Hong Kong form expert Luke Middlebrook provides his thoughts on every race at the Hong Kong meeting at Sha Tin on Wednesday, 1 October.
4 Windicator Family was a hard-luck story first-up at this course and trip, held up from the 400m to the 200m before closing well into third. He now picks up Purton and looks well placed to atone.
Selections: 4-9-2-11
3 Aurora Patch has been building towards a win since sliding into Class 4, and his first-up second to Spicy Standard, who has since run well again, reads strongly for this. Drawn to get every chance from barrier 2.
Selections: 3-1-10-4
13 Double Show is another stable switch for Brett Crawford who has caught the eye at the trials. He’ll need luck from barrier 10, but that could also ensure a decent price.
Selections: 13-2-1-6
14 Sunny Q attracted solid market support first-up and should’ve finished much closer than sixth after plenty went wrong in the straight. He gets another opportunity to break through from a better draw and is ready to strike.
Selections: 14-2-8-1
13 Double Win remains winless after 15 starts but has gone close on a number of occasions. He resumes for a new stable off a five-point drop in the ratings and looks well placed to give this a shake first-up.
Selections: 13-1-4-6
3 Invincible Ibis is a horse on the up. He now looks ready for the step up to 1400m after three efforts over 1200m, and with Zac Purton now taking over, he gets every chance to break through for a deserved win.
Selections: 3-5-6-4
4 Wunderbar went down narrowly to Beauty Waves over this course and distance to end last season and now meets that rival much better at the weights while also drawing more favourably. He gets his chance to turn the tables.
Selections: 4-1-6-5
5 Steps Ahead resumed with a fair fourth over the extended mile at Happy Valley and looks set to improve off that effort. Prior to that, he placed twice narrowly behind Hong Lok Golf, which reads well for him to bounce back to winning ways.
Selections: 5-1-8-9
9 Akashvani chased home a handy one in Bulb General first-up and brings the strongest exposed form into this. In a race lacking standout credentials, he gets the opportunity to go one better second-up.
Selections: 9-5-10-3
4 Top Dragon was a tough watch from barrier 14 last start, where he endured traffic issues in the straight. His 11th-place finish was much better than it reads and he can atone.
Selections: 4-12-9-11