3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday’s race meeting at Sha Tin (01/01/20).

Race 1: #8 Speedy Dragon, #6 Iron Boy, #11 Nice Kick, #2 Sky Treasure
Race 2: #4 Golden Kid, #3 Chaparral Star, #7 Regency Gem, #9 Divine Power
Race 3: #6 Super Wealthy, #2 Lockheed, #1 Invincible Missile , #9 Monkey Jewellery
Race 4: #3 Leap Of Faith, #2 Starship, #10 Shanghai Dragon, #6 Wood On Fire
Race 5: #4 Better Choice, #5 Circuit Three, #11 Joyful Heart, #1 Emerald Spur
Race 6: #1 Country Star, #3 Yee Cheong Baby, #10 Multimillion, #6 Voyage Warrior
Race 7: #8 Golden Sixty, #1 Seasons Bloom, #7 Fat Turtle, #2 Ka Ying Star
Race 8: #1 Cantstopthefeeling, #2 Quadruple Double, #8 Lucky More, #3 Team Spirit
Race 9: #4 Assimilate, #7 Seattle Choice, #14 Farshad, #3 Reel Bizzy
Race 10: #11 Universal Go Go, #4 Vincy, #9 Smart Patch, #2 Packing Warrior

Race 1: Palm Handicap

#8 Speedy Dragon has shown steady improvement across three outings this campaign. Zac Purton now takes the reins which suits and as a winner fourth-up last season, he rates as the one to beat here. #6 Iron Boy has narrowly missed on a number of occasions this season. Karis Teetan and Douglas Whyte have combined a few times now and another here win here for the duo would not shock. #11 Nice Kick has placed in his last two starts. He should get the right run from the gate. #2 Sky Treasure is next best.

Race 2: Yew Handicap

#4 Golden Kid has placed in three out of his last four, including a win two starts ago. He has the wide draw to contend with, but he's in-form and rates as the one to beat. #3 Chaparral Star gets the services of Zac Purton. He relished the step up to this distance last start and if he's held his condition, he's going to be thereabouts. #7 Regency Gem is racing well. He has the inside draw which suits and Matthew Poon's 2lb claim also takes a bit off his back. #9 Divine Power is next best.

Race 3: Chinese Banyan Handicap

#6 Super Wealthy ran a blinder on debut, grabbing second after coming from well back in the field. This is a competitive Class 3 but he appears forward enough to be able to go one better. #2 Lockheed is consistent without winning. He gets the services of Joao Moreira this time which suits and his best should see him fighting out the finish. #1 Invincible Missile is a winner already in Class 3 this season. He's drawn well and Zac Purton hopping back aboard this time signals intent from the Chris So stable. #9 Monkey Jewellery has drawn well and his last run suggests that a win isn't too far away.

Race 4: Willow Handicap

#3 Leap of Faith has hit the ground since arriving to Hong Kong, racing twice for a debut fourth and a last-start second. He's drawn well for Hong Kong's champion jockey Zac Purton and with even luck; he's going take a power of beating. #2 Starship is consistent. He finished only a neck behind the eventual winner last start at Happy Valley and he should be suited by a return to Sha Tin, where he is a three-time winner. #10 Shanghai Dragon has an awkward gate to contend with but if Keith Yeung can slot him in somewhere midfield with cover, he's going to get his chance. #6 Wood On Fire has shown potential although he hasn't placed since his debut second. He'll need a race run to suit but this is well within his reach.

Race 5: Poplar Handicap

#4 Better Choice returned a competitive fourth first-up this season for new trainer, Douglas Whyte. He'll relish the step up in distance to 1400m and from the good draw with Joao Moreira engaged, prove hard to beat. #5 Circuit Three got off the mark at his final outing of last season. He can progress from that win as long as he can overcome the tricky draw. #11 Joyful Heart has shown steady improvement this season. He's drawn well for Zac Purton and must be respected. #1 Emerald Spur has been consistent. This consistency can continue here, especially with the in-form Grant van Niekerk sticking aboard.

Race 6: Cherry Handicap

#1 Country Star resumes first-up in a difficult assignment. He's had a number of encouraging trials at Conghua and against this field, he might just catch a few by surprise, especially those out of form and if he is a big price, he's worth taking a chance on. #3 Yee Cheong Baby is racing well. He's the in-form galloper who should be suited by this course and distance, also, the retention of Zac Purton on his back is a good push. #10 Multimillion loves this course and distance as a five-time winner down the Sha Tin straight. He could be over the odds against a strong field and if so, is another worth taking a chance on. #6 Voyage Warrior will need to recapture his form from last season if he wants to be competitive, but, if he can, he's going to be in the thick of it.

Race 7: The Chinese Club Challenge Cup (Handicap)

#8 Golden Sixty steps into Group class for the first time after winning six of his first seven starts. He's a serious talent heading toward the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and his best can claim this race, especially with just 114lb on his back. #1 Seasons Bloom ran well last start at G1 level over 1200m. He should relish the drop in class here and the booking of Zac Purton enhances his claims. #7 Fat Turtle rarely runs a bad race. This is a sharp step up in grade but he's in-form and his best warrants respect. #2 Ka Ying Star is next best.

Race 8: Chinese Banyan Handicap

#1 Cantstopthefeeling steps back into Class 3 after struggling in Class 2 at his latest. He's shown glimpses of ability across his three-start career in Hong Kong and with the right run under Chad Schofield, he could be worth a play at a big price. #2 Quadruple Double is looking for the hat-trick of wins. He'll make his own luck out in front and prove tough to reel in once again. #8 Lucky More was far from disgraced in a strong race down the straight last start. He can bounce back to form here with the right run, as long as he handles going around a bend. #3 Team Spirit is next best.

Race 9: Cotton Tree Handicap

#4 Assimilate has looked the winner on a number of occasions but has failed to deliver so far. Still, he's racing well, he's in-form and with the right run from the gate, he's going to get every opportunity to do so and this could be the day, especially with Zac Purton engaged. #7 Seattle Choice ran a blinder on debut, finishing only a length behind the eventual winner in fifth. He can progress further from that run with Karis Teetan booked. #14 Farshad steps back into Class 3 from his last-start second. He's in-form and if he can handle the class rise, he's going to be in the finish. #3 Reel Bizzy hasn't been too far away. He'll be thereabouts once again from the inside draw. 

Race 10: Flame Tree Handicap

#11 Universal Go Go has already finishing runner-up twice this season, before struggling in his latest to finish eighth. Suspect the trainer will instruct Jack Wong to use the inside draw this time roll forward and with just 117lb on his back, he could prove tough to run down. #4 Vincy recaptured some sort of form last start. Although he can be unreliable, his best course and distance is this and with Joao Moreira engaged once more, he could be ready to finally go on with it. #9 Smart Patch is consistent as a two-time winner. He struggled at his latest, largely in part due to settling to close to midfield. He's better ridden cold and if they bowl along in front here, he might get the race run to suit. #2 Packing Warrior has shown his capabilities. He's another who will get back and flash home but if his last run is any indication, he's going to be in the finish.