Sunday’s Tolo Harbour Handicap (1400m) is the class standout on a competitive 10-race Sha Tin card, and it could be a case of top versus bottom in the 11-runner field with obvious future Group race candidates Jolly Banner (133lb) and Western Express (133lb) faced with an interesting feather-weighted rival in Keen Venture (115lb).
Nash Rawiller was full of compliments for Jolly Banner after partnering for a canter around a lap of the Sha Tin dirt this morning (Friday, 31 March), as trainer Ricky Yiu looked on. The dark gelding holds an entry for next week’s (Sunday, 9 April) G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) and appeared to be in good order for his imminent attempt at a fifth course and distance win.
“He’s a very lovely horse,” Rawiller said. “This morning I just gave him a nice, quiet canter on the outside fence on the dirt. Everything you do with him impresses you. He’s a really nice sprinter/miler. I think he’s got scope for better things down the track.”
The Lonhro five-year-old has risen through the ranks in some style, rattling off a three-timer to kick off this campaign and then running well in defeat in each of his latest two outings. Last time, in the Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1400m), Jolly Banner endured a troubled stretch run, squeezed and buffeted against the inside rail, before running on for seventh as Invincible Dragon and the re-opposing David Hall-trained Simply Invincible (131lb) fought out the finish.
Rawiller takes the race-day ride on Sunday for the first time aboard the Australian import, a horse that has risen 24lb in the ratings since the start of the season, and a galloper already proven under heavy burdens.
“He has top-weight to contend with but he’s got a good draw (five) to offset that,” Rawiller continued. “We’ll just jump positively and ride our own race. The horse has got good natural speed and it’s just important to have him comfortable, where he’s happy, and he’ll do the rest.
“Sunday’s Class 2, it’s a good race, but the horse gives me the feel that he can go on to better things in time and I’m looking forward to the ride on him. He has a lot of quality about him.”
Fellow top-weight Western Express pitched in against Rapper Dragon, Pakistan Star et al in February’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) only to trail home 12th, but either side of that run the talented four-year-old notched smart wins at the course and distance. The latter brought a smooth three-quarter length win and a 7lb ratings hike.
Keen Venture, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
A little less than four lengths behind John Size’s progressing freshman on that most recent occasion was Keen Venture, in receipt of 11lb but closing off tidily from the rear. The Sebring four-year-old has posted smart efforts without scoring in six Hong Kong starts to date - clocking some fast closing splits in the process - and jockey Keith Yeung believes a favourable draw and a hefty weight concession on Sunday will put his mount in the mix.
“It looks like our main opponents are at the top of the handicap,” the rider said. “Western Express and Jolly Banner have top-weight; and Simply Invincible is a big danger, he has a big weight, too - those top three, they’re probably the horses to beat. But I’m carrying 20 pounds less so the chance is there.”
Yeung’s 2lb allowance as a local freelance will see the highly-tried G3-placed Australian import carry 113lb as he seeks a Hong Kong breakthrough. And while Keen Venture has been running on well from the tail, including when second to Limitless two runs back, Yeung believes his mount can take a handier position from gate one.
“I think we’re going to use the gate this time,” he said. “Before, in his first two starts, Brett Prebble rode him and he said he had a mouth problem, he was hanging out and hard to control. But then the last time I rode him he wasn’t a problem - probably the experience he has gained has settled him and he’s easier to control.
“He has some speed, so I don’t need to drop him in at the back like we’ve been doing. With the barrier, I can probably pull him into midfield quite easily. He has a good turn-of-foot, so if we can sit more handy, especially on the B+2 track - it’s more of a front-runner’s track so you don’t want to be too far back.”
Yeung has been a regular aboard Almond Lee’s charge at track work and spoke after he had trotted Keen Venture this morning.
“I work him almost every morning, big track and small track, and I’m happy with him. He feels like he is in good form. He’s honest; he’s a lovely horse to ride.”
