Prebble to continue association with smart HK gelding
AUSTRALIAN jockey Brett Prebble will continue his successful association with Solar Hei Hei when he rides the gelding in Sunday’s Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap at Sha Tin.
Prebble will ride the David Hall-trained gelding for the 15th time having won on five occasions on the five-year-old.
Solar Hei Hei finished fifth behind Mr Bogart and Pakistan Star in October before running fourth last start in a Class 2 handicap.
“He’s had two nice runs,” Prebble said. “He’s a pretty consistent sort of horse and he’s drawn a nice gate. He’s up to the mile, which I think he’s looking for, so it should be suitable.
“He’s a very genuine horse, it’s seldom that he runs a bad race – there’s only once that he’s not performed up to expectations and it’s hard to say that about most horses.”
The consistent gelding has six career wins to its name and Prebble believes it is well-weighted by the weights in Sunday’s feature.
“He gets the advantage of a lighter weight, though, so that’s going to help him – and I think this race, for the rating band (110-85), is not quite as strong is it normally could be,” Prebble said.
“He’s probably found a race that’s not too strong and he gets his chance off a nice weight.”
The 14-horse field which runs at 6.35pm features former New Zealand runner Circuit Hassler (formerly known as The Hassler) which won the Group 2 Championship Stakes in April.
Now with Hong Kong trainer Tony Cruz, the four-year-old will be well-supported in the betting markets for the Chevalier Cup.
Schofield seeking consecutive victories on Lonhro gelding
Chad Schofield will look to win consecutive races aboard the P.F Yiu-trained Jolly Banner which lines up in the Chevalier Senior Housing Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Lonhro gelding has won both starts this campaign which included a last start win over race-rival My Darling, and Schofield is confident in its chances.
“He keeps improving – he’s just so honest, he really puts in 100 percent every start,” Schofield said.
“His last win was very strong – sitting up on a hot speed, he broke away and was solid to the line. On Sunday, again, it’s not going to be simple because he’s drawn the highest barrier (14). But he’s a horse who’s got good tactical speed from the machine and let’s hope he can put himself up there, or with a bit of luck drop in for a bit of cover.”
Jolly Banner has amassed a nice record of three wins and five placings from nine starts, which can be attributed to its high cruising speed.
“He can quicken off that, he’s got a good turn-of-foot, too,” Schofield said. “He’s very tough as well and he puts it all in. He’s a very happy horse; he loves his work, he loves racing, he loves to please. He’s in good form and I’m very happy with him.
“It’s a pretty strong race on the weekend but My Darling looks quite a good talent and I’d say he’d be hard to beat again.”