshore Eagle is the lightest horse in the featured 10th race Sunday at Sha Tin, and he’ll be asked to carry 10 pounds more than in his most recent start as he tries to extend his winning streak to four.

It isn’t just on the scale but on the screen that Lakeshore Eagle seems relatively slight, but in ending his 2019-2020 Hong Kong season with three wins in a row, he carried top weight of 130 pounds in the second of those three victories, a Class 2 score in late April. Lakeshore Eagle toted just 116 pounds moving up to Class 2 in his seasonal finale and got a perfect trip in an eight-horse field at Sha Tin, saving ground most of the 1,600 meters before a gaping hole opened in mid-stretch, Lakeshore Eagle going through and on to another win.

Sunday, in a Class 2 handicap carded over 1,600 meters for horses rated 100-80, Lakeshore Eagle is up to 126 pounds off his Hong Kong-peak rating of 91, and, coming back from a three-month layoff, four in row seems a lot to ask.

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There are plenty of viable options in the Sunday finale, including top-rated Super Oasis, who must shoulder 133 pounds off a rating of 98. The 5-year-old New Zealand-bred had a productive 2019-2020 campaign while racing, at least somewhat effectively, at distances ranging from 1,400 to 2,400 meters. His lone win during the season came over 1,400, the 1,600 he gets Sunday should be fine, and Super Oasis got in a potentially useful comeback run finishing a solid fourth at this level two weeks ago.

Excellent Proposal would merit stronger consideration had he not drawn poorly in post 14. Excellent Proposal has made only two Hong Kong starts, running well in defeat in July before winning a Class 3 on Sept. 6 under 131 pounds going 1,400 meters at Sha Tin.

Excellent Proposal relaxed nicely in that race for jockey Joao Moreira, back in the irons again Sunday for trainer John Size, and was able to overcome traffic trouble in the homestretch thanks to a powerful burst of late speed. The 4-year-old Australian-bred son of Exceed and Excel clearly has more upside than any of his rivals save, perhaps, Amazing One Plus.

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Amazing One Plus apparently has struggled to get right physically, his most recent race – and only Hong Kong start – coming last May, when he finished strongly for second in a Sha Tin Class 1. Amazing One Plus was scratched lame from an intended Sept. 6 start but worked to the satisfaction of the Hong Kong Jockey Club veterinary staff on Thursday.

First post for this card is 1 a.m. Eastern. Wagering and live video is available at DRFBets.com.