Group 3 Sha Tin Vase an option after Lady's Choice salutes
HONG KONG - Michael Chang will consider a tilt at the HK$4.2 million (S$700,000) Group 3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1,200m) on May 31 with Lady's Choice, after the much-improved gelding upstaged a class field of rising talents to win the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on May 10.
By Charm Spirit, Lady's Choice led all the way under Matthew Poon to score, defeating Bottomuptogether by ¾ length with Tomodachi Kokoroe a head further away in third.
Clocking 1min 8.44sec, the five-year-old posted his fourth win of the season and took his earnings beyond HK$10 million for connections, the HK Association of Lady Horse Lovers.
Lady's Choice ($70) was brilliantly rated in the lead by Poon before fending off Bottomuptogether and Tomodachi Kokoroe as Fast Network finished fifth.
"He's now fully mature. Mentally, he's improved a lot," said Chang.
"Last year, he was still mentally a little bit hot but he's now calmed down a lot. He relaxes, he knows racing and he tries and keeps improving."
"Maybe I will run him in the Group 3 race at the end of this month. He will carry a light weight, he holds his form well."
Ridden patiently by Luke Ferraris, Little Paradise ($13) maintained his unbeaten record by landing the HK$1.17 million Class 4 The Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association 50th Anniversary Cup Handicap (1,200m) to provide Jimmy Ting with a double.
Taken to the centre of the track in the straight, the Toronado gelding made it two wins from as many starts, impressing Ferraris.
"He showed his versatility, which is very important for a young horse like him," he said.
"It was good to see him settle and quicken up when I pushed the button."
Ting also struck with Flash Current ($12), who posted his second win from five starts with a strong display in the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1,400m), scoring impressively under Zac Purton, who fired in a treble.
Said Ting: "It's my first one (double) for the season and I hope that I will win more later. I need some more winners and I think I can get some."
Patch Of Stars ($6) also showcased his potential with an easy win in the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1,400m), clocking 1min 22sec under Purton after being eased down over the final 100m.
"He's only three, still learning and does a little bit wrong," said Purton.
"He wants to grab the bit and get a bit aggressive in the run. He was also hanging in quite badly in the straight.
"I think when he's a bit more mature next season, he'll start to show his best."
The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey wrapped up his hat-trick of wins with Light Years Charm ($7), who scored an eye-catching victory for David Eustace in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Lung Mun Road Handicap (1,400m) after being slowly away.
HKJC
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