Team Fortune looks to extend Sha Tin win streak

Team Fortune has found his niche on the all-weather track at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

A 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Team Fortune won 2 of 11 starts on turf before moving to the all-weather surface. Team Fortune is unbeaten in two starts on the Sha Tin all-weather surface, a streak that may be extended in Wednesday’s $159,247 Hebe Hill Handicap at six furlongs.

Team Fortune won six-furlong handicaps on the all-weather at Sha Tin on Sept. 25 and on Oct. 16. In both races, he won by more than a length, stalking the early pace before taking the lead in the final furlong.

Team Fortune is part of a field of 12 and is the only runner in the field with a win on the all-weather surface. Victory Marvel will start on the all-weather track for the first time. A 4-year-old gelding, Victory Marvel won a six-furlong handicap on turf at Happy Valley on Oct. 19.

Wednesday’s eight-race program at Sha Tin begins at 7:15 a.m. Eastern, or 4:15 a.m. Pacific. The program will be run entirely on the all-weather surface and will include divisions of the Hebe Hill Handicap as well as the $159,247 Pyramid Hill Handicap at about a mile, the eighth race.

The runners in the second division of the Hebe Hill Handicap have had greater success on the all-weather track. Sky Hero and Super Man won six-furlong handicaps earlier in the current Hong Kong season, while Grand Plus was a winner on the all-weather June 12.

Sky Hero was third behind Team Fortune on Oct. 16. Super Man won for the first time on the surface in his third start Oct. 16.

The course specialists Déjà Vu and Vanilla start in the Pyramid Hill Handicap. Déjà Vu has won 3 of 6 starts on the all-weather track, including a race July 1. He has lost his three starts, including an eighth-place finish on turf Oct. 16.

Vanilla has won 4 of 13 starts on the all-weather surface in his career, and one of three starts this season – a handicap at about a mile on Oct. 8.