Hong Kong Sprint Tips & Betting Preview

The Hong Kong Sprint is a Group 1 contest for three year olds and upwards over a distance of 6f and is run in December each year at Sha Tin racecourse. The race has a stunning purse of HK$15,000,000 and is one of four major races to be run on Hong Kong International Race Day. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips for the race.

The Japanese always have a strong hand in the big races at Hong Kong and there is no exception here as they saddle the favourite Big Arthur who was tailed off in the Nakayama Sprinters Stakes when last seen. He was nowhere near his best on that occasion and when his chance was gone he was eased down massively so that run can easily be forgiven.

The winner of that race was fellow Japanese sprinter Red Faix who also runs in this contest so it will be interesting to see if he can uphold that form. Big Arthur is a Group 1 winner and has won 8 of his 13 starts to date, a hugely talented sprinter and probably the better Japanese horse of the two when both are at their best.

Local sprinter Lucky Bubbles is bound to be a popular choice at Sha Tin on Sunday. Trainer Francis Lui reportedly has the horse in amazing form at home and he brings very solid win and place Sha Tin form to the table, a track where experience can be crucial.

He was half a length behind Not Listenin’tome in a Group 2 over this course and distance a couple of weeks ago and surprisingly the Moore trained horse is a much bigger price than Lucky Bubbles and could offer some solid each way value. Aerovelocity was back in third that day and looks to hold an excellent chance from a good draw in what looks a ferociously competitive renewal of the contest.