3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Hwamei Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:39.22 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
FLOOF (NZ 5yo g Tavistock – Here We Come) broke his maiden status in his first run for the campaign. He rocketed out of the barriers for Matthew Poon, running up front into the first turn before being crossed and landing just off the speed and away from the rail. He enjoyed a cosy run throughout the middle stages with a good tempo being set throughout the event. In the wet conditions, Poon shifted the gelding to the middle of the track and began to grind away in the conditions. It was tough going right to the line, but Floof showed plenty of strength to round up the leaders close to home. He packed too many punches, scooting away from his rivals near the line to win by three-quarters of a length. LUCKY BANNER also got away well off an inside barrier and rolled forward to settle on the speed for Luke Ferraris. The leader came across to settle over a length in front of Lucky Banner sitting in a stalking position down the back stretch. The gelding crept closer as they turned off the back straight, moving up to join the leader around the home turn and take the lead down the stretch. He was still in front with 100m to run but was gunned down late in the race. FOREVER FOLKS made up a stack up ground in the straight after sitting in last position in the run, just missing out on second in a photo finish.
Race 2 – Magpie Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:38.99 Standard Time: 1:40.40 Course/Class record: 1:38.30 Apolar Warrior
RELIABLE PROFIT (NZ 6yo g Reliable Man) secured the first win of his career at start number 14. After jumping well from a wide gate, Hugh Bowman was caught wide heading into the first turn and elected to snag the gelding back through the field. He was still unable to find a spot with cover heading down the back, facing the breeze three-wide in a position just worse than midfield. Heading off the back, the gelding continued to be pushed wider around the home turn, but being wide allowed Bowman to work into the race without complications as he loomed up to the leading division at the top of the straight. He was out near the middle of the track, but he had his rivals covered very quickly, taking the lead with 200m to run and he never looked like being run down. He went on to score by 2-1/4 lengths in fine style. In a lonely second was GO GO GO who jumped well from an inside alley and settled just off the speed. Down the back straight, Zac Purton was able to get off the rail and improve onto the outside of his closest rival, being in the one-out-one-back position around the home turn. Purton was able ot slice between horses at the top of the straight and take the lead with 400m remaining, but he couldn't hold off the flashy grey who was just a cut above. Over 3 lengths back from the second horse was COLOURFUL BARON who kept on well to the line, sustaining a good run from the 500m point.
Race 3 – Parrot Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.05 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
The first race on the Turf today was taken out by SUGAR BALL (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Miss Vinnoire) with Cody Mo and Derek Leung combining. He jumped well from an inside barrier and with plenty of speed to his outside, Leung was happy to settle just off the speed and along the inside rail. There was no change to the order through the middle stages with a strong tempo being set, but it meant that Leung was in a great position turning for home with room to move to his outside. The local jockey began navigating a passage at the top of the straight, with a gap opening with 300m to run and Sugar Ball needing to make up a couple of lengths. He let down strongly to move up and hit the front with 100m to run in an impressive effort and he drew away late in the race, going on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in great fashion. STELLAR SWIFT settled in the back half of the field under Andrea Atzeni after being a touch slow into stride from barrier two. He ended up racing just behind the eventual winner in the run and began to work a little closer approaching the 600m point. Atzeni initially tried to go between runners turning for home before shifting off heels and to the middle of the course. He had plenty of ground to make up but quickened nicely in the run to the line, finishing in second position in a solid effort. STORMING DRAGON kept on well after sitting up on the speed for Purton, holding on for third in a close three-way photo.
Race 4 – Shrike Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.19 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
PATCH OF COSMO (NZ 3yo g Super Seth – Thee) handled the worsening conditions the best as he ran over the top to win narrowly for Luke Ferraris and Manfred Man. The gelding bombed the start and was the last to leave the barriers, though he did show good speed early on to improve his position slightly. He was racing toward the back of the field in the three-wide trail with a bunched field coming around the home turn. Being wide and with cover, Ferraris was able to shift into the clear at the top of the straight and make his run down the middle of the track. He had a few lengths to make up, but he let down powerfully when Ferraris asked for an effort, and he swept up to join the leaders with 100m remaining. He was peaking on the run late in the race, but he had enough gas left in the tank to hold on for a narrow victory, with the margin being a short head. ETALON OR also raced at the back of the field after sliding back from a wide draw for Alex Badel. The Frenchman then moved down to the inside rail in the run, sliding up the fence and improving his position a little around the turn. Badel remained along the inside turning for home, eventually finding a gap with 200m remaining and bursting through late. He and Patch Of Cosmo came through together, with barely anything separating them on the line. NORTHERN FIRE BALL stuck on boldly from the front, finishing a clear third just 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 5 – Golden Sixty Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.95 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Britney Wong scored her first win in Hong Kong aboard the Douglas Whyte-trained CHEVAL VALIANT (NZ 6yo g Charm Spirit – Folies Bergere). As per his usual racing pattern, Wong took Cheval Valiant to the front of the field from barrier six, showing a clean pair of heels to get across to the outside fence on settling down. The local apprentice had extended her advantage to lead by 3-1/4 lengths with 400m to run and was sitting patiently aboard the six-year-old before asking for an effort with 300m remaining. He was still well clear with 100m to run, and while he was getting tired close to the line, there was enough left in the tank to hold on and score by a neck on the line. MAJESTIC EXPRESS came from a mile back to challenge for the lead late in the race. After sitting near the tail of the field in the run, Hugh Bowman was able to squeeze through a gap midway down the straight, coming after the tiring leader strongly inside the final 150m. The Australian jockey ran out of time though, unable to bridge the gap and finishing a neck away. A further 3-1/4 lengths off the second placegetter was MR GOOD VIBES who had also run on well from the back of the field, navigating through traffic to finish third.
