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Zac Purton is wary of engaging in a speed battle with Wunderbar as John Size’s talented sprinter looks to rebound from rare defeat when he tackles the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Poinsettia Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 December).
With six wins and two seconds from eight starts, Wunderbar has emerged as a quality galloper for 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer Size and Purton is aware of the presence of several rivals who are likely to press for the lead at the weekend.
Wunderbar (135lb) will jump from barrier 11 in the 14-horse field and Purton will discuss plans with Size with speed maps suggesting the chestnut's usual pattern of going forward might be compromised by horses such as I Give (gate seven), Harmony N Blessed (four), Glory Elite (six), Call Me Glorious (13), Bottomuptogether (one) and Majestic Knight (two).
"It's not going to be easy, especially from this gate. There are a few horses in it with a bit of speed that are going to make it competitive, so I'm sure John has got a plan and I'll find out what that's going to be," Purton said.
The only horse in Hong Kong with victories over Group 1-winning Ka Ying Rising - the Rich Enuff gelding managed the feat twice in January - Wunderbar suffered a short-head defeat at the hands of Magic Control over 1000m at Sha Tin on 9 November.
"He (Wunderbar) performed very well (last start) but he just ran into a horse who performed at his best on the day. I think he's equally adaptable at both distances (1000m and 1200m). I don't think one (distance) is better than the other, but he's drawn wide so he's going to need a little bit of luck," Purton said.
Purton has been cleared to resume riding after missing Wednesday's (18 December) meeting with illness. Club officials also passed fit Lyle Hewitson and Matthew Poon to ride at Sunday's meeting.
With 51 wins from 228 rides, Purton leads the 2024/25 jockeys' championship by 26 wins from Hugh Bowman (25) and Vincent Ho (21) and the seven-time champion has a full book of 10 rides on Sunday.
Hoping to foil Purton's hopes with Wunderbar in the meeting finale, Frankie Lor indicated Bottomuptogether is likely to be ridden more quietly by Matthew Chadwick as the gelding drops back from 1400m.
"This season he has outside draws and, at this moment 1400m might not be suitable for him, so I brought him back to 1200m," Lor said. "He has trialled good and Matthew said he is more relaxed now and this time he has got a better draw.
"The pace looks quite fast, so I hope he can follow horses this time and save a little bit of energy."
David Hayes hopes the removal of cheek pieces will enhance Romantic Son's chances when the gelding contests the Class 3 Tulip Handicap (1200m) under Purton.
"At his first couple of runs around Happy Valley, we thought we would have them (cheek pieces) on to help him focus and be a bit more switched on but I think Sha Tin will allow him to relax a bit more," Hayes said.
"I wouldn't expect him to be leading and hopefully he'll be strong late. He's had a solid trial (at Conghua on 6 December) and I think he'll bounce back and run a good race on the weekend."
With 15 wins and 19 minor placings from 80 rides, James McDonald completes his short-term stint on Sunday with a book containing the rides on Divano, Johannes Brahms and Gorgeous Win.
Sunday's (22 December) 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Amaryllis Handicap (1600m) at 12.45pm.
