3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Sha Tin races.
RACE 1 - PERIDOT HANDICAP, HK $967,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1200m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:09.08 Standard Time: 1:09.50 Course/Class Record: 1:08.46
Winner: HINYUEN SWIFTNESS (AUS 7yo g Duke Of Marmalade – Stolen Girlfriend) used the inside gate to full advantage jumping well to share the lead on the rail and then kick through and away on the home turn. Never looked likely to surrender his advantage under Alfred Chan. A big form turnaround after running 13th and 14th in his previous two starts over 1400m, the drop to 1200m perhaps a help and punters who backed him in as the noted market mover obviously onto him. Now three wins from 39 starts.
Runner-up: XPONENTIAL came into the race as the warm favourite off just four runs and a winner on debut at this track and distance. He tracked the two leaders along and was brave in the chase but found the winner just too strong on the day. An inexperienced horse with more to achieve.
Run Of The Race: Savabeel debutant FAST PACE was very slow out and last, still back there at the turn and he carved out a fine final 400m to make up good ground. Can only get better from here and he looks a nice 1400m to a mile type horse, a big strong fellow. He was a $230,000 yearling.
Disappointment: HARD PROMISE gave in quickly off a handy enough sit and gave backers no cause for confidence at 6/1.
Comparison: A shade under standard to start the days racing, leaders had much of their own way and the fast lane looks the rail based on one race.
Market Mover: HIYUEN SWIFTNESS $11.60 to $7.90
RACE 2 - JASPER HANDICAP, HK $1,450,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – All Weather Track – Distance 1650m – Track: Good
Time: 1:38.69 Standard Time: 1:38.20 Course/Class Record: 1:37.22
Winner: TOUCH OF LUCK (AUS 5yo g Hard Spun – Seamstress) got a beautiful trip on the heels of the leading pair and came with a sustained finish to win well, holding good bids wider on the track to secure win three from start 19. He was a 1200m AWT winner in March, so a nice step forward to counter the 1650m here. First ride on the horse for Brazilian hoop Vagner Borges who has found some solid winning form himself in the last week.
Runner-up: CLEAR CHOICE gave a strong kick as he always does after sharing the pace. Two wins a second and two fourths his last five runs on the all-weather track. Danny Shum has a good honest performer there, one who will win his share in Class 3 & 4. He has five wins from 28 starts so no duffer.
Run Of The Race: Interesting to see quite a lot of tote money for the two runners dashing home from rearward positions. Both UNITE SPIRIT and GREAT TREASURE hit the line very strongly but gave away too greater starts on the home turn to be realistic winning chances. Keep both in the memory.
Disappointment: LONDON LUCKYSTAR was a star the pervious start at long odds, backed into $3.10 favourite this time. But he was trapped three-wide and racing ungenerously and didn't have a kick to give when needed.
Comparison: Well outside standard in a race that never really got a tempo going. A rather flat time on the dirt track.
Market Mover: GREAT TREASURE $12.60 to $6.90, UNITE SPIRIT $23.70 to $12.40
RACE 3 - PERIDOT HANDICAP, HK $967,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1200m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:09.33 Standard Time: 1:09.50 Course/Class Record: 1:08.46
Winner: GALLANT LEGACY (FR 5yo g Redoute's Choice – Torentosa) would have been unlucky to get beaten, but it took a while for him to find a gap he needed after trailing the pace on the rail. Searching for back-to-back riding wins, Vagner Borges had to ease out to gain a run, ultimately found space and away they went, too smart. A nice rise in effort from the former 220,000 purchase at the 2016 French Ready To Run sale. He'd not placed in eight previous starts so trainer Michael Chang now has him on the board.
Runner-up: GENERAL TRUMP hit the line very powerfully wide out and interestingly stepped back onto the turf track after his two previous outings were on the poly track. A good tidy record for him, he's already won twice in 2020 and a third is very close at hand. Sectionally very good the final two 400m splits.
