3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – The Argonaut Plate, HK $950,000
Griffin – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 57.67 Standard Time: 56.70 Course/Class record: 55.33 California Spangle
LA FORZA (AUS 2yo g Toronado – Minetti) jumped an odds-on favourite again today, but this time he paid the punters. The two-year-old got away well and put himself close to the speed from the outset, though he was racing away from the grandstand rail. Purton was already niggling at him as they ran onto the course proper with 450m to run, ensuring he kept his mind on the job and began to creep closer through the middle stages. Purton began to make his move at the 300m point as he asked for an effort, with the son of Toronado letting down to join the leaders close to home. La Forza would eventually stick his nose in front with 50m left to go and inch away to win comfortably on the line, with the official margin being a half-length. RUN YES RUN was quickly into stride from the wide alley and showed plenty of pace to take up the running on settling down. Matthew Chadwick was able to hold his position along the outside rail and the gelding looked to be travelling strongly past the 400m point. He kept finding under the urgings of Chadwick and he fought on well when La Forza came up alongside him late in the race. He didn't go down without a fight and he won't be winless for too long. SANTORINI was awkwardly into stride and settled in a midfield position today. He was only a length off the eventual winner with 400m to run and while he lacked the sprint that La Forza produced, he kept on well to the line to finish a clear third.
Race 2 – Special Cargo Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 2:03.13 Standard Time: 2:02.85 Course/Class record: 2:01.56 Gorgeous Again
It was an emphatic victory for the Chris So-trained GOLDEN FAIRY (NZ 5yo g Burgundy – Steal) who led all the way and ran his rivals into the ground. The five-year-old was quickly out of the barriers and Alex Badel pressed forward immediately. While he was taken on in the early stages, the Frenchman was able to hold his position along the inside to burrow through and take the lead outright early down the back stretch. Badel was then left alone out in front, leading by a length as they turned off the back as he stacked the field up around the home turn. The gelding kicked away shortly after straightening and never gave anything else a chance, quickly putting a space on his rivals and extending it right down to
the line, scoring by 3-1/4 lengths. JOYFUL CHAMPION jumped well off the inside barrier and while he was unable to take up the running, he settled on the back of the leader and eventual winner. The flashy grey travelled comfortably under Karis Teetan throughout the event but came under pressure before the home turn to tr and keep up with the leader as the tempo was raised. He ran to a clear second early in the straight, but he was never really making ground on the leader. GREEN LASER made a strong run from the back after moving into the three-wide line around the home turn. He was no match for the winner and looked to peak on his run late, finishing a clear third.
Race 3 – Manicou Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.42 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
David Hayes and Karis Teetan combined to win the first All Weather event of the card, with REGENT GLORY (AUS 6yo g All American – Amphlett) proving far too good. The gelding was one of the first out of the barriers, with Teetan happy to settle in a trailing position as they turned off the back. The Mauritian enjoyed a comfortably run around the home turn and stuck to the inside at the top of the straight, looking to sneak up the inside rail. Despite that gap being closed, things still worked out for the six-year-old as he was able to go around the leader with a gap appearing, with Regent Glory moving up to hit the front 100m from home. Once he took the lead the race was all over, winning by 1-3/4 lengths. HAPPY TANGO got away on terms and rolled forward under Dylan Mo to take up the running as they sorted their order out, eventually getting across to the inside as they turned off the back straight. Mo kept the field running around the home turn and the leader put in a good kick as the first three around the turn kicked clear. He was only claimed inside the final 100m where he was unable to fight back, but it was a gutsy effort, nonetheless. EVERYONE'S VICTORY stuck on well from just off the pace to finish in third, but he was some 4-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 4 – Insular Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:47.37 Standard Time: 1:47.60 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
HOLY LAKE (IRE 4yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Lake Louise) secured his second win in-a-row for Vincent Ho and Francis Lui. After getting away well from a wide barrier, Ho was able to slide the gelding into the one-out-one-back position with a good pace being set early on.
He travelled well through the middle stages and was right there to pounce when the pace went up a notch around the home turn, getting into the clear at the top of the straight to make his challenge. He was left flat footed initially, but once he got through his gears, he let rip, taking the lead with 150m left to run and inched away to win by half a length on the line. ORIENTAL SMOKE was the longest-priced runner in the field and rolled forward to sit up on the pace. Ben Thompson was happy to take a trail just off the leader through the opening stages, sitting about a length off the leader in the first 800m of the event before moving up turning off the back. Thompson began to urge the gelding along from the 600m point as and he moved up to take the lead with 200m left to run. He didn't hold the lead for long though as Holy Lake ran past him shortly after, but he kept on well to the line to only be a half-length off the winner. ILLUMINOUS was making plenty of ground late in the race after settling at the tail of the field, but he was unable to reel in the winner from well back.
