3 minute read

Selections and analysis for Saturday's race meeting at Sha Tin (27/06/20).

Race 1: #7 Turf Brilliant, #5 Shinealot, #9 Keep Winning, #13 Money Marshal
Race 2: #10 Wood On Fire, #4 All Joyful, #2 Bright Kid, #12 Diamond Pegasus
Race 3: #10 Super Kin, #7 Angel Of My Eyes, #12 Hero Star, #5 Rewarding Together
Race 4: #7 Take What You Need, #3 Total Excess, #1 Styling City, #12 Tom's Style
Race 5: #1 Jade Fortune, #4 Righteous Mate, #8 Megatron, #10 Breeze Of Spring
Race 6: #5 Apex Top, #4 Circuit Hassler, #2 Armor Star, #3 Heza Beauty 
Race 7: #3 Happy Sebring, #6 Vincy, #1 Charity Go, #2 Beauty Happy
Race 8: #8 Touch Of Luck, #13 London Luckystar, #1 Kyrus Unicorn, #4 Namjong Plus
Race 9: #8 Private Rocket, #6 Craig's Star, #9 Kasi Farasi, #13 Great Treasure
Race 10: #11 Dan Control, #1 Buddies, #3 Happy Fun, #2 Mongolian King

Race 1: Waglan Island Handicap

#7 Turf Brilliant hasn't shown a great deal across his short career in Hong Kong but he did catch the eye in a recent trial on the dirt. He's worth taking a chance on with Karis Teetan up for the first time, especially from the inside gate which should see him get every chance. #5 Shinealot is still winless. Still, he's been racing well this term and his last pairing with Zac Purton saw him narrowly miss by a neck. #9 Keep Winning is a two-time course and distance winner. He rates strongly off his current mark and he just needs to offset the awkward gate if he is to have any winning chance. #13 Money Marshal is running out of chances as a 23-start maiden. Still, he's the likely leader of this which will give him every possible chance to cling on for prize money regardless.

Race 2: Peng Chau Handicap (2nd Section)

#10 Wood On Fire has shown plenty of ability across his 12-start career in Hong Kong, tallying five placings to his name albeit without a win. He's drawn to get the right run here for Neil Callan and his race-experience holds him in good stead against this largely inexperienced field. #4 All Joyful caught the eye at the trials and he might be worth taking a chance on. He just needs the right run from the awkward barrier. #2 Bright Kid has done well since re-joining the Chris So yard, winning two starts ago before narrowly missing at his latest. He can't be dismissed. #12 Diamond Pegasus is next best but he will need to lift, especially from the wide gate.

Race 3: Peng Chau Handicap (1st Section)

#10 Super Kin might be ready to go on with it here following two competitive runs this term. Caspar Fownes and Chad Schofield combined on Wednesday at Valley and it wouldn't shock to see them do so again here, especially as this galloper has plenty of upside still to come. #7 Angel Of My Eyes was caught at the tail of the field on debut with too much work to do, however still, did manage to close off well enough. Zac Purton takes the reins now fresh off a Wednesday four-timer at the Valley and with even luck, he's going to be figuring in the finish. #12 Hero Star narrowly missed last time out. He's racing well and with further improvement it wouldn't be a shock to see him score. 3 Mighty Valor led and won well last start. The wide gate makes his assignment tricky but his dominant win last time out can't be ignored. 

Race 4: Cheung Chau Handicap

#7 Take What You Need has been nothing short of consistent across his short 10-start career, which again, will ensure he receives yet another chance to breakthrough. #3 Total Excess has shown ability on both the track and in trials. He steps out again with Zac Purton aboard and he appears to have plenty of upside as a lightly raced galloper in Hong Kong. #1 Styling City steps down to Class 3. He appears to have gone off the boil a bit but still, his best is more than up to winning this and there is a chance that he recaptures his form down in grade. #12 Tom's Style is lightly raced. He's worth keeping safe.

Race 5: Tung Lung Chau Handicap

#1 Jade Fortune narrowly missed over this course and distance two starts before stepping out on the turf to finish sixth. He'll set himself a task from well back in the field but he does have the ability go on with this contest. #4 Righteous Mate gets the services of Joao Moreira. He loves the dirt and as long he also doesn't give them too big of a head start, he can finish around the mark. #8 Megatron is the likely leader of this. Alfred Chan takes a handy seven pounds off his back and the good gate should allow him to roll forward with ease. #10 Breeze Of Spring is next best.

Race 6: Po Toi Handicap

#4 Apex Top closed off nicely last start to finish fifth over 1200m and now, stepping up to 1400m he should get his chance to go on with it here. The inside gate suits and this contest appears suitable, especially as he likely to relish the added furlong on offer. #4 Circuit Hassler rattled home for a narrow second last time out. He's been a consistent customer across his lengthy career and although he has only won once from 48 attempts, he is rarely any further than a few lengths away from them. #2 Armor Star won well last start following a tough run up on the pace. He remains in Class 4 which suits and the retention of Zac Purton is a positive. #3 Heza Beauty has done well across his short career. He's open to further improvement and with even luck he'll be fighting out the finish.

Race 7: Kat O Handicap

#3 Happy Sebring has hit his straps of late coming off an impressive win two starts ago before his fast-finishing effort last time out. Karis Teetan's riding style suits this galloper and and he can showcase his best with a clean run in the straight. #6 Vincy is unlucky not to already be a winner in Hong Kong. Still, he gets another excellent chance here to atone for his three close-up runner-up efforts this term. #1 Charity Go wasn't too far away last time out. He'll need to carry 129lb here but if he can offset this issue and put his best foot forward here, then he's not without a winning hope. #2 Beauty Happy is looking for his third consecutive win. He'll be in front for a long way.

Race 8: Grass Island Handicap

#8 Touch Of Luck is a very straightforward customer who from gate two, maps to get the dream run throughout. He can continue his ascent up the ratings here. #13 London Luckystar is one who is unlucky not to already be a winner. He narrowly missed three starts ago however since then, has still held his condition well. He gets in light again here with only 113lb on his back and the booking of Joao Moreira only enhances his claims. #1 Kyrus Unicorn closed off strongly last time out to finish seventh, beaten by just over two lengths. He's a classy Irish import who shouldn't have to wait too long before winning. #4 Namjong Plus has steadily improved all season. He bears close watching, especially if he does go around a big price.

Race 9: Lamma Island Handicap

#8 Private Rocket is as consistent as they come and from the inside gate here, he appears to get yet another excellent chance to grab a win this term. #6 Craig's Star ran a blinder last time out to finish second. He's still hovering around a mark which could see him bag the third win of his career. #9 Kasi Farasi steps out for new trainer Dennis Yip after switching from the Jimmy Ting yard with Zac Purton taking the reins for the first time this campaign. This combination warrants plenty of respect. #13 Great Treasure is more than likely not going to give them a head start. He can rattle into the placings.

Race 10: Lantau Island Handicap

#11 Dan Control has returned impressively his last two runs following a short freshen up and it would not surprise to see him go on with it here. He gets in light with 121lb on his back and the inside gate should see him with every chance to win. #1 Buddies rarely runs a bad race and this season has performed admirably with two wins and five minor placings to his name. He just needs to offset the awkward gate and if so, is in with a chance. #3 Happy Fun is racing honestly and should be around the mark again. #2 Mongolian King falls under the same category, though, will be giving them a head start.