Softer spot should suit Styling City

Styling City drops a class, perhaps into a winning spot, in the featured ninth race Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

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

The fourth race card of the new Hong Kong season runs light on quality and the headliner, race 9 of 10, is a mere Class 2 handicap for horses rated 100 to 80. Styling City at 97 is the second-highest rated horse in the race and in his seasonal bow two weeks ago set the pace and finished fourth racing 1200 meters, the same distance he travels Sunday, in a Class 1 handicap. Styling City, trained by John Moore and with Australian import Blake Shinn named to ride, won three races in a row – a rare feat in Hong Kong – early last season before hitting his level and ending his campaign with six defeats.

Racing Fighter is the big ratings riser (plus 5 to 91) after ending last season with consecutive wins at the Class 3 and Class 2 levels. Leading jockey Zac Purton has the mount but also has his work cut out breaking his mount from post 11 with a relatively short run to the race’s one turn.