Race 5 – Isle Of Man, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.85 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
After trialling like a bomb, BOTTOMUPTOGETHER (AUS 3yo g Shamus Award – Miss Ethics) bought that form to race day as he scored comfortably on debut. He wasn't the fastest into stride and was bumped around at the start, but he quickly got through his gears in the opening stages to settle just off the speed. He continued to stride forward through the middle stages to be just 1-1/2 lengths off the leader with 400m remaining, sitting out near the middle of the track. He strode into the race ominously and quickly put his rivals away with ease, opening up a gap on his rivals, with Purton putting the whip away over the final 75m. The three-year-old scored by 1-1/2 lengths in very impressive fashion. MULTISUPER ended up close to the winner in the run as he settled just off the speed from an outside alley. He raced well through the middle stages but lost some ground when forced to get off the grandstand rail and into clear air. He was no match for the winner, but there was a gap back to third position in a strong effort. TALENTS SUPREMO was a very eye-catching run from the back of the pack to finish in third position.
Race 6 – Norman Conqueror Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:34.80 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Zac Purton made it a winning treble on the day as AESTHETICISM (NZ 4yo g Derryn – La Petite) brought up his third win this season. The Pierre Ng-trained galloper ended up near the tail of the field on settling down after being crowded at the start. Zac Purton was racing between horses down the back straight, with the Australian hoop able to improve his position slightly as they turned off the back. The pace slackened as they turned off the back which prompted Purton to get on his bike with 500m to run, moving wider on the course as the leaders quickened the tempo up once again. Aestheticism moved into the clear on straightening and came with a strong run down the outside. He was still over a length away with 100m to run, but he had plenty left in the tank as he got over the top to win. Although the margin was only a head, it was comfortable on the line with Purton dropping his hands in the final stride or two. MISTER DAPPER had rolled forward from his wide alley to sit on the outside of the leader in the run. He sprinted quickly when the pace went on around the home turn, moving up to take the lead with 300m remaining and breaking away from his rivals. That was only momentarily though as the eventual winner was baring down on him late in the race. He was only outgunned in the final couple of strides. JOY OF SPRING was another who made a strong run from the back of the pack, finishing in third position after being the widest runner on straightening.
Race 7 – Monaveen Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.62 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was a blow out in the seventh race as $71 chance BEAUTY GLORY (GB 6yo g Toronado – Gregoria) turned his form right around. The six-year-old fired out of the gates and after sitting wide early in the event, Brenton Avdulla eventually got across to sit on the outside of the leader. The race was strongly run and Avdulla was right there pouring the pressure on through the middle stages, before moving up to eyeball the leader as they turned for the judge. After an early tussle in the straight, the gelding finally stuck his nose in front with a furlong to run, but he did have the $2.70 favourite coming home strongly. Beauty Glory was just too strong late in the race though, fending off the late challenge and winning by a length on the line. STORMING DRAGON settled in a midfield position under Zac Purton after getting away on terms from barrier 4. Purton was kept off the rail in the run but it worked out for the best, as he was able to shove his way into the clear rounding the home turn and setting out after the leaders. He was 2-1/2 lengths off the front runner at the top of the straight and he was making solid ground midway down the straight, but he may have just peaked on the run late in the event. Once he got to second he couldn't get past the leader, finishing a length away. ARIEL was bold from the front too, setting a strong tempo and still being there at the conclusion of the race, only 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf – Distance 2400m - Track Good
Time: 2:25.46 Standard Time: 2:27.05 Course/Class record: 2:24.60 Viva Pataca
The feature event of the day produced a Tony Cruz quinella, with the longer-priced runner LA CITY BLANCHE (ARG 5yo g Cityscape – Etoile Blanc) returned to winning ways. Matthew Chadwick was able to get the gelding out of the barriers on terms and land in a midfield position along the rails as they sorted their order out. Chadwick was able to put his mount to sleep early in the race with a strong tempo being set up front. After travelling well through the early and middle stages of the race, Chadwick had La City Blanche under heavy pressure with 650m left to run, with the gelding responding well and picking up his momentum around the turn. He had 3-3/4 lengths to make up at the top of the straight, but he just kept coming under the riding of Chadwick, as a trio of runners squared off over the final 150m. La City Blanche stuck his nose in front with 50m left to run and he proved too strong late in the race, scoring by a neck on the line as a $22 chance. Stablemate GIVE G PATCH had a similar run in transit as Harry Bentley raced alongside La City Blanche for much of the race. Bentley began to make his move with around 700m remaining though and got nearly 2 lengths in front of the eventual winner approaching the home turn, with Five G Patch looking to have plenty left in the tank. He stuck on well in the straight, moving up to take the lead momentarily with 150m to run as he and La City Blanche paired off in the final 100m. He just couldn't fend off the winner though, who proved too strong in the closing stages. UNBELIEVABLE showed plenty of staying power as he moved up to take the lead shortly with around 200m to run. His effort came to an end though shortly after he hit the front as he'd done plenty of work to get there, but he didn't go down without a fight, finishing just 1-3/4 lengths off the winner in a gutsy performance.
