Sha Tin Racecourse stages the final Pattern race of the 2017/18 season on Sunday, 24 June, with the Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) being the second of two Group 3 contests on a cracking 10-race card.
Karis Teetan will partner California Whip for the first time, with the Tony Cruz-trained gelding rated seventh of eight in the handicap and allotted a featherweight 114lb.
“The horse is very good at 1400 metres and he has a nice low weight on his back so it looks like he’s going in with a nice chance,” the Mauritian ace said at Sha Tin this morning (Friday, 22 June).
The five-year-old saw off Racing Supernova to score at the course and distance under Neil Callan last time. That was in Class 1 and the victory saw him raised six points to a peak rating of 104.
“His last run was good and he has plenty of experience behind him, so although he’s up in the ratings he’s one of the main contenders in the race,” Teetan said.
Cruz will also saddle Winner’s Way (130lb), the mount of championship leader Zac Purton who steered the five-year-old to a length success over the re-opposing Born In China (121lb) in last month’s G3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m).