3 minute read

Selections and analysis for Saturday's (17 April) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin

Race 1: #5 Universal Crown, #3 Moon Peaks, #4 Regency Poet, #10 Kwai Chung Elite
Race 2: #1 When You Believe, #2 Elon, #8 Carroll Street, #4 Metro Warrior
Race 3: #10 Nothing New, #6 Gameplayer Times, #7 Skyey Supreme, #5 Xiang Yin
Race 4: #12 Cheerful Star, #4 Ezra, #7 Shanghai Dragon, #2 Joyful Heart
Race 5: #7 London Luckystar, #10 El Valiente, #1 Double Take, #12 Run Run Good
Race 6: #2 Mega Heart, #5 Namjong Sings, #7 Golfman Star, #10 Sky Show
Race 7: #12 The Best Hero, #7 Gallant Legacy, #10 Infinite Power, #5 Thou Shall Sing
Race 8: #5 Dragon Fortune, #1 Charge On, #4 Zone D, #8 So Awesome
Race 9: #5 Amazing Chocolate, #1 Will Power, #2 Red Desert, #4 Kurpany
Race 10: #8 Taking Aim, #3 Chancheng Prince, #1 Perfect To Great, #4 Juneau Park 

Race 1: Suffolk Handicap 

#5 Universal Crown gets the blinkers applied to sharpen him up. He closed off nicely two starts ago and if he can recapture that form here, then he shapes as the one to beat, especially with the seven-pound claim from apprentice Jerry Chau. #3 Moon Peaks is racing well. He narrowly missed last start and if he can replicate that run here, then he's going to be in the finish. #4 Regency Poet is closing in on a first win. He's not setting the world alight, but he is consistent and with Joao Moreira up, he is sure to get every chance. #10 Kwai Chung Elite draws well and pairs with local ace Vincent Ho. Suspect he can give himself every chance up on the pace. 

Race 2: Cornwall Handicap 

#1 When You Believe has shown steady improvement. He's ready to take the next step and this contest appears suitable. #2 Elon steps out on debut. He's trialled well in the lead-up to his debut and does appear suited down the straight. Strong booking of Joao Moreira warrants respect first-up. #8 Carroll Street scored nicely on debut before missing at his latest. He's since been freshened up and does get into this contest with no weight on his back. #4 Metro Warrior mixes his form but does perform best when racing down the straight. He's worth including. 

Race 3: Dorset Handicap 

#10 Nothing New was a winner on the all-weather surface at Dundalk prior to export from Ireland. He clearly favours the surface and with further improvement, he is the one to beat, especially as he pairs with the season's leading rider on the surface, Karis Teetan. #6 Gameplayer Times closed for a fast-finishing seventh last start, beaten less than a length. Suspect he can give new boy Harry Bentley an excellent chance of snaring a win. #7 Skyey Supreme is the likely leader. He'll look the winner at some stage, and he is favoured by gate three. #5 Xiang Yin bears close watching with Zac Purton taking the reins.  

Race 4: Somerset Handicap 

#12 Cheerful Star is racing well. He's a one-time course and distance winner who with a low weight and good gate, can take this contest. Any rain around will help French-bred son of Excelebration. #4 Ezra is nothing short of consistent. He hasn't won for a while but he does get the services of Joao Moreira in a bid to return victorious. #7 Shanghai Dragon is looking for back-to-back wins. He looks suited by the step up in trip and with winning form under his belt, he deserves respect. #2 Joyful Heart draws well and Zac Purton who is a two-time winner aboard the horse. He can figure with the right run. 

Race 5: Norfolk Handicap 

#7 London Luckystar hasn't been at his best of late but last season he did narrowly miss over this course and distance in the grade above. He was a touch unlucky last start and is he is a big price in this, he is worth taking a chance on as it appears to be a relatively open contest. #10 El Valiente draws well and gets the services of Joao Moreira once again. He looks ready to take the next step and with the light weight, he should get every chance to do so. #1 Double Take is consistent in his spot on the dirt. He's looking for back-to-back wins and in his favour is that he remains Class 4. #12 Run Run Good has shown steady improvement. He's next best and bears close watching, especially as an Argentinian-bred galloper hitting the dirt.   

Race 6: Cumberland Handicap 

#2 Mega Heart closed off nicely for third before switching to the turf last start for a lackluster ninth. He's won off this rating before and from the good gate with Antoine Hamelin engaged, he is the one to beat. #5 Namjong Sings is a winner of two out of his last three runs. He's been relatively competitive on the dirt before and although he's drawn wide, he is worth including. #7 Golfman Star gets the services of Zac Purton. Suspect he rolls forward to try and take up the lead. #10 Sky Show is racing consistently without winning. He can figure. 

Race 7: Essex Handicap 

#12 The Best Hero caught the eye when closing for fourth last start. Suspect he can improve further and he's by Siyouni who has a formidable record on the dirt as a sire in Hong Kong. #7 Gallant Legacy should roll forward from gate three and find the front once again. He can take catching once again with the apprentice engaged, and due to this he is worth supporting on an each way basis to score back-to-back wins. #10 Infinite Power scored an easy trial success recently on the dirt. He bears close watching with Zac Purton engaged. #5 Thou Shall Sing is next best.     

Race 8: Kent Handicap 

#5 Dragon Fortune clearly has ability and with the right run is more than capable of bouncing back onto the winners list. He draws a touch awkward but with a forward position early, he can get every chance. #1 Charge On steps down in grade where he is a two-time course and distance winner. He gets a handy seven-pound claim from apprentice Jerry Chau. #4 Zone D is consistent in his spot. He can figure. #8 So Awesome is next best. 

Race 9: Alnwick Handicap 

#5 Amazing Chocolate does his best racing two months between runs and from the good gate he should get every opportunity to put his best foot forward. #1 Will Power is a dirt maestro. This contest suits and he's favoured by apprentice Jerry Chau's seven-pound claim. #2 Red Desert rarely runs a bad race. #4 Kurpany makes his dirt debut. He bears close watching with Joao Moreira engaged. 

Race 10: Devon Handicap 

#8 Taking Aim mixes his form but he might be worth taking a chance on here in a competitive final event at Sha Tin. He knocked up an impressive third-placed effort earlier this campaign, in this grade, and if he recaptures that here then he is the one to run down. #3 Chancheng Prince scored nicely in this grade two starts ago. Suspect he has a lot more to offer and the step up in trip is definitely no hindrance. #1 Perfect To Great is open to further improvement. The booking of Zac Purton bears close watching. #4 Juneau Park draws well and is capable of bouncing back to form.