LE ZONDA Chases Group Glory

Pierre Ng is ready to roll the dice on his city circuit sensation. After stringing together three wins in four lightning appearances around Happy Valley’s tight bends, the progressive LE ZONDA 極光之子 now faces a DEFINITIVE 時時精準 acid test this Sunday, stepping up to the wide open expanse of Sha Tin for the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m).

Though unplaced in three prior visits to Sha Tin, those outings came long before the Irish import caught fire earlier this summer. Ng is happy to draw a line through his horse’s luckless fifth behind a surging MASSIVE SOVEREIGN 大至尊 last month, banking on a featherweight assignment and sharp recent barrier trials to bridge the gap. With regular partner Vincent Ho unable to make the flyweight booking, Richard Kingscote takes the reins at 117lb (including two pounds overweight) against a stacked 13 runner field featuring the likes of BEAUTY JOY 美麗同享 and NUMBERS 數字天文. Success here could be the launchpad to December’s HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Ng’s championship momentum extends well beyond the feature. The in form handler saddles a dangerous six horse arsenal across the afternoon, including hat trick hunter STORM MIRROR 步風影 in class 3 company and the remarkably consistent AEROINVINCIBLE 友瑩仁, who pairs with visiting British riding sensation Saffie Osborne for her much anticipated Sha Tin debut.