3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 - Wu Kai Sha Handicap, HK $ 875,000,
Class 5 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.76 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class record: 1.08.46 Trillion Treasure
Luke Ferraris and Benno Yung combined to take out the opener and make it two on the bounce with EXCELLENT DADDY (AUS 8yo g Toorak Toff – Doubtful Diva). One of the best away, Ferraris was passive from the middle draw and was happy to take his mount back to settle in an off-midfield position. Holding that position in running, Ferraris hooked his mount to the outside upon straightening with just under 5 lengths to the leader. Working through his gears, the gelding knuckled down strongly down to arrive just in time and score by a neck. PATCH OF WATCH for Britney Wong and Manfred Man showed good tactical speed from his low draw and gave a good kick in the lane, only to be collared late. SKY PROPHET was a narrow favourite in an open betting affair. He faded over the concluding stages after settling outside the leader.
Race 2 – Wu Kau Tang Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.01 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
The pain of trainer Manfred Man's narrow defeat in the first didn't last long with Derek Leung getting the job done on hot-pot favourite DRAGON FOUR SEAS (AUS 4yo g Shooting To Win – My Thousand). Away slowly from barrier four, the gelding took plenty of early urging from Leung to hold somewhat of a spot, settling just off a solid early clip. In a smart steer from Leung, the hoop slowly edged away from the fence passing the 600m, eventually pushing into a four-wide line in clear air upon straightening. Joining in at the 300m, the gelding kept finding in the lane and went home best to score by 3/4 lengths. SOLAR RIVER for Jerry Chau and Jimmy Ting was a big improver in his fourth start and tried hard in the lane after travelling sweetly inside the leader. The gelding quickly took over when straightening and gave a good kick but just found one better. JOYFUL TREASURE had the run of the race tracking the leader and stuck on solidly in the straight to round out the placings.
Race 3 – Chek Keng Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.21 Standard Time: 1.08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
Punters would again rejoice in the third when Matthew Chaddwick teamed up with Ricky Yiu to make it consecutive wins with DRAGON AIR FORCE (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Best Of British). Jumping quickly from his low draw, Chadwick utilised his mount's strong start and strode forward to settle on the pace. Urged along to join the leaders approaching the 600m, Chadwick hit the front at the turn and set his mount alight. Kicking clear at the 200m, the gelding had enough in the locker late to fend off a fast-finishing VULCANUS. Only beaten a neck, the Me Tsui-trained gelding was left with over 4 lengths to make up when turning, after settling at the tail of the field. The four-year-old got motoring over the concluding stages to cause a late scare. NATURAL HIGH rounded out the placings, chasing gamely up the inside after settling three pairs back on the fence.
Race 4 – Wu Kau Tang Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.49 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Zac Purton would go one better in the fourth, combining with Chris So to salute aboard race-favourite SUNNY DA BEAST (NZ 4yo g Proisir – Artemis). Bumped on jumping, the gelding was then checked shortly after the start when crowded by runners and took a few strides to balance up before taking a sit off midfield. Purton let his mount stride forward into a three-wide midfield position during the middle stages. Taken to the centre of the track upon straightening, the gelding worked through his gears nicely in the lane, reaching the leader at the 100m and going on to score by a 1/2 length. Brenton Avdulla was able to utilise his low draw on the Mark Newnham-trained INVINCIBLE LUCKY and with a lack of intent from other runners unexpectedly led proceedings. The gelding tried hard in the lane, only to be collared late. MY FLYING ANGEL ran on strongly in the straight to grab third after making the turn in a very awkward position locked away on the fence towards the tail of the field.
Race 5 – Hung Hom Bay Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.98 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
As opposed to the race prior, Brenton Avdulla was able to fend off late challengers this time around when getting the verdict on the John Size-trained JUNEAU PRIDE (AUS 3yo g Pride Of Dubai – Sherbet Bomb). Away slowly from his low draw, Avdulla urged his mount along in the early stages to eventually settle midfield on the fence. In what proved a winning move, Avdulla saved ground sticking to the fence on straightening before pushing off approaching the 300m. Ambling up and quickly taking over from the leader at the 200m, the gelding kept finding late to fend off a pair of late challengers on his outside to score by a short head. LUCKY FIONN and CITY THUNDER under Karis Teetan and Zac Purton respectively, came with their runs together down the outside after making the turn around 4 lengths off the leader.
