3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Amaryllis Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:35.41 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
FIRE BALL (NZ 8yo g Burgundy – Lady Winifred) relished the rise up to the mile, getting the job done as a $14 chance for Jerry Chau and Dennis Yip. The old gelding rolled forward from barrier nine to settle on the speed, leading the field early on before easing to take a sit just off the lead. As they continued to work their order out, Chau landed in the one-out-one-back position with the gelding travelling beautifully through the middle stages. He was poised to strike as they swung the bend with Chau getting his mount out three-wide and into the clear turning for home as he ran up to hit the front with around 250m to run. He and the second placegetter paired off to fight out the finish as the broke clear form the chasing pack, but it was the eight-year-old Fire Ball was too gritty, holding on to win by a head. CERVIN drew the widest barrier for Keagan De Melo and the South African hoop was happy to be close to the speed early on. As they sorted their order out, the grey gelding ended up three-wide and without cover through the middle stages, but the pace wasn't overly strong up front. He moved into the race on the back of the eventual winner on straightening and the race was there to win if he was good enough, and while he put up a strong effort in second, he couldn't quite stick his nose in front. SMASHING EXPRESS stuck on well after sitting on the back of Cervin in the run, finishing a clear third.
Race 2 – Erica Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.22 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Matthew Poon and David Hall combined to win the 3YO restricted event as KA YING ATTACK (NZ 3yo g Too Darn Hot – Refreshing) proving too good up front. The local hoop rolled forward from barrier 10 to land on the outside of the leader early on, before crossing to take up the running shortly after. The gelding travelled well to the turn after dictating from the front in running, sprinting quickly when asked for an effort at the top of the straight. The field was right there to beat him if they were good enough, but Ka Ying Attack packed too many punches, fending off his rivals to get the job done by a head. ETALON OR was making a late charge to grab second position in a photo finish and just missed out on victory. The gelding jumped from a wide stall and Alexis Badel came out neutrally aboard the galloper, being posted wide through the early stages before getting into the three-wide running line. The Frenchman commenced a move from the 600m with the pace coming out of the race, moving around the field to be there to strike at the top of the straight. He kept finding under the urgings of Badel to make a late challenge at the winner, but he couldn't reel in Ka Ying Attack. JUNEAU PRIDE sat on the outside of the eventual winner in the run but could never get his nose in front, ending up in third position only a neck off the winner.
Race 3 – Hibiscus Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.04 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
SUPER LEGENDS (AUS 4yo g Brave Smash – Devil's Harmony) picked up his second win of the season, kicking off a big day for James McDonald. The Danny Shum-trained gelding got away well and landed in the one-out-one-back position with a solid tempo being set early in the race. The leader had skipped away turning into the straight, but McDonald got the gelding off heels and into clear air on straightening as he set out after the leader. He moved up strongly on the outside to take the lead with 200m to run and once he too the lead, he never looked like being beaten. Super Legends went on to win by three-quarters of-a-length in a very strong performance. CITY THUNDER landed midfield for Zac Purton aboard the Chris So-trained gelding, racing between horses through the middle stages of the race. The sea parted for him on straightening and while he didn't sprint strongly, he stuck on gamely in the straight to finish in second position, getting the nod in a photo finish. GROOVY FEELING made a solid run between horses late in the race to take third position in what was a blanket finish.
Race 4 – Holly Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.80 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was a blowout in race four of the card with ANOTHER WORLD (AUS 4yo g Kermadec – Our Squeezer) causing an upset in his first try over 1400m. The gelding got away on terms and used the inside barrier to his advantage, settling midfield initially, before rolling forward and sitting on the back of the leader as they turned off the back. He was trucking along as they worked around the turn and Jerry Chau was able to get off the fence shortly after. He swung into the clear with around 250m to run and let rip once produced, getting to the front with 100m to run and holding off his nearest rival in a strong performance, getting the job done as a $34 chance. LUCKY FIONN drew a middle barrier and rolled forward under Andrea Atzeni, sitting close to the speed early on before easing back a touch. He was just off the speed, but he was racing three-wide and without cover. Despite the wide run in transit, the gelding moved into the race nicely on the turn and was poised to strike at the top of the straight. He ran to the front with Another World, but Lucky Fionn couldn't stick his nose in front, ending up in second position. Two lengths behind him was GALLANT EPOCH who set the tempo throughout the race. He stuck on well as a $39 chance with the overall time inside standard.
Race 5 – Hibiscus Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.36 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Jerry Chau picked up his third win of the day aboard SKY JOY (AUS 3yo g Hellbent – Magic Of Dreams) for the Ricky Yiu stable. After drawing the widest barrier in the race, Chau was left racing wide and without cover early in the event before slotting into the one-out-one-back position on settling down. He travelled comfortably in the run before peeling off heels at the top of the straight. Sky Joy got into a bit of a bumping duel early in the straight with a rival trying to push his way into the clear, though the gelding showed plenty of tenacity to keep his rival in a pocket. He then let down strongly when asked for an effort by Chau, running to the front with 150m left to run and proving too good, winning by a half-length on the line. SUNNY DA BEST got away on terms and rolled forward to land on the back of the leader on settling down. He was racing to the inside of the eventual winner in the run and tried to push his way into the clear shortly after straightening but Sunny Da Best was shoved back to the inside when Sky Joy wouldn't let him out. He eventually got into the clear after being held up until the furlong pole, flashing late in the race to run the winner to a half-length. BLAZING WIND raced midfield and along the fence, racing on the back of Sunny Da Best in the run. He was able to remain along the inside rail and sneak along the fence in the run, running into third position.
