On Shan Speedie is a confident selection for tonight's sixth event on the Sha Tin dirt. To some extent, tonight's card on the artificial surface is a venture into unknown territory as this is the first time that the new Track Master mixture of sand and wood chip has been raced upon. But in the barrier trial session held under quasi race conditions a week last Monday, the same all-weather principles applied. These, namely that racing up on the speed is usually an advantage and that it is very unwise to be trapped on the inside (thus taking the brunt of the kick-back), appear to have an almost universal relevance. The Jockey Club's course management staff are likely to harrow a little less deeply for tonight's meeting, compared to those barrier trials, in an effort to give the back runners a bit more of a chance.
But all the same it is still likely to be hard to make up too much ground, unless the jockeys overcompensate and just go mad up front. On Shan Speedie is pretty tractable and was a most convincing winner on the dirt for trainer Stephen Leung last season. The four-year-old then had some training problems and moved stables, joining Tony P. H. Chan, who has slowly nursed him back to full fitness. This season, On Shan Speedie has improved with virtually each gallop and he put in a most eye-catching run on his reappearance when eighth to Mr Snip over an inadequate 1,400 metres on the Sha Tin sandmesh.
Ridden by claimer, Win Chung, On Shan Speedie was trapped very wide all the way from barrier 13. Given the torrid trip he was forced to endure from that outside barrier, and the extra ground he covered, especially around the bottom bend, he did well to battle on as well as he did. The outing appears to have brought him on and last week he was noted travelling strongly on the bit from trap to line in a dirt trial. It was a most encouraging effort and one which allowed jockey Wendyll Woods, who takes over from Chung tonight, to get to know his mount.
When On Shan Speedie won last season, he scored by a facile 21/2 lengths from Mannidear in a Class Four mile event. The pace he showed to travel handily throughout should ensure that Woods is able to position him basically where he wants from barrier eight over this 1,800 metres. And trainer Chan has already shown himself to be an astute strategist. The way he has prepared On Shan Speedie suggests that he has had this race in mind for some considerable time. Kwacha, now with David Oughton, could provide most danger. His rider, Mick Kinane, will be ultra keen to partner a winner on his first meeting back in the territory. Each Own Way could be the other to consider. He has trained on well since his first-up success and Douglas Whyte replaces apprentice Sherie Kong.
