A bullish Danny Shum Chap-shing launches a two-pronged attack on Sunday’s Classic Cup (1,800m) and the veteran handler believes he may have the artillery to spring a surprise in the HK$13 million contest.
Shum will pit the 95-rated Helene Feeling and four-time winner Chill Chibi against a stellar field of classy rivals on his hunt for a maiden victory in this weekend’s feature.
While last month’s Classic Mile runner-up Helene Feeling is sure to be the shortest price of the two Shum-trained gallopers, it is Chill Chibi’s chances of Classic Series glory that are seriously exciting the trainer.
“On form, of course Helene is the best of the two,” Shum said. “But if Chill Chibi handles Sha Tin, I think he’s the one to beat.”
A victor in the second of his two starts over the Happy Valley mile last term, Chill Chibi returned after a lengthy absence with an emphatic victory over the same course and distance in November.
After completing a hat-trick in his next Class Three test over 1,650m a fortnight later, the son of Wrote continued his ascendancy over 1,800m by notching his fourth win on the bounce and third in the space of a month.
Chill Chibi failed to record his fifth win in a row when tested in Class Two company for the first time on December 20 and subsequently suffered lameness, which sidelined him from last month’s Classic Mile.
The four-year-old gelding will have to negotiate a wide berth on his first racecourse appearance at Sha Tin, jumping from gate 11 with Jerry Chau Chun-lok in the saddle.
“He just had a small problem, but now he’s good, happy and sound,” Shum said. “He will love being fresh for the race. He was off for a long time and came back and won at the beginning of the season. The question is if he will handle Sha Tin and we will only know that after the race.”
Shum has become accustomed to enjoying big-race success this term, claiming three of the 2023-24 campaign’s seven Group Ones so far, and hopes a change of headgear can improve Helene Feeling’s winning chances on Sunday.
“He is doing good. He will be in first-time blinkers, so hopefully he doesn’t use energy too much and saves a little bit for the last 400m. Gate one is nice for him and the distance is great – even 2,000m will be no problem at all.”
Zac Purton will ride Helene Feeling once again after the galloper’s solid performance in the Classic Mile.
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