In the world of horse racing, the Sha Tin track is set to witness an exciting day of competition on Sunday, with James Orman and Chris So Wai-yin leading the charge with three strong contenders. Among them, Perfectday stands out as the headline act in the first section of the Class Three Siu Ma Shan Handicap (1,400m).
Perfectday, a four-year-old son of Gingerbread Man, is set to race over 1,400m for the second time, aiming for his third career victory. This time, he'll be piloted by Orman, who is thrilled to be back in the saddle. "I’m lucky to be able to ride him because he’s a 66-rater, so he was lucky to get my weight, but I’m happy to be on him again. He’s probably getting close to doing something,” Orman said. The horse's previous performance at 1,400m was promising, and with a favorable barrier draw, Orman is optimistic about his chances. "He ran pretty well first time at 1,400m. He’s drawn nine – he’s a horse that likes a bit more room in his races, so the barrier probably won’t worry him too much and hopefully he’s finishing off strong."
Orman's confidence in Perfectday is well-placed, given the horse's recent trial performance. "He had blinkers on for the second time the other day and he’s got blinkers on again, so he should run well."
Meanwhile, Mabubu, another of Orman's charges, is set to take on the Class Four Cheung Shan Handicap (1,000m). "He trialled well – he beat the horse of Brett Crawford’s, Conghua Galaxy, who looks to go OK as well,” Orman said. Mabubu, a PP horse with a rating of 65, has the potential to replicate his impressive trial performance in the race.
Orman's involvement extends to Always Fluke in the Class Five Eagle’s Nest Handicap (1,200m). "Another one for Chris, it’s good to get some rides for Chris. He was drawn wide at his last run, but his run before that he wasn’t beaten all that far. If you look at his form, he’s knocking on the door for a win,” Orman said. Always Fluke is a consistent performer, and with Orman in the saddle, he's a strong contender.
In the second section of the Class Four Lung Fu Shan Handicap (1,400m), Solid Car seeks his breakthrough win for David Hall. "First race ride but I do know the horse from trials. His last run was great, he’s not a bad horse to be honest. It looks a nice race for him, he’s drawn barrier six, so hopefully he can get a nice run and he should be strong to the line,” Orman said. Solid Car's consistent form makes him a strong contender in this race.
Kempes, returning after a three-month break, is also set to take on the Class Three Siu Ma Shan Handicap. "His win first start of the season was really good with Andrea [Atzeni] on a rating of 62, so he’s on a similar rating of 65. He’s the sort of horse that if things go right, he can run well,” Orman said. Kempes' previous performances and recent trials make him a strong contender in this race.
The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Prestige Ricky will return to the 1,400m trip in the first section of the Class Four Lung Fu Shan Handicap. "He was at the mile and we brought him back to 1,400m because he can get quite strong in his races, so I think the 1400m will suit him better,” Orman said. Prestige Ricky's consistent form and recent performance make him a strong contender in this race.
Orman will also partner Oldtown in the second section of the Class Four Luk Wu Handicap (1,200m). "Oldtown wears blinkers for the first time at his second start for the Mark Newnham stable,” Orman said. Oldtown's performance in this race will be interesting to watch, given his new blinkers and the guidance of his trainer.
In conclusion, Sunday's races at Sha Tin promise to be exciting, with James Orman and Chris So Wai-yin leading the charge with their strong contenders. Perfectday, Mabubu, Always Fluke, Solid Car, Kempes, and Prestige Ricky are all strong horses with the potential to perform well in their respective races. The day promises to be a thrilling spectacle for horse racing enthusiasts, with Orman's involvement adding to the excitement.