Run Of The Race: ARMOR STAR would have worried the winner with a clear go at them. Last and a conspicuous tail-ender at the half-mile the Dalghar debutant for Frankie Lor was badly help up looking for a rails run 300m out and only got clear in the late stages, firing through gaps. Make sure this horse is in your black book. Opened 100/1 and closed wider. Lucky to be $6.00 next start.
Disappointment: Another debut runner with trial form was ILUVATAAR and he was heavily backed to start a $2.10 favourite. Slow out of the machine he picked up some places but once wide on the turn he became quite dour in his finish.
Comparison: A tick under standard with no great pace of note. Rail was again a nice place to be on the turf track.
Market Mover: ILUVATAAR $2.80 to $2.10, UNITED WE STAND $88.00 to $48.00
Bled: Blazing Connection
RACE 4 - TOPAZ HANDICAP. HK $725,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1600m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:35.40 Standard Time: 1:35.25 Course/Class Record: 1:34.38
Winner: HUMBLE STEED (IRE 6yo g Kodiac – Singitta) grabs his second Class 5 win within a month when too good again after Happy Valley success in mid-April. It's been a long way to glory for the Irish-bred, starting off his 10-start career in December 2017, and now, after all this time a winner in consecutive starts. To put it in perspective the horse never raced between December 2017 and May 2019, just three starts that year and now five in 2020. Good things come to those who wait.
Runner-up: GOLDEN GENERAL did nice work wider from middle-outer in the run and places for the first time in 11 Hong Kong starts. He's another long-termer, started off in May 2018 and finding form in May 2020.
Run Of The Race: From barrier 14 and back last, THE JOY OF GIVING hit the line well to run sixth in 22.95 the final 400m, the only horse to break 23.0 in the race.
Disappointment: RED BRICK FIGHTER sat one-one as a well-backed $2.80 favourite and couldn't finish it off under the urgings of Zac Purton.
Comparison: Outside standard on a track that's not playing with the same fire today.
Market Mover: RED BRICK FIGHTER $4.70 to $2.80
RACE 5 - SAPPHIRE HANDICAP, HK $967,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1800m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:47.60 Standard Time: 1:48.00 Course/Class Record: 1:46.54
Winner: PERFECT TO PLAY (IRE 6yo g Born To Sea – Centreofattention) breaks a 12-month winless streak and his first top three since September 2019 when too good under the perfect guidance of Joao Moreira and a patient trainer in Casper Fownes. Barrier two was the big help, Moreira able to find the rail and the trail for the duration, having to switching only outside the leader to get a run and once clear it was race over. Steadily slipping down the weight scale in Class 4 has helped. He was carrying 133 pounds five and six starts ago, now winning with 122 pounds.
Runner-up: NATURAL STORM (by Pins) was extra good. Back near last and coasting at the turn he had many lengths to make up. Gaps were needed, coming late he surged at the winner but just had too much of a margin to peg back. The bit to like about this run the fact it was just his fourth career start and at 1800m showing a lot of upside as a three-year-old.
Run Of The Race: NATURAL STORM excellent, BEAUTY ANGEL super tough being wide all the way and not giving in, but JIMMU who was wide from gate 13 then last of the 14 runners was best on ground. Blake Shinn guided the grey through gaps to edge closer after the turn and the final dash was powerful to grab third. Now 14 starts without a win in Hong Kong, but Shinn has stuck by him in three consecutive starts. He won't jump off now. Do remember this – the horse won his maiden at 2000m in France.
Disappointment: CALIFORNIA LEGEND was where the winners had been coming from on the day, on the rail and on pace. But after leading in comfortable sectionals there was no kick left fading to finish third-from-last.
Comparison: A shade under standard which has been the benchmark today and no records broken.
