Purton warns Hong Kong Sprint form ‘might be a little bit misleading’

Zac Purton has warned punters to treat the form of December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) with caution when they are assessing Sunday’s Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) at Sha Tin.

Seven of last month’s Group One starters, including John Size-trained fourth-placed finisher Courier Wonder, whom Purton will ride from gate four, are set to resume in Sunday’s Group Three handicap dash.

Purton knows how the Hong Kong Sprint advantaged some runners and disadvantaged others because he spent the length of the home straight trying to find a clear path for the elite event’s unlucky odds-on favourite, Lucky Sweynesse.

“It’s one of those races where a couple of horses were ridden out of their comfort zones and then got in the way of others,” Purton said.

“The horses who were in the sweet spot – in the right position in the field – performed well.

“The form out of that race might be a little bit misleading, and it’s a different race going up the straight,” opined Purton, who believes “1,000m isn’t a problem” for Courier Wonder ahead of the galloper’s first start over less than 1,200m.

Also drawn low is Richard Gibson-prepared youngster Cordyceps Six, whom Alexis Badel will partner from barrier one after Jockey Club stewards signed off on the French rider’s fitness test during Friday’s trials.

No Bauhinia Sprint Trophy entrant has won more Sha Tin straight races than Cordyceps Six, who is one of Badel’s five mounts on his return to the saddle after seven weeks out.

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“He’s a very talented horse, he’s got some class, and he’s got a pretty good record over the 1,000m at Sha Tin,” Badel said of Cordyceps Six, who won three of his final four starts last season but has not drawn a good gate in any of his assignments this term.

“It is what it is. If the pace is good in front and they run along, he’ll finish off very well. I’m not very concerned about the draw. It shouldn’t be an excuse.”

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