Sha Tin: Lucky More shortens up to straight-course race following three-month layoff
Lucky More might have meaningfully more to give when he kicks off his season in the featured ninth race Sunday at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.
Four-year-old Lucky More is only seven races into his Hong Kong career and races for the first time since May 31 in this Class 2 handicap over a straight 1,000 meters for horses rated 100-80. Trained by Cliff Shum, Lucky More made his last four starts of the 2019-2020 season in 1,200-meter Sha Tin races around a bend, but he began his Hong Kong career with three straight-course 1,000-meter starts and raced effectively, with a win, a second, and a fifth while rising from an official rating of 52 to 69.
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Lucky More won twice more last season, moving from Class 4s at the start of his campaign to Class 2 on May 31, and he performed most encouragingly in a dirt training race Sept. 4 at Sha Tin. Lucky More carries 123 pounds, getting nine pounds from top-rated Enjoying.
Enjoying appears to need more distance for a competitive performance but Hong Kong Win, second-highest rated in the race at 94, fits the spot. Hong Kong Win is an established Class 2 horse with contending form over 1,000 meters at Sha Tin, but he does have to carry 131 pounds and was far from impressive – for whatever it’s worth – in a recent turf training race at Conghua, the mainland-China training center operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Multimillion finished far ahead of Hong Kong Win in the training race and merits at least minor consideration in the Sunday feature. Post 1 is not ideal but Multimillion figures to go searching for the lead soon after the break.
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Mr. Lumieres gets in light at 119 pounds, accounting for his rider’s two-pound apprentice allowance, and was a course and distance winner at the Class 3 level last October.
Zac Purton, who rode four winners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, winds up on Highly Proactive here after piloting Lucky More throughout last season.
First post for the 10-race card is 1 a.m. Eastern. Live video and wagering is available at DRFBets.com.