3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin

Race 1: #8 Winning Method, #6 Gala Night, #2 Sparkling Knight, #1 Shadow Breaker

Race 2: #10 Triumphant Light, #1 Indigenous Star, #7 Keep Winning, #5 Levante

Race 3: #1 Hard Promise, #2 Sunny Boy, #4 Magnificent, #8 Ambitious Heart

Race 4: #8 Victory In Hand, #9 What A Legend, #6 Coby Win, #10 Holee Money

Race 5: #4 Elite Patch, #7 Young Legend, #2 Sumstreetsumwhere, #12 Beauty Day

Race 6: #7 Bellagio, #8 Shining Ace, #6 Speedy Optimist, #1 Joyful Heart

Race 7: #7 Helene Charisma, #1 Insayshable, #2 Ruthven, #6 Helene Leadingstar

Race 8: #11 Goko, #9 Multimillion, #13 Happy Time, #10 Wayfoong Vinnie

Race 9: #4 Ezra, #7 Simple Elegant, #9 Dashing Dart, #12 Smart Rocket

Race 10: #2 Chefano, #1 Classic Beauty, #4 Not Usual Talent, #10 Defining Moment

Race 11: #2 Silver Fig, #1 Prince Of Gems, #4 Monkey Jewellery, #5 Roman Odyssey

Race 1: The Chairmen’s Day Plate

#8 Winning Method finished two lengths off the talented Aethero in second on debut last start. He trialled impressively prior to his debut and he appears capable of breaking through at only his second appearance. #6 Gala Night finished fifth in the same race. He was slightly disappointing on debut but he gets the blinkers first time in attempt to sharpen him up. #2 Sparkling Knight is another who comes out of the same race. He was a distant third that day but he should find this task much easier. #1 Shadow Breaker has the race experience on his side and he can’t be overlooked.

Race 2: The Macwhinnie Cup (Handicap)

#10 Triumphant Light has mixed his form but he’s nearing a winning mark. His sole success came over this course and distance when leading and the lack of speed on paper should give him every chance to do so again. #1 Indigenous Star scored over this course and distance last start. He remains in Class 5 following that win and with Victor Wong’s 5lb claim he shapes as the main danger. #7 Keep Winning has turned his form around his most recent two outings. He’s on an upward spiral. #5 Levante has shown very little across his career but he might find himself in the right spot from the good gate. 

Race 3: The Purves Quaich (Handicap)

#1 Hard Promise has the wins on the board already this season and he’s capable of adding another to the tally here. He’ll push forward and attempt to make all with Keith Yeung in the saddle. #2 Sunny Boy was off the scene for over two years before his last-start fifth behind Voyage Warrior. He’ll be fit with that run under his belt and he’s capable of figuring at only his second start. Trust the stable has him right. #4 Magnificent is expected to lead as he has done before. The drop back to 1200m from 1650m is a slight concern but he’ll push forward and make his own luck. #8 Ambitious Heart is already a two-time winner this season. He’ll be thereabouts.

Race 4: The Swaine Cup (Handicap)

#8 Victory In Hand impressed in a latest trial and he’s forward enough to score on debut. Strong booking of Zac Purton is a strong push in regard to his ability. #9 What A Legend has finished second twice across his four-start career. He’s a leading player with race-experience on his side. #6 Coby Win is another debutante who has impressed in his trials. He shared the lead in his latest trial and with barrier 1 for this, he’s very likely to push forward and do the same on race day. #10 Holee Money is next best.

Race 5: The Wong Cup (Handicap)

#4 Elite Patch wasn’t fully tested in the straight after being blocked for a run at crucial stages last start. He was slowly improving with each run prior and he deserves another chance from the good gate (3) with Joao Moreira engaged. #7 Young Legend has been consistent this campaign. He’ll run his usual honest race up on the speed. #2 Sumstreetsumwhere got off the mark two starts ago before finishing a luckless tenth at Happy Valley. He can find the placings with the right run. #12 Beauty Day was a neck off scoring a breakthrough win last start. He’s consistent and he’s capable of getting into the placings again. 

