3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin

Race 1: #4 Family Leader, #3 Crown Avenue, #7 Bullish Glory, #2 Amazing Agility
Race 2: #3 Enfolding, #8 Good Runners Way, #4 Deal Maker, #1 Good Fit
Race 3: #1 Mister Monte, #6 Regency Gem, #2 Le Panache, #3 Money Winner
Race 4: #6 Friends Of Nanjing, #1 Flying Noble, #7 Liverbird Star, #10 Soccer Master
Race 5: #3 Solomon's Bay, #6 New Asia Sunrise, #8 California Gungho, #9 Decisive Action
Race 6: #7 Colorado High, #2 Bright Kid, #4 Majestic Conqueror, #5 Lucky Guy
Race 7: #4 King's Race, #5 Simple Elegant, #12 Hurricane Hunter, #11 Sprint Forward
Race 8: #11 Clear Choice, #8 Tang Fleming, #1 Buddies, #9 Righteous Doctrine
Race 9: #9 Hello Beauty, #4 Racing Fighter, #7 Fat Turtle, #10 Handsome Bo Bo
Race 10: #8 Looking Good, #13 Amazing Luck, #11 Circuit Hassler, #1 Assimilate

Race 1: Hwamei Handicap

#4 Family Leader broke through at his final run of last season. He's since held his condition well and his latest trial was encouraging for this first-up assignment. #3 Crown Avenue gets Zac Purton. He's into his fourth season now in search of his fifth win and his latest trial was eye-catching, surging from the tail of the field impressively. #7 Bullish Glory is winless across 23 outings but he's inconsistent and this is clearly his preferred course and distance. #2 Amazing Agility will have taken plenty of benefit from his first-up outing. Keep safe.

Race 2: Lark Handicap

#3 Enfolding is winless across 13 starts. He placed in all of his final four runs of the 2018/19 season and his latest trial was impressive, finishing under a strong hold. #8 Good Runners Way got off the mark first-up on opening day. He steps back up to Class 4 which is difficult but if he's held his condition, he's a winning chance. #4 Deal Maker does his best racing on the dirt. He pieced it all together at his final outing of last season and he appears to be ready to take another step forward. #1 Good Fit is into his seventh Hong Kong season. He has the experience and with luck from the inside gate, he should make his presence felt.

Race 3: Magpie Handicap

Suspect they'll roll forward as they did last season here with #1 Mister Monte. Alfred Chan takes 10lb off his back and if he finds the front with ease, he's capable of pinching this. #6 Regency Gem will have taken plenty of experience from his first-up run and this race is well within his reach. #2 Le Panache is another in the field with one run under his belt already this season. The soft gate will likely allow him to roll along on the speed and the in-form Sanna/Whyte combination commands respect. #3 Money Winner is next best.

Race 4: Shrike Handicap

#6 Friends Of Nanjing improved back in Class 5 at his final run of last season. This is the drop in grade he required and if they run along here, he's capable of finishing over the top of them at a price. #1 Flying Noble was a course and distance winner last season. He comes into this with one run under his belt this term, where he finished a competitive fourth. #7 Liverbird Star closed strongly for second at his final run of last season. He's one who may have just needed the time to adjust to racing in Hong Kong and he could finally be ready to piece it all together. #10 Soccer Master gets the services of Joao Moreira. This is a key booking for a horse who has only displayed a mediocre attitude to racing. Big watch.

Race 5: The Fakei Cup (Handicap)

#3 Solomon's Bay couldn't have been more impressive in his latest trial, closing very strongly under Zac Purton. Expect him to be trained to the minute for this and the middle draw should afford him every opportunity. #6 New Asia Sunrise will have taken plenty of benefit from his first-up effort over this course and distance. Suspect he rolls forward in an attempt to end a two-year run of outs. #8 California Gungho dashed clear first-up to score with ease in Class 4. He rises to Class 3 which is always difficult but his maiden win holds him in good stead for this. #9 Decisive Action closed from out wide in a recent Sha Tin dirt trial. He's worth including at a price. 

Race 6: Sunbird Handicap

#7 Colorado High ran a vastly improved race at his second and final outing of last season. He trialled under a strong hold on the dirt, and, with the necessary improvement, he's capable of breaking through. #2 Bright Kid steps out for his second appearance under Douglas Whyte. He'll relish the rise to 1200m and if he overcomes the awkward gate, he's a major player. #4 Majestic Conqueror steps out for the first time. He put in a nice trial behind Telecom Puma and a bold run on debut would not surprise. #5 Lucky Guy is looking to put two runner-up efforts behind him. He's in-form and is sure to be around the mark again.

Race 7: The Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup (Handicap)

#4 King's Race closed for an awkward fourth on debut last season, after being caught with nowhere to go he rattled home to finish just two lengths behind the winner. He has the ability to win a race very soon and his latest trial only enhanced these claims. #5 Simple Elegant is capable of winning a race. He's the likely leader who will need to overcome the wide gate, but if he can, he's an excellent chance. #12 Hurricane Hunter needs to settle and if he does, he can get into the finish. #11 Sprint Forward remains a big watch with Zac Purton aboard. Suspect he'll get back and with a race run to suit can close strongly.

Race 8: Swallow Handicap

#11 Clear Choice took a liking to the Sha Tin dirt, placing twice in his last two runs of the 2018/19 season. He's an interesting runner who with an impressive trial under his belt is capable of scoring. #8 Tang Fleming is expected to roll forward and lead with Alfred Chan's 10lb claim on his back. He missed by a neck last season attempting similar and if he finds the front with ease here, he'll give them something to run down. #1 Buddies trialled under a strong hold. He was good last season and there's little reason to suggest he won't continue on an upward spiral. #9 Righteous Doctrine hit the line strongly in a recent trial. He's worth consideration.

Race 9: Tailorbird Handicap

#9 Hello Beauty is winless having gone agonizingly close on a number of occasions. He's ready to break through and this looks a suitable springboard to continue his progression. #4 Racing Fighter seeks the hat-trick of wins. He rises again in the ratings but his debut Class 2 win holds him in good stead for this. Purton remains on board which is a good push. #7 Fat Turtle is as consistent a customer as there is in Hong Kong, having finished outside of the placings only once from five appearances. He's drawn to get every opportunity on the speed. #10 Handsome Bo Bo is the likely leader of the race. He's one for the exotics.

Race 10: Woodpecker Handicap

#8 Looking Good has finished runner-up in his last two outings. He's nearing a win and although his trial was ordinary, he's done this before so it could pay to forgive him. Soft gate should see him up on the speed early and given every chance. #13 Amazing Luck's two best performances came over this course and distance last season. He's not without claims, especially as he'll carry next to no weight. #11 Circuit Hassler returns following a winless term last season. His sole win prior did however come over this course and distance after settling on the speed, which is where he may find himself again. #1 Assimilate is on the cusp of Class 2. The 133lb makes this a difficult task but if he gets a race run to suit, he should be able to rattle home strongly.