Beadman, Winks head wide-open Challenge
In the absence of Douglas Whyte and Brett Prebble, who will be representing Hong Kong in Tokyo this afternoon, the Sha Tin Jockey Challenge conundrum is one that players and oddsmakers agree is wide open.
Today's Challenge is in sharp contrast to the standard fare of recent weeks, where markets typically polarise towards Whyte and Prebble, usually at short prices.
Today, there are four jockeys separated by one point, with Darren Beadman and Jockey Challenge maiden James Winks equal favourites overnight at $5.
Leading apprentice Matthew Chadwick is the third pick at $5.50, with his fellow seven-pound claimer Derek Leung Ka-chun the other major fancy at $6.
Chadwick has been the leading point scorer (among today's rivals) at three of the last seven meetings at which he has competed, while Leung was only two points behind Wednesday's upset winner Jeff Lloyd at Happy Valley.
Beadman has been the major beneficiary of the decision by club doctors to rule out Zac Purton as a result of the lingering effects of his fall from Namjong Sky in Tuesday's barrier trial. He picked up Fortune King, an outsider in race one, but stronger chances in Napa II (race five) and Expeditious (race six).
Of the major fancies, the only jockey to have a full book of 10 rides is Weichong Marwing ($13).
