Hong Kong Sprint best bets & preview | Sunday, December 11

What	2022 Hong Kong Sprint
Where	Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong
When	Sunday, December 11, 2022 \| 2:50pm HKT (5:50pm AEDT) \| Race 5
Prizemoney	HK$22,000,000
Distance	1200m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	Weight For Age
2021 Winner	Sky Field (1) \| T: Caspar Fownes \| J: Blake Shinn (57kg)
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We have got a full field of 14 runners accepted for the Hong Kong Sprint, with history saying this race is one of the main chances for the locals to get a win on the board as seven of the last eight editions of this race have been won by Hong Kong trained horses.

Post-barrier draw has the locals the main chances with online bookmakers with Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint winner Lucky Sweynesse ($3) holding favouritism and Wellington ($3.80) not far behind on the second line of betting. The Japanese hold the rest of the market hopes with Gendarme ($9), Meikei Yell ($9), Resistencia ($12), and Naran Huleg ($13). Then it’s write your own ticket for the rest of the Hong Kong chances along with Singapore galloper Lim’s Kosciuszko ($67) the clear outsider of the field.

Regarding the speed map here, it looks a tricky one to dissect, however, Lim’s Kosciuszko will be looking to do what he’s done in Singapore and ping the lids from barrier-four. While we tend to think market favourite Lucky Sweyenesse (barrier three) and Zac Purton will be looking to press forward from the inside. Gendarme (barrier eight) has looked to go forward in Japan as well, so we’d imagine he won’t be too far off the pace. Last year’s runner up Resistencia (barrier one) should lob somewhere midfield as will fellow Japanese runner Naran Huleg (barrier two), while Cordyceps Six (Barrier 13) and last year’s winner Sky Field (barrier 11) will have no choice but to head back to the rear of the field.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 Hong Kong Sprint.

We found it too hard to go against Lucky Sweynesse here in the Hong Kong Sprint. He’s lifted to a new level this preparation and found a peak Group 2 success in the Jockey Club Sprint on November 20, showing some class and versatility on that occasion, when taking a sit mid-field due to barrier-11 and stormed past his rivals to win comfortably smashing the clock in the process. He stopped the clock at a staggering 1:07:55 and while it was due to a hot tempo that day, we can’t see why he doesn’t set up just as well on Sunday. Zac Purton has been with this four-year-old the last two starts and both have been epic performances. If Lucky Sweynesse repeats what he did last start from an even more suitable barrier draw here, we find it hard to see any of the Hong Kong sprinters turning the tables. Even though Wellington pulled up lame and had excuses, the speed map seems to favour Lucky Sweynesse, so we think you’ve got to be siding with him post-barrier draw.

The Japanese contingent bring over a couple nice sprinting types and the one we think can run boldly at a nice each-way price is Naran Huleg. He ran in behind race rival Gendarme beaten a length in the Group 1 sprinters stakes at Nakayama on October 2, he was unfortunate not to be in the finish as he found trouble at the 300m and was forced back inside between runners before running out of time at the post. If he got out any earlier, it would’ve been a photo finish and now drawn barrier-two on Sunday jockey Kyosuke Maruta can just stalk the speed and with some luck can go to post a couple placing’s better than last time out.

Wellington is still the benchmark in Hong Kong, and you can’t put a pen through his chances after last start. He pulled up lame when running into sixth behind Lucky Sweynesse and you’d be crazy to think on his best form he’s not a winning hope. You’ve got to take it on face value that Richard Gibson and the team wouldn’t be running here if he was fit and ready to go, so he goes in the multiples for sure. They’ve booked gun hoop Ryan Moore as well with injured Alexis Badel on the sidelines, however, if anyone can overcome a tricky barrier, there’s no one you’d rather have booked to ride than European’s best Ryan Moore.

All the other Japanese runners including Gendarme, Meikei Yell and Resistencia have all mixed and matched wins in the past and all look a chance for the minors. Gendarme makes the cut however, with the most likely to press forward and be in position to strike while the others may be left chasing.