Hong Kong racing tips: pool betting expertise for Sha Tin on Wednesday

The Sha Tin dirt, on which all nine races will be run on Wednesday, is one of the most difficult surfaces to master in world racing, but that also ensures the dividends are handsome when striking success on the track.

Named an all-weather track by the Hong Kong Jockey Club but closer to American dirt than synthetic surfaces like Fibresand, Polytrack or Tapeta, the Sha Tin dirt plays differently from meeting to meeting and is notoriously tricky. Add in the likelihood of rain and it appears quite a daunting meeting to tackle.

While there are no guarantees as to how the track will play, there are two factors that can prove successful in these all-dirt meetings.

Often speed carries on the Sha Tin dirt, with momentum a greater factor than acceleration. Nailing down the speed map can often prove crucial in these races.

With that in mind, perhaps take a risk by singling California Argent in the closing Peacock Handicap (3.50).

The other factor is pedigree. At times, a horse that has not been performing well on the turf can switch to the dirt and suddenly find form.

In the Flamingo Handicap (2.15), Argentine import Ka Ying Legend has an all-dirt pedigree that is yet to be tested on the surface. A winner two back before disappointing last time out, he looks a strong contender here.

Another horse to watch for from this perspective is former Robert Cowell trainee Strive For Glory, who has an awkward draw in division two of the Flamingo Handicap (3.15).

The Tipperary Stakes winner finished fourth to A’Ali in the Coventry Stakes, but looks a horse who should be a better horse on dirt being by Florida Derby winner Dialed In out of six-time dirt winner Chu And You.

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 4 (leg 1): 1, 3
Race 5 (leg 2): 2, 10
Race 6 (leg 3): 1, 10
Race 7 (leg 4): 9, 10, 14
Race 8 (leg 5): 2, 4
Race 9 (leg 6): 13

Sha Tin card

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