2023 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup preview & betting strategy

What	2023 Stewards’ Cup
Where	Sha Tin Racecourse
When	Sunday, January 29, 2023 \| 4:05pm HKT (7:05pm AEDT) \| Race 7
Prizemoney	HK$12,000,000
Distance	1600m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	WFA
2022 Winner	Waikuku (4) \| T: John Size \| J: Zac Purton (57kg)
Visit Ladbrokes

We have a stellar 2023 edition of the Stewards’ Cup as Hong Kong’s highest rated gallopers – Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle – have all accepted for the Group 1 contest over 1600m. We’ve got a small but quality field of seven runners set to line up on Sunday afternoon including last year’s winner Waikuku, looking to take on the challenge of knocking off some outstanding opposition.

Most of the form-lines come from the Hong Kong International Races where we saw Golden Sixty and California Spangle tackle the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, with the latter jagging success. While Romantic Warrior demoralised his opposition in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup. Panfield is the other galloper coming from a differing form-line dropping back in trip from the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase, all on the same day.

Stewards’ Cup odds

Online bookmakers don’t know where to look in terms of prices and don’t want punters to latch onto any in particular, as Romantic Warrior has been $3 into $2.40 favourite post-barrier draw. California Spangle holds the second line of betting from $2.20 out to $2.70, while Golden Sixty is the outsider of the three at around the $3 mark. All other gallopers are at big double figure odds, with the leading chance of the outsiders seemingly Beauty Joy at $34.

Stewards’ Cup Speedmap analysis

The speed map looks pretty much identical to the Hong Kong Mile with California Spangle the obvious leader in the small field, with stablemate Beauty Joy likely to chime in with him at some stage to sit outside the speed. Romantic Warrior will be looking to keep Golden Sixty in the pocket to his inside after drawing barrier four, as you’d have to imagine Karis Teetan wouldn’t want to give California Spangle too much of a head start. Vincent Ho looks to have his hands full to make sure Golden Sixty gets off the rails late in the piece; however he should have a gun run in transit provided he gets clear. Panfield and Russian Emperor look the clear backmarkers in the race while Waikuku may look to be more positive as well with Ryan Moore flying over to take the ride.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Stewards’ Cup

Stewards’ Cup Classic form & preview

In a race where you can pick any of the three superstars of the Hong Kong turf, we’ve landed with Romantic Warrior in the 2023 Stewards’ Cup. His win in the Hong Kong Cup was nothing short of spectacular, taking on plenty of quality gallopers in the process and absolute destroyed his opposition. He won by more than four lengths going away from his rivals and never looked in any doubt from his mid-field run in transit. He ran time and now finds himself back in trip to the 1600m; however, this doesn’t bother us, as he’s had over a month between runs and a barrier trial win down the Sha Tin straight course that suggests he’s still flying for trainer Danny Shum. Going back through his form, his only career loss was to California Spangle in last year’s Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m, where only the barrier truly got him beat. This son of Acclamation has barely put a foot wrong since his debut and we think he’s a special talent.

Golden Sixty is the main danger for us after the Hong Kong Mile effort, as Vincent Ho would probably like his time over again. Beauty Joy took off mid-race spelling the end for Golden Sixty as he was left flat-footed for a couple hundred metres turning for home, meanwhile California Spangle and Beauty Joy sprinted clear full of running. He picked up again late to run boldly into second and would’ve gone close to winner provide he sat any closer to the speed. Vincent Ho will be tracking California Spangle everywhere he goes on Golden Sixty from barrier two and if he’s in striking distance with some clear running, Golden Sixty is clear still good enough to win his seventh Group 1 in Hong Kong.

No disrespect to Hong Kong Mile winner California Spangle; however, we feel Romantic Warrior and Golden Sixty are ready to take him down here. There’s no doubt he can break their hearts again though. His pattern is so favourable against horses that can have a tendency to get back in the field, but with just the seven acceptors here, we can’t see Karis Teetan and Vincent Ho allowing Zac Purton to dictate terms without them having something to say about it. He’ll lead for a long way out and could kick clear to score again, but we’ve got him marked as the outsider of the trio despite his Group 1 quality resume. It’s more about the quality of this contest, rather than an indictment of his ability. He’s a winning hope again here.

Panfield is one of the outsiders at $101 that take can possibly get into the minor money on Sunday as well. He’s 2400m back to the mile; however, his two tick-over trials between runs has us believing he’s travelling well and despite his best trip being 2000m plus, he’s been running on with vigour in those barrier trials efforts, a win would shock, the top four though? Not so much.