Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power) makes his highly anticipated first start on dirt when he lines up in the HK$2.9 million Class 2 Kwok Shui Handicap (1650m) as the feature race at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
A seven-time winner in Hong Kong, Mighty Giant’s biggest scalp came in the 2021 Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m), one start after finishing third in the 2021 Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).
Ahead of tomorrow night’s assignment, trainer Ricky Yiu believes the Power gelding will suit the dirt course under race conditions after shuttling to Conghua following his first-up fourth last month in the Gr.3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m).
“He’s a lovely horse and he always tries hard. I think he’ll run well, I’m pretty happy,” Yiu said. “He runs for the first time on the dirt, I think he’ll run well because it is a softer surface. I’m not too sure whether he’ll like a wide draw on the dirt but he seems to have kept himself really well.”
Since winning at Group Two level, Mighty Giant’s rating has slipped 17 points as he readies for his first start in Class 2 since October, 2020 – which he won on turf.
“The competition is not that strong – 103 is the highest rating in the race, so it’s a little bit easier for him. The way I see him when we work him at Conghua, he should run well and with the dirt there is a bit more cushion than the turf. He definitely needs it as he has gotten older – he feels it in his fetlock joints,” Yiu said.
Harry Bentley takes the reins for the first time when the pair steps away from the widest of eight barriers.
“We have a bit of a wide draw, so we’re just going to have to navigate that but he’s obviously a nice horse in a nice little race, we’ll see how we can go,” Bentley said.
Bentley, 30, remains wary of a tactical affair as he looks to build on his four wins this term: “These races can turn out quite tactical, especially with fewer runners.”
Last season, Power led the earnings tally for sires in Hong Kong on the dirt with HK$6.58 million from four wins, three seconds and three thirds from 21 runners. Snitzel led the wins table with five wins from 26 runners, while Deep Field and Smart Missile also had four wins apiece.
“He’s (Mighty Giant) performed at the top level here, he clearly has the ability and that’s going to stand him in very good stead in a Class 2. He’s definitely the class horse in the race and if everything goes alright then he’s going to be very competitive,” Bentley said.
