3 minute read

Selections and analysis for Saturday's (08/02/20) race meeting at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #4 All The Way, #6 Dublin Star, #3 Zero Hedge, #14 Here Comes Ted
Race 2: #5 Amazing Agility, #10 Mcmunigal, #4 Little General, #8 Shinealot
Race 3: #3 Dollar Reward, #6 Bright Kid, #1 Confucius Day, #9 Wayfoong Charmer
Race 4: #3 King's Race, #12 Fantastic Show, #1 Comfort Life, #5 Xponential
Race 5: #11 Enzemble, #3 Champion Supreme, #9 I Do, #13 Blastoise
Race 6: #6 Aquila, #3 Coby Oppa, #4 Mega Heart, #5 Winning Method
Race 7: #7 Preciousship, #2 Fast Most Furious, #5 Flying Thunder, #11 Cordyceps
Race 8: #11 Circuit Three, #2 Shining Gem, #1 Star Of Yuen Long, #10 Top Score
Race 9: #6 Duke Wai, #1 Voyage Warrior, #10 Computer Patch, #9 Beauty Applause
Race 10: #3 Farhh Above, #9 California Daddy, #1 Follow Me, #11 Beauty Loyal

Race 1: Lok Wah Handicap

#4 All The Way steps out on debut for Tony Millard. His latest trial down the 1000m Sha Tin straight caught the eye and with the blinkers applied for this, he's to be forward enough on debut to be competitive. #6 Dublin Star grabbed an encouraging fifth on debut for Manfred Man and jockey Joao Moreira, who retains the ride here. He can figure with the right run and he's another who steps out off the back an eye-catching trial score down the straight. #3 Zero Hedge is a four-time winner from 31 attempts. His consistent best can see him measure up here and with race experience on his side he must be respected. #14 Here Comes Ted has shown glimpses of ability and if he can piece it all together here then he's one for the multiples.

Race 2: Wong Tau Hom Handicap

#5 Amazing Agility turned his form around to snatch third over this course and distance last starts when favourite behind the runaway Mcmunigal, who he meets again here. He's drawn to get the right run for Joao Moreira and with seven runs under his belt he should be fit and ready to turn the tables. #10 Mcmunigal is that horse who stretched clear last start to score at 146/1 for Jack Wong. Although he's drawn awkwardly, he's more than likely not going to try and make all and with very little pace in the race again, he warrants consideration. #4 Little General grinded home for second last time out. He'll relish the extra furlong on offer here and he doesn't appear far away from that elusive win. #8 Shinealot is another who is winless. He rattled home last time out over 1400m and it appears as though he'll handled the added distance.

Race 3: Ngau Tau Kok Handicap

#3 Dollar Reward finally broke through for his first Hong Kong win at his 29th attempt when first-up this season. He then backed that score up with another and since then he's been competitive across four runs including two runner-up efforts. He's looking to snap a run of placings here and the booking of Zac Purton will afford him every opportunity to do so. #6 Bright Kid has been racing well all season without a win. His consistency warrants respect and his latest trial on the dirt in May showed that he can handle the surface. #1 Confucius Day is another who is looking to end a streak of two runner-up efforts. The Michael Chang-trained galloper has gone agonisingly close to winning on a number of occasions this season and although he's yet to go on with it, his frontrunning style of racing will afford him every chance, especially with apprentice Alfred Chan's claim taking 10lb off his back. #9 Wayfoong Charmer is a course and distance winner. He does his best racing here and if he can overcome the wide gate then his best can measure up here.

Race 4: Sau Mau Ping Handicap

#3 King's Race got off the mark impressively three starts ago after making all and since then he has tried the same, finishing a narrow fifth followed by a last-start fourth where he was beaten by less than a length. He can find the front again here for Matthew Poon who won't need to spend too much petrol early as he breaks from an inside draw this time. He'll take catching. #12 Fantastic Show can be his worst enemy at times as he likes to do things the hard way from the tail of the field. He'll need a race run to suit if he is to finish strongly but if he gets, he remains a winning chance yet again as he is in career-best form. #1 Comfort Life receives a welcome drop into Class 4. He's drawn well for Hong Kong's champion jockey Zac Purton and he has beaten better fields than this previously. #5 Xponential flashed home to win on debut before struggling at his latest. Still one poor run deserves forgiveness and if he can recapture his best then he commands respect. 

