3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s (27/09/20) race meeting at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #3 Beaut Beaut, #5 Xiang Lan Qi, #8 Solar Victory, #4 Fantastic Fabio
Race 2: #9 Blazing Partners, #6 Galaxy Emperor, #2 Smiling Success, #10 Rochford
Race 3: #9 The Drive, #2 Golden Four, #3 Best For You, #8 Happy Tango
Race 4: #2 Nordic Warrior, #1 Eligere, #9 Sparkling Star, #5 Colonel
Race 5: #7 Galactic, #9 All Joyful, #8 Hot Chili Pepper, #4 Golden Link
Race 6: #5 Dollar Reward, #1 Handsome Rebel, #2 Fortune Happiness, #10 Demons Rock
Race 7: #1 Mr Wealth, #7 Grateful Heart, #3 California Concord, #9 Sky Show
Race 8: #3 Ka Ying Star, #1 Beauty Generation, #6 Golden Sixty, #2 Southern Legend
Race 9: #8 Biz Power, ##9 President's Choice, #7 Big Fortune, #13 Bright Kid
Race 10: #2 Mr Croissant, #4 Water Diviner, #6 Good Luck Friend, #10 Armando

Race 1: Tailorbird Handicap

#3 Beaut Beaut is a three-time Class 4 winner who now finds himself in Class 5. He's had one run already this term and if he manages to recapture that here he should find himself fighting out the finish. #5 Xiang Lan Qi is weighted to go close with Jerry Chau's claim taking 10 pounds off and with his recent trial under his belt, he does shape as one of the main contenders. #8 Solar Victory trialled well down the straight and things might be starting to now click for him now after a mediocre first five starts. #4 Fantastic Fabio is honest and should not be too far away. 

Race 2: Woodpecker Handicap

#9 Blazing Partners needs a fast-run-race and he just might get that here. He'll need luck from the tail of the field but if they run along at a decent clip, then he should get every chance to rattle over the top. #6 Galaxy Emperor has shown steady improvement, notably, a first-up third over this course and distance. He's open to further improvement. #2 Smiling Success is one of those who is expected to roll forward. He's drawn well and Jerry Chau's 10-pound claim should aid him in the finish. #10 Rochford is another who can roll forward. He can cling on for a cheque.

Race 3: Swallow Handicap (1st Section)

This isn't an overly strong contest and #9 The Drive profiles well as a recent trial victor. He arrived on a Class 3 mark of 70 and since then has descended to a Class 4 figure of 46. He has a bit of quality about him and this might be the right grade for him to finally begin his climb back up the handicap. #2 Golden Four races well fresh and he's drawn to get favours. Blake Shinn gets the best out of this galloper and it wouldn't shock to see him go on with it here. #3 Best For You was Antoine Hamelin's first Hong Kong win and the pair unite again here. He's honest and deserves respect. #8 Happy Tango has shown glimpses of ability and he should be around the mark again.

Race 4: Swallow Handicap (2nd section)

#2 Nordic Warrior races well fresh and he should be able to capitalise on a return to Class 4 here. He's drawn to get the right run and the booking of Zac Purton signals intent from the Richard Gibson yard. #1 Eligere is on-the-up and although he's taken his time to acclimatise, he has shown that it's only a matter of time before he does get on the board. #9 Sparkling Star has shown plenty of ability across his short seven-start career in Hong Kong. He'll need to contend with an awkward draw but he should relish getting up over 1400m now. #5 Colonel has shown flashes of potential to suggest that he could jump out of the ground at any time.

Race 5: Shrike Handicap

#7 Galactic steps out for his new trainer, Tony Millard who boasts an impressive record with stable transfers, notably on opening day with Prince Of Gems who he acquired in the off season. This galloper showed plenty of ability last season and off the back of his latest trial, he is the one to run down. #9 All Joyful has shown ability in both of his Hong Kong starts. He's worth taking a chance on here as he might be a decent price, especially for a horse who appears to be just beginning his ascent up the handicap. #8 Hot Chili Pepper steps out on debut for Danny Shum. Zac Purton takes the reins first time out which bears close watching and again, in a tight little contest such as this he might also be worth backing on a win and place basis. #4 Golden Link has the runs on the board. He can run well again here. 

