3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s race meeting at Sha Tin (05/01/20).

Race 1: #8 Wild West Wing, #10 Treasure Chest, #9 Winner's Heart, #5 Eight Trigrams
Race 2: #4 Ever Strong, #5 Calling The Shots, #2 Mr Magellan, #1 Excel Delight
Race 3: #8 Utopia Life, #10 Goko, #3 All In Mind, #4 Baltic Whisper
Race 4: #2 The Full Bloom, #3 Winwin Thirtythree, #1 Shinealot, #12 Soccer Master
Race 5: #1 Will Power, #5 Power King, #9 Star Superior, #3 Fortune Happiness
Race 6: #12 Cheerful Star, #3 London Hall, #8 Mister Monte, #10 Good Days
Race 7: #2 Encore Boy, #1 Sunny Boy, #3 Red Desert, #4 Elite Patch
Race 8: #7 Picken, #6 Monica, #4 Lakeshore Eagle, #8 Big Fortune
Race 9: #3 Chefano, #6 Dances With Dragon, #1 Red Warrior, #10 Easy Go Easy Win
Race 10: #3 Beauty Legacy, #1 Decrypt, #9 Star Shine, #6 Mr Croissant

Race 1: Yun Ping Handicap

#8 Wild West Wing closed impressively on debut at the Valley to grab fourth. He was wide and trapped far too back in the field with a stack of work to do, though there was plenty of merit in the manger closed off in. #10 Treasure Chest steps out for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. He's shown steady improvement across both of his two starts in Hong Kong and he remains a leading chance here. #9 Winner's Heart has found a suitable race to debut in. He's trialled well and commands respect with Zac Purton up. #5 Eight Trigrams is next best with race-experience on his side.

Race 2: Ventris Handicap

#4 Ever Strong is racing well and he should be suited by a return to the dirt here. He steps out from a good gate which should see him up on the pace early for Vincent Ho. #5 Calling The Shots is winless across 20 starts. He's drawn a touch awkward for Zac Purton but this does look suitable and he remains a leading chance. #2 Mr Magellan has refused to win on a number of occasions now. He's becoming a costly conveyance, although, Silvestre de Sousa vigorous style of riding should see him get every chance from the inside draw. #1 Excel Delight has relished the drop to Class 5. He's next best.

Race 3: Sunning Handicap

#8 Utopia Life has been awfully unlucky across his career, finishing runner-up on a number of occasions this season as well as losing a race due to an inquiry last season. He returns to his preferred course and distance with Zac Purton up and his best, should take a power of running down. #10 Goko has placed in three of his last four outings. He returned a narrow second first-up and if he's taken improvement from that run, he'll find himself in the finish. #3 All In Mind steps out on debut following an eye-catching trial effort. He brings some high quality Australian form to Hong Kong and he appears forward to hit the ground running at his first star. #4 Baltic Whisper's consistency holds him in good stead.

Race 4: Sun Wui Handicap

#2 The Full Bloom has returned to a winning mark, and the now booking of Zac Purton signals intent from the stable. He's drawn to get the right run and his best form suggests that he will take beating. #3 Winwin Thirtythree is still searching for his first win. He'll need a race run to suit, but this appears well within his grasp and he's had the time to acclimatise. #1 Shinealot steps back to Class 5. He's another who will need a race run to suit if he is to run home strongly from the tail of the field. #12 Soccer Master is next best down in the handicap.

Race 5: Link Handicap

#1 Will Power was a dominant debut victor last start, scoring with ease for Karis Teetan and the in-form Douglas Whyte. He'll need to lug top weight this time but with steady improvement off that run, he could take running down again. #5 Power King snatched second last start. Joao Moreira takes the reins here and although he's drawn wide, he's a leading player. #9 Star Superior gets in light. He's been super consistent his last five outings and this race is well within his capabilities. #3 Fortune Happiness is looking for his fourth consecutive win here. He's done nothing wrong but this is more difficult and he's vulnerable from the draw. 

Race 6: Leighton Handicap

#12 Cheerful Star has been consistent without winning. He gets an excellent chance to finally record a win here under Zac Purton from the good gate, over a distance which should give him every opportunity. #3 London Hall narrowly missed over this course and distance last start. He can go one better here for Joao Moreira. #8 Mister Monte rarely runs a bad race. He has experience on his side and his latest win rates highly for this. #10 Good Days is next best for Grant van Niekerk and Danny Shum.

Race 7: Hoi Ping Handicap

#2 Encore Boy is a course and distance winner already this season. Since then, he's been racing well for leading trainer Ricky Yiu and with a prominent ride on the speed, he could take beating. #1 Sunny Boy was found out last start at Happy Valley. He returns to Sha Tin here which suits and he has previously clocked a nice run on the dirt, so with Zac Purton engaged here, another bold run is expected. #3 Red Desert turned his form around to grab second last start. He flew from the tail of the field that day and if he's held his condition from that run, he's going to be fighting out the finish here. #4 Elite Patch is looking for his third consecutive win. He's racing well and commands respect, though, this is a much tougher assignment.

Race 8: The Po Leung Kuk Cup (Handicap)

#7 Picken has had zero luck this season on a number of occasions and although he raced a touch flat last start, he's still much better than that and with the right run here, he can secure a well-deserved win. #6 Monica is looking to end a run of two runner-up efforts. He's racing well and gets the strong booking of Joao Moreira for this, which rates highly. #4 Lakeshore Eagle has a serious engine, as his win two starts ago suggests. He raced far too back in the field last start and with a positive ride this time around, he can figure. #8 Big Fortune could find the front for Karis Teetan. He's a two-time winner already this season and a third wouldn't surprise.

Race 9: Caroline Hill Handicap

#3 Chefano is looking to end a run of three runner-up efforts. He's racing well and remains in top form, albeit without winning. Joao Moreira sticks aboard and he rates as the one to beat. #6 Dances With Dragon closed strongly last start. He can progress further here over a suitable distance with Matthew Poon engaged. #1 Red Warrior needs a race run to suit but he has the class and from the good draw he should find himself in the right spot. #10 Easy Go Easy Win is a last-start winner. The Alexis Badel and Douglas Whyte combination are striking hot and deserve respect.

Race 10: Broadwood Handicap

It's not easy to win on debut in Hong Kong but #3 Beauty Legacy appears to be an excellent chance of joining that elite club. Previously known as Hawkshot in Australia, he was a G2 winner, while also placed at G1 level in the Australian Guineas behind Mystic Journey. This form reads well for this and his trials have been extremely encouraging. #1 Decrypt ran a blinder on debut. His Irish form prior was imposing, splitting Phoenix Of Spain and Too Darn Hot in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas. His race-fitness gave way last start but with that run under his belt, he's going to be fighting out the finish. #9 Star Shine appeared to recapture his blistering best from two seasons ago. He can progress further here and he might be worth something small as a value proposition. The consistent #6 Mr Croissant is next best.