Race 6 – Ivy Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:03.45 Standard Time: 2:02.45 Course/Class record: 2:00.67 Full Power
JOYFUL PROSPERITY (JPN 4yo g Daiwa Major – Sweet Lady) made it three wins in-a-row, proving too good once again despite the rise in weight. He rolled forward from barrier eight to land in the one-out-one-back position as they worked around the first turn. The pace was even through the middle stages before the pace came out of the race as they turned off the back. With the field bunching around the turn, Hugh Bowman was able to edge his way into the clear as they came to the final corner, but he was left flat-footed when the sprint went on at the top of the stretch. Despite the sprint going on, Bowman had gotten going at the right time and it was inside the final 100m where he began to pull away from his rivals. He inched clear late in the race to win comfortably by three-quarters of-a-length. SOARING BRONCO was able to hold his position from barrier four, landing just off the pace and on the back of the eventual winner. He remained in that position throughout the run and looked like he had plenty to offer swinging around the bend. He got into the clear at the top of the stretch and loomed large when he came with his run at the top of the stretch. He couldn't match the strength of Joyful Prosperity late in the race, finishing in second position in a blanket finish. SERANGOON stormed home down the outside to finish in third position after sitting in last position in the run.
Race 7 – The Pok Oi Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.77 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
LADY'S CHOICE (NZ 5yo g Charm Spirit – No Pushover) picked up his second win of the season as he led from barrier to box. James McDonald was able to hold the lead off the inside barrier, showing superior speed heading to the 800m point. The speed was hot and despite him being challenged through much of the race, McDonald still looked to have plenty to offer on straightening. He cruised into the straight and got away from his rivals when McDonald asked for an effort, but he didn't run away with the race as anticipated. He didn't pull away from his rivals, though he was holding the margin to his rivals, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. GOKO WIN was slowly away from barrier three and had to be roused along by Alexis Pouchin to burrow through and settle on the back of the leader. Pouchin looked to get off the fence as they swung around the turn but opted to stick to the inside rail in the straight and follow the leader through up the fence. He was there to win if good enough, but he could only manage second position, holding on in a photo finish. LUCKY EIGHT got into the clear and made his run strongly down the outside, finishing off well to finish in third position, just missing out on second place in a photo finish.
Race 8 – Tulip Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.29 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
DIVANO (AUS 4yo g Brave Smash – Been Scene) scored back-to-back wins while James McDonald secured a winning treble on the day. Jumped well and rolled forward from his inside barrier, sitting up on the speed. After trailing the leader early in the race, McDonald moved up to sit on the outside of the leader in running and the Kiwi jockey looked to have a strong hold on his mount as they turned into the straight. He quickened impressively at the top of the straight to hit the front and lead by a couple of lengths with a furlong to run, but he was beginning to tire late in the race. There were a couple of rivals coming at him late in the race, but he held on to win by a head on the line in a gutsy performance. LIFELINE EXPRESS didn't show much speed early in the race, but he was able to improve along the inside rail in the run under Andrea Atzeni. He would be midfield in the run under Atzeni and was continuing to creep closer around the turn, with the inside rail opening right up for him to make his effort. He wound up strongly inside the final furlong, making a late charge as he only went around a couple of rivals, finishing only a head away on the post. RIGHEOUS ARION had his chance if he was good enough but stuck on well to finish a half-length off the winner.
Race 9 – Spruce Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.48 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
JOHANNES BRAHMS (GB 3yo g Siyouni – Illaunmore) picked up his maiden HK victory and stamped his 4YO Series credentials with a strong performance under James McDonald. After jumping well from barrier two, McDonald pressed on to sit on the pace, landing on the back of the tearaway leader with a strong tempo being set. The field eventually packed up around the home turn and McDonald found himself in a sticky position at the top of the straight as he was held up with nowhere to go early in the straight. The Kiwi had to be patient, before switching off heels and into the clear inside the final 200m, letting rip with a powerful run. He mowed down the leader with around 50m to run and he was just too good, saluting by a half-length as the $2.80 favourite. The win brought up a four-timer for James McDonald and capped off a successful stint in the Asian City for one of the world's best. BEAUTY CRESCENT settled midfield in the run for Brenton Avdulla and travelled comfortably in the run from barrier three. Avdulla got his mount into clear air with plenty of time and space, making his run down the middle of the track. He kept coming under the urgings of the Australian hoop finishing in second position. GLORIOUS SUCCESS made a run from a similar position to Beauty Crescent and only a neck separated them on the line, with the David Eustace-trained galloper finishing in third.
Race 10 – Poinsettia Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.61 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
RAGING BLIZZARD (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Perfect Beat) returned to winning ways in dominant fashion in the final event on the card, storming over the top to win impressively. It was a good line away and from a middle barrier, Antoine Hamelin held his position to settle a little worse than midfield. He was racing between horses through the middle stages of the race and was tracking beautifully into the race, Hamelin just needed to get into the clear as they turned for home. The gelding was able to get into the clear at last with 200m to run and the five-year-old burst through between horses. He hit the front coming to the 100m point and won eased down over the closing stages, winning by 2-1/4 lengths in very impressive fashion. GORGEOUS WIN was taken back from an outside alley to settle near the tail of the field for James McDonald. Being away from the rail in the run allowed McDonald to swing into clear air on straightening and make his run right down the middle of the track. He looked like the winner down the straight as he came with his run, but he just bumped into one who was too good on the day. Bottomuptogether stuck on gamely after setting the tempo up front to finish in third position.
