Some horses simply prefer racing on Sha Tin’s alternate surface and Adefill has once again confirmed that he undoubtedly falls into that category.
The 83-rater enhanced his standing as one of Hong Kong’s top dirt course performers tonight (Wednesday, 29 May) with a smart conquest under Karis Teetan in the Class 2 Chun Shek Handicap (1650m) – the first of an eight-race all-dirt programme.
Delivering trainer Ricky Yiu’s 50th win this season, Adefill banished four rivals to scoop his biggest success to date in the HK$3.12 million contest, overcoming a distinctive mid-race lull to salute as 1.7 favourite by one and a quarter lengths over Yellowfin.
“Before the race, I said he was half a class better on the dirt, but he’s gone to another level – now he’s one class better on the dirt. It’s going to be hard to find a race for him – this is the last possible race on the dirt for this horse for the season,” Yiu said.
The Deep field gelding has raced 15 times on the dirt for six wins.
His first six starts were on the turf and yielded only two top-five finishes – both times when fifth.
“He always hits a flat spot at around the 600-metre mark, so you have to get him going and this is the point where he can win or lose his races. I know him, I switched him off throughout the first part of the race and tracked the right horse,” Teetan said.
“Yellowfin slipped away a few lengths when he went, but I wasn’t worried because he takes time to get going and once I asked him in the straight he won pretty nicely towards the end.”
Yiu is aiming to build on his half-century: “I’m just trying to stay in the first three in the premiership, that’s what I’m aiming for. It would be very difficult to win. Francis (Lui) is doing really well. His horses can win and then still win again, especially his youngsters.”
Adefill’s earnings top HK$8.48 million.
His pre-race rating was 83, while the 99-rating Telecom Brothers faded to third after attempting to make all.
The Frankie Lor-trained Victory Moments grabbed a rewarding success in the Class 3 Chung On Handicap (1200m) to cap a Zac Purton double at Sha Tin.
The four-year-old stepped away from gate three with 127lb on his back.
“It looks like the blinkers helped him. Sing Dragon had a big weight (135lb) and the outside draw (12) and he’s beaten us a few times, but this time we beat him,” Lor said.
“He looks better on the dirt. Last season I ran him on the turf and he was only close, so I put him on the dirt and he won – in Australia he won on the synthetic.”
Purton also triumphed aboard Self Improvement, who dominated the first section of the Class 4 Hin Yiu Handicap (1200m) for trainer Manfred Man.
Purton and Man last tasted success in tandem when Lucky Sweynesse landed the HK$26 million Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) last December.
A calculated Andrea Atzeni steer saw Asian One provide trainer Jamie Richards with his 27th win this term, capturing the Class 5 Shui Chuen O Handicap (1650m).
Atzeni saved ground before pouncing late aboard the chestnut.
Richards made it a double when G Liner toughed out a third win in the Class 4 Lee On Handicap (1800m) under Hugh Bowman, who also won twice after earlier scoring aboard Daily Trophy in the Class 5 Mei Lam Handicap (1200m) for trainer Caspar Fownes.
The John Size-trained Must Go roared to a second dirt track win from his last four starts under Brenton Avdulla in the second section of the Class 4 Hin Yiu Handicap (1200m).
Avdulla became the third jockey after Purton and Bowman to ride two winners this evening as Berlin Tango – who entered the contest after consecutive top-three finishes – nailed Apache Pass in the Class 3 Fung Wo Handicap (1650m) for trainer Tony Cruz.
“He was obviously racing ok through the season, but he’s got to his last couple and he ran really well for me at the Valley and then he was probably a bit stiff not to win the other night,” Avdulla said.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin this Sunday (2 June). The first race is scheduled to jump at 4.00pm HKT.
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