3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Tung Lung Chau Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:47.49 Standard Time: 1:48.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.37 Incredible
JOYFUL PROSPERITY (JPN 4yo g Daiwa Major – Sweet Lady) finally shed the maiden tag at start number 20, capitalizing on a strong run of form at just his second attempt over 1800m. Hugh Bowman came out neutrally from barrier two and ended up in the second half of the field on settling down with a good tempo being set up front. The grey gelding travelled comfortably through the middle stages as he raced along the inside rail, ending up third-last position passing the 600m point. While he was shuffled back as the race began to unfold, Bowman looked to have plenty of horse underneath him with the Australian trucking strongly into the straight. The Australian got off heels and pushed his way into the clear once in the straight, getting into clear galloping room and setting out after the leader. He was over a length away with 200m, but he lengthened brilliantly to snatch the lead away passing the 150m point. He ran away from his rivals over the closing stages, bolting in by three lengths with ease, breaking his maiden status in fine style. FRUITY WARRIOR wasn't the fastest into stride but mustered well under Brenton Avdulla to press on and sit on the outside of the leader. The leader ensured there was a gap between he and Fruity Warrior with 800m remaining, with Avdulla sitting just over a length off the pace setter around the home turn. Coming to the straight, the Australian began to loom up on the outside and he quickly went up to hit the lead shortly after straightening. He broke away from the rest of the pack, except for Joyful Prosperity who launched out of the ground to gobble him up. He kept on well to the line, finishing second by three-quarters of-a-length. CHAEATU LE PECHE closed off strongly from back in the field after racing around the eventual winner.
Race 2 – Lamma Island Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.47 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
YOUNG HORIZON (AUS 6yo g Star Witness – Shalimar Sky) relished the drop back to Class 5 today, winning comfortably under Zac Purton. From a sticky barrier, Purton was able to slide across and land in a midfield position sitting one off the fence with some good tempo being applied early on. The gelding travelled comfortably through the middle stages, and he popped three-wide with 600m remaining as he worked into the straight. He travelled into the straight under a strong hold and sprinted quickly when finally asked for an effort with 300m remaining. He sprinted quickly to take the lead with 150m left to run and he never looked like getting beat. Young Horizon went on to win comfortably by three-quarters of-a-length. YODA'S CHOICE jumped well and showed good early speed under Matthew Poon to sit up on the speed from an inside alley. He was able to keep the leader away from the inside rail until the 600m point before the leader crossed right in front of him, causing Poon to check off heels. The local hoop remained with cover around the turn before popping into the clear on straightening, but he was already behind the winner with 300m remaining. He stuck on well over the closing stages to finish in second, but he wasn't taking ground off Young Horizon late in the race. SUPER ELITE closed off well for Hugh Bowman after being held up along the rail turning for home. He's knocking on the door of a win and should go close with a better draw next time out.
Race 3 – High West Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.70 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
FOREVER FOLKS (AUS 6yo g Tavistock – Tempting Delight) ran over the top to score in the third event of the day, handing Ben Thompson his second win of the season. The gelding was slow into stride from barrier nine, but this allowed Thompson to cross behind the field and get down to the inside rail approaching the first turn. He was near the tail of the field, though the pace was solid, and he wasn't as far back as we've seen him in recent performances. Off the back, the Australian was already rousing the gelding along and with the field fanning on the home turn, it allowed the duo to pinch some runs along the inside. He was still 5-1/2 lengths off the leader on straightening, but the race was beginning to unfold nicely for Forever Folks as he got off the inside and into the clear at the top of the straight. The big striding galloper stormed down the middle of the track to pick up the leaders close to home, proving too strong in the closing stages as he inched away to win by three-quarters of-a-length. HAKKA RADIANCE wasn't the fastest into stride but rallied through to sit close to the speed under Derek Leung in the opening stages. As the race unfolded, he would sit on the back of the leader through the middle stages, enjoying the run of the race throughout as he was poised to strike on the turn. After being slightly held up on straightening, Leung was able to get his mount into the clear with 250m remaining and set out after the leader. He was only grinding in the straight and just as he reached the leader, Forever Folks stormed over the top to beat them all. Hakka Radiance kept on strongly to the line, sticking his nose down on the wire to grab second ahead of LUCKY BANNER. Ellis Wong pressed on early in the back straight to take up the running aboard Lucky Banner and he kept on well, finishing just three-quarters of-a-length off the winner with a further four lengths back to the fourth horse across the line.
