Point and shoot: Ng’s uncomplicated War Weapon riding instructions for Badel

Pierre Ng Pang-chi will instruct Alexis Badel to point and shoot War Weapon when the miler, who missed 21 times before hitting the target in Hong Kong, aims for back-to-back bullseyes at Sha Tin on Saturday.

The winner of both his pre-import starts in Australia – he went two from two at Kembla Grange for Sydney-based handler Gerald Ryan – War Weapon placed second on his Hong Kong debut in May 2021 and made a habit of banking only minor cheques over the subsequent two and a bit years prior to his last-start success.

Caspar Fownes and Chris So Wai-yin each trained War Weapon to finish runner-up before the five-year-old galloper’s connections sent their camera-shy horse to rookie handler Ng in January.

In typical War Weapon fashion, he placed third on each of his first three appearances for Ng, but Zac Purton directed him to his long overdue first Hong Kong win over 1,600m in Class Four three weeks ago.

Purton cannot weigh out at 116 pounds, so Badel – who was aboard War Weapon when he crossed the line third over 1,400m two starts back – regains the ride as the recent edition to Ng’s young stable rises in grade.

Ng, who is eighth in this season’s trainers’ rankings on 32 wins, will not overthink his tactics now the serial placegetter has broken through in the city.

“He was just waiting for the right race,” said Ng of War Weapon’s two-and-a-quarter-length win, which coincided with him stepping up to 1,600m for the first time.

“He should thrive with 52kg. With him, the draw doesn’t matter. You can wait for a run. I’ll tell Alexis, ‘as soon as you turn for home, point him in a straight line and go’. He’ll do very good sections.”

War Weapon is one of Ng’s seven-strong Sha Tin squad, with Starship Eighty, Publicist, Healthy Healthy, Good Boy, Super Magic and Class One Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1,400m) runner Turin Redsun also in action.

Apart from War Weapon, who is the bottom-weighted starter in the Class Three Coloane Handicap (1,600m), perhaps Class Four Sai Van Bridge Handicap (1,000m) runner Healthy Healthy is Ng’s best chance.

Sixth on his debut and second on his next appearance, Healthy Healthy jumps from gate five after beginning his first two races on Sha Tin’s 1,000m course from more favourable barriers closer to the grandstand.

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Nevertheless, Ng expects Healthy Healthy to build on his neck second to Sparkling Dolphin, whom the three-year-old sprinter reopposes better at the weights.

“He didn’t do any barrier trials before coming to Hong Kong, so he’s had to do everything since getting here. But still, for his first prep, he’s doing a pretty good job,” said Ng of Healthy Healthy, who cost NZ$160,000 (HK$785,000) as a yearling.

“He’s come on from every run. I know he’s kept improving. He’ll be a very nice four-year-old.”

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