Race 6: The Li Cup (Handicap)

#7 Bellagio steps out for the first time this season under new trainer, Ricky Yiu. He impressed in a recent trial alongside Beauty Spark and he appears to be doing everything right. #8 Shining Ace comes into this off two placings. He’s naturally progressed with each start and with further improvement he shapes as the main danger. #6 Speedy Optimist gave every indication that he was ready for 1400m last start. He remains a big watch with Zac Purton in the saddle. #1 Joyful Heart was a debut winner before being well beaten in his last two. He bears close watching.

Race 7: The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Handicap)

#7 Helene Charisma won the G1 Grand Prix De Paris (2400m) pre-import and if he finds that form here he’s the leading contender. He scored two consecutive wins prior to his last-start fifth, but he’s capable of bouncing back with a step up in distance to 2400m. #1 Insayshable finished off strongly for second last start over 10 furlongs at Sha Tin. He’ll relish the step up to 2400m and with even luck from the draw (10), get his chance. #2 Ruthven won the G1 Queensland Derby over 2200m when he was based in Australia prior to Hong Kong. He’s ready for the step up in distance.  #6 Helene Leadingstar won the South Australian Derby (2500m) when previously based in Australia. He’s another who is proven over the distance and he commands respect. 

Race 8: The Arculli Trophy (Handicap)

#11 Goko remains in Class 3 off a last-start win. He’s a four-time winner up the straight at Sha Tin and he’s capable of scoring a fifth on Sunday. He’ll push forward under Umberto Rispoli and give himself every chance. #9 Multimillion has won two of his last three starts, both of which at Sha Tin (1000m). He struggled on the dirt last time out but he’ll improve back to turf. #13 Happy Time is nearing a win. He brings the right form to this race having placed behind the unbeaten Voyage Warrior last start. #10 Wayfoong Vinnie is first up this season. His latest trial was impressive and remains a big watch first up from a lengthy break.

Race 9: The Chan Trophy (Handicap)

#4 Ezra was set a task from the rear of the field last start but to his credit he managed to close off for a respectable fifth. He should sit closer to the speed this time albeit from the wide gate and in his favour is that he is fit and nearing a win. He comes into this with winning form as Monica who finished third ahead of him has since come out and won. #7 Simple Elegant kept on gamely for third last start. He’ll push forward and make his own luck and his second run over the mile should be an improved one. #9 Dashing Dart ended a run of three consecutive runner-up efforts with an emphatic win last start. He remains in Class 4 and he’s not without a chance of scoring back-to-back wins. #12 Smart Rocket the next best.

Race 10: The Stevenson Cup (Handicap)

#2 Chefano flew home for fourth last start behind Turin Redstar at Happy Valley (1650m). He’ll relish the step up to 2000m and he looks very well placed to breakthrough at his third start in Hong Kong. #1 Classic Beauty was twice runner-up at Sha Tin (2000m) before stepping up to 2200m at Happy Valley where he struggled. He’ll improve stepping back to 2000m at Sha Tin. #4 Not Usual Talent scored his first win two starts ago before settling at the rear of the field in his latest where he could only manage fifth. He’ll use the draw (4) to sit closer to the speed which he’ll prefer. #10 Defining Moment is ready for 2000m. He’s a place chance. 

Race 11: The Ip Jug (Handicap)

#2 Silver Fig is yet to finish outside of the placings across his short three-start career. He was luckless in the straight last start as he was blocked for a run at numerous stages however when he did get out, he flashed home to finish just half a length behind the winner. #1 Prince Of Gems is a Class 4 winner on the turf already. Dennis Yip has this galloper in tip-top condition and he should get his chance under Zac Purton from the good gate. #4 Monkey Jewellery went under as a short-priced favourite at his most recent. He ran up backsides last start but when he got out, he let down nicely to finish fourth. He deserves another chance. #5 Roman Odyssey will push forward and be in front for a long way.