3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.

Race 1

#7 Lucky Gor is one of four debutantes in the first and should make his presence felt when the race is ready to be decided. He's won two of three trials and I'm allowing excuses for the most recent when he finished down the track on the all weather surface. I like his pedigree, particularly through the dam a daughter of Snitzel, and he possesses enough speed to race handy. We'll have to wait and see what he's got when push comes to shove but he's been on my horses to follow list for quite sometime.
#4 California Vanes is another youngster on debut but has taken a little longer to prepare. His first two trials were back in November at Shatin before he was transferred to Conghua for an additional three, plus further training. The owner races thoroughbreds in many different countries and I'm sure this lad was hand picked just for Hong Kong. He has speed to race handy and like all newcomers the proof shall be in the pudding when the hard core pressure goes on.
#14 Give Way Please was branded a roarer early on in his career and has not troubled the scorer to this point. Surgery to correct that condition was completed in June 2021 and he's now ready to go back to the races. He has a decent engine which was visible in two of his initial trial wins before a very quiet trial a few weeks back. The gate is poor and he'll be up against it from the jump but I want to keep him safe.
#12 El Jefe has been a costly animal overall and can real you in with his closing speed and eye catching performances. A drop back to the 1000m at his latest was a great decision by trainer Dennis Yip and he almost got the money. Straight racing now looks his go off the back of that and a repeat effort see's him go close.
#10 Kowloon East Star has drawn perfectly for a straight 1000m race and possesses speed to burn. He hasn't raced since mid November, or trialled, but additional gear changes are noted. His performance in three of his four starts hasn't been up to scratch, however, his remaining effort when 3rd was good.

Selections : 7,4,14,12,10

R2 - 8,9,4,7,2

Race 3

"The Centenary Sprint Cup"

#3 Courier Wonder was courageous when finishing 3rd in the "Hong Kong Sprint" and is capable of turning that result around. With a small field assembled today it's likely he'll settle outside the lead, or box seat with cover, if others push up from deeper out. This can enable him to get a break on the back markers and strong closers before their fully stoked up.
It'll take a centimetre perfect ride to get the timing right but I expect him to go very close.
#1 Sky Field was ridden a treat  by Blake Shinn to avoid the interference rounding the turn in the "International Sprint" and raced away with the win. It was no fluke and his preparation suggested a strong performance would be likely to unfold. No doubt luck helped him out but the confidence of another win and a smaller field to deal with are relevant. I felt today he might just run out of ground before the post arrives but he's owes us nothing and could certainly win again.
#8 Master Eight is undefeated from five outings and returns up in distance to 1200m. Moriera could have taken the ride but has opted with "Courier Wonder" who has the score on the board at this level. It'll be interesting to see how this progressive type measures up at set weights but the ratings suggests he's likely to taste defeat.
 #4 Hot King Prawn hasn't won since he toyed with the opposition in this race last year. A long lay off from racing followed that dominant performance and he's taken time to recapture his best. An improved effort at his most recent start however did send out an ominous warning. With two runs under the saddle, a good draw and a set weights race now on offer, he could well be featuring in the finish.
#2 Wellington is the X-Factor following a career best during his previous campaign with a dazzling victory in the "Chairman's Sprint Prize". The current track record holder(1200m) hasn't been at his best this term and a chequered passage in the "International Sprint" wasn't ideal. A recent trial victory under Alexis Badel has since suggested he's closer to the horse we know and a favourable draw is hard to dismiss.

Selections : 3,1,8,4,2

R4 - 4,5,7,2,3

R5 - 7,1,3,8,6

R6 -  1,12,10,5,11

Race 7

"The Stewards' Cup"

#1 Golden Sixty is on the verge of a 17th consecutive win which shall equal the ultimate achievement held by the great "Silent Witness".All reports from the stable remain positive as the champion lines up for win 20 from his 21st start, plus a second "Group 1 Stewards Cup". He's had the measure of the same opposition for more than two years so only an issue or bad luck see's him defeated.
#2 More Than This as previously suggested in this column has the closing power to match it with "Golden Sixty" down the home stretch. The problem is he can't hold his ground through the first half and therefore gives away an unassailable start. Another trial following his runner up finish in the "International Mile" displays him at the top of his game, so should the champ go under it's likely to be him that takes the credit.
#3 Waikuku showed he's almost back to his best in the "Group 2 Jockey Club Mile" but couldn't really get near "Golden Sixty" in the "Hong Kong International Mile" in December. John Size has poured another two barrier trials in to the two time Group 1 winner in an attempt to find a little bit extra. He's drawn ideally and shall again receive his chance to beat the champ if good enough.
#4 Russian Emperor hasn't bumped in to "Golden Sixty" to date and is still yet to win a race since arriving. A courageous third in the "Hong Kong Cup" was sensational and a remarkable career peak performance. The drop back from 2000m to 1600m is not a complete negative and I'm fascinated to see how he measures up. He did look the winner with a furlong to run in the "Hong Kong Cup" and could potentially be an unexpected contender.
#6 Healthy Happy was superb first up at 1400m and maintains his unbeaten record fresh. His record however at a mile and second up don't hold the same value as the former. A recorded fast time over 1600m in a narrow defeat last season was excellent and could hold him in good stead, but he'll need a super sonic performance to bring up another win.

Selections : 1,2,3,4,6

R8 - 1,4,10,3,11

R9 - 11,1,13,6,3

R10 - 10,6,12,1,5