Race 5: Lok Fu Handicap

#11 Enzemble has placed in his last two outings this term and it could very well be third time lucky for him here as he seeks his first win in Hong Kong. He'll relish the step up to 1800m and he appears capable of turning the tables on Champion Supreme who he gets a nice pull in the weights off. That horse, #3 Champion Supreme won well last start and he remains a winning chance even if he will carry an added 6lb off that win. He's a winner over this course and distance previously and this contest could very easily see the same one-two as the last time they met. #9 I Do has been consistent this term. He should be able to rattle home from the wide draw and with the blinkers remaining on he should able to improve further. #13 Blastoise has only finished outside of the top three on two occasions from seven attempts this season, including one win. He steps into Class 3 which is a concern but he does get the services of leading jockey Joao Moreira to aid this.

Race 6: Kai Yip

#6 Aquila loves the dirt as he has proven as a course and distance winner already this term. Trusty ally Chad Schofield remains aboard for this and if he can position the four-year-old somewhere close to the speed, he's going to take a power of beating. #3 Coby Oppa gets the services of Zac Purton for the first time this campaign. All three of his wins have come over this course and distance as he is sired by The Factor, a dirt specialist himself in the United States before retiring to stud. He's fit having had five runs under his belt this term and the drop in distance to 1200m is a big plus. #4 Mega Heart has become a costly conveyance for his supporters after finishing second in his last three starts. Still, he's racing well and his best must be respected. #5 Winning Method makes his dirt debut. His grass form is and his latest trial on the dirt saw him lead all-the-way for a 7.5L score. He's the likely pacesetter if he can overcome the awkward gate.

Race 7: Choi Wan Handicap

#7 Preciousship has gone to a new level this term and his winning ways can continue here. He's won three from five this season including last start when he beat a hot Class 2 field over 1600m which features BMW Hong Kong Derby hope Butterfield; who has since franked that form by winning, as well as Columbus County, Nicconi Express and Cordyceps. He's drawn to the get the gun run and he should prove difficult to run down. #2 Fast Most Furious won well over this course and distance two starts ago before narrowly missing over 1400m last start. He'll relish the step back up in trip and with the right run he can find himself in the thick of things here. #5 Flying Thunder won the G3 Premier Cup (1400m) last season. Admittedly that wasn't an overly strong field but his past three races over 1400m have indicated that he's ready for a step up in trip which he gets and he should be able to rattle strongly with the right pace. #11 Cordyceps mixes his form but his is up to this. He's drawn well and with no weight on his back he'll get his chance to figure.

Race 8: Lei Yue Mun Handicap

#11 Circuit Three is looking for back-to-back wins and his third success from his last three outings. He's returned in excellent order this term and although he rises to Class 3 for this, it appears to be a leap that he is capable of making and with the right run throughout, he can win again. #2 Shining Gem is ultra-consistent and is a two-time winner already this season. He can build on that tally here with a positive ride from Lyle Hewitson, who is fresh of landing his third Hong Kong win on Wednesday at the Valley. #1 Star Of Yuen Long won well over this course and distance before being finishing seventh last start. That run though was still full of merit as he was squeezed for room at crucial stages and lost momentum upon turning for home. He can bounce back. #10 Top Score steps out for leading trainer Francis Lui. He's looking for his second win this campaign and from the inside gate he should be afforded every opportunity.

Race 9: Choi Hung Handicap

#6 Duke Wai has taken his racing to another level this season having won his last four races in a row. He's shown no signs of slowing down and as an impressive Class 2 winner last time out he looks set to repeat that effort here. He'll get a nice trail off the speed before having the last crack at them over the final furlong and five in a row beckons for the Paul O'Sullivan-trained galloper. #1 Voyage Warrior is that speed horse who is likely to roll forward and lead. He's a serious talent as a four-time winner from only seven starts, although against him is that he is yet to prove himself around a bend and he might be worth opposing if he is a short price favourite. #10 Computer Patch has hit the ground running in Hong Kong having not missed the top three from his only three starts. He comes out of the same race as Duke Wai which appears to be the right form race to be competitive here. #9 Beauty Applause is in a similar boat, having finished runner-up to Duke Wai last time out. He'll be thereabouts again for Joao Moreira as long as he can overcome the difficulties that the wide draw will pose him. 

Race 10: Lei Yue Mun Handicap

#3 Farhh Above couldn't have been more impressive when circling the field last start to score and if he's come on from that win, he's capable of doing the same again. Regardless of whether the pace is fast or not, he looks to be an extremely serious talent on the rise who has proven that his best is still yet to come. #9 California Daddy is lightly raced with only two starts under his belt in Hong Kong after arriving from Ireland where he was a one-time victor from six starts. His latest effort was impressive and he remains a winning chance from the draw. #1 Follow Me mixes his form but his best is brilliant, especially as he is a two-time Class 3 winner over this course and distance. He'll lug top weight duties for this but it's nothing he hasn't done before and with a positive ride close to the speed he can figure once again. #11 Beauty Loyal has been racing well and he pairs with Joao Moreira again for the second consecutive time. He's drawn to get every chance.