The inside barrier looks set to give consistent Hot Shot his chance to break through for his first victory at Sha Tin on Sunday (Oct 10), and the combination of trainer John Size and jockey Douglas Whyte make him a standout in the middle leg of the HK$12 million jackpot Triple Trio. Hot Shot has had six starts for three minor placings. While he may not be a star in the making, he is an honest performer who will win races when things fall his way.From barrier one, Whyte will have him perfectly pl
The inside barrier looks set to give consistent Hot Shot his chance to break through for his first victory at Sha Tin on Sunday (Oct 10), and the combination of trainer John Size and jockey Douglas Whyte make him a standout in the middle leg of the HK$12 million jackpot Triple Trio. Hot Shot has had six starts for three minor placings. While he may not be a star in the making, he is an honest performer who will win races when things fall his way.
From barrier one, Whyte will have him perfectly placed with early cover, either one or two back on the rails, and that will be all the advantage this fellow needs to win at his second start over the mile.
Size has built this horse up to the distance with three early-season runs after previously racing him at the sprint trips. Hot Shot has the grinding sprint of a horse built for handling a mile or further, and the Sunbird Handicap looks made to measure for him at this stage of his career.
Hot Shot's last-start fourth over this course looks the formline to follow, with Tom's Eighth and Industrial Legend also coming out of that race.
Tom's Eighth has had a horror run with barrier draws and was forced to race four-wide without cover at his latest start when Matthew Chadwick was unable to wave a magic wand and slot him in midfield from gate 13.
From barrier 12 his job will be no easier, but the horse has ability and, if Chadwick gets an ounce of luck early, will be hard to hold out in the finish.
Industrial Legend made plenty of ground from the rear last start to finish third, but it is worth noting he got a dream split along the fence to rally through and nail Hot Shot in the last bound.
Others to include are flashy grey Confucius Fortune, who has promised a lot in his trials but is yet to deliver on raceday, and Zezao, who will relish the step up to the mile.
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