R5 SAPPHIRE HANDICAP

Class 4 - 1800m


Sha Tin (M69) - Saturday, 9 May 2020

15:00 HK TIME

summary


This is an interesting race for sure. I flagged GORGEOUS INHERITOR in my SID (Sweet In Defeat) files on the back of a good run over 1200m at Happy Valley when he stormed home with a strong final-200m (11.16, the 2nd-best on the card!). It must have caught the eye of Zac Purton who has been booked to ride, and he was aboard Gorgeous Inheritor in a recent turf trial as well with the blinkers applied. Once again the Purton/Yip combination will ensure he won’t be any major spoil in the market, but he might be worth including in quinellas at the very least. MCMUNIGAL demolished rivals over the course and distance last time he raced and beat home subsequent winner Victorious Seeker. This is a stronger race today, but if he can back that up then he will be right in the finish again. LEADING FORTUNE will clearly appreciate the step up in distance and has more upside, but he will need a touch of luck to find a good spot and will more than likely settle back and wide. INVALUABLE hasn’t been far away his last couple of starts and is another to consider. He too should appreciate the 1800m and looks close to being off a mark where he’ll be competitive. I like the chances of my top-four here and they should run well. Gorgeous Inheritor and McMunigal make the most appeal to back to win, with another approach to extract value being to take the four in a boxed quinella.

selections


8 GORGEOUS INHERITOR

(rp – $7.00)

14th Pulled-up

9 MCMUNIGAL

(rp – $4.50)

4th (relegated)

3 LEADING FORTUNE

(rp – $10.00)

11th

11 INVALUABLE

(rp – $11.00)

6th

strategy


CHECK PRICES AND OUTLAY ACCORDINGLY

speed


There should be some reasonable speed here early, but as they settle into their order it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a slackening. CALIFORNIA LEGEND can lead from BEAUTY ANGEL, with MCMUNIGAL positioning close also. GORGEOUS INHERITOR will likely be asked to go forward, with PERFECT TO PLAY parked just behind these runners.


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SEASON 2018/19 FINAL TOTAL STATS UPDATE:


88

MEETINGS

2292.8

TOTAL OUTLAY OF UNITS

+239.8

UNITS (10.46% PROFIT)