James Orman and Chris So Wai-yin combine for strong Sha Tin chances

James Orman and Chris So Wai-yin will combine with three solid chances at Sha Tin on Sunday, headlined by Perfectday in the first section of the Class Three Siu Ma Shan Handicap (1,400m).

The four-year-old son of Gingerbread Man will race over 1,400m for the second time when he seeks his third career win, and will be piloted once again by Orman when carrying 126lb from barrier nine.

“I’m lucky to be able to ride him because he’s a 66-rater, so he was lucky to get my weight, but I’m happy to be on him again. He’s probably getting close to doing something,” Orman said.

“He ran pretty well first time at 1,400m. He’s drawn nine – he’s a horse that likes a bit more room in his races, so the barrier probably won’t worry him too much and hopefully he’s finishing off strong.

“He had blinkers on for the second time the other day and he’s got blinkers on again, so he should run well.”

Mabubu was ultra-impressive when winning a trial at Conghua recently by more than two lengths against Class Three opposition and will look to replicate the feat in the Class Four Cheung Shan Handicap (1,000m).

“He trialled well – he beat the horse of Brett Crawford’s, Conghua Galaxy, who looks to go OK as well,” Orman said.

“It’s a PP horse who has won in Melbourne and come with a rating of 65. So he trialled well against that, and some other horses that go well like Pakistan Legacy – he’s a Class Three horse. So it wasn’t a bad trial and 1,000m down the straight should suit. Obviously he won his debut here in Hong Kong and he’s got speed.”

Orman rides Always Fluke for the first time when they line-up in the Class Five Eagle’s Nest Handicap (1,200m) from barrier four.

“Another one for Chris, it’s good to get some rides for Chris. He was drawn wide at his last run, but his run before that he wasn’t beaten all that far. If you look at his form, he’s knocking on the door for a win,” Orman said.

The consistent Solid Car seeks his breakthrough win for David Hall in the second section of the Class Four Lung Fu Shan Handicap (1,400m) with Orman in the saddle for the first time.

“First race ride but I do know the horse from trials. His last run was great, he’s not a bad horse to be honest. It looks a nice race for him, he’s drawn barrier six, so hopefully he can get a nice run and he should be strong to the line,” Orman said.

Kempes returns for Hall after a three-month break in the second section of the Class Three Siu Ma Shan Handicap.

“His win first start of the season was really good with Andrea [Atzeni] on a rating of 62, so he’s on a similar rating of 65. He’s the sort of horse that if things go right, he can run well,” Orman said.

“I’ve had a bit to do with him through the trials, I know him well enough. He’s run a couple of really good races on the all-weather as well.

“He’s drawn barrier 12 but if they go quick, he probably should run well. When Andrea won on him he went back and he was sort of held up, and when he gets out he can really launch. So that might be the way to ride him from that bad barrier. I’ll probably be trying to replicate that.”

The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Prestige Ricky will return to the 1,400m trip in the first section of the Class Four Lung Fu Shan Handicap after running third last start over 1,600m to Absolute Honour.

“He was at the mile and we brought him back to 1,400m because he can get quite strong in his races, so I think the 1400m will suit him better,” Orman said.

“His last run was pretty good, he followed the winner and he had a good gate. He’s drawn 13 so he will need a little bit of luck, but he is consistent. The pace is hot, he should hit the line well.”

Orman will also partner Oldtown when he wears blinkers for the first time at his second start for the Mark Newnham stable in the second section of the Class Four Luk Wu Handicap (1,200m).