Progressive sprinter can spoil the party in feature contest

Big Party
7.20 Sha Tin
2pts win

Gunnison
8.25 Sha Tin
2pts win

Holy Heart
9.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

An untimely bout of flu may prove costly for Joao Moreira, who has been forced to forfeit nine rides at Sha Tin today.

Moreira, sailing along in the lead in the jockeys’ championship, pulled out of the meeting late on Friday, sparking a frenzied round of re-bookings as suitable replacements were sought.

Moreira will be most disappointed that he misses the ride on impressive last-time-out winner Big Party, who takes a step up in grade in the Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (7.20).

The in-form Grant Van Niekerk, who landed a treble at Happy Valley on Thursday, steps in for the ride on the progressive son of Exceed And Excel, who won a Class 2 handicap by a length and three-quarters 11 days ago, although that margin could have been trebled had Moreira ridden him out.

The jockey suggested trainer Frankie Lor let the four-year-old have a crack at the Trophy, which he reckoned lacked its usual depth. With bottom weight of 8st 6lb, and with a favourable stands-rail draw, he can win again.

The smart Thanks Forever, with Silvestre de Sousa aboard, and Regency Legend are the dangers.

The last two races are on the all-weather track, which presents a perfect opportunity for the John Size-trained Gunnison to regain the winning thread in the Class 2 mile handicap (8.25).

Gunnison has not won in over a year, and that victory came over 6f, also on the all-weather. He tries a mile for the first time, but with an inside draw, he can sit in behind the pace before being produced for a run in the home straight.

The other choice ride the ‘Magic Man’ has forfeited is Holy Heart in the finale, the Class 3 mile handicap (9.00). Former champion apprentice Keith M L Yeung steps in to substitute on this former John Gosden all-weather specialist, who twice won at Kempton earlier in his career.

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