Market Mover: PERFECT TO PLAY $9.30 to $6.40, JIMMU $33.00 to $21.00
RACE 6 - RUBY HANDICAP, HK $967,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – All Weather Track – Distance 1650m – Track: Good
Time: 1:39.11 Standard Time: 1:38.75 Course/Class Record: 1:38.02
Winner: THIS ONE'S FOR YOU (GB 5yo g Lethal Force – Cool Catena) continues a good 2020 and a nice rise in form and effort now racing at his peak trip of 1650m on the All Weather. He really didn't do much as a turf horse at 1200m and 1400m, so trainer Francis Lui adapted the five-year-old to dirt racing and he's finished top-four in 10 of his 12 starts on the surface. Booking Moreira to ride is never a bad thing, either. The great rider knew they'd come back to him after a solid opening stoush he was easing off heels from deep on the inside coming towards the turn going on to win narrowly but well wide on the track.
Runner-up: Snitzel gelding PARTY EVERYDAY was well back, wide with some cover before making his claim and went under narrowly. His effort was deserving of success. Notably, his first start on the dirt track so we'll get success from him on this surface under the guidance of Tony Cruz.
Run Of The Race: First and second gave them a decent head-start and a beating in what were the best runs in the race. Their sectionals over the final half-mile clearly superior.
Disappointment: JADE FORTUNE hung inwards in the run home and would have finished closer had he run straight.
Comparison: Outside standard. The dirt track was on the slower side in comparison to recent races on the surface.
Market Mover: SMILING CITY $15.00 to $6.90
Fined & Suspended: Joao Moreira (THIS ONE'S FOR YOU) fined $75,000 and suspended May 27 meeting for careless riding past the 250m mark.
RACE 7 - CRYSTAL HANDICAP, HK $1,450,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1200m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:09.26 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class Record: 1:08.32
Winner: RELENTLESS ME (AUS 6yo g Statue Of Liberty – Snow Flight) goes back-to-back after a brilliant win here April 26, and now successful in four of his lasts even starts for an obviously very happy trainer in Douglas Whyte. He was outstanding when always wide last start, this time barrier one allowed him to gain a lovely trail on the fence. It got interesting when he had to dig deep to clip leader STANLEY PARK late. Fantastic news for the well-heralded apprentice rider Jerry Chau, his first day of riding in Hong Kong under his master Whyte, one of the greats of the turf himself. Chau, who claims 10 pounds will be hot in demand with that luxury after a winning ride on day one.
Runner-up: STANLEY PARK was so well rated in front by Victor Wong he found himself three-lengths clear at the 250m and only a brave surge from a talented horse undid him. He came on a high rating after winning five races for Toby Edmonds in Queensland, so nice to see his first show of form in Hong Kong in his fifth start. Acclimatisation starting to kick in, he's a horse to follow.
Run Of The Race: WIND N GRASS flashes home in 21.70 the final 400m a very slick final sectional from the Irish import who won four from six starts in his homeland to 1600m. John Size must be working this gelding towards a lift in distance, and when he does be on.
Disappointment: FANTASY can't be graded too harshly, the $1.90 favourite wide on the bend but a little more dour in his sprint today. But do factor in he's jumped from 118 pounds to 126 pounds in two previous wins and carried 133 pounds today. Weigh stops them all.
Comparison: Right on standard continuing the days trend.
Market Mover: RELENTLESS ME $3.60 to $3.00
RACE 8 - AMETHYST HANDICAP, HK $2,100,000
Class 2 – Rating 100-80 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1000m – Track: Good TF
Time: 0:55.08 Standard Time: 0:56.15 Course/Class Record: 0:54.69
Winner: HONG KONG WIN (AUS 4yo g Mossman – With Apologies) grabs win four from start 13 for John Size with six minor placings so what a player this horse is. And just when we thought the track was quiet, they revved it up on the straight track smashing the standard time and not too far off the record level. The Mossman sat third from a wider gate and suited there near the outside rail. He had to ease back towards the middle of the track but kept up the powerful burst to hold out STRONGER who was a threat 200m out. Dam With Apologies won five at 1100m to 1200m, she by former champion sprinter Testa Rossa.
