Hong Kong Preview: Prince can gain his revenge

Midweek racing returns to Sha Tin’s “all-weather” (i.e. dirt) track Oct. 26, and it gives #1 Chancheng Prince a chance to reverse the form with his recent conqueror #6 Handsome Twelve in the Yeung Uk Handicap.

The pair fought out the finish to the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Cup Oct. 9, with Handsome Twelve rallying to beat Chancheng Prince on a day when jockey Zac Purton won seven at Sha Tin.

This time, however, Chancheng Prince is four pounds better off, and given his love for the Sha Tin dirt, he looks capable of reversing the result. Ruan Maia takes the mount on the American-bred gray.

Handsome Twelve’s Oct. 9 victory was his second on the Hong Kong dirt, and with a couple of place performances on the surface as well, he will be hard to roll. Purton will be aboard again.

Experience on the dirt is a little hard to come by with the other runners, so it’s unclear how well they will perform on the surface. One horse that does have some form on the dirt is #8 Amazing Teens, a three-time winner on the track. He finished sixth to Handsome Twelve when resuming and could well improve enough to challenge here.

Of the others, #3 Lightning Bolt needs to be included in exotics after finishing fourth to Handsome Twelve at his last start.

Don’t forget #5 Ultra Express either; he put up a number of solid efforts on dirt last term and was in need of his run when well back on turf at his first 2022-23 start Sept. 18.

• $20 win/$40 show: #1 Chancheng Prince
• $1.30 trifecta: 1, 6 with 1, 6 with 3, 5, 8

Bonus play – New Zealand

Arawa Park, Race 4, Campbell Infrastructure 1560

• $10 win/$30 show, #1 Chillax: Running honest races and should appreciate the drop in class here.