Race 9 – Game Spirit Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.12 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Karis Teetan secured a winning double on the day as HONG KONG HALL (NZ 4yo g Charm Spirit – Lets Have Some Fun) made every post a winner. The four-year-old was one of the first into stride and he showed plenty of speed to take up the running from his inside alley. He held the rail as they turned off the back and while he wasn't being pressured out in front, a strong tempo was being set. Turning for home, the gelding was able to kick away under Teetan, putting a length on his closest rival with 200m remaining and extending that
margin down to the line. He was just too fast and too strong, leading all of the way to win by two lengths on the line. SUPER WIN DRAGON jumped well but didn't have the pace of some of his rivals, eventually getting onto the back of the leader on settling down. Keagan De Melo enjoyed a cosy run in behind the speed, but he was hemmed up along the inside with two runners wider out. As they swung the bend, De Melo was able to get off the rail and into the clear, spotting the leader a couple of lengths as he began to chase after Hong Kong Hall. He was unable to get close to the leader in the dying stages, but he showed plenty of strength to run into second position close to home. VICTORY MOMENTS sat up on the speed throughout the event and moved up ominously early in the straight. He ran out of legs inside the final 100m though and eventually tired to finish in third, 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 10 – Brandy Snap Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.81 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
Progressive galloper KA YING RISING (NZ 3yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) brought up a hat-trick of wins an announced himself as the next big thing in the sprinting ranks of Hong Kong. The gelding showed plenty of pace to roll forward after the jump, eventually landing on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. The pace was strong throughout but the three-year-old travelled superbly around the home turn and he strode up to hit the front 400m from home. Zac Purton pressed the button and the gelding shot away, putting up three lengths in a matter of strides. Purton had already stopped riding passing the 200m point, checking out the big screen and having a big look over his shoulder as the gelding cantered down to the winning post, scoring by 2-1/2 lengths eased down in a very, very impressive display. PACKING TREADMILL rolled forward from an inside draw to sneak underneath Ka Ying Rising and take the lead on settling down. The pace was genuine throughout, and Hewitson was getting stuck into his mount on straightening as he tried to shake his rivals. Ka Ying Rising blew right by him at the top of the straight, and while he was never a winning chance, he stuck on strongly in the straight to hold on to second position. GORGEOUS WIN made some late ground, hitting the line strongly to end up in third in a photo finish.
Race 11 – Inch Arran Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.00 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
It took until race 11 for Hugh Bowman to get on the board, but he did so with a narrow victory aboard TOURBILLON PRINCE (AUS 5yo g Rommel – Colleges) for the Benno Yung yard. After getting away quickly from barrier 12, Bowman worked forward to sit on the outside of the leader ass they worked off the back straight. The tempo was solid through the middle stages, though Bowman still looked to have a strong hold of his mount as they turned for home. The five-year-old quickly moved up to hit the front shortly after straightening and he kicked strongly when Bowman pressed the button. He always had a couple of rivals baring down on him, but he was strong right to the line, keeping his rivals at bay and scoring by a short head. SUPERB KID jumped the $2.40 favourite and settled just off the speed under Zac Purton after being a little slow into stride. Purton was able to work off the inside rail and into the clear as they turned for home, urging the gelding to pick up in the straight. He was doing his best work close to the line as Purton tried to punch him out over the closing stages, but he couldn't stick his nose in front, going down in a photo finish. CHING was strong to the line also under the top weight, finishing in third position with a good run down the outside.
