3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sha Tin on Sunday.

Race 1: #6 Royal Prerogative, #11 Triumphant Light, #1 Flying Noble, #10 Best Effort

Race 2: #8 Voyage Warrior, #1 Joyful Heart, #5 Sunshine Universe, #11 Great Harvest

Race 3: #3 Natural Flare, #4 M Reborn, #9 Richcity Fortune, #11 The Happy Bunch

Race 4: #3 Shamport, #11 Tom’s Dragon, #5 Hearts Keeper, #10 Fortune Happiness

Race 5: #3 Band Of Brothers, #10 Red Horse, #1 Win Win, #13 Diamond Legend

Race 6: #5 Utopia Life, #12 Goko, #1 Seven Heavens, #9 Multimillion

Race 7: #3 Right Choice, #1 Time To Celebrate, #2 Easy Go Easy Win, #6 Dances With Dragon

Race 8: #1 Flying Thunder, #5 Honest Way, #2 Lone Eagle, #3 Best Alliance

Race 9: #9 Imperial Concorde, #8 Chung Wah Spirit, #7 Super Giant, #2 Volpino

Race 10: #3 Racing Fighter, #9 Roundabout, #1 Beauty Spirit, #10 First Responder

Race 1: Tak Shing Handicap

#6 Royal Prerogative has improved this season following a drop to Class 5. He’s placed in two from five across his 2018/19 campaign, both of which have come over the 1400m at Sha Tin. He’s drawn to get the gun run for Regan Bayliss and he should be hard to beat. #11 Triumphant Light is a winner of one from 45. He was engaged in a speed battle last start, which saw him travel three-wide for the better part of the first 600m. Zac Purton made the right choice in going forward, but the horse was entitled to fall away following the work he did early. He gets a favourable draw (6) this time, which should see him do very little work to get on the pace. #1 Flying Noble was a winner over this course and distance last start. His only two wins have come in Class 5, suggesting that he’ll be around the mark in this. #10 Best Effort will need to overcome the widest draw (14), but he has placed in two of his last three efforts. The draw doesn’t help, but he’s capable of getting into the finish.

Race 2: Pine Tree Hill Handicap

#8 Voyage Warrior is on debut for Ricky Yiu. He’s show an enormous amount of promise on the trial track, winning his last two trials by four lengths and six lengths respectively. He remains a big watch and he looks set to record a debut-win. #1 Joyful Heart won on debut for Frankie Lor at Sha Tin (1000m). He remains in Class 4 which suits and under Zac Purton, should get his chance. #5 Sunshine Universe is searching for this third win in a row. He’s taken a liking to the straight (1000m) at Sha Tin and with Victor Wong’s claim (-7lb) he gets in with only 123lb on his back. He’s a three-time Class 4 winner and he’s up to this. #11 Great Harvest has the scope to improve again. He’ll be thereabouts and shapes as a place chance for trainer Richard Gibson.

Race 3: Pilkem Handicap

#3 Natural Flare is winless across 14 starts. He finished third in his latest behind Smart Rocket, where he was beaten by a length and a half. This isn’t an overly strong race and he is expected to get every chance to breakthrough here under Zac Purton. The inside draw (1) suits. #4 M Reborn got off the mark for his first win just two starts ago, before failing in his latest when sent out as favourite. He’s another who has drawn very well (3) and if he can settle in the first four, then he should be able to bounce back. #9 Richcity Fortune is the likely leader of the race. He was a last-start Class 5 winner and as the sole leader in this, he should give them something to run down. #11 The Happy Bunch was far from disgraced on the dirt last start. He’s mixed his form and although he is yet to record a top three finish, he has been thereabouts in a number of his races. He’s a place chance for the exotics, especially at the price.

Race 4: Parkes Handicap

#3 Shamport got into his rhythm last start at Happy Valley (1200m) when placing third. He’s improved since dropping to Class 4 and his previous two runs on the dirt hold him in very good stead for this. #11 Tom’s Dragon rattled home for third in his dirt debut last start in what was, a leader dominated race. He should improve off that run and if so, be thereabouts for trainer John Size combination. #5 Hearts Keeper is already a winner on the dirt. The David Ferraris-trained veteran-gelding has had seven runs already this campaign, six of which have been on the dirt surface. He’s fit and he has the experience to wind back the clock and win. #10 Fortune Happines did enough last start to suggest that he is on an upward spiral. He’ll be thereabouts.

