Shining Ace should get right setup in Hebe Hill Handicap

Shining Ace seems to thrive when he has to overcome trouble.

At Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in June, and again at Happy Valley Racecourse on Oct. 16, Shining Ace raced in traffic, but recovered to win six-furlong handicaps on turf.

Wednesday at Happy Valley, Shining Ace can win consecutive starts for the second time in the last six months in the $184,960 Hebe Hill Handicap at six furlongs.

Shining Ace, trained by John Size, has conditions in his favor. Shining Ace is a stalker, who will have a pace to follow from runners such as Planet Star and Tang Fleming.

Shining Ace will carry 122 pounds, 10 less than topweight Hello Beauty in a field of 12. Once again, a relatively clean trip will be vital for Shining Ace, who will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli. Karis Teetan rode Shining Ace to his win on Oct. 16, but is in the midst of a two-day suspension that ends with Wednesday’s program.

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Planet Star has an excellent chance from the front. Trained by Paul O’Sullivan, Planet Star led throughout a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley in April and was second and third in two subsequent starts. He was beaten three-quarters of a length in his last start on June 26.

There are three handicaps worth $184,960 on the eight-race program at Happy Valley.

In the Pyramid Hill Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards, Invincible Missile is the 133-pound topweight and will race at a new distance. Invincible Missile won a six-furlong handicap at Sha Tin on Sept. 8 and was second in a seven-furlong handicap there on Oct. 1, closing with interest.

Zac Purton was aboard for those races and has the mount in the Pyramid Hill Handicap. Wednesday’s race will be Invincible Missile’s first career start at Happy Valley.

In the closing race, the Shek Uk Shan Handicap at 1 1/8 miles, Clement Legend, who will carry 120 pounds, can win his third consecutive start. He won handicaps at 1 3/8 miles at Happy Valley in May and at about a mile and 50 yards on Sept. 25.

Purton rides 133-pound topweight Chefano, who is winless in seven starts in Hong Kong, including a fourth-place finish at Sha Tin on Oct. 1 when his rally fell short by 1 3/4 lengths.