Mixed Results for New Shooters at Sha Tin

Of the four horses to be sent away as odds-on favorites during Sunday's 10-race program at Sha Tin, three were beaten, including a couple of the most promising young horses on the local scene.

In the day's first race, Jing Jing Win (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) was the cat's meow as the 1.3 (3-10 favorite), but he raced close to an above-par pace and though he closed well up the fence, it was not good enough, as he finished third, beaten about one length (video). Jing Jing Win, an A$360,000 Inglis Easter graduate who topped the 2016 Hong Kong International Sale on a bid of HK$8.5 million, was tasting defeat for the first time in three career starts. The winner, Water Diviner (Aus) (Equiano {Fr}), was making it two straight since arriving in Hong Kong.

Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) went round in the race immediately following Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn})'s win in the G1 Hong Kong Cup as the 3-5 chalk, and in a dramatic change of tactics, made all the running in the six-furlong Class 2 to score by a diminishing half-length (video). Mr Stunning was winning for the fourth time in six career starts, though each of his previous wins had come from well off the pace.

The day's finale featured 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) squaring off against some other potentially dangerous rivals, including Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready), the reigning G1 Queensland Derby winner having his first Hong Kong start. As is his unfortunate custom, Pakistan Star, the 3-5 chalk, walked out of the gate and caboosed the field into the stretch. Pulled out widest, he closed his final 400m in a sparkling :21.88, but he was left with too much to do and was beaten about 1 1/4 lengths into fifth by Eagle Way (video). Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) won this very event in his Hong Kong debut 12 months ago on this program before going on to glory in the Hong Kong Derby and G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Like Werther, Eagle Way was ridden by Hugh Bowman.