3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s (21 February) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #11 Happy Tango, #3 Resolute, #7 Untold Riches, #1 Thou Shall Sing
Race 2: #8 Panfield, #7 Tianchi Monster, #3 Assimilate, #5 Charity Go
Race 3: #1 Southern Legend, #3 Ka Ying Star, #2 Waikuku, #5 Wishful Thinker
Race 4: #3 Ezra, #10 Exaltation, #8 Bulletproof, #12 Yes We Can
Race 5: #2 Master Hero, #3 Charity Grace, #9 Vukan, #12 Sam's Love
Race 6: #7 Lucky Fun, #3 Utopia Life, #9 Man Star, #11 Super Alliances
Race 7: #1 Golden Sixty, #2 Exultant, #3 Furore, #6 Time Warp
Race 8: #1 Will Power, #7 Silver Fig, #2 Red Desert, #5 Czarson
Race 9: #13 Maximus, #2 Excellent Proposal, #11 Arthur's Kingdom, #6 Healthy Happy
Race 10: #3 Star Of Yuen Long, #4 Flagship Glory, #10 Beluga, #5 Tempest Express

Race 1: Gold-Fun Handicap

#11 Happy Tango is lightly raced but has arguably produced his best form on the dirt across his career. He gets Joao Moreira up now and does look the one to beat. #3 Resolute loves the dirt and is a leading player in this race off the back of his consistency all season. #7 Untold Riches made a high profile debut on the grass but just couldn't cling on as he faded to third. He switches to the dirt now and bears close watching with Zac Purton engaged. #1 Thou Shall Sing is next best.  

Race 2: Ambitious Dragon Handicap

#8 Panfield is on the up and he comes into this off the back of fast-finishing effort over 1800m. He'll relish the added furlong on offer as he gets out to 2000m. #7 Tianchi Monster is nothing short of consistent. He has the runs on the board and is capable of figuring from the good gate. #3 Assimilate soared to a barnstorming victory last start in this grade. He steps up in trip now but does give the impression that it will suit. #5 Charity Go commands respect for the in-form Danny Shum. 

Race 3: G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup

#1 Southern Legend is looking to make the most of Golden Sixty's absence in Sunday's race after finishing second to him twice this season. He draws well and gets his chance to go one better. #3 Ka Ying Star is the likely leader. Zac Purton will roll forward and he will look the winner a long way from home. #2 Waikuku has been sound all term. He can finish off, as can #5 Wishful Thinker.

Race 4: Super Kid Handicap

#3 Ezra has a stack of class and if he can offset the awkward draw over this trip, then he is the one to beat. #10 Exaltation is looking to snap three consecutive runner-up efforts. He draws awfully in gate 14 but his form of late is hard to ignore. #8 Bulletproof looks ready to step up in distance. He bears close watching. #12 Yes We Can is no stranger to turning his form around and could well do it again here after finishing eighth last time out.

Race 5: California Memory Handicap

#2 Master Hero is looking for back-to-back wins. He draws well and still looks to have plenty of rating points in hand. #3 Charity Grace is lightly raced but is proving to be in excellent form of late, winning two starts ago and narrowly missing in his latest. #9 Vukan draws poorly but does have considerable talent. He's worth including. Dennis Yip's yard is firing at present and #12 Sam's Love is a must inclusion.

Race 6: Good Ba Ba Handicap

#7 Lucky Fun not only steps out for the in-form Danny Shum yard but is looking for a third consecutive win. Zac Purton retains the ride which suits and although a tough contest, he rates as the one to beat here. #3 Utopia Life draws well and does the love the surface. He's worth including from an inside draw. #9 Man Star has ability and perhaps switching to the dirt can bring his best form out. #11 Super Alliances slots in light and gets his chance as a three-time winner on the surface.

Race 7: G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup

#1 Golden Sixty is Hong Kong's outstanding horse and he's looking to capture his third Group 1 and 13th consecutive success here. He's the one to beat. #2 Exultant is looking to recapture his crown in this race after winning this race in 2019. He's a five-time Group 1 winner who appears capable of serving it up to Golden Sixty. #3 Furore will relish the trip and appears to be thriving under the care of Tony Cruz. #6 Time Warp will find the front and play catch me if you can from there.

Race 8: Lucky Nine Handicap

#1 Will Power is by far the classiest horse in the race and he rates as the one to beat as a five-time winner on the dirt. #7 Silver Fig scored a tidy win last time out. He gets his chance. #2 Red Desert is another who is proven on the surface. He bears close watching. #5 Czarson is looking to recapture his best as he switches back to the dirt for the first time since his five-length demolition job. He just needs to handle the rise in grade.

Race 9: Hong Kong Classic Cup

#13 Maximus returned genuine excuses last start with mucus in his trachea. He's better than that failure and his most recent trial caught the eye and, at a price he is worth taking a chance on as his dashing second two starts ago against older horses caught the eye. #2 Excellent Proposal is looking to win the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series after claiming victory at 22/1 in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. The step up in distance is no issue and he gets his chance again from the good gate. #11 Arthur's Kingdom kept on for a close-up third last start. That run bodes well for this contest and he has the class behind him prior to export to suggest that he is capable of being a factor. #6 Healthy Happy was unlucky last start and bears close watching here.

Race 10: Werther Handicap

#3 Star Of Yuen Long is consistent and that can be rewarded here in the last. He gets a good draw and has returned a mark that he is capable of winning off. #4 Flagship Glory grabbed third in his Hong Kong debut. He looked good that day and the retention of Joao Moreira for this contest bears close watching. #10 Beluga is racing well, he just needs to offset the awkward draw. #5 Tempest Express is looking for back-to-back wins. He can figure with the right run.