3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Saturday’s meeting at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #2 Best Effort, #9 Gorgeous Again, #1 Above, #7 Keep Winning

Race 2: #1 Majestic Endeavour, #14 Lucky Storm, #3 Massive Millennium, #2 Godspeed

Race 3: #11 Emerald Spur, #2 Sonic Fighter, #1 Voyage King, #6 Fortunate Runner

Race 4: #2 Little Wise Man, #1 Glenealy Generals, #11 Nice Fandango, #5 Speedy Missile

Race 5: #3 Ultimate Glory, #11 Nice Kick, #4 Hinyuen Swiftness, #12 Family Leader

Race 6: #7 Beauty Applause, #11 Jimson The Dragon, #10 Sunshine Warrior, #4 Super Eighteen

Race 7: #8 Good Standing, #5 Mission Tycoon, #7 Encouraging, #9 Pearl Green 

Race 8: #2 Utopia Life, #1 Team Spirit, #8 First Responder, #4 Super Missile

Race 9: #4 Saul’s Special, #3 Raging Storm, #5 Refined Treasure, #10 Montreal

Race 10: #12 Band Of Brothers, #11 Mighty Maverick, #6 Champion Pride, #2 Honest Way
 

Race 1: Lotus Bridge Handicap 

#2 Best Effort led and won well at his most recent. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper is expected to push forward to lead again and with Alfred Chan’s 10lb claim prove difficult to catch. #9 Gorgeous Again has been consistent across his career. He finished off strongly under Grant Van Niekerk last start and from the gate (1) he should find himself in the right spot. #1 Above receives a welcome class-drop. He’ll need to shoulder 133lb but he’s fit and ready to fire in the weaker class. #7 Keep Winning remains a big watch.  

Race 2: Sai Van Bridge Handicap 

#1 Majestic Endeavour is the on the quick back up after racing on the dirt midweek on Wednesday. Interesting move from Caspar Fownes but he’s capable of pushing forward to lead from the draw, especially with Chan’s handy 10lb claim which could see him prove hard to catch. #14 Lucky Storm gets down in the weights with only 118lb on his back. Zac Purton takes over and he’s another who is capable of making his own luck. #3 Massive Millenium was an improved third last start at his first run on the turf since late December. If he holds his form from that run he can’t be overlooked. #2 Godspeed is winless but if the pace is fast, he’ll get his chance to run on.  

Race 3: Friendship Bridge Handicap 

#11 Emerald Spur flew home for fourth at his most recent. He’ll relish the step up to 1400m and this race looks suitable for him. #2 Sonic Fighter should push forward to sit on the speed under Zac Purton. He’s a two-time winner over this course and distance and a third win would not surprise. Peter Ho rode #1 Voyage King to his only win back in mid-2018 and the pair team up again here. He returns to Class 4 which suits and the draw (2) is favourable. #6 Fortunate Runner can finish around the mark.  

Race 4: Macau-Taipa Bridge Handicap 

#2 Little Wise Man has finished runner-up at his last two starts. Macau based rider Peter Ho takes the reins and although he’s drawn (11) awkwardly, he should sit off the speed regardless. #1 Glenealy Generals finished near the rear at his most recent after trying to make all in the lead. He’ll get his chance to return to form if he sits just behind the pace. #11 Nice Fandango is a bold frontrunner who from the draw (2) should push forward to set a nice tempo. He’ll look the winner for a long way. #5 Speedy Missile has impressed on the trial track. He’s capable of impressing on debut. 

Race 5: Friendship Bridge Handicap 

#3 Ultimate Glory was an eye-catching fourth at his most recent. He’s reached a winning mark and with Zac Purton booked to ride, he is expected to get his chance. #11 Nice Kick got off the mark for his first win this season last start. He returns to Class 4 following that success in the bottom grade and he should get his chance with just 119lb on his back. #4 Hinyuen Swiftness is already a two-time winner this campaign. He’ll push forward to lead from the inside draw (4). #12 Family Leader is the best of the rest.  

Race 6: Macau-Taipa Bridge Handicap 

#7 Beauty Applause finished a debut fourth last start. He’ll be much improved for the run and if he’s continued to progress from last start, he’s the one to beat. #11 Jimson The Dragon is winless from 5 starts. He ran a sharply improved third last start and off that performance, is shaping up to be the main danger. #10 Sunshine Warrior finished midfield on debut. He’s capable of sharp improvement and he’s expected to use the gate (6) to push forward. #4 Super Eighteen turned his form around last start. He might be able to get into the finish again at odds.  

Race 7: The Hong Kong Macau Trophy (Handicap) 

#8 Good Standing was a G2 winner back in Australia pre-import. He sat on the speed to grab second last start and he won’t have needed to have improved much to be winning this. #5 Mission Tycoon should find the front under Joao Moreira. He’s led and won well before at Sha Tin and he’s capable of doing so again. He comes out of a Hong Kong Derby campaign where he was far from disgraced racing over 1800m and 2000m. #7 Encouraging notched up three consecutive wins earlier this season before being blocked on numerous occasions in the straight at his most recent. He’ll return to form if they elect to push forward on him. #9 Pearl Green is easily the best of the Macau runners. He was the 2018 G1 Macau Derby winner who comes in this off a last-start G2 Directors’ Cup victory. He might be able to get into the finish at odds.  

Race 8: Taipa Handicap 

#2 Utopia Life was fourth at his most recent behind the unbeaten Voyage Warrior. Prior to that, he crossed the line in first however was relegated to fourth following a protest. He’s a talent and off his last start, he is ready for a step up to 1200m. #1 Team Spirit led and won well two starts ago. He’ll need to overcome the draw but if he can, he should prove difficult to run down. #8 First Responder turned his form around to finish second last start. He’s capable of progressing to the winners’ stall. #4 Super Missile is a two-time winner from four. He’s first up this season which is a slight concern but his most recent trial performance caught the eye.  

Race 9: Macau Handicap 

#4 Saul’s Special is a three-time 1000m winner in Hong Kong. He placed over this course and distance two starts ago in a strong race behind Refined Treasure before being well beaten in his latest at Happy Valley. He’s better up the straight and a return to form is expected, especially with Zac Purton on his back. #3 Raging Storm seeks the hat-trick. He’s in career-best form at present and although he’s drawn wide, he has the gate speed to cross and negate this. #5 Refined Treasure is a star however he has had his fair share of injuries. His best form is up the straight over 1000m, so you can take on trust that he’ll improve. #10 Montreal is an ex-Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott galloper who won three from four when in Australia. He was a winner last season over this course and distance and a recent trial on the dirt suggests that he is back to his best. 

Race 10: Coloane Handicap 

#12 Band Of Brothers seeks a hat-trick. He makes his Class 3 debut which is always difficult, but he’s on an upward spiral and if he handles it, he’s the one they all have to beat. #11 Mighty Maverick gets a handy 10lb claim from Alfred Chan. He was narrowly run down by a neck last start after attempting to make all and if the same tactics are employed here, he’ll get his chance. Macau based rider Wayne Smith takes the reins aboard #6 Champion Pride. He’ll do very little work from the gate (1) and should find himself in the right spot throughout. #2 Honest Way has won twice this season and in his others has been ultra-consistent. He deserves respect based on his consistency this term.