3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Thursday’s race meeting at Sha Tin (01/10/20).

Race 1: #7 Fresh Power, #2 Sprint Forward, #1 Pegasus Glory, #6 Run Run Good
Race 2: #6 Xiang Bai Qi, #1 Happy Sebring, #7 Tangmere, #5 Vincy
Race 3: #9 Circuit Number One, #7 Jimmu, #4 Fast Pace, #1 Natural Storm
Race 4: #5 Hard Promise, #6 Hero Star, #2 Lucky Quality, #4 Everyone's Delight
Race 5: #1 Sky Field, #3 High Rise Soldier, #8 Power King, #4 Take What You Need
Race 6: #9 Fire And Gold, #10 Fox Cheunger, #13 Jimson The Dragon, #2 Telecom Missile
Race 7: #2 Big Party, #5 Gold Chest, #3 Jolly Banner, #4 Computer Patch
Race 8: #9 Super Kin, #1 Angel Of My Eyes, #5 Seaweed Fortune, #6 Mighty Power
Race 9: #13 What A Legend, #2 Uncle Steve, #5 Flying Victory, #1 World Famous
Race 10: #14 Star Performance, #8 Mighty Giant, #7 Ballistic King, #4 Not Usual Talent

Race 1: Chengdu Handicap

#7 Fresh Power's first-up run was a total forgive, after being snagged back to last from the wide gate he couldn't he couldn't pick himself up when it mattered. The inside gate this time should see him sit closer in the run, which he prefers and from there, give a good sight. #2 Sprint Forward faded to seventh first-up at Happy Valley, but off that, will have taken plenty of fitness for this run. He performs much better at Sha Tin and rates strongly against this largely inexperienced bunch. #1 Pegasus Glory rattled into second on debut down the 1000m straight at Sha Tin. He now has to go around a bend but that was encouraging result for his first outing. #6 Run Run Good steps out on debut for Manfred Man with Zac Purton up. This isn't a strong field to face first-up and he's worth keeping safe.

Race 2: Chongqing Handicap

#6 Xiang Bai Qi gets a handy 10 pound claim from apprentice Jerry Chau. He slots in now with a featherweight on his back and over this trip, 1800m, it will come in handy over the closing stages. He can take this out as winner over nine furlongs previously. #1 Happy Sebring is a solid stayer as a winner over 2200m previously, though, he does return first-up which is a fitness concern. #7 Tangmere returns second-up with the benefit of a run already this term. He has race-fitness on his side and also, hails from the in-form Caspar Fownes stable. #5 Vincy has been conundrum across his career with five runner-up efforts from 21 starts and zero wins. He'll be around the mark again.

Race 3: Nanning Handicap

#9 Circuit Number One has shown glimpses of ability with two runner-up efforts to his name from 13 runs. He's now at a career-low mark of 42, at the bottom of Class 4 and with little weight on his back, he is capable of taking this contest out. Forgive his poor trial, as it was on a rain affected dirt course. #7 Jimmu has mixed his form with flashes of ability. He's a strong chance with Joao Moreira up but against him is his racing pattern, which usually sees him at the rear of the field with a stack of work to do. #4 Fast Pace is talented but struggled to threaten from the awkward draw last time out. He can atone for that lacklustre performance here, especially from the good gate. #1 Natural Storm is looking for back-to-back wins. He'll need to shoulder top-weight but gets his chance remaining in Class 4.

Race 4: Chengdu Handicap

#5 Hard Promise is a two-time winner, who from the draw, can find the front and play catch me if you can. Jerry Chau's 10 pound claim holds him in good stead for this and if he strings them along here, he just might be able to pinch this contest. #6 Hero Star holds a slick 1m 8.86s personal best over this course and distance and he's capable in this sort of a race. #2 Lucky Quality rolled into second last time out behind Hercules at the city circuit. He's still on the up and he should take plenty of improvement from that first-up run. #4 Everyone's Delight deserves respect on debut off the back of an impressive trial. Strong booking of Zac Purton bears close watching.

Race 5: Shanghai Handicap

#1 Sky Field is looking for his third consecutive win. He's a serious talent on the rise and if he wants to be a major player in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series this season, he'll want to be winning this contest. #3 High Rise Soldier is a get-back run-on type of horse and he should be launching late once again. He doesn't have the same visual talent and flare that Sky Field has but he is honest and a win isn't too far away. #8 Power King is one to watch closely after he ran a blinder first-up at Happy Valley, going down only by a neck. #4 Take What You Need can get into the finish.

Race 6: Shenyang Handicap

#9 Fire And Gold made steady ground last time out behind the tear-away leader after missing the jump awkwardly. He's much better than that and if he can break cleanly this time, from gate four, then he shapes as a value proposition in this spot. #10 Fox Cheunger caught the eye first-up, rattling into a close-up fourth upon resumption. Joao Moreira sticks aboard and he must be given respect in a contest such as this. #13 Jimson The Dragon is on the quick back-up after closing for fourth on Sunday (27 September) at Sha Tin. He bears close watching although, he does have to contend with gate 12 of 14. #2 Telecom Missile gabbed second first-up for the Purton/Yip combination. He's relished the drop to Class 5 and he remains a leading player if he can shoulder top-weight duties.

Race 7: G3 National Day Cup Handicap

#2 Big Party is a G3 winner over 1000m at Sha Tin and on ability alone, he rates as a leading contender to grab another win here, especially off the back of a quiet trial under Zac Purton. His best form down the straight is arguably the best among this field and it should see him see this bunch off. After struggling in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series of two seasons ago #5 Gold Chest has been reignited as a born-again sprinter.  He turned in an impressive first-up win and now gets a nice weight relief for that performance. #3 Jolly Banner is a dual G3 winner who surprised over this course and distance in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at 90/1. He has experience and honesty on his side. #4 Computer Patch has had the one run already this term and is a lightly raced sprinter who can still climb up the handicap.

Race 8: Jinan Handicap

#9 Super Kin has shown potential and now, finally appears to be getting out to the right trip. He raced fairly first-up to finish fourth on the dirt and he should be even better now, returning to the turf. #1 Angel Of My Eyes appears to still be on the up and he's aided by a the good gate here. He grabbed second first-up and with added fitness from that, he is capable of winning for Zac Purton and Danny Shum. #5 Seaweed Fortune has done nothing wrong and is a chance to bag back-to-back wins. He should enjoy the run of the race from this spot. #6 Mighty Power ran a blinder first-up for his new stable and can improve off that performance here.

Race 9: Tianjin Handicap

#13 What A Legend can find the front and with next to no weight on his back, prove tough to run down. He's drawn the rail which should see him do next to no work early and leave him with plenty in hand over the final furlong. #2 Uncle Steve has relished the drop to Class 3 and this is one of the weaker contests he will have faced in some time. He'll need luck from the wide ally but his best is more than up to this. #5 Flying Victory is only lightly raced but has plenty of ability. He still looks to have plenty of points in hand. #1 World Famous can roll forward and box on.

Race 10: Beijing Handicap

#14 Star Performance ran a blinder first-up to finish second by a short-head to Excellent Proposal, who himself is a serious horse on the rise and has since franked that form, with another impressive win. This Tony Cruz-trained galloper is talented and the soft draw should see him in the right spot throughout, especially with no weight on his back. #8 Mighty Giant is searching for his fourth consecutive win and although he has to contend with gate 13, he is still a horse with plenty of upside and another win would not be a shock. #7 Ballistic King should come on from his first-up second and with a good draw, go close. He's worth an each way play. #4 Not Usual Talent is talented and although he probably needs a mile, he can finish off strongly.