3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday's (16/05/21) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #9 Golden Mission, #1 Valiant Elegance, #3 Winning Strikes, #4 Supreme Patrol
Race 2: #3 Hearty Wish, #7 So Awesome, #1 Diamond Brilliant, #8 Sparkling Star
Race 3: #2 Hardly Swears, #1 Casa De Forca, #5 Packing Award, #4 Party Genius
Race 4: #8 August Moon, #6 This Is Guts, #7 Treasure Of Field, #9 Xponential
Race 5: #6 Branding Power, #9 Sam's Love, #7 Green Envy, #3 Super Mission
Race 6: #2 Gluck Racer, #6 Oscar Glory, #9 Good Buddy, #4 City Legend
Race 7: #2 All In Mind, #8 Like That, #4 Regency Bo Bo, #3 Heza Beauty
Race 8: #2 Ping Hai Bravo, #9 Master Montaro, #13 Flying Genius, #8 Lucky More
Race 9: #9 Kasi Farasi, #6 Vitralite, #7 Beauty Fit, #10 Meaningful Star
Race 10: #4 Fantastic Treasure, #9 E Star, #2 Beauty Smile, #13 Private Rocket 

Race 1: Topaz Handicap 

#9 Golden Mission has gone close on a number of occasions across his career without knocking up a first Hong Kong win. He's found a purple patch of form though and he only needs to offset the awkward gate to be competitive under Joao Moreira here. #1 Valiant Elegance is on the quick back-up after racing at the midweek fixture for third place. He has race-fitness on his side. #3 Winning Strikes mixes his form but has proven a consistent customer on the dirt. He draws well and gets the services of the in-form Derek Leung. #4 Supreme Patrol can bounce back to form here, especially in this grade with Alexis Badel engaged. 

Race 2: Sapphire Handicap (1st Section) 

#3 Hearty Wish caught the eye at the trials and from a good gate with Alexis Badel engaged, it wouldn't surprise to see him go on with it at his first assignment. #7 So Awesome is racing well without winning. He's another who is favoured by the draw and with Karis Teetan engaged he should find himself in the finish. #1 Diamond Brilliant can roll forward and make his own luck. He'll get his chance to be hanging around at the finish. #8 Sparkling Star has more ability than his record suggests. He's capable of bouncing out of the ground at any time. 

Race 3: Sapphire Handicap (2nd Section) 

#2 Hardly Swears has been performing well up in grade. He steps down to Class 4 which looks suitable and the engagement of Derek Leung suggests he'll prove difficult to beat. #1 Casa De Forca returns first-up. He's consistent in his spot and this isn't an overly strong contest. #5 Packing Award ran a blinder on debut to finish second before being interfered with in the run last start to log a fading 10th. He can bounce back, especially with Zac Purton hopping back up. #4 Party Genius kicked clear for a tidy win last time out. He only needs to offset the awkward gate to be in the thick of things again. 

Race 4: Ruby Handicap 

#8 August Moon logged a career-best third last time out to indicate strong and steady improvement across his short three-start career so far. Suspect he can improve further and with race-experience on his side, prove difficult to catch in this affair. #6 This Is Guts steps out off the back of an eye-catching trial success. He looks ready to perform first-up for trainer David Hayes, as does #7 Treasure Of Field who pairs with Zac Purton on debut. #9 Xponential is next best, he just struggles to maintain his consistency. 

Race 5: Spessartine Garnet Handicap (2nd Section) 

#6 Branding Power has taken time to acclimatise in Hong Kong but is showing signs that a win is close. Strong booking of Vincent Ho signals intent and he's favoured here from gate two. #9 Sam's Love is competitive in his spot. Zac Purton has a sublime record aboard the gelding and his booking bears close watching, especially in this grade. #7 Green Envy mixes his form but if he can offset the wide gate then he's not without a chance. #3 Super Mission is lightly raced and on the up. He can be competitive. 

Race 6: Spessartine Garnet Handicap (1st Section) 

#2 Gluck Racer is looking for back-to-back wins. His best is still yet to come and his most recent trial effort suggests that he's held his condition well following his breakthrough success. #6 Oscar Glory looks to have ability but is struggling to piece it all together. His best run to date came over this course and distance and with even luck he's expected to test this bunch. #9 Good Buddy is lightly raced. He's coming to hand nicely and the inside gate should afford him every opportunity. #4 City Legend is racing well. He's next best. 

Race 7: Emerald Handicap 

#2 All In Mind is racing with plenty of intent. He finds a winnable contest here and from the inside gate, under Joao Moreira, he should get every opportunity to snag a first win this season. #8 Like That slots in light and is a winner already this season. He has plenty of ability and it wouldn't surprise to see him make a challenge here. #4 Regency Bo Bo is looking for back-to-back wins. Don't discount. #3 Heza Beauty is next best. 

Race 8: Amethyst Handicap 

#2 Ping Hai Bravo is a four-time course and distance winner this term. He's a very, very big horse so returning to the straight is more than suitable as opposed to going around a bend, and he is a winner in this grade two starts ago, so Class 2 poses no threat. #9 Master Montaro steps down in trip after winning two starts ago over 1400m. He has a powerful finish and if he manages to unleash it, then he's not without a leading chance, especially if he gets a race run to suit. #13 Flying Genius is only a small horse so the light weight will suit him. He could be well over the odds in this and if so, he is worth taking on a win and place line. #8 Lucky More has soundness issues but does also possess a blistering turn of foot when required. Don't discount, especially with Zac Purton aboard for trainer Danny Shum. 

Race 9: Lapis Lazuli Handicap 

#9 Kasi Farasi gets a handy five-pound claim from apprentice Jerry Chau who is running hot with six wins from his last 18 rides. He can test this bunch with a low weight from the soft gate. #6 Vitralite definitely has ability although he's just struggling to show it at the races. Alexis Badel has stuck strong and it wouldn't surprise to see him bounce out of the ground here. #7 Beauty Fit has a stack of ability which he twice showed in Australian to remain unbeaten. He has gate issues however which is slowly starting to cost him in Hong Kong, regardless of the extraordinary ability he possesses. #10 Meaningful Star is racing well and clearly relished getting out to the mile last time out. He's lightly raced and on the improve. 

Race 10: Crystal Handicap 

#4 Fantastic Treasure is looking to remain unbeaten with his fifth successive win. He won with authority last start and although he faces Class 2 for the first time, he does look capable of handling the rise in grade and maintaining his unblemished record. #9 E Star slots in light and is looking for back-to-back wins. He's competitive in his spot. #2 Beauty Smile draws well and has proven to be a tough on-pacer with two wins under his belt this campaign. #13 Private Rocket is next best with no weight on his back.