Yee Cheong Baby returns from layoff in Po Yan Handicap

Yee Cheong Baby arrived in Hong Kong from Australia last November and made a favorable impression, winning his first two starts in the territory in April and May.

From late May to early July, Yee Cheong Baby hung out by the pool. To be more specific, his training schedule consisted only of swimming during that time. Track exercise resumed in early July in preparation for his third start in Hong Kong in Sunday’s $267,881 Po Yan Handicap at six furlongs at Sha Tin Racecourse.

This time, Yee Cheong Baby will be racing for the first time on the infield dirt course, having made his previous six starts on turf. The 4-year-old gelding had four starts in Australia under the name Neutrality before arriving in Hong Kong. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are transferred to Hong Kong.

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Yee Cheong Baby is trained by Jimmy Ting and will be ridden by Zac Purton, the leading rider at the 2018-19 Hong Kong season that ended in July. The current season began on Sept. 1. Sunday’s program is the second day of the season.

Purton rode Yee Cheong Baby to wins at Happy Valley Racecourse on April 24 and May 22. In both races, Yee Cheong Baby was near the front throughout.

In Sunday’s race, Yee Cheong Baby shares top weight of 133 pounds with Dragon General, an 8-year-old gelding who has won 7 of 48 starts, but who had only one win in 10 starts last season.

Yee Cheong Baby may face pressure from Raging Blitzkreig, who was third in three consecutive races on the dirt track from March to June, and Big Time Baby, who has shown speed, but faded in recent starts.

Purton’s main rival for the riding title is Joao Moreira, who surprisingly was winless with 10 mounts on Sept. 1. In the Po Yan Handicap, Moreira rides Elusive State, who won four consecutive races from September to December last year, including three races on the infield dirt track at Sha Tin.

Elusive State is likely to be a factor from off the pace.