The picture of who lines up in the first leg of the 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series should come into sharper focus after the Sha Tin meeting on Sunday (11 January).
Up to a dozen talented four-year-olds, who could earn their place in the starter list for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February, are in action on a potentially decisive weekend.
All eyes will be on the Class 3 (Restricted) Pak Shek Au Handicap (1600m), which shapes as a Hong Kong Classic Mile trial for several runners and a final tune-up for others.
Top-weight in the high-quality four-year-old-only field is Mark Newnham’s in-form gelding Invincible Ibis (135lb), who has won three in a row and has placed in all six career starts to date.
Champion jockey Zac Purton has been aboard for each of those wins but has opted to ride Tony Cruz’s equally impressive Beauty Bolt (134lb) in the contest. Hugh Bowman will deputise on Invincible Ibis, but Purton was gushing about the development of Beauty Bolt, who has already won over a mile this season.
“He’s a lovely horse. He’s got a really good attitude. He just does everything right,” Purton said. “He’s got good speed if you want to use it. He puts himself in a nice spot and has been very consistent.”
Currently rated 82, the Night Of Thunder gelding appears certain of his place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, and Purton, whose services are in high demand for the Classic Series opener, might favour Cruz’s charge should he win impressively on Sunday.
“He’s trialled well. He’s going good. He’s a bit of a no-nonsense horse; he just gets out there and does the same thing. He seems like he’s in good form, so I expect him to run well again,” Purton added.