Race 6: Sunbird Handicap

#5 Dollar Reward loves the course and distance and just might find himself in the right spot from gate three among this field. He's honest, consistent and he has race-fitness on his side with the one run under his belt already. #1 Handsome Rebel made all impressively last time out. He'll more than likely not attempt the same from the favourable draw and he should be in front for a long way. #2 Fortune Happiness is nearing is mark but still should be competitive among this field. #10 Demons Rock is on the right track and races well on the dirt. He's drawn to get the right run.

Race 7: Magpie Handicap

#1 Mr Wealth won first-up in this grade last season and it wouldn't shock to see lightning strike twice here. He trialled very quietly which is of no concern and his record of two wins Class 3 holds him in good stead for this, as well, his solid form on the dirt should see him in the finish. #7 Grateful Heart hasn't set the track alight yet but did catch the eye at the trials when crossing the line a comfortable first under Zac Purton. He bears close watching. #3 California Concord won second-up last term and he's going to try and do the same again here. He's drawn a touch awkward but he does hold a slick 1m 8.39s win over this course and distance, the second fastest of the field. #9 Sky Show is on-the-up and loves the dirt. He'll be right in the thick of things, though, a few of these with a bit more experience may have his measure.

Race 8: The G3 Celebration Cup (Handicap)

Difficult contest but #3 Ka Ying Star should roll forward and give his all as he usually does. Although he has only finished ahead of Beauty Generation once, he gets an excellent chance to flip the script on him here as he resumes off the back of a tough, on-pace success last start in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy, beating home Southern Legend who took down beauty Generation the start prior. He'll find the front and try to run them along here and while still only a five-year-old, age is on his side as his best could still be ahead of him. #1 Beauty Generation resumes in search of his fourth consecutive G3 Celebration Cup score. He races well fresh and does boast an imposing record and admittedly he is going to be tough to beat. But, against him is that he's older and more vulnerable now, and these factors may play a role in his first-up performance, especially as his campaign is mapped out to be a gradual, slow build-up toward December's LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, his swansong. #6 Golden Sixty completed a Four-Year-Old Classic Series clean sweep and with the weight advantage on a few others here he does get in very well at the weights. Although a talented horse, he might be worth opposing first-up, especially if he is a very short-priced favourite, as he also, has bigger and better things in store this season. #2 Southern Legend is honest and although he's better over the mile, he can still be very competitive in this first-up contest.   

Race 9: Lark Handicap

#8 Biz Power moved impressively through the line in a recent Conghua trial. He returns first-up here with Joao Moreira on his back which signals intent, especially as he enters his third season in Hong Kong winless from 14 tries. #9 President's Choice is only a small horse but he does have plenty of ability as a two-time winner from seven. The awkward draw makes life difficult but on his day, he has a blistering finish. #7 Big Fortune rarely runs a bad race and returns first-up following an all-the-way trial score. He's worth keeping safe. #13 Bright Kid has gone to a new level of late with two wins from his last four starts. Don't discount. 

Race 10: Hwamei Handicap

#2 Mr Croissant is a classy galloper from the Chris So yard who appeared to move very freely in a recent barrier trial down the Sha Tin 1000m straight. He has a number of high quality wins to his name and if he is forward enough first-up, then he could take beating. #4 Water Diviner races well fresh and there's no reason to suggest he won't be ready to run upon resumption again. He's worth an each way play. #6 Good Luck Friend is shooting for his fourth consecutive win. He's drawn favourably but still, as talented as he is this is a difficult contest and he's going to need to be at his best to beat this bunch, especially upon resumption. #10 Armando rattled home on debut. He clearly has ability and with the right run, he can figure.