By Alan Carasso
In the few minutes after Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) ran his record to a perfect four-from-four with a facile victory in Class 3 up the Sha Tin 1000-metre straight Dec. 3, trainer John Size all but guaranteed that the sophomore would get a break with an eye on the final few months of the season. Just 20 days removed from that effort, Hot King Prawn is back at it Saturday afternoon as the long odds-on favourite in his first start in Class 2.
An A$90,000 purchase out of the 2016 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale, Hot King Prawn torched his rivals in a pair of events restricted to griffins last season and has picked up where he left off last season. An easy winner of his Nov. 5 return to action, the gray made light work of it last time, carrying 130 pounds to a 2 1/4-length success (video). Hot King Prawn will leave from gate two–second furthest from the stands' rails–and will be ridden by Zac Purton, who has been aboard for each of the gelding's four wins.
Among the opposition is Strathmore (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), third to Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) in the 2016 G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize and third in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy when last seen over 1000 metres nearly two years ago.
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