Runner-up: STRONGER was very good. Having to come from the lower half of the track from an inside draw he rallied exceptionally well and a 'stronger' effort on his part.
Run Of The Race: SEVEN HEAVENS is a horse to follow. Knocked off his feet at the 600m he managed to recover and dash into fourth, a super run given the time they ran. He clocked 21.91 and the fastest 400m to the winning post after that.
Disappointment: BALTIC SUCCESS got a good lead but could not go on with it. He'd last won very easily at 1000m on April 12. The son of former quick filly and mare Madam Pedrille will bounce back.
Comparison: The 1000m chute obviously in great order and the first time today they ran well under standard suggesting the course proper is not so sharp.
Market Mover: MULTIMILLION $7.20 to $4.10
RACE 9 - AMBER HANDICAP, HK $2,800,000
Class 1 – Rating 110-85 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1400m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:20.88 Standard Time: 1:21.25 Course/Class Record: 1:19.92
Winner: BUDDIES (AUS 4yo g So You Think – Gladwell) is given a gun ride by the very talented apprentice Jerry Chau who could not wish for a better start to his HK career with a winning double. He had BUDDIES in the trail from gate four and the horse cruised into it when he asked for the response, never in doubt. The $A320,000 yearling at the 2017 Inglis Easter Sale has been nothing but good for owner Wong Chin Leung, now 15 starts, five wins and five placings for $HK6 million in stakes. And far from finished. He has risen from Class 4 in early 2019 to winning a Class 1 here.
Runner-up: AMAZING ONE PLUS debuted here, a three-time winner in Ireland and a Derby Trial victor at 2000m, tried to as far as 2400m when he ran fifth in the Epsom Derby in 2018. Punters let him go around at very long odds in his first Hong Kong start, but they'll not let him slide again on this performance. Middle inner and dashing home really strongly he immediately has his band of followers. And we await the call to rise further in distance from trainer Danny Shum.
Run Of The Race: DECRYPT was excellent from towards the tail and Frankie Lor will soon find him a mile race, and DRAGON GENERAL deserves a mention, sound run from the rear on the eye and the sectional times he ran were strong without figuring in the photo.
Disappointment: BEAUTY LEGACY was not disappointing, rather disappointed for a run on the rail after rider Joao Moreira looked for a short-cut. Known as 'Hawkshot' this horse won the Caulfield Autumn Stakes and half a million in stakes in Australia before his arrival. Weight is his issue right now but he'll be winning any tick of the clock.
Comparison: Solidly run by the better class horses and well under standard.
Market Mover: MORETHANLUCKY $29.90 to $13.50, TRANSCENDENT $25.20 to $14.00
RACE 10 - EMERALD HANDICAP, HK $1,450,000
Class 3 – Rating 85-60 – Turf 'C' Course – Distance 1400m – Track: Good TF
Time: 1:21.39 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class Record: 1:20.62
Winner: ASSIMILATE (AUS 5yo g Sebring – Jester's Girl) brings his best Australian form to the surface, the former Canberra Guineas winner and Inglis 3YO Guineas runner-up for Peter and Paul Snowden decisive in his best performance since arriving in Hong Kong. Slow out and last he had to be good coming widest on the track and maintaining a huge sprint to run past the entire field. This has become a real trademark of French jockey Antoine Hamelin, his ability to drop back and charge home on his mounts becoming very notable.
Runner-up: RIGHT CHOICE hit the line hard from back in the pack in a great finish to end the day. He was back to 1400m from 1600m and further and continues to show versatility.
Run Of The Race: ASSIMILATE fantastic to run past the field, and $312 chance KYRUS UNICORN very much a watch horse for the future darting home without a clear passage under Blake Shinn and had plenty more to offer at the line.
Disappointment: A very competitive race and no obvious disappointments.
Comparison: Under standard and as you would expect a strong tempo in a field of some quality.
Market Mover: BEAUTY RUSH $21.40 to $14.80, RIGHT CHOICE $10.00 to $6.50
