3 minute read

Selections and analysis for Saturday’s race meeting at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #6 Yee Cheong Lucky, #5 Exponents, #3 Never Better, #9 Run Moochi

Race 2: #11 G Unit, #2 Meridian Genius, #3 Gunnar, #6 Glorious Buddy

Race 3: #3 Seventy Seventy, #2 Shouson, #12 Lotus Breeze, #14 Mr Magellan

Race 4: #4 Touch Of Luck, #6 Jazz Steed, #12 Star Superior, #3 Strathclyde

Race 5: #12 Emerald Spur, #11 Casimiro, #3 Sunshine Warrior, #2 Falcon Turbo

Race 6: #9 Ka Ying Master, #5 E Master, #3 Winning Method, #1 Mr Lumieres

Race 7: #1 Harmony Victory, #9 Star Performance, #5 King Opie, #2 Joyful Trinity

Race 8: #3 Winning Delight, #2 More Than This, #10 World Famous, #6 Vincy

Race 9: #9 Utopia Life, #3 Simply Big, #8 Triumphant Arch, #2 Infinity Endeavour

Race 10: #8 Preciousship, #5 Charizard, #13 Flying Victory, #6 Fenrir

Race 1: Hung Shui Kiu Handicap

#6 Yee Cheong Lucky maps to get the dream run up on the pace for Joao Moreira. He's winless across 10 starts but his trials have been tidy and he might be ready to piece it all together. #5 Exponents has finished runner-up in his last three outings and although he's struggling to win, he's still in career-best form and he is a two-time Class 5 victor. #3 Never Better is into his sixth Hong Kong season. He does his best racing on the grass but this isn't an overly strong affair and the inside draw should afford him every chance. #9 Run Moochi eyeballed the leader last start. He kept on well for fourth and his residual fitness from that run should have improved.

Race 2: Kam Tin Handicap

#11 G Unit led impressively to score in a recent Sha Tin dirt trial. He'll need to overcome the wide gate but if he can, he's an excellent chance of breaking through. #2 Meridian Genius came close to winning on a number of occasions last season. He was consistent across six outings and if his fitness is up, he can find himself right in contention. #3 Gunnar has tallied three runner-up efforts in a row. He has talent though so it's surely a matter of time, but he is becoming a costly conveyance for backers. #6 Glorious Buddy caught the eye in a recent trial. Suspect he rolls forward from the inside gate and gives himself every chance.

Race 3: Lam Tei Handicap

#3 Seventy Seventy has an excellent first-up record and if this trend continues he's the one to beat. The suspicion is he's been primed for this task and the booking of Zac Purton signals intent around his chances. #2 Shouson made in-roads late last season. He's not the finished product by any means but from the good gate he should be able to roll forward and put himself in the race. #12 Lotus Breeze just keeps on winning. He's the veteran of the field who is searching for his third consecutive win, however against him is the return to Class 4. #14 Mr Magellan has taken a while to acclimatize but he is open to further improvement with that first-up effort under his belt.

Race 4: Lau Fau Shan Handicap

#4 Touch Of Luck closed strongly for third first-up when sent out favourite. He did nothing wrong that day and if he's taken improvement from that run, he is the one to catch. #6 Jazz Steed appears ready to make an impression on debut. He's trialled up nicely and this task is a suitable starting point. #12 Star Superior is a two-time course and distance winner. Although he's first-up he rates well for this having to carry just 114lb at the bottom of Class 4. #3 Strathclyde is another two-time course and distance winner. He's won fresh previously so he'll be worth keeping safe.

Race 5: Lam Tei Handicap

#12 Emerald Spur is into his third season and although he's winless, he did show some ability midway through last term, and, considering he had soundness issues, he deserves forgiveness. He's trialled impressively since last season and if he's at double figures, he's worth taking a chance. #11 Casimiro turned his form around last start to finish second. He's open to further improvement. #3 Sunshine Warrior survived an objection to hold the win last start over Casimiro. He let down nicely in the straight and although he raced greenly, he did show considerable amounts of ability. #2 Falcon Turbo lost his way last season but turned a corner last start, closing nicely for third. Expect improvement stepping up to 1400m with the blinkers added. 

Race 6: Nam Sang Wai Handicap

#9 Ka Ying Master is unbeaten and in search of his third consecutive win. He's done nothing but impress across his short career and if he handles the class rise, this is his race to lose. #5 E Master has been racing well without winning. He's a two-time winner first-up and his trial indicated that he was ready to fire fresh once again. #3 Winning Method struggled in his first try at open company, still, he trialled impressively prior and with that experience under his belt, he's capable of bouncing back. #1 Mr Lumieres is another who has previously won fresh. He's trialled well and it'll pay to keep this trainer/jockey combination safe.

Race 7: The Pok Oi Centenary Cup (Handicap)

#1 Harmony Victory resumes following an eye-catching Class 1 win at the final meeting of last season. He returns to Class 2 for this assignment and if he handles the 133lb on his back, he'll prove hard to beat. #9 Star Performance returns first-up after winning his only outing last season at 65/1. He dashed home nicely in a recent trial, suggesting that he is fit and well for this. He'll lump only 115lb on his back which should give him every chance. #5 King Opie was a four-time winner last season. He might have found his mark but this race falls away quickly and with one run under his belt already this campaign, he might have the fitness edge required. #2 Joyful Trinity hasn't won since 2016. This is a slight concern but he was consistent at the back-end of last season and he's capable of finishing off strongly.

Race 8: Tai Tong Handicap

#3 Winning Delight scored an impressive debut win at his only run last season, flashing from the tail of the field to score by a neck. Suspect any rise in distance is a positive for him and after responding well in a recent trial, he is the one to beat. #2 More Than This turned his form around to win at 22/1 in his fourth and final start of his first Hong Kong campaign. He probably has a number of ratings points in hand and the soft gate should ensure he gets every chance. #10 World Famous returned an excellent runner-up effort at his first run this season. He gave every indication that the extra furlong on offer here would be suitable. #6 Vincy is next best.

Race 9: Tin Shui Wai Handicap

#9 Utopia Life closed for an eye-catching second in his dirt debut behind the runaway Silver Fig last start. He should have taken plenty of benefit from that run and this appears a suitable race for him to break through in. #3 Simply Big loves the dirt. The blinkers stay on and so does Alfred Chan with his 10lb claim, indicating a bold front-running ride can be expected. #8 Triumphant Arch led and was narrowly run down last start at 44/1. Zac Purton now takes the reins and he's another who is expected to roll forward to try and lead. #2 Infinity Endeavour is proven on the dirt and must be respected.

Race 10: Yuen Long Handicap

#8 Preciousship was only fair last season, however in his latest trial he displayed significant improvement and this race could pan out in favour of him. He'll roll forward from the gate for Matthew Poon and the addition of blinkers could be exactly what he is after. #5 Charizard turned a corner at the back-end of last season. He's open to further improvement and he could take honours here with the right run. #13 Flying Victory got off the mark in his debut season last campaign. He's drawn awkwardly for this but if he can overcome it, he's a place chance. #6 Fenrir is a likeable type from the Jimmy Ting yard. He's only stepped on the track once but he's since put in a number of nice trials and going off his UK form, he will be better over further.