3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive preview of Sha Tin races.
C+3 Course
All Weather Track (1,3,5,6)
Race 1
#1 NOBLE WIN can break his Hong Kong maiden in this event, where top jockey Zac Purton will team up with renowned trainer John Size. He's dropping into class five for the very first time which is crucial and has drawn perfectly in gate three. Furthermore, he wasn't far away at his one and only outing over this course and distance a few starts ago, which was a stronger race than this and he was disadvantaged by the wide barrier draw that day. While it shapes as a competitive race, the stars appear to be in alignment for him.
#10 CHARMING STEED doesn't win out of turn but he has produced two very good performances this season over this course and distance. He's trained by Caspar Fownes, whose stable is in form and has a relatively light weight to carry. Fownes has made a number of gear changes with him to try and get the necessary improvement for him to win and from barrier four, he'll settle close to the speed and should be in the contest for a long way.
#7 ASIAN ONE looks ready to run a big race here, particularly with the booking of superstar jockey Hugh Bowman. For a horse at this level, he boasts a decent record over this course and distance, including a previous win over it. He's also been allocated a decent barrier in gate two, where Bowman will be able to give him every chance from. He's only recently dropped into this grade and this is the right race for him to return to winning form in.
#4 COOL BLUE caught the eye last time out when he finished fourth over 1200m on the dirt. His last 200m was particularly strong and suggested that he'll relish the step up to 1650m, which he gets on this occasion. He's also dropping in grade and still has the services of one of Hong Kong's leading jockeys in Karis Teetan. He certainly looks close to a maiden victory and a competitive performance is expected.
#6 M M NEBULA has a good record over the 1650m on the all weather track, with his solitary career victory coming over this track and distance. He's a fit horse who's ran well two and three starts ago before he had excuses last time out when he was sent out as the favourite. He'll be up on the speed, making his own luck, and if he doesn't have to work too hard to get there from his wide draw, then he's a contender in this.
Selections - 1,10,7,4,6
R2 - 10,5,14,3,2
Race 3
#4 SING DRAGON is a horse on the rise from Mark Newnham's stable, having won his last two in a row. Both of those wins have been on this surface and over this distance. There's a bit to like about this horse as he puts himself in the right spot in running, he's got a high cruising speed and has proven that he's up for the fight when challenged, while he also looks to have further rating points in hand. He's only got three more pounds to carry this time following his last start win and from barrier three, he can be up on the speed without doing any work to get there. He's the one to beat.
#5 VICTORY MOMENTS got close against Sing Dragon last time out and is the main danger to him again this time. He was brave in defeat at that latest outing as he had to sustain a long run out wide yet still kept coming, with those two finishing a long way clear of the rest of the field. The booking of Zac Purton is a positive, as is the fact that he meets Sing Dragon five pounds better at the weights. However, from the barriers, I'm concerned that he'll have to cover ground once again and that Sing Dragon will enjoy a better run in transit, but if that doesn't eventuate, then he's certainly capable of winning here.
#9 MONTA FRUTTA is an interesting runner, coming off a last start win over this course and distance. He's rising in class this time and because of that and with Angus Chung's claim as well, he gets into this with an ultra light weight. He's trained by Tony Cruz, whose horses have been racing well and if the leaders overdo it in front, look for him to be flying home late.
#2 REWARD SMILE boasts a formidable record in this grade and will have Hugh Bowman back in the saddle. He's always looked above average, as seen by his ability to win first up in Hong Kong last year after arriving from the UK and while he's been competitive in class two, he hasn't been able to win at that level. He now drops back into class three and if he can handle the all-weather surface, which he's never raced on before, then he's a winning chance.
#3 MAGNIAC boasts solid credentials over this course and distance and is dropping in grade after his competitive showing in class two last time out. He's drawn well, can settle handy to the speed and is well weighted with Ellis Wong's claim. While I feel that the runners mentioned above are stronger winning hopes, he's one that can be thereabouts at the finish and is worth considering for the exotics.
Selections - 4,5,9,2,3
R4 - 1,3,5,13,7
R5 - 6,2,1,12,10
R6 - 6,4,2,1,10
R7 - 3,5,1,2,12
R8 - 7,4,1,2,5
Race 9
#6 CHILL CHIBI is enjoying an excellent season, having won his first three starts in a row before finishing fourth in a strong renewal of the Hong Kong Derby last time out. Those form lines are stronger than any of his rivals, he's drawn well in barrier five and while he didn't appear to have any stamina issues over 2000m last time, he is a previous winner over 1800m. If he runs up to or even close to his best here, he's clearly the one to beat.
#7 CP BRAVE has also performed really well throughout the course of the season and has a very good record over this trip. I thought he was a bit unlucky last time out behind The Best Peach, one of the key form references for this race, as he didn't enjoy the clearest of runs. He's drawn a good gate here, is super consistent, has a decent turn of foot and if he enjoys a bit more clear galloping room this time around, he's can challenge Chill Chibi.
#5 THE BEST PEACH displayed his terrific turn of foot when he won two starts ago on Hong Kong Derby Day before he was then outclassed at group two level at his last start. This is a more winnable assignment for him, the pace looks genuine which he'll appreciate and Karis Teetan jumps back aboard, having steered him to both of his wins in Hong Kong. He's one of the key contenders in this event.
#2 FLAMING RABBIT comes into this race on the back of a last start win over 1600m, where he controlled the race from the front and never really looked like being rundown. This is a stronger contest and the 1800m is an unknown factor for him, but with the rail out as far as it can go for this meeting, horses up on the speed are likely to be at an advantage. That will suit his pattern as he showed he's a hard horse to get passed last time, and if All For St Paul's doesn't push the issue for the lead, then he could once again enjoy an easy time out in front for a long way.
#9 SWEET ENCOUNTER has been a decent horse for his connections throughout his career but he hasn't had a lot of luck lately, particularly at the barrier draw. That was the case last time out in the race won by The Best Peach, where he was the beaten favourite after drawing barrier 12 and was then forced to sit three wide throughout the race. He still presented with his run and looked a winning chance at one point in the home straight, but the extra effort eventually took its toll and he faded away over the last 100m. He's drawn wide again in gate 10 this time, but if he gets a more economical run, he's a solid chance under a fairly light weight.
Selections - 6,7,5,2,9
R10 - 3,4,14,11,1