Race 6 – Sunbird Handicap, HK 2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:36.25 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
Zac Purton secured his first win of the day aboard the Pierre Ng-trained TURIN STARSPANGLED (GB 3yo g Starspangledbanner – Federation) who shed his Hong Kong maiden status at his first try over the mile. In the driving rain, Purton bounced the gelding out to put him on the speed early in the race, before eventually being crossed and taking a sit on the back of the leader. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, Purton was able to peel off the inside and come through a gap early in the straight with the leaders looking to get away from the chasing pack. Turin Starspangled hit the front with a furlong to go, and while he was there to be beaten, his rivals weren't up to the task today and he finished a length ahead of his rivals. Race favourite ILLUMINOUS was a little slow into stride and ended up settling a touch worse than midfield. After being hemmed up along the inside turning for home, Hugh Bowman had to try and work his way off heels and into the clear, only seeing daylight with around 150m to run. He made plenty of ground once clear, but it wasn't enough as he ended up in second place. AWESOME FLUKE resumed in good order, sticking on strongly from on the speed to finish in third.
Race 7 – The Celebration Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:22.74 Standard Time: 1:21.30 Course/Class record: 1:20.05 Beauty Generation
The feature event of the day went to Brenton Avdulla and Tony Cruz, with $5.90 chance THE GOLDEN SCENERY (AUS 7yo g Deep Field – Saga's Gift) returning to the winner's stall. The field broke away in a line and The Golden Scenery didn't have the early speed of his rivals, ended up toward the rear of the field on settling down. Avdulla was cruising along the inside rail, with plenty of speed coming out of the race with 800m remaining. The field was bunched up with 600m left to run as the pace went right up again, with the Australian hoop needing to work through traffic on straightening. It took the gelding a little while to wind up, but inside the final furlong Avdulla went back to the inside with the seven-year-old beginning to let rip. He finished full of running to take the lead inside the final 50m and win comfortably in the end by a half-length. TAJ DRAGON settled on the back of the leader from his inside barrier, stalking the speed throughout the event. After travelling sweetly in the race, a run came for Vincent Ho early in the straight as he drove to the lead with 250m to run. He still had a break with 100m to run, but The Golden Scenery was coming home with a wet sail and got the better of Ho late in the race. HEALTHY HAPPY stuck on well from the front to claim third as the $20 outsider.
Race 8 – Swallow Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Yielding
Time: 1:22.80 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
MASTER MASTERMIND (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Khalama) secured his first win of his career at start six with Hugh Bowman and David Hayes teaming up. From an inside draw, Bowman ended up in a midfield position with the speed crossing from wider out in front of him. With the field stringing out through the middle stages, Bowman was able to pick up a few more positions coming to the 600m pole, continuing to slide along the fence before getting to the outside turning for home. The Australian had to bump his way into the clear with 300m remaining, but the gelding had plenty to offer, and it showed once they found clear air. Master Mastermind hit the front 150m from home and was too strong late in the race, winning by a half-length on the line. FIRST LOVE had settled close to Master Mastermind in the run but ended up a little further back than anticipated with the field stringing out at the 800m point. Purton had a nice cart into the race though and got his mount right to the outside on straightening, coming down the crown of the track. It was a good effort to run second, though the win was his for the taking if he was good enough. ALL RICHES had set the tempo up front for Derek Leung and kept on well to the line, only beaten a length.
Race 9 – Tailorbird Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.65 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
The much-anticipated return of WUNDERBAR (AUS 4yo g Rich Enuff – Could Be Something) didn't disappoint as the comeback from injury saw the four-year-old continue his winning ways. Zac Purton took him straight to the front from the inside alley. He wasn't pressured out in front, though he did set a good tempo and was travelling strongly as they swung into the straight. He was able to kick away from his rivals when Purton pressed the button at the top of the straight, and once he got clear it was just a question of how fit the gelding was. It turned out he was fit enough, and although he was beginning to feel the pinch late in the race, he was just too good as he won by a half-length. LUCY IN THE SKY was able to get across and settle in the one-out-one-back position from barrier four after being caught a touch wide early in the race. After enjoying a good run in transit, Teetan had a strong grip on his mount and only asked for maximum effort with 300m to go. It was his race to win if he was good enough, but the winner was just a class above. CAPTAIN WIN ran home strongly from the back of the pack to finish in third, just 1 length off the winner.
Race 10 – Woodpecker Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Yielding
Time: 1:09.35 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
HARMONY N BLESSED (AUS 8yo g Magnus – Fly To Win) showed a clean pair of heels in the last to burst clear as a $22 chance to claim a big win. After a good battle for the lead early on, Keagan De Melo was able to get across and sit outside the leader with a strong tempo being set early on. The pace did slacken a touch in the middle stages, with Harmony N Blessed still travelling strongly at the top of the straight. When he was asked for an effort, he moved up to take the lead with around 150m to run and shot away inside the final 100m, proving far too good for his more fancied rivals and winning by 1-1/4 lengths. SUPERB CAPITALIST surged forward from barrier 1 to hold the front under Angus Chung and was able to dictate the speed. After slowing the tempo in the middle stages, kicked kicked strongly turning for home and got away from most of his rivals. He was in a battle with Harmony N Blessed which he ultimately lost, but they had a big enough gap back to the rest of the field for the gelding to finish a clear second. COPARTNER PRANCE's winning streak came to an end, but he was solid back in third position, only 2-1/2 lengths away.