3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Tsam Chuk Wan Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.40 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King
Favourite backers rejoiced in the first when Karis Teetan combined with John Size to get the job done with COUNTRY DANCER (AUS 4yo g Nicconi – Alana's Party). Away only fairly from this middle draw, Teetan settled worst than midfield in the two-wide running line. 5-1/2 lengths off the leader at the top of the straight when pushing into clear running, the four-year-old lengthened stylishly in the lane. Pairing off with STERLING WONGCHOY (D Whyte) approaching the 100m, the two tussled it out inside the final 100m in a great ding-dong battle, only for the Size runner to get the bob. Held up for a run for much of the straight, the well supported SILVER DESTINY worked home solidly when clear to grab third (2-1/2 lengths).
Race 2 – Tai Mong Tsai Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.52 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
It was a one-act affair for CIRCUIT JOLLY (NZ 3yo g Ten Sovereigns – Jelly Bean) to break his maiden when leading pillar-to-post under Zac Purton for D A Hayes. With his tactical speed on full display, Purton guided the gelding to the outside fence to carry out his dictation. Still under a strong hold approaching the 300m, it was upon passing that marker that Purton started to urge his mount. The three-year-old kept finding over the concluding stages, holding off the fast-finishing and public elect ENJOY GOLF (1/2 length) who came from a midfield position under Hugh Bowman. Third pick in the market ALLURING LAOS stuck on soundly to round out the placings 2-1/4 lengths away.
Race 3 – Pak Tam Chung Handicap, HK $3,120,000,
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.48 Standard Time: 1:38.40 Course/Class record: 1:36.15 Hongkong Great
SWORD POINT (AUS 6yo g American Pharoah – Jazz Song) lived up to market expectation in the third but it certainly wasn't without some hairy moments. Endeavouring to find cover on the public elect as per the instructions from Frankie Lor, the six-year-old was left flat-
footed when they sprinted but eventually picked up under the full urgings of Derek Leung. Gathering up his rivals inside the final 100m, the gelding pushed clear to eventually score with 1-1/4 lengths in reserve. CAPITAL DELIGHT was the run of the race however and was unlucky not to finish much closer. Ridden conservatively by Adrea Atzeni, the gelding had his work cut out for him when turning at the tail of the field, not made any easier when blundering after striking heels with the winner early in the straight. Taking several strides to balance up, the five-year-old finished with a head of steam down the outside. Atzeni lodged an unsuccessful protest. BUNDLE OF CHARM chased gamely to fill the frame.
Race 4 – Tai Lam Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.27 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
HONG LOK GOLF (AUS 4yo g Grunt – Sky Island) continued his bright start to make it 2/2 when a barnstorming winner in the fourth with Harry Bentley sticking for W Y So. Ridden conservatively from his draw, Bentley settled in the three-wide-running line with cover off midfield. 3 lengths off the leader when straightening, the four-year-old let down strongly to take over inside the final 100m and score by 3/4 lengths. KING OBERON (D Whyte) remains a maiden after 13 starts but was once again game in defeat. LOVING VIBES added juice to the exotics with a tight finishing effort up the fence after being held up between the 400m-300m.
Race 5 – The Po Leung Kuk Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:48.71 Standard Time: 1:48.55 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
It was a brave front-running ride by apprentice Ellis Wong that saw ARIEL (IRE 7yo g Exceed And Excel – Garra Molly) get the verdict for trainer D A Hayes. Sent straight to the front from the get-go that's where the seven-year-old remained for the whole 1800m journey, fending off all rivals to eventually score by 1/2 length. Still eager to break his maiden HAPPYDEARHAPPYDEER was able to cause somewhat of a late scare but was given every chance to get the winner after tracking him throughout. SIGHT SUPREME closed off nicely late to fill the frame, himself trailing HAPPYDEARHAPPYDEER back on the fence throughout.
