Straight Arron is not the only well-credentialed Hong Kong debutant at Sha Tin on Sunday, with two Group-placed newcomers among the David Hayes-trained Carbine Club Stakes (1,600m) winner’s opponents in the Class Three Flame Tree Handicap (1,400m).
Danny Shum Chap-shing introduces Nordic Star, who won the Listed Clasico Argentina (1,500m) before contesting three Group races in the United Arab Emirates, placing second in the Group Three UAE 2,000 Guineas (1,600m).
Formerly known as Kiefer, Nordic Star will have his first taste of turf racing after competing on dirt in South America and the Middle East.
Caspar Fownes unveils Tourbillon Prince, who won over 1,400m and 1,800m in Western Australia before placing second in the Group Two WATC Derby (2,400m) on his 11th and final start known as Pale Rider.
🇷🇺 Azure Coast - Russia's superstar thoroughbred who remains unbeaten with a stunning performance in the UAE 2000 Guineas Pavel Vaschenko & Antonio Fresu
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) February 11, 2022
🏇 Three runs
🥇 Three wins
🏆 UAE 2000 Guineas Presented By Race Of Creativity
🚀 What a talent#DWCCarnival pic.twitter.com/DfI3zpohFS
Also in the Flame Tree Handicap field are Tony Cruz-prepared import The Best Peach, who finished fourth in the 30-runner Britannia Stakes (1,600m) at Royal Ascot after winning his first four races in the United Kingdom, last-start beaten odds-on favourite A Pal, Britannia Stakes seventh Red Lion and Class Three double seeker Super Sunny Sing.
Matthew Chadwick rode Super Sunny Sing to win over 1,400m at Sha Tin three weeks ago, but the reigning Tony Cruz Award winner is out for two reasons – he is suspended, and he is recovering from the ankle injury he sustained before a trial last month.
Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, whom Chadwick succeeded as the leading local jockey, takes over aboard Chris So Wai-yin’s Super Sunny Sing.
Only Zac Purton rode more winners in December than Ho’s eight.
“He’s a star..the X factor!” Alaskan God makes it 5 in a row (from 6 starts) by capturing the Group 2 Schweppes WATC Derby at Ascot. The @MortonRacing trained son of @darlingviewTB’ Playing God was sold by Mungrup Stud for $90k at the 2020 Perth @mmsnippets #ItPaysToBuyAustralian pic.twitter.com/EnWx7inYCb
— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) April 9, 2022
Elsewhere on the 11-race card, Shum’s HK$3 million Hong Kong International Sale buy Flying Gallop lines up in the Class Four Poplar Handicap (1,200m) with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Barrier and burden against Lucky Sweynesse on comeback from HK Sprint defeat
Flying Gallop is the son of gun three-year-old sprinter Dandy Man and Barathea mare Bankeress.