3 minute read

Selections and analysis for Sunday's (16 Jan) fixture at Sha Tin.

Race 1: #11 Speed Force, #10 The Elites, #2 Crown Avenue, #7 Run Des Run
Race 2: #11 Street Scream, #8 Golden Empire, #1 Packing Award, #7 Country Boy
Race 3: #3 Apache Pass, #10 Chiron, #5 Steel Win, #2 All Joyful
Race 4: #6 Kumasi, #2 Speedy Mouse, #10 Super Fortune, #1 Flying Bonus
Race 5: #4 En Pointe, #2 Win Win, #11 Joyful Genius, #3 Flying Sword
Race 6: #7 Right As Rain, #4 Boom Stitch, #9 Turquoise Alpha, #6 General Winner
Race 7: #7 Exceptional Nice, #1 Enjoying, #3 Chancheng Prince, #8 King's Capital
Race 8: #4 Rise Brethren, #6 Storm Legend, #1 Soulmate, #3 Captain Win
Race 9: #4 California Spangle, #1 Trillion Win, #7 Good Luck Friend, #3 Fantastic Way
Race 10: #2 Lucky With You, #9 Solid Impact, #4 Romantic Warrior, #7 All Beauty 

Race 1: Un Chau Handicap 

#11 Speed Force can roll forward here. He shapes as the one to run down off the back a strong win two starts ago. #10 The Elites only needs to offset the awkward gate to be a factor here. He can figure with the right run under the in-form Vagner Borges. #2 Crown Avenue always gives them a head start but he is not worth discounting here. Strong booking of Karis Teetan suggests he is in the right frame of mind. #7 Run Des Run landed his first win last start. He should improve off that effort, although this is a tricky contest. 

Race 2: Pak Tin Handicap 

#11 Street Scream finally gets some luck with an inside gate. He can turn his form around here, especially in a tight and compact contest such as this – rating only seven points below the top. #8 Golden Empire rattled home for an impressive third on debut last time out. Zac Purton takes over and he's open to further improvement. #1 Packing Award is after back-to-back wins. He's a lightly raced talent with a bit of upside. #7 Country Boy is consistent. He should be thereabouts once more. 

Race 3: Tai Hang Tung Handicap 

#3 Apache Pass caught the eye on the dirt up at Conghua recently. He makes a welcome drop down to Class 4 and his latest effort on the dirt can be forgiven. Expect sharp improvement here in the weaker grade from an ideal gate. #10 Chiron is progressing well. He's coming to hand nicely now and does look a strong win and place chance. #5 Steel Win steps up in trip. He has a bit of class on the dirt. Keep safe. #2 All Joyful is all powerful on the dirt. Suspect there is more than meets the eye in this contest, however. 

Race 4: Cheung Sha Wan Handicap             

#6 Kumasi showed ability on debut. He's open to further improvement here and the step up in trip looks a positive. He's worth taking a chance on here for Vincent Ho and Francis Lui. #2 Speedy Mouse is a course and distance winner. Zac Purton hops up now and he shapes as a big threat from gate two. #10 Super Fortune has the ability, but he has struggled since his debut win. Still, he's capable of bouncing out of the ground at any time. #1 Flying Bonus can find the front here. He'll run them along. 

Race 5: Shek Kip Mei Handicap 

#4 En Pointe has the ability. He can bounce back from a lacklustre effort last start, when perhaps he did use up a bit of petrol early on and when travelling wide. Joao Moreira's booking warrants respect. #2 Win Win has claims here. Benno Yung's stable is in red-hot form, and he shapes as the main threat. #11 Joyful Genius is a touch unlucky not to already be a winner. He's doing well and finds a suitable contest here. #3 Flying Sword is in career-best form. He can bounce back. 

Race 6: So Uk Handicap 

#7 Right As Rain is lightly raced but has shown a stack of upside. He's reeling off some sizzling late splits and it's only a matter of time before he puts in a winning run. #4 Boom Stitch is better than his record suggests. He only needs luck to be a big factor here. Expect a big run. #9 Turquoise Alpha turned his form around last start to finish a close-up third. He'll be doing his best work late with Zac Purton up. #6 General Winner roared late last time out. He's open to improvement again as a lightly raced prospect. 

Race 7: Nam Shan Handicap 

#7 Exceptional Nice has been nothing short of consistent across his career. He's most deserving of a win and from the good gate he once again gets his chance. This could well be his day if he manages to park behind the speed without interruption. #1 Enjoying narrowly missed in a strong race last start. He can transfer that form to the dirt. #3 Chancheng Prince is a dirt specialist with an imposing record. However, his form looks like it's slipped a bit of late. #8 King's Capital is next best. He has a powerful finish on his day. 

Race 8: Lai Kok Handicap 

#4 Rise Brethren is progressing. He raced without room at crucial stages which clearly cost him a much, much closer finish. He's talented and looks capable of snagging a first Hong Kong win here. #6 Storm Legend is better than his record suggests. He's a win and place chance here in a deep contest. The distance suits him. #1 Soulmate should find the front here. He can run them along with Alfred Chan's five-pound claim in use. #3 Captain Win won well two starts ago. He remains a threat. 

Race 9: Chak On Handicap  

#4 California Spangle is a talent on the rise. He's a four-time winner from five starts who appears more than capable of enhancing his record again here. Zac Purton hops up and he shapes as the one they all must run down. #1 Trillion Win draws ideally. He can challenge here from the inside gate under a positive ride. #7 Good Luck Friend is a blow-out chance. He's worth supporting at odds and from the gate he should get every opportunity. #3 Fantastic Way just needs to offset gate one. He pairs favourably with Joao Moreira. 

Race 10: Hoi Lai Handicap 

#2 Lucky With You has a stack of ability. He's chasing his fourth consecutive win – which isn't easy – but the step up in distance here does look like a plus. He's a real Classic Mile contender who can blitz this bunch. #9 Solid Impact turned in a career-best effort last time out. He's a live chance here and the booking of Zac Purton signals intent. #4 Romantic Warrior is looking to remain unbeaten. He's shown enough to suggest the rise in trip is a positive. Others preferred but keep him very, very safe. #7 All Beauty is next best.