3 minute read
Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s race meeting at Sha Tin (02/02/20).
Race 1: #9 Breeze Of Spring, #8 Wayfoong Star, #12 Supreme Witness, #6 M M Johnny
Race 2: #9 Team Power, #3 Juneau Park, #1 Power King, #6 Jade Phoenix
Race 3: #10 Red Brick Fighter, #13 Triumphant Lord, #4 Flying Monkey, #8 Seize The Spirit
Race 4: #14 Casimiro, #9 Here Comes Ted, #2 Circuit Hassler, #13 Best For You
Race 5: #4 Monica, #5 Super Elegance, #3 Lakeshore Eagle, #8 Money Back
Race 6: #12 Megatron, #3 Lasting Friendship, #10 Kelmimi Wins, #13 Foodie Princess
Race 7: #1 Holy Heart, #8 Righteous Doctrine, #11 Travel First, #5 Mongolian Legend
Race 8: #10 Utopia Life, #5 Harmony And Rich, #12 Ka Ying Master, #11 Goko
Race 9: #8 Inner Flame, #1 Invincible Missile, #9 Island Shine, #12 Glenealy Generals
Race 10: #7 Enjoying, #8 Columbus County, #6 Super Oasis, #12 Savvy Nine
Race 1: Orchid Handicap (2nd Section)
#9 Breeze Of Spring has race experience on his side and this could see him get over the line in first here. He's been competitive all season without winning and unless one of these first starters turns it up in their Hong Kong debut, he's going to prove hard to beat. #8 Wayfoong Star went under as a dominant 1.8 favourite on debut earlier this month. Prior to that he had trialled well and although he was swamped late after leading throughout, he still kept on nicely for fourth. #12 Supreme Witness steps up to Class 4 following his third win at his 26th Hong Kong start. He'll roll forward and make his own luck and he's another with race experience on their side. #6 M M Johnny steps out on debut. He trialled soundly and he might be able to make his presence felt on debut.
Race 2: Orchid Handicap (1st Section)
#9 Team Power steps out on debut for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. Silvestre de Sousa takes the reins here following an eye-catching trial down the straight only nine days ago. He did it under his own steam that day and he's worth taking a chance on against this field. #3 Juneau Park comes out of the same race as Wayfoong Star (R1), finishing runner-up at his first appearance on race day. He closed well enough on debut to suggest that with further improvement, he was capable of breaking through very soon. #1 Power King has twice gone under by short-head over this course and distance across his four-start career. He gets the services of Zac Purton for this and if he can shoulder 129lb from the good gate, he's going to be in the thick things. #6 Jade Phoenix is another who steps out on debut. Key jockey booking of Joao Moreira is interesting to note as he hops off Juneau Park to ride this debutant who crossed the line in third under his own steam in a recent barrier trial.
Race 3: Rose Handicap
#10 Red Brick Fighter turned his form around last start to grab third at his first appearance for David Hall after transferring from the Danny Shum yard. Suspect he's finally ready to piece it all together after 10 starts in Hong Kong and the inside gate should afford him every opportunity to do so. #13 Triumphant Lord is trained by that man, Danny Shum. He's another who turned his form around at his 10th start in Hong Kong, flashing from the tail of the field for Matthew Poon to grab fourth, beaten only by a length. He'll need a race run to suit but with plenty of pace on paper he's going to get this which should give him every chance. #4 Flying Monkey is the veteran of the field with 37 starts under his belt including two wins and an astonishing eight second place efforts, including his latest outing. He's drawn a touch awkward for Alexis Badel which is a slight concern but his race experience and latest performance rate highly for this. #8 Seize The Spirit is looking to end a run of two runner-up efforts. He's returned in excellent order this season and the booking of Joao Moreira warrants respect.
Race 4: Peach Blossom Handicap
#14 Casimiro narrowly missed at his first run trainer Paul O'Sullivan after switching from the Dennis Yip yard. Although he's winless across 18 starts, he's shown he has ability and Karis Teetan is currently getting the best out of him as his last two runs have shown. This is his chance to snare a breakthrough win with only 116lb on his back. #9 Here Comes Ted has drawn horribly but he's always shown a spark of ability. He steps out to 1400m which he appears to want and with the blinkers applied to sharpen him up, he might just be ready to go on with it. #2 Circuit Hassler narrowly missed last start. He's a 42-start veteran who is a course and distance winner, so, with race-experience on his side and Joao Moreira aboard, he should find himself in the thick of things here. #13 Best For You has had four runs back this term. He's next best with only 116lb allotted.
