It may be four years later than expected, but Brenton Avdulla hopes his first Group One ride in Hong Kong will be worth the wait when Sight Success lines up in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
After anticipating his first taste of top-level action at Sha Tin would be aboard In Her Time in the 2019 Hong Kong Sprint, the 32-year-old rider has had to wait until now because vets withdrew the Australian mare.
Ahead of his belated Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) debut, Avdulla says he is looking forward to his stellar book of rides, which includes four last-start winners.
“It’s a very big day in the year, and I’m looking forward to participating in it,” Avdulla said. “I’m pretty fortunate that the four I won on are all backing up again on Sunday. It’s a great day to have some nice rides, so we’ll see what we can do.”
In addition to Sight Success, who takes his place in Sunday’s HK$26 million dash on the back of his respectable effort in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m), Avdulla also hops aboard Helios Express in the Class Two Highland Reel Handicap (1,400m).
Helios Express, a three-time winner from his four post-import starts, has acclimatised to his new surroundings in no time at all but must negotiate gate 12 when he hunts for a fourth consecutive victory.
“He’s a talented horse, and he’s probably stiff not to be undefeated,” Avdulla said. “He’s coming off a nice effort first up, and he’s trialled in between and come on nicely.
“He’s definitely got the ability to overcome gate 12. We’ll have to see how the race pans out on the day, but there looks to be a nice bit of speed there. He’s a horse who will probably try and get a mile down the line, so the main thing is trying to get him to settle and relax – wherever that may be.”
Also among Avdulla’s seven-strong book of rides is Ensued, who will attempt to maintain his unbeaten Hong Kong record in the Class Three Jim And Tonic Handicap (1,800m).
“He did a good job last time. It was a strongly run race, and on the point of the bend, I thought he was the winner,” Avdulla said. “He hit a flat spot after, but to his credit, he knuckled down and moved strongly late to go right through the line.
“A genuinely run 1,800m will probably be in his best interests, and he’s a horse who sustains his gallop all the way to the line. I’m sure if he gets things to go his way on Sunday, he’ll be right there again.”
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