Race 4 – Middle Bay Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 57.17 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
MASTER TRILLION (AUS 4yo g Mendelssohn – Kitty Leroy) made a winning start to his career, winning impressively on debut for Derek Leung and Frankie Lor. He was a touch slow away from a middle barrier and Derek Leung was happy to let the gelding bowl along in a midfield position. The pair were out near the middle of the track and Leung had already placed the debutant under pressure with 450m left to run. He was picking up ground though as he continued down the middle of the track, really letting rip inside the final 150m as he reached top gear. He took the lead with 100m to go and ran away from his rivals in very impressive fashion, scoring on debut by a length, and it wouldn't surprise to see him be able to repeat the dose over further. SPICY SPANGLE was the outsider of the field at the jump, being a $41 chance when the gates opened. After being away just fairly towards the inside, Britney Wong allowed her mount to stride freely down the middle of the track, not crossing to the outside rail as they cruised through the middle stages. The apprentice still had a strong hold of the gelding passing the 400m point, running to the lead under a hold before breaking clear of most of the pack when asked for an effort. The only one that looked like catching him was Master Trillion, who picked him up to win comfortably, though Spicy Spangle finished a clear second, with 1-3/4 lengths back to third. Race favourite METRO WARRIOR finished in third, sticking on well down the straight for Ellis Wong.
Race 5 – The Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.14 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
LUCKY EIGHT (AUS 6yo g Pride Of Dubai – Hussy Five Oh) scored his first win since March 2023. The gelding jumped well out of the barriers and put himself in a handy position right from the beginning, landing in the one-out-one-back position. The speed was good through the middle stages, and he was able to hold that position despite some pressure to his outside. He looked to be travelling sweetly turning for home as he ambled up to the leaders under Jerry Chau. When finally asked for an effort, the gelding wasted no time, hitting the front with 200m to go and running away with the race emphatically. He was far too good on the day, winning by 2 lengths on the line. FUN N FUN TOGETHER surged across from a wide alley to lead the field on settling down. It took him a little while to get over, but he eventually gained the outright lead with around 600m remaining, slowing the tempo just a touch once he took control. Swinging around the bend, he was travelling strongly for Vincent Ho with the local jockey sitting motionless aboard the $3.10 favourite. He led to the 200m point before he was quickly passed by Lucky Eight, but he kept on well to the line to finish a clear second in a strong performance of his own. SOLAR UP was a $99 chance at the jump and snuck through between runners to finish in third place. The gelding settled just off the speed before weaving his way through the traffic late to get up for third.
Race 6 – Pak Tam Au Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.85 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton made it two rides for two wins as the Pierre Ng-trained AEROINVINCIBLE (NZ 4yo g Per Incanto – Miss Bondi) got the job done in race six. From an inside barrier, the gelding jumped beautifully and rolled straight to the front under Purton. The pair were able to dictate the race throughout the middle stages, setting just a moderate tempo as the field packed up coming to the home turn. Purton then put the foot on the throttle, kicking strongly on straightening to break away from the chasing pack, leading by over a length with 100m remaining. The four-year-old began to get tired close to the line though with a couple of rivals coming at him late, but Aeroinvincible had enough left in the tank to hold on and win by a neck. MARKWIN continued a good day for Derek Leung with the debutant unlucky not to claim victory. After settling at the back of the pack, Leung remained to the inside rail around the home turn and was held up on straightening as he tried weaving his way through. He was held up until the 200m point where he finally found a gap, bursting through the field and coming out after Aeroinvincible strongly. He ran out of time to catch the leader, though with a cleaner run in the straight, he most likely would have gotten the job done on debut. GALLANT CROWN kicked strongly from sitting up on the pace throughout, sticking in there with the eventual winner to run third, beaten just half-a-length.