Race 6 – Hung Mui Kuk Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.36 Standard Time: 1.08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
MASK RIDER (AUS 4yo g Justify – Extra Olives) made it a one-act affair at $28, delivering trainer Chris So an unexpected second success of the evening. Ridden by Keegan De Mello, the gelding was only away fairly from the inside alley but was urged along to hold the fence, booting up to lead upon settling. Holding the front, the four-year-old railed strongly upon straightening and found plenty when asked, kicking clear at the 300m to build a healthy margin to his chasers. Shortening strides late, the damage was already done holding on to score by 1-1/4 lengths. MOJAVE DESERT for Matthew Chadwick and Mark Newnham was the clear eye-catcher. Weaving a passage at the 300m, the gelding lengthened nicely over the concluding stages to make good inroads but ultimately left it too late. MUST GO also finished fast but never really looked likely upon straightening 6 lengths off the winner.
Race 7 – The Racing Club Handicap, HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:20.89 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
Brenton Avdulla celebrated his second success on the card when teaming up with David Hayes to get the job done aboard RUBYLOT (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Emirates Comfort). Jumping fairly from the low draw, Avdulla showed no interest to hold a prominent spot early, allowing his mount to amble along before settling midfield on the fence. Pushing off the fence rounding the turn, Avdulla worked his mount up to be just behind the leading pair entering the straight but was praying on the gaps to appear. Barging his way clear at the 350m, the four-year-old knuckled down strongly when balancing up and found more inside the final 50m to fend off the race favourite and score by a 1/2 length. YOUNG CHAMPION for Zac Purton and John Size also didn't have the clearest of passages in the straight after working into the race from an off-midfield position but did lengthen nicely when clear, just not as strongly as the winner. JOHANNES BRAHMS only saw daylight at the 150m and closed off sharply to grab third after making the turn 4 lengths off the leader.
Race 8 – Hebe Haven Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.11 Standard Time: 1.09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
It was a nervous watch for punters, but Zac Purton was in the end able to deliver the goods on the heavily supported John Size-trained MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE (GB 4yo g Havana Gold – Gladiatrix). Bumped when jumping only fairly from an outside-middle draw, Purton let his mount find his feet in the early stages settling just off midfield. Appreciating a solid early tempo, Purton travelled sweetly on his mount in a three-wide with cover position in transit. Getting a tow into the race, Purton came off heels upon straightening to let down with his challenge towards the centre of the track. Looking as though he was going to go straight on by passing the 200m, the gelding was forced to dig deep late to eventually get the better of the two runners inside of him, getting the verdict by a short head. LUCKY EIGHT for Jerry Chau and Ricky Yui made the favourite work hard right to the wire. He travelled sweetly in transit tracking the leader's every move and offered a strong effort once forced back to the inside for clear running. YOUNG SUPERSTAR was gallant in narrow defeat after leading them up into the lane.
Race 9 – Pak Shek Au Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.19 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1.33.19 Beauty Fit
Trainer Ricky Yiu celebrated his second winner of the night when Matthew Poon piloted DRAGON JOY (NZ 4yo g Saxon Warrior – Ashara) to a barnstorming win in the penultimate event. Taken back immediately from the outside draw, Poon was very conservative on his mount, settling last the fence. Letting the race develop all in front of him, Poon edged off the fence passing the 600m, eventually pushing right out to turn the widest runner upon straightening. With 4-1/2 lengths to make up, Poon got to work on his mount and he responded accordingly, working home over the top to arrive just in time and score by a short head. Race favourite MARKWIN for Derek Leung and Cody Mo can be considered slightly unlucky to just miss after coming from an unfavourable position when turning. FAST NETWORK was poised to strike at the top of the straight after a sweet run in transit but just failed to match the other two.
Race 10 – Pak Tin Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.46 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1.33.19 Beauty Fit
Trainer Cody Mo wasn't left suffering his narrow defeat for long with Jerry Chau taking out the last event aboard narrow race favourite EMBRACES (NZ 4yo g Reliable Man – Abbey Tralae). Making contact after jumping fairly, Chau was conservative on his mount, settling one off the fence off midfield. Happy to ride the gelding quietly, Chau edged further away from the fence passing the 600m before hooking his mount to be the widest runner upon straightening. Getting busy on his mount, the four-year-old responded in great fashion to unleash a strong turn of foot and score by a neck. GLORIOUS SUCCESS was the runner the winner tracked into the race and fought hard in the lane to just miss. BLESSED NATION also closed off strongly down the outside to grab third and add some juice to the exotics.
