3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Saturday’s race meeting at Sha Tin (21/12/19).

Race 1: #3 Regency Gem, #8 Soccer Master, #5 Liverbird Star, #1 Winwin Thirtythree
Race 2: #12 Lucky Guy, #7 Meridian Talent, #6 Inner Flame, #10 Eptiwins
Race 3: #13 Whistle Up, #12 Fire And Gold, #5 Kwai Chung Elite, #1 Striking Mr C
Race 4: #9 Sam's Love, #8 Leap of Faith, #4 Skyey Supreme, #2 King's Trooper
Race 5: #4 Power King, #2 War Lord, #1 Fantasy, #3 Colorado High
Race 6: #11 Dionysus Collin, #1 Blastoise, #13 Garlic Yeah, #9 C P Power
Race 7: #3 Computer Patch, #1 Beauty Applause, #2 Cool Team, #10 The Drive 
Race 8: #4 Duke Wai, #10 Lucky More, #6 Classic Unicorn, #9 Massive Pocket
Race 9: #11 Chefano, #2 Red Warrior, #10 Glorious Dragon, #13 High Rev
Race 10: #8 Simple Elegant, #2 Follow Me, #4 Guy Dragon, #7 Ultimate Glory

Race 1: Jockey Club Road Handicap

#3 Regency Gem is racing well and he's been unlucky not to have broken through for a win already this season. He's drawn well and he should get every chance under Hong Kong's champion jockey, Zac Purton. #8 Soccer Master has taken his time to acclimatise to life in Hong Kong and after arriving on a mark of 57, now sits on a low of 29. It's only a matter of time before he does get that elusive win. #5 Liverbird Star is another who is winless. Derek Leung should able to get him the right spot from the draw. #1 Winwin Thirtythree is next best.

Race 2: Ho Sheung Heung Handicap

#12 Lucky Guy has gone close on a number of occasions without winning. Still, he's racing in form and his recent outings have shown that it's only a matter of time before he does win. #7 Meridian Talent was fair on debut. Suspect there's more under the hood and with that run under his belt; he might be ready to progress further. #6 Inner Flame has trialled well in the lead up to his debut this Saturday. He's drawn to get every chance for Alexis Badel. #10 Eptiwins is capable of finishing thereabouts if he can overcome the wide draw.

Race 3: Ng Tung River Handicap

#13 Whistle Up is 0/24 across his career in Hong Kong but he does now appear to have found a winning mark. He sits at the bottom of Class 5 in what is, not an overly strong race. #12 Fire And Gold is another who is winless. He's racing well though and the booking of Joao Moreira suggests his breakthrough win is nearing. #5 Kwai Chung Elite has shown steady improvement with each performance this season. He can go on with it under Alexis Badel. #1 Striking Mr C was dominant on the dirt last time out. This is a tougher task on the turf but he rates highly with that performance under his belt.

Race 4: Kam Tsin Handicap

#9 Sam's Love hasn't won since his debut in April, 2017, however he does now appear to have returned to a competitive mark and with Zac Purton taking the reins, he's going to be hard to get past. #8 Leap of Faith grabbed fourth on debut for Moreira and Size earlier this month. He can progress further with that run under his belt. #4 Skyey Supreme has raced better than his form suggests and if he gets a race run to suit, he might be able to figure in the finish. #2 King's Trooper finished runner-up last start. He'll need to overcome the wide gate but this is well within his grasp.

Race 5: Ho Sheung Heung Handicap

#4 Power King caught the eye on debut when flashing to grab second over this course and distance. If Karis Teetan can overcome the wide draw aboard him, he's going to prove tough to beat. #2 War Lord scored impressively on debut before fading to eighth at his final run of last season. He's since trialled well and he should be in the finish here. #1 Fantasy won on debut last start and was handed six points in the ratings for that effort. He can progress into Class 3 with a win here. #3 Colorado High can bounce back from his latest woes. 

Race 6: Kwu Tung Handicap

#11 Dionysus Collin is looking to snap a run of two placings. He's capable of doing so and with next to weight on his back, he shapes as the one to beat. #1 Blastoise hasn't finished outside the top two in his last four runs, including a win two starts ago. He's racing in excellent form and the retention of Zac Purton signals intent. #13 Garlic Yeah should relish the step back in distance. He's fit and ready to perform at his peak again. #9 C P Power is next best.

Race 7: The Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (Handicap)

#3 Computer Patch caught the eye on debut, flashing home to grab second just last Sunday. He can progress further here for Zac Purton and the inside gate should afford him every opportunity. #1 Beauty Applause has won four out of his last five starts, including his last two. He'll need to lug 133lb this time around but he's shown that with each start, his immaturity diminishes. #2 Cool Team has the wide gate to contend with. He can figure with the right run. #10 The Drive is on debut. He's trialled fairly and might be able to run a race on debut.

Race 8: Long Valley Handicap

#4 Duke Wai managed to run down Lucky More and then, followed that win up with another. He's found his feet and as a winner in Class 3 already, he rates as the one to beat. #10 Lucky More couldn't have been more impressive last start, cruising to victory by over four lengths. He can repeat that effort here but still, it's not an easy field and it wouldn't surprise to see Duke Wai have his measure once more. #6 Classic Unicorn won his first two starts. He struggled first-up but still, he has the ability and it wouldn't surprise to see it return here. #9 Massive Pocket has finished inside the top three his last three starts, including a win three back. He's racing well and it's only the wide gate he needs to overcome to suggest he'll be competitive. 

Race 9: Beas River Handicap

#11 Chefano is unlucky not to have won yet however still, he's racing in excellent form and with the right run; he can finally snare that elusive win. #2 Red Warrior closed nicely from the tail of the field last start. He's had two runs so far this campaign and the step back to Class 2 enhances his claims. #10 Glorious Dragon broke through impressively last start. He rarely runs a bad race and if his consistency remains here, he's going to be in the finish. #13 High Rev has won four out of his last seven races. He's more than capable of testing these.

Race 10: Yin Kong Handicap 

#8 Simple Elegant has won two out of his last three starts. He's racing in career-best form and the retention of Grant van Niekerk's services for this command respect. He has enough early speed to offset the wide gate and if he can find the front, he'll take a power of running down. #2 Follow Me pieced it all together last start. He has the wide gate to contend with but his latest effort warrants respect. #4 Guy Dragon is better than his last start ninth suggests. His form prior to that was strong and he's every chance of bouncing back to that level here. #7 Ultimate Glory gets Zac Purton again. He's at his mark and should be thereabouts again.