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D B Pin is hard to beat in Race 6

Hong Kong Sunday preview

RACE 1 (1,200M)

5 GIDDY GIDDY is a horse with plenty of natural speed and is running on the dirt for the first time at his 28th start. While he is probably a better 1,000m horse, speed is a lethal quality on the dirt, particularly in Class 5. He is worth a chance.

1 BORN DRAGON runs in Class 5 for the first time and takes to the dirt for the second time. He looks a horse who really never should have got down to Class 5. The wide draw may make it tough but, if he puts it all together, he is more than capable of winning in the class.

4 SLEDGE HAMMER returned to form first-up and gets Joao Moreira aboard.

RACE 2 (1,800M)

11 PLENTY OF SPEED has been inconsistent this season but his best effort came over the 1,200m on dirt. He's only been beyond 1,400m three times and has failed every time. But, in a race where there is little speed, he could head forward and prove hard to catch over the 1,800m.

1 DRAGON HARMONY gets Joao Moreira aboard again, having run well a number of times this season. He will likely lead from gate 13.

14 DRAGON GLORY has not won in two-and-a-half years but has performed well in the past over this course and distance. He is at a mark where he can hardly fall any further and he should be in the mix.

RACE 3 (1,200M)

4 AUTOPAY was unlucky on debut down the straight, missing the start and striking trouble numerous times in the final 500m. He made nice ground late and should be suited by the step-up to 1,200m, especially with the good draw.

9 MONEY BOY ran strongly in his first start. He will be a big contender again with that run under his belt.

3 HOT HOT PEPPER is a little bit weak at the end of his races but, in a race that isn't particularly strong, he will likely be in the mix once more.

RACE 4 (1,200M)

1 ELITE SPIRIT returns to Class 4 for the first time in over a year. He has only raced on dirt once in Class 4 for a win and it seems that he has been kept away from the all-weather track until he got down in class. He has been primed for this.

6 I'M THE WON FORU has been racing well this season and he looks set to break through. Joao Moreira aboard is a plus.

10 HURRICANE KID backs up off a solid fourth on the dirt last week and is always a chance in this sort of contest.

RACE 5 (1,650M)

2 MASTER GOLD has been a different horse since switching to the dirt, winning once and hitting the board three others from four runs. He is right at the top of Class 4 now and is a major chance here.

5 EXPEDITE's last two runs over 1,650m on dirt in Class 4 produced two wins in March and April. These are the types of races where he is at his best. He's a strong chance from gate 3.

11 FLYING MACHINE has won two in a row and rises in class now with Joao Moreira sticking solid. He looked good on dirt last time out and is capable of winning in Class 4.

RACE 6 (1,000M)

14 D B PIN broke through last time out, when he won by a neck at Happy Valley. However, this doesn't take into account his "win" in late October in the race that was later declared void, a race that he "won" by four lengths. He has drawn well near the grandstand rail and is the one to beat.

6 SUPER WISE is a fascinating proposition here first time out, especially with Australian form that ties into next weekend's Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase over 2,400m. Super Wise won his only start at Flemington in June, beating some good horses. While it looks like he has been rushed slightly, he also looks a horse who should come to hand quickly.

Fellow debutant 5 LUCKY WAN FENG has also trialled well, winning three heats.

RACE 7 (1,400M)

13 SOARING WYVERN has been a horse who looked capable of winning a couple in a row once the penny dropped. Last start, he got within a half-length of Ka Ying Kid and now looks as though he's finally starting to get his act together. Expect him to be a major player.

7 DOUBLE DOWN has gone into the "next time" column at both starts so far. He's still a work in progress, so he might be risky if he is too short, but he's definitely one to watch.

4 WISKY is still racing like he might need further, but he should be around the mark.

RACE 8 (1,650M)

6 DEJA VU won three races by narrow margins last season over the 1,200m on the all-weather track. He was good last time out over 1,650m on the surface and has trialled well since. In a race with limited speed, he might be the one to take advantage.

2 NORTHERN FALLS doesn't have great gate speed but has been lethal before when allowed to bowl along on speed - he won a race last season by three lengths in this fashion. He was good from well back on the dirt two back, so he doesn't have to go forward, but it could be in his best interests here.

9 RED MARVEL is racing well enough and gets Joao Moreira aboard from the inside gate.

RACE 9 (1,400M)

1 CALIFORNIA WHIP won only one of his five starts in England, when he was named Chief Whip and trained by Richard Hannon, but he was third in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, a race that has produced a number of stakes performers in Hong Kong. He has trialled well and should be able to win very quickly off his current mark as he aims towards the four-year-old races.

13 A BEAUTIFUL has been a hard-luck story this season, with nothing going his way at all. Last time out, he was checked badly at a crucial stage. The return to the Sha Tin 1,400m looks a plus and he will be very hard to beat with only 114 pounds (51.8kg) on his back.

RACE 10 (1,200M)

8 MALMSTEEN creates interest at his first run on dirt. A speed influence that has trialled well on the surface, he looks the type who could find that extra few ratings points on the surface.

11 TEAM FORTUNE is aiming to become the first horse to win four races this season after proving a revelation on dirt. He is well drawn and, with only 121 pounds on his back, he will be hard to beat.

5 DRAGON GENERAL's best has come over the straight 1,000m but he performed well around a bend at Happy Valley last time out and a repeat will see him go close.