Hong Kong Spot Plays: A Quick Voyage

by J. Keeler Johnson Following a one-week hiatus, racing returns to Sha Tin in Hong Kong with a quality 10-race card on Sunday, June 23. Among the highlights are two Group 3 handicaps – the Premier Cup over 1,400 meters and Premier Plate going 1,800 meters. Both have drawn competitive fields, particularly the Premier Plate which attracted 11 entrants. First post time is 12:45 a.m. (EDT). If you’ve been enjoying the high-class racing at Royal Ascot, why not pursue your passion for international racing and give Hong Kong a try? Here are a couple of spot plays to get you started: Race 7: Ma On Shan Handicap (Class 3) After opening his career with two decisive front-running victories going 1,000 meters at Sha Tin, Voyage Warrior (#1) attempted to concede 13 pounds to the brilliant (and thus far undefeated) Thanks Forever in a 1,000-meter Class 3 handicap at Sha Tin last month. Naturally the task proved impossible, but Voyage Warrior ran gamely to finish second. A four-year-old son of Declaration of War, Voyage Warrior looks like a clear standout on Sunday while again traversing 1,000 meters. In all three starts, Voyage Warrior has sprinted the penultimate 400-meter fraction in :20.61 seconds or faster (including a sensational :20.04 fraction two starts back), but this brilliant turn-of-foot doesn’t dampen his ability to finish fast down the lane, as he’s come home in :22.67, :21.79, and :22.70. Let’s bet Voyage Warrior to win and play him in the quinella with Goko (#9), who will carry just 120 pounds after finishing behind Thanks Forever in his last two starts. $20.80 to win on Voyage Warrior (#1) $10.40 quinella: 1,9 Race 8: Premier Plate (Group 3) Last out, Seasons Bloom (#4) faced a virtually impossible task against the sensational miler Beauty Generation in the 1,600-meter Champions Mile (G1). The race was run in accelerating fashion from start to finish, so Seasons Bloom – reserved in last place early on – had little chance to rally and catch the leaders despite sprinting the final 400 meters in :21.96, an excellent fraction. There should be at least a little more speed in the Premier Plate, and a better setup while dropping in class might be all Seasons Bloom needs to surprise at a price. Let’s key him in the trifecta with a few other logical contenders, including Rise High (#1) and Simply Brilliant (#3). Like Seasons Bloom, these two five-year-olds have faced Beauty Generation in recent starts and should appreciate the easier company of this Group 3 test. $1.30 trifecta: 4 with 1,3,7 with 1,3,7 ($7.80) $1.30 trifecta: 1,3,7 with 4 with 1,3,7 ($7.80) $1.30 trifecta: 1,3,7 with 1,3,7 with 4 ($7.80) Race 10: Amah Rock Handicap (Class 3) Silver Fig (#7) and Little Wise Man (#13) look like the best two in this 1,400-meter sprint. Silver Fig has yet to finish out of the trifecta in five starts, routinely producing sub-:23 finishing fractions over the last two 400-meter sectionals. Little Wise Man also has a quick turn-of-foot and has cracked the exacta in his last four starts while carrying high weights against Class 4 company; now he steps up in class but drops a lot of weight, which could potentially sharpen his finishing speed even more. Let’s bet Silver Fig and Little Wise Man in the quinella: $10.40 quinella: 7,13 Good luck! PHOTO: Seasons Bloom (c) Hong Kong Jockey Club