Race 6 – Tai Ting Shan Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.32 Standard Time: 56.40 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
The big weight proved no concern for the K W Lui-trained BABY CRYSTAL (NZ 6yo g Makkura – Fallkirk) when making light work of his rivals to score softly by 2-3/4 lengths under Alexis Pouchin. Drawn the outside fence, that's exactly what Pouchin nailed his mount to throughout and by gosh it paid dividends. Ambling up to take over passing the 400m, the four-year-old accelerated impressively to promptly put the field away, going to the line under hands and heels inside the final 50m. RED ELEGANCE made good inroads from the back under Hugh Bowman but was ultimately chasing in vain. GOLDEN LUCK was next best finishing a head away from the second horse. Race favourite KA YING VICTORY could only manage fifth but had a substantial amount of blood found in trachea when undergoing post-race veterinary inspection and will be subjected to an official vet examination.
Race 7 – Tai Tong Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.32 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
One of the more visually impressive wins of the day belongs to the ride of Hugh Bowman on the John Size-trained RAGING BLIZZARD (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Perfect Beat). Ridden ice-cold by Bowman last the fence, the gun Aussie hoop hunted back to the fence upon straightening with just under 5 lengths to make up. Weaving a delicate passage, Bowman and his mount burst through at the 150m and kept finding to win by a neck. GORGEOUS WIN (Danny Shum) never stopped trying in the lane for Brenton Avdulla, doing enough to head off COPARTNER PRANCE. Hot-pot Wunderbar disappointed back in fifth, beaten 2-1/4 lengths.
Race 8 – Leighton Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.40 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
SUPER LEGENDS (AUS 4yo g Brave Smash – Devil's Harmony) handled the rise in grade to make it two on the trot. The Danny Shum runner jumped fairly from the inside draw before being urged along by Dylan Mo to take up a prominent spot one back the fence. Getting the A1 run in transit behind the leader, the pair did have some trouble initially getting clear upon straightening but once securing a run at the 150m the four-year-old exploded to knock off race favourite PAKISTAN LEGACY. Only beaten 1/2 length in his Hong Kong debut, the formerly unbeaten ex-Australian perhaps just lacked a fitness edge. Purton did little wrong on the favourite when settling outside the leader and looked to have it won for several strides entering the concluding stages, only to be grabbed late. AERIS NOVA chased soundly from midfield to grab a tight third, denying FRANCIS MEYNELL at a huge price.
Race 9 – Caroline Hill Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.69 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Perhaps bettering the win of RAGING BLIZZARD in race 7 was the win of the T P Yung-trained ALONG WORLD (AUS 4yo g Kermadec – Our Squeezer) in the penultimate event. Away evenly from an outside draw (9), Lyle Hewitson showed little urgency in the early stages and was happy to drift back and across to settle off-midfield on the fence. 5 lengths off the leader when straightening, Hewitson and his mount were buried and forced to hunt the fence in search of a run. Sneaking along the rails, the pair looked like they were about to let loose in clear running before getting cuff off at the 150m. Taking a few strides to balance back up, Hewitson went back to the inside at the 50m for a gap and once there erupted through to arrive just in time to somehow score. With a short head separating the first three across the line, it was SKY DEEP that got the narrow nod ahead of race favourite MAGINIFICENT NINE. The former had a much more straightforward run in transit settling outside the leader, while the latter came with a strong run down the outside.
Race 10 – Broadwood Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.35 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton picked up the double when saluting aboard the progressive and well supported PACKING ANGEL (NZ 4yo Shocking – Out Of The Barn). One of the best away, Purton arguably saved his best steer of the day until the last, giving the lightly-raced four-year-old every possible chance in the second pair on the outside with cover. Kept under a tight hold until early in the straight, the gelding admittedly took his time to work through his gears but eventually did and scored with a bit up his sleeve. For a few strides the grey KAHOLO ANGEL offered a challenge halfway down the straight but ultimately couldn't match the winner late, beaten 3/4 lengths. BUNDLE AWARD had difficulty obtaining clear running in the lane but closed off strongly once clear, finishing a further 1/2 length away in third.
