A fascinating and competitive renewal of the Chatham Handicap is set for Sha Tin this Sunday, with a full field of twelve sprinters tackling six furlongs on the all-weather track. The race, scheduled for 8.40am, pits proven dirt performers against talented turf specialists switching surfaces.
A Clash of Surfaces and Speeds
The line-up features multiple winners on the synthetic surface, including the Group Three Korea Sprint victor Self Improvement, alongside Capital Delight, Sing Dragon, and Talents Ambition. They face significant opposition from turf speedsters such as Invincible Shield, Gorgeous Win, and the David Eustace-trained Swift Ascend. The field also includes the top-weight Bottomuptogether, a five-time winner who triumphed on his only prior all-weather start back in April.
All eyes will be on champion jockey Zac Purton early, as he is expected to gun Bottomuptogether from the wide gate 11 in a bid for the lead. The amount of energy expended to secure that front-running position could be crucial, especially when the field turns for home and begins its sweeping run down the long Sha Tin straight.
Swift Ascend Poised for a Big Run
Both Invincible Shield and Swift Ascend will be making their debuts on the all-weather surface this weekend. The latter, a six-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa, showed good ability in Class Two company on turf last season. His seasonal reappearance last month saw him finish fifth behind Patch Of Stars over this same six-furlong trip, just two lengths behind the runner-up, who was his rival Invincible Shield.
That run can be marked up considerably, as Swift Ascend endured a troubled passage and never found clear running in the final two furlongs. The form book suggests he is much better than that finishing position indicates. A critical four-pound swing in the weights now gives him a strong theoretical chance of turning the tables on Invincible Shield.
Stable Form and Dirt Pedigree Boost Hopes
Adding further substance to his claims is Swift Ascend's impressive dirt trial form, which suggests he will handle the surface switch adeptly. He races off a very attractive bottom weight, which could prove decisive in a tightly-knit handicap. The David Eustace stable is also in excellent form, having saddled a handful of winners in recent weeks.
Pilot Harry Bentley continues to ride winners at a consistent rate, adding another positive strand to the narrative. All signs point to a major effort from the six-year-old gelding as he seeks to get his head in front in this valuable contest.
POINTER: Swift Ascend - 8.40am - Sha Tin