Race 5: Jordan Handicap

#3 Band Of Brothers closed well in his Hong Kong debut to finish fifth. He’ll have taken improvement out of that run, especially coming through a race that was dominated by those up on the speed. The Show has since won again, indicating that it was a deep Class 4. He’ll need to overcome the widest draw (14), but he should be suited by the long straight at Sha Tin. #10 Red Horse has placed in his last four runs. He was a neck off winning three starts ago and since then he has finished no further than two lengths off the winner. He’s consistent and remains a big watch for trainer Dennis Yip, who recorded his 700th win on Wednesday at Happy Valley. #1 Win Win has placed in two from four across his short career. He was caught wide last start and in the straight he was one-paced. His previous form commands respect. #13 Diamond Legend went unplaced in his last two runs, both at Happy Valley. Prior to his unplaced performances at Happy Valley he finished inside the top two on four occasions at Sha Tin.

Race 6: Hillwood Handicap

#5 Utopia Life flew home to finish third last start at only his second career-run. He was wayward in the straight, but he showed enough talent to suggest that with improvement, he could win at start number three. #12 Goko finished ahead of Utopia Life last start. He’s already a three time winner for Dennis Yip and another win would not surprise. #1 Seven Heavens has placed in two of his last four. He was only half a length off winning last start, before being withdrawn due to lameness in his left fore. If he’s returned to fitness then he is up to this, although the 133lb might prove to be an obstacle. #9 Multimillion was a last-start winner for both Karis Teetan and Tony Cruz. He’ll lead from the draw and give them something to run down.

Race 7: The Kowloon Cricket Club Centenary Cup (Handicap)

#3 Right Choice is a winner of four from five. He was utterly dominant last start when winning by over two lengths at Sha Tin (1400m). He was handed nine points on the ratings scale following that win and scarily enough, he looks set to receive more. #1 Time To Celebrate is another who skyrocketed up the ratings scales, following his decisive four length win last start which saw him rise 10 points. This is a race in two and if he runs up to the mark that saw him win last start, then he is a genuine threat to Right Choice. #2 Easy Go Easy Win led and faded to finish sixth last start. He’s much better ridden midfield, which should see him finish off the race strongly. #6 Dances With Dragon notched up back-to-back victories before finishing fourth in his most recent. He’ll be fit dropping back in distance from 2000m to 1600m, which will ensure that he is thereabouts under jockey Ben So. 

Race 8: Gascoigne Handicap

#1 Flying Thunder turned his form around last start to finish second. If he finds that run again, he’ll prove mighty hard to beat under Karis Teetan. #5 Honest Way has been runner up in his last two starts. He’s a two-time winner from 13 starts and in his last two runs he has shown sharp improvement in each. He’s on an upward trajectory and his rating can continue to climb with a win here. #2 Lone Eagle is another who turned his form around last start. He was trained by Mick Price in Australia and his career-best form saw him place behind Formality, which he followed up with a midfield finish in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes behind Merchant Navy. He’s another who will improve with racing. #3 Best Alliance remains a big watch on debut for trainer John Moore.

Race 9: Cox’s Handicap

#9 Imperial Concorde flew home from last to finish a short-head off winning last start at Sha Tin (1650m). He’s a dirt specialist who has recorded all six of his wins on the surface and his best form suggests that he is the one to beat. #8 Chung Wah Spirit should get into a nice spot from gate 4 with Zac Purton. He was a last-start winner and another win would not surprise. #7 Super Giant has mixed his form but he has returned two third placings on the turf. The dirt surface is another question, but his most recent trial on it saw him quicken nicely. #2 Volpino has only recorded one placing from eight starts. He’ll need a lot to go his way, but his second place finish two starts ago on the dirt rates highly for this.

Race 10: Austin Handicap

#3 Racing Fighter has been in career-best form across his last three starts, recording a win and placing in two others. His good fortune can continue here, especially with Zac Purton taking the reins once again. #9 Roundabout has placed third in his last two starts. Tony Millard has him in very good form at present and he is already a winner at Sha Tin over 1400m. #1 Beauty Spirit finished less than a length behind Unicron Jewellery in his latest. He will need to overcome the widest draw (14), but his form at the moment suggests that he will give himself every chance. #10 First Responder struggled in his latest, however prior to that he finished fourth under Damien Oliver. If he can recapture the form that saw him finish fourth, then he is in with a chance.