Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 10/03/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Sunday, March 10

Our form expert provides Hong Kong tips for today’s horse racing at Sha Tin Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.3  EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS

The Benno Yung-Trained EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS is in career-best form this time in and looks well-placed here for another top-three finish today. Last start, the Dream Ahead gelding was caught wide from gate nine and never on the track, doing well to finish third in a three-way go the line. Beaten less than half a length on the line he never threw the sponge in and fought all the way. He is drawn out again today but has the maestro (Zac Purton) on board for the first time. He is yet to miss a podium finish in five starts this preparation and will be at peak fitness for this assignment. A better run in transit here should see him hard to beat home.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.4  STELLAR EXPRESS 

John Size-saddles-up STELLAR EXPRESS here and second-up today, looks a big chance for victory in this contest. Last start, the ZOUSTAR gelding had his first race start on Hing Kong soil and was impressive when he beat all but one home in a Class 3, here over 1000m. He drew the fence (for the straight course run) and fought it out with Baby Crystal over the final 300m with the 6.5kg weight difference telling in the end, going down just half a length on the line. He has trialled twice since (on this track), winning his most recent, by a length over 1200m. We zip down the straight course here again as Zac Purton is legged aboard for another debut ride, this time on this four-four-old and fitter for that first Hong Kong run, he should prove hard to beat here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 10:  No.4  GIDDY UP

The Jamie Richards-trained GIDDY-UP found his mojo last start and looks ideally placed here for back-to-back victories today. The Fiorente gelding was fourth-up when he did best to take out a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1400m last time out. He settle worse than mid-field, then in the run home, had to cross plenty of heels to find clean air. Masterful riding by Anthony Hamelin ensured he found the open spaces, leaving the four-year-old to run down the front-runners and arrive on time to snatch an unlikely win. He pays the penalty for that here as he carries 3.5kgs more today, but gets all the favours from gate one where he maps to settle behind the speed again, only this time he will have plenty of cover. Leading Australian hoop, James McDonald has his first ride on the galloper today and after four starts back, will be at his peak for this contest. He looks every chance of repeating his last-start effort here.