3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday’s meeting at Sha Tin

Race 1: #3 Enjoy Life, #6 Remarkable, #1 Splendid Timing, #8 Crown Avenue

Race 2: #5 Touch Of Luck, #7 Coolceleb, #4 Enfolding, #3 Starlit Knight

Race 3: #5 Lucky Win Win, #10 Little Fantasy, #11 Mi Blanco, #7 Above

Race 4: #4 Lucky Thought, #7 Promise Kept, #12 Fame And Fortune, #3 Elite Boy

Race 5: #2 Sky Treasure, #1 Star Luck, #6 Grand Harbour, #9 Ever Strong 

Race 6: #3 Handsome Rebel, #2 Simply Big, #7 Nuclear Power, #4 Joyful Moments

Race 7: #6 Lean Perfection, #5 Raging Blitzkrieg, #9 Pick Number One, #4 Fortune Booth

Race 8: #9 Buddies, #8 Last Kingdom, #10 Tang Fleming, #1 Ping Hai Treasure

Race 1: Tong Fuk Handicap

#3 Enjoy Life makes just his second appearance on the dirt. He was an excellent winner two starts ago on the turf before fading to sixth at his latest. Trainer Me Tsui has an excellent dirt record and this galloper is worth taking a chance on in a competitive Class 4. #6 Remarkable has finished runner-up twice over this course and distance this season. Perhaps it might all come together here against the small field and from the gate he should find himself in the right spot. #1 Splendid Timing has struggled across his short six-start career but the booking of Zac Purton bears close watching and he should show improvement dropping to Class 4. #8 Crown Avenue is a three-time dirt winner who should be fit after finishing second over 2200m at his latest.

Race 2: Tong Fuk Handicap

#5 Touch Of Luck was an excellent breakthrough winner last start over 1600m on turf. He makes his dirt debut which is a query but a recent trial on the surface suggested that was capable of handling it. #7 Coolceleb produced three excellent performances on the dirt before finishing an uninspiring sixth on turf at his latest. He’ll improve sharply back to his preferred surface. #4 Enfolding charged home from last over 1800m to finish second by only a neck at his latest. He’ll need a race run to suit and if he gets it, he’ll be flashing home late. #3 Starlit Knight has mixed his form but he has been competitive on this surface. Chances are Joao Moreira ensures he finds the front and tries to make all. 

Race 3: Tung Wan Handicap

#5 Lucky Win Win’s only two top three finishes have come over 1650m on dirt, including a win at his final outing of last season. He returns to his preferred surface here and although he struggled up to 1800m last start on turf, all of his dirt runs prior gave the impression he was after more distance and he’s worth taking a chance on. #10 Little Fantasy broke through for his second win last start, three years on from his maiden success in 2016. He’s had limited opportunities on the dirt but he does hold a number of placings on the surface and this race appears suitable. #11 Mi Blanco has done his best work on the dirt and although he has the wide draw to contend with, he can still get into the finish. #7 Above is next best.

Race 4: Silverstrand Handicap

#4 Lucky Thought has gone close in each of his last three outings. He makes his dirt debut following an impressive trial score on the surface just last week. He’ll roll forward and make his own luck. #7 Promise Kept returned from a lengthy layoff to finish fourth on the turf last start. His only start prior was on the dirt where he finished an impressive fifth on debut and if he recaptures that form here, he’ll be very competitive. #12 Fame And Fortune finished runner-up last start over this course and distance. He’s found a winning mark and with Joao Moreira, he is expected to be in the finish. #3 Elite Boy can run well again here.

Race 5: Silverstrand Handicap

#2 Sky Treasure has hit a purple patch of form having won two of his last three starts. He’ll find the front again from the draw and attempt to make all. #1 Star Luck is a far more impressive commodity on the dirt as opposed to turf. He’s another who will roll forward and Alfred Chan’s 10lb claim ensures that he gets in well at the weights. #6 Grand Harbour has the wide draw to contend with, but he’s another who brings excellent form to this and he should be around the mark again. #9 Ever Strong is a two-time dirt winner already this season who rarely runs a bad race. He’s one for the exotics.   

Race 6: Hoi Mei Handicap

#3 Handsome Rebel was beaten by a neck last start in his dirt debut after rocketing home under a determined Zac Purton. He’s taken his racing to a new level on the dirt and he’s capable of going one better on Wednesday. #2 Simply Big is a two-time dirt winner. He led and failed on the turf last start, however it’ll pay to forgive him for that run as his three runs prior (3: 2-1-0) on the dirt were excellent. #7 Nuclear Power is a winner over this course and distance already this season. He’ll get back and need a fast pace, but should he receive it then he’s in with a place chance. #4 Joyful Moments is racing well and he should be thereabouts from the good gate.   

Race 7: Butterfly Bay Handicap

#6 Lean Perfection has been excellent on the turf of late, winning twice and placing in two others. He had a quiet trial on the surface recently and his only outing on dirt saw him register a competitive fifth at the start of this season. He has the class edge to win and he’s worth taking a chance on. #5 Raging Blitzkrieg has finished runner-up four times on the dirt this season. He returns to 1200m from 1650m which suits, however the concern is his lack of winning. #9 Pick Number One notched up four consecutive wins on the dirt last season. He’s since struggled to find form and this season he’s yet to record a top three finish, however a few recent trials suggest that he might be ready to bounce back into contention. #4 Fortune Booth is winning at 50% on the dirt over 1200m. He needs a race run to suit, but he can rattle home strongly with even luck.

Race 8: Lido Handicap

#9 Buddies is seeking the hat-trick. He’s proven equally as impressive on both surfaces and although he’s drawn wide here, he’s displayed enough quality to suggest that he can overcome it. #8 Last Kingdom has gone close on a number of occasions, however the son of Frankel still remains winless after 17 attempts. He’s displayed on the turf that he is ready for the step up to 1800m and perhaps, if he finds that form, he could be worth a chance on dirt. Alfred Chan is more than likely not going to try and lead with #10 Tang Fleming. His form’s largely been poor of late, but if he finds the front he’s capable of clinging on for some prize money. #1 Ping Hai Treasure does his best work on the dirt. He switches back to his preferred surface which he is a two-time winner on after he was well beaten on the grass last start.