Sling's best shot looks good enough for HK Derby glory

Always Win
Sha Tin 8.00
0.5pts each-way

Singapore Sling
Sha Tin 8.35
1pt win

California Fortune
Sha Tin 9.15
1pt each-way

The cast for this year's BMW Hong Kong Derby reads like a poster for a smooth jazz festival.

The Tony Cruz Quartet is led by Exultant – a danger to all now he returns to 2000m – while the John Moore trio is fronted by an interesting outsider in the Aussie G1 winner Ruthven.

The John Size duo offers dangerous speed via Nothingilikemore and Ping Hai Star, but South African handler Tony Millard could have the stage to himself soon after 8.35 as his sole runner Singapore Sling has much of what you look for in a Derby winner.

Singapore Sling has improved markedly with each of his four HK runs. He beat Exultant fair and square in the Classic Cup over 1800m here on his latest start and stall 3 looks perfect as he bids to give Millard his third Derby success.

RUK will be showing the last four Sha Tin races as part of 'Luck On Sunday' and Always Win is worth a second look in an open sprint at 8.00.

The speedy California Fortune can go close against some fast foes in the 9.15, while early birds can run the rule over a couple of mercurial customers who have strutted their stuff in the last two HK Derbies.

Former St James's Palace third Consort finished fourth in the 2016 renewal but is 0-16 since leaving Sir Michael Stoute and Cruz has finally enlisted Joao Moreira as the frustrating grey drops in class for the 6.30.

The brilliant but bonkers Pakistan Star finished second in last year's Derby and will be heavy odds on for the 6.00 following a fine reappearance effort in G1 company.

Good luck if you fancy staking five to win two, but Pakistan Star had an arduous workout in a fiercely-run race after a long absence and conceding 16lb to the muscular, much-improved Pingwu Spark could be tricky whichever side of bed he gets out of.

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