By Alan Carasso
A pair of Danny Shum-trained gallopers took part in Friday morning barrier trials over the Sha Tin all-weather track a little more than two weeks ahead of their intended appearance at the Korea Autumn Racing Carnival at Seoul Racecourse Sunday, Sept. 10.
The morning's first heat featured US-bred Circuit Land (Mizzen Mast) who is set to contest the W1-billion Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m). Void of early speed, the 6-year-old lumbered along from the latter third of the field and raced well away from the inside before making some progress passing the 600m. Pulled to the outside in the stretch, he gained on the leaders and was under urging late to just 'win' the trial, covering the 1200 metres in 1:10.84 (video). A maiden winner on Fibresand in France, Circuit Land has won twice over main track at Sha Tin, though he has not raced over that surface since a runner-up effort in Class 2 in May 2016.
Lucky Year (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is ticketed for a start in the W700-million Keeneland Korea Sprint (1200m), a race won last year by Hong Kong's Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap). Allowed to race near the back of the pack, Lucky Year trailed into the stretch and felt a crack of the whip at the 400m, but picked up well enough thereafter to finish sixth, beaten about three lengths (video). A winner of eight of his 22 career trips to the post, Lucky Year–by the sire of the talented Hong Kong dirt sprinter Rich Tapestry (Ire)–will be trying the dirt for the first time in the Keeneland Korea Sprint.
Australian jockey Nash Rawiller rode both Shum trainees in their work Friday morning and has the call on both runners in South Korea.
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