Super Ten steps up off sharp score in Sha Tin feature
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEThree-year-old Super Ten has run two big races this Hong Kong season while failing to produce top form on a consistent basis, but perhaps an equipment change has unlocked more predictable performance.
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In December, making his second start of the 2020-21 Hong Kong season, Super Ten impressively wired a Class 4 handicap at Sha Tin but followed that up with two lesser showings at the same level. Racing for the first time in cheek pieces on March 28, Super Ten galloped to a sharp three-length score in a 1,400-meter Class 4 at Sha Tin, easily overcoming a wide draw thanks to his ample early speed. Super Ten comfortably maintained his advantage through the long Sha Tin stretch and on Saturday, in the ninth race, he’s back at the same distance while tackling Class 3 opposition for the first time.
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Super Ten’s last-start romp earned him a nine-point rating rise from the Hong Kong Jockey Club handicapping department. Now rated 64, he carries only 120 pounds – including jockey Alexei Badel – while getting as much as 13 pounds from his Saturday rivals.
Keep paging down in the weights and you’ll find Gallant Express at just 117. The only other 3-year-old (bred on Southern Hemisphere time) in the race, this horse was imported from Australia and has leading trainer John Size and leading jockey Joao Moreira in his corner. Racing 1,200 meters in his career debut two starts ago, Gallant Express stalked and pounced his way to a 1 3/4-length victory, and April 25 moved up to Class 4 and tried over 1,400 meters, he rallied solidly to finish fourth of 14 as the 3-2 favorite. This showing was better than it looked as the race was run slower than par through the first three sectionals before a final 400 meters that went considerably faster than par for the Sha Tin class level and distance.
There are two other Class 3s on this 10-race card, which concludes with the nominal feature, a Class 2 handicap over 1,650 meters on dirt. First post for the program is 1 a.m. Eastern and you can catch all the action at DRFBets.com.