Race 5: Daisy Handicap
#4 Monica is looking to end a run of three second place efforts and once again he rates as the one to beat. Joao Moreira hops on this time and if he rattles home like he did from last at his latest starts, he's going to prove tough to catch. #5 Super Elegance is another who is looking to end a run of three runner-up efforts. He still has plenty of upside with only 11 runs under his belt in Hong Kong after transferring from New Zealand where he was a one-time winner. This is a suitable race for him and he rates as the main danger to Monica's chances of bouncing back to the winner's stall after a frustrating season. #3 Lakeshore Eagle has all the ability in the world it's just a matter of when he turns it on. He did three starts ago at his first outing but since then he's either found trouble or settled too far back in the field with too much work to do. If he can settle closer to midfield then he's an excellent chance of bouncing back although the only concern is whether he handles the step up to 1600m, which it appears he will. #8 Money Back turned his form around to finish second at 69/1 last time out. He'll be thereabouts with Silvestre de Sousa up.
Race 6: Peony Handicap
#12 Megatron should be able to find the rail with ease from the inside draw and the booking of Matthew Chadwick for this assignment warrants respect. He gets in the light with only 117lb on his back and if he makes his own luck from the gate, he could prove difficult to reel in. #3 Lasting Friendship is a course and distance winner. He's another who is likely to roll forward from the inside gate to sit alongside Megatron as the pair did last time out. He'll be much improved with two runs under his belt and this race is suitable enough. #10 Kelmimi Wins wasn't too far away against Griffin company last time out. He closed reasonably well in a recent dirt trial and if he finds that form here he might be worth taking a chance on. #13 Foodie Princess commands respect with Joao Moreira in the plate.
Race 7: Lily Handicap
#1 Holy Heart has displayed plenty of early ability across his winless six-start career since arriving to Hong Kong from Great Britain where he was trained by John Gosden. He was a two-time winner on the polytrack at Kempton and he's clearly shown that he's taken a liking to the Sha Tin dirt with three placings on the surface next to his name. He gets the blinkers first time to sharpen him up and this race is well within his reach. #8 Righteous Doctrine narrowly missed two starts before snatching second in his latest as a 3.6 second favourite. He's drawn to get the gun run for Joao Moreira and a breakthrough win doesn't appear too far away for trainer Michael Chang. #11 Travel First is another from the Michael Chang yard. He's racing well and with experience on his side he knows what this is all about. #5 Mongolian Legend is a two-time course and distance winner, including a win already this season. He'll need a race run to suit if he is to rattle home but if he gets it, he's in with shout.
Race 8: Cineraria Handicap
#10 Utopia Life was a winner over this course and distance last season however was demoted due to interference. He's since returned in excellent order, tallying three consecutive runner-up efforts on the dirt and his latest run being arguably the best of them all, narrowly missing over this course and distance. He can take beating here for Silvestre de Sousa who will be looking to atone for that demoted win. #5 Harmony And Rich has hit the ground since his arrival to Hong Kong, snatching two consecutive third place efforts at his only two outings. Zac Purton retains the ride here and he commands respect. Benno Yung and Joao Moreira combined for a win on Wednesday at the Valley and the pair will be looking to do the same again here with #12 Ka Ying Master. He's a two-time course and distance winner who returned to his best last start with a neck defeat down the straight. #11 Goko is as consistent as they come. He's third-up into this which suits and he should be in the thick of it for Dennis Yip and Dylan Mo.
Race 9: Daffodil Handicap
#8 Inner Flame has hit the ground since commencing his career by winning his first two consecutive starts in an impressive manner. He careered away nicely last start over this course and distance and although he steps up to Class 3, he doesn't meet an overly strong field and he appears to have a number of ratings points still in hand. #1 Invincible Missile is a proven Class 3 winner. He retains the services of Zac Purton here which suits and although he's drawn wide, he should be able to cross from there without finding too much trouble of the first furlong. #9 Island Shine impressed on debut before setting himself an impossible task last time out from the rail of field. Still, he did manage to run home quite well and with a positive ride he can make his presence felt. #12 Glenealy Generals has been thereabouts all campaign. He can figure with only 118lb to carry and that man, Karis Teetan who is fresh off a Valley treble sticking aboard.
Race 10: Azalea Handicap
#7 Enjoying comes here with a stack of class behind him as a dual G2 winner Australia, firstly by securing the Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield before the Alistair Clarke Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley. Since his arrival in Hong Kong he's raced three times, his latest being his best run where he flashed home over 1800m to grab an eye-catching third. He's shown that his best form is when he is ridden cold and with a stack of pace on paper here it should ensure a true enough tempo is set for him to benefit from. #8 Columbus County narrowly missed at his latest in Class 2 level over the mile. He couldn't have been more impressive that day and with an added furlong on offer here, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go one better as he heads toward the BMW Hong Kong Derby, much like Enjoying and #6 Super Oasis, who rattled home for fourth at his third attempt at racing in Hong Kong. He's another who arrives with a strong resume behind him, firstly by winning the G2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie before an Australian Derby (2400m) third place effort at his final run. He'll only continue to improve as he acclimatises and steps up in trip. #12 Savvy Nine flashed home to grab second at the Valley last time out. He's flown under the radar a touch but he does have plenty of class about his as a two-time G3 placegetter in France pre-import.