Race 7 – The Federation Of HK Guangdong Community Trophy (Handicap), HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.43 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
ALPHA ONE (AUS 5yo g Super One – Cash First) secured his maiden victory in Hong Kong as he held on to win in a photo finish. The five-year-old showed plenty of speed to burst to the front from barrier four with Matthew Chadwick gradually sliding across to the grandstand rail. He led comfortably through the middle stages and had his rivals off the bit and chasing while Chadwick still sat comfortably aboard the son of Super One. He was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, and while there was a rival charging at him late, he was good enough to hold on and win in a photo finish. CELESTIAL COLOURS had the aid of an outside barrier and jumped well to hold a position close to the speed. Hugh Bowman had the gelding in a stalking role right from the get-go, keeping himself within striking distance of Alpha One right down the stretch. Celestial Colours was under heavy pressure before the leader, though he was taking ground off him inside the final 150m. Alpha One was tiring close to the line, but Celestial Colours was unable to peg back the margin, going down in a photo finish. FAST NETWORK was bumped around at the start end ended up a little further back than anticipated. He closed off strongly under Zac Purton, but the $1.70 favourite tasted defeat for the first time.
Race 8 – Pak Tam Au Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.75 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
SKY TRUST (AUS 4yo g So You Think – Humble) scored his second career victory, building on his solid overall record. The four-year-old wasn't the fastest away, though he did muster well under Hugh Bowman to roll forward and land in the one-out-one-back position. As the race continued through the middle stages, Bowman crossed down to the inside rail and stalked the leader right around the home turn with the tempo slackening down the side of the course. The four-year-old popped off heels shortly after straightening and idled up to the leader early in the straight, before putting him away in a matter of strides. He let down impressively to break away from the chasing pack and he never looked like getting beaten, being strong to the line and scoring by 1-3/4 lengths. LUCKY FIONN settled just off the speed from barrier seven for Andrea Atzeni and enjoyed a comfortably run in transit throughout. The Sicilian began to urge his mount along with around 500m remaining, peeling three-wide and building into the race with Atzeni anticipating when the sprint was going to happen. He was there to strike if good enough and for a fleeting moment it looked as though he would challenge Sky Trust for the victory, but the winner was just too good on the day as Lucky Fionn held on to second spot. SUGAR BALL closed off well to the finish, coming on from beyond midfield to finish in third spot for Zac Purton.
Race 9 – Sai Wan Shan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.83 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Karis Teetan picked up his first win of the day as LADY'S CHOICE (NZ 5yo g Charm Spirit – No Pushover) got the job done for his first win in over a year. After getting away quickly, Teetan pressed on from barrier seven to be on the speed, eventually being crossed and sitting on the outside of the leader. He raced well in a stalking role, sitting just off the leader around the home turn before ambling up and taking the lead while still under a hold. He quickly shot to the front when put under pressure, putting up a length on his rivals midway down the straight. The chasers from the back of the pack began to make their mark though, charging out after the tiring leader late in the race, but Teetan threw everything he had at the Michael Chang-trained gelding, holding on to win by a short head on the line. MIGHTY STRIDE was one of those from well back in the field to make his presence felt. After racing near the tail of the field for Hugh Bowman, a good pace allowed the gelding to blend into the race nicely on straightening as the gaps appeared right in front of him early in the straight. He got toward the middle of the track with around 200m remaining and stormed home down the outside, but he just missed out in a photo finish. DIVANO jumped the $1.90 favourite and looked to have his chance if he was good enough. He settled midfield in the running line and peeled into the clear on straightening as if he'd stamp his authority, but he was rather disappointing in the way he finished off. He ended up in third, just half-a-length off the winner, but you would be forgiven if you were expecting more out of him.
Race 10 – Nam Long Shan Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:37.94 Standard Time: 1:38.40 Course/Class record: 1:36.15 Hongkong Great
SWORD POINT (AUS 6yo g American Pharoah – Jazz Song) put a disappointing 2023/24 season behind him by coming out and scoring in dominant style first-up at his first try on the All Weather surface. From a middle barrier, Derek Leung rolled forward and got down to the inside rail to sit on the back of the leader around the first turn. With a solid tempo being set, Sword Point was right there to strike as the rival to his outside was pulled out of the event, allowing Leung to get off the inside and build into the race ominously. He was still travelling strongly on straightening and lengthened like the good horse he is when finally asked for an effort. He put the race away in a matter of strides and burst away to win impressively first-up, scoring by 3-3/4 lengths ADEFILL was running on strongly from the back of the pack for Karis Teetan to finish second. He settled near the tail of the field from a wide alley and found himself a long way back around the home turn. He was unable to make up the margin, but he lost no admirers with his effort to close off for second. TURIN MASCOT gave Adefill a tow into the race and closed off well in his own right.
