3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Tourmaline, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.78 Standard Time: 1:34.85 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 La Panache
Winner: JOY MASTER (AUS 6yo g Rogano – Irish Hut) was a bit slow away from the barriers and was forced to settle toward the rear of the field. He was behind a wall of horses as he turned into the straight as the field fanned out, but Alfred Chan was able to get off heels and into the clear as he passed the 400m point and running on strongly. He finished the race off powerfully over the final 100m to win by a length.
Runner-Up: JIMMU was eased behind runners in the early stages after jumping from barrier 11. He and eventual winner Joy Master made their runs together down the centre of the track, but the winner was just too good. He ran well to finish in the runner-up position.
Run Of The Race: JOY MASTER was far too strong over the concluding stages of the race, charging home from the rear of the field.
Disappointment: WONDER EXPRESS was in the market at $6.90 but ran disappointingly. He lost his position on the turn after being caught behind runners turning for home. He ran on fairly down he straight but still finished eight lengths adrift in ninth position.
Comparison: Inside the standard time.
Market Mover: LUCKY MISSILE $8 into $5.10.
Race 2 – Peridot Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 2000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:03.41 Standard Time: 2:02.65 Course/Class record: 2:00.67 Full Power
Winner: SWOT TROOPERS WIND (AUS 4yo g Smart Missile – Lundi) jumped fast from barrier two and went straight to the lead. It was a well-judged ride by Matthew Poon, building momentum from the 1000m point and just kept running, keeping his competitors at bay and winning comfortably by 1.5 lengths.
Runner-Up: TAILOR MADE ran well when finishing in second position. He was a bit fired up in the early stages of the race underneath Vincent Ho, who let him stride up three-wide down the back straight. He was able to slot into second position as they headed for home. He was strong down the straight and hit the line well to grab second.
Run Of The Race: KUNGFUMASTER PANDA was finishing off the race strongly from the middle of the field for Derek Leung. He may be better suited to when there is more speed in the race.
Disappointment: NUREMBERG was the favourite for the event at $3. He was under the whip before heading into the straight and struck trouble early in the straight. Once into clear air though he only battled away to the finish line, being beaten nine lengths.
Comparison: Outside the standard time in a race where they went slow early.
Market Mover: SWOT TROOPERS WIND $7.50 into $4.70.
Race 3 – Jasper Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 55.91 Standard Time: 56.50 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Winner: LUCKY QUALITY (AUS 4yo g Medaglia D'Oro - Watchful Eyes) wasn't the fastest away and was urged along by Joao Moreira in the early stages to find a good position. He came off the rail with 600m to go and charged through a gap to take the lead with 300m left to run. He stuck on well over the final stages to keep his opposition at bay and with a 0.75 length margin back to second.
Runner-Up: FLYING DRAGON found himself at the rear of the field early in the race. Neil Callan sliced his way though the field and was left a little flat footed as the sprint went on. He flashed home over the final 200m to run into second position.
Run Of The Race: FLYING DRAGON was one of the only horses to make ground from the rear of the field. He had to change course with 200m left to go and he still rocketed home in what was the fastest last 400m sectional of the race.
Disappointment: NEXT MODEL jumped and led in the early stages of the race after starting as a $5 chance. He seemed to be over racing a touch in running, and it cost him late, dropping out of the race to finish seventh and beaten over four lengths.
Comparison: Inside the standard time with plenty of pace through the middle of the race.
Market Mover: LUCKY QUALITY $10 into $3.40.
Race 4 – Tate's Cairn Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.13 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Winner: MARADO (NZ 4yo g Pins – Front Lady) jumped with the field and used the inside barrier to position himself just off the pace along the rail. He was a couple of lengths away upon straightening but picked up well to run past the leaders with 150m to go and fight off All Beauty to win by only half a length.
Runner-Up: ALL BEAUTY sat on the outside of the eventual winner Marado throughout the race. But when the winner stuck to the inside, All Beauty and Zac Purton were forced to shift to the outside. He ran on well to finish in second position, with a 1.25 length gap back to third place.
Run Of The Race: ZACIAN ran on well from midfield for Karis Teetan to finish in third position under the light weight.
Disappointment: IRON KING was caught wide and was over racing toward the rear of the field after starting in the betting at $9.10. He failed to make any impression down the straight, finishing seven and a half lengths away in 13th position.
Comparison: Just inside the standard time in an evenly run affair.
Market Mover: IRON KING $21 into $9.10.
Race 5 – The Premier Plate (Handicap), HK 3,500,000
Group 3 – Turf – Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:46.30 Standard Time: 1:46.05 Course/Class record: 1:45.25 Southern Legend
Winner: SOUTHERN LEGEND (AUS 8yo g Not A Single Doubt – Donna's Appeal) was placed in a lovely position by Zac Purton just camped off the speed. Purton was forced wide on the turn after the horse in front of him hung out slightly. He sprinted quickly in the straight and ranged up to the leader with 150m left to go and kept on running to win by half a length.
Runner-Up: RELIABLE TEAM was fast into stride and was put in a great position by Alex Lai just on the back of the fast-paced leader. Reliable Team put in a sustained run to be more than a length in front of the field as they turned for home. He tried hard and was up for the fight but succumbed to the class of Southern Legend to finish second.
Run Of The Race: FAST MOST FURIOUS settled toward the back of the field and rocketed home to finish in third position. He built good momentum along the turn and was making good ground along the rail but was forced to shift to the outside to keep his run going. A great performance.
Disappointment: BUTTERFIELD was a Group 3 winner two starts ago and took it up to the big guns at Group 1 level last start but failed to make any impression in this event. He was the fourth elect at $8.80 and drifted out of the race in the straight to finish 4.5 lengths back in seventh position.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: COLUMBUS COUNTY $3.30 into $2.90.
Race 6 – Opal Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.97 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Winner: OSCAR GLORY (NZ 3yo g Per Incanto – Centree) broke well from barrier five and was able to slot into the box seat behind the leaders. Joao Moreira continued to let him slide at his own pace into second position on the outside of the leader. He seemed to be gone at the top of the straight with Moreira full steam on the gelding, but he dug deep and refused to give in, keeping his nose in front to win by a short head on the line in a photo finish.
Runner-Up: CHARGE ON was caught three wide throughout the event after jumping from barrier 10. He built his momentum on the turn and was in a ding dong battle with Oscar Glory all the way to the finish line. He held onto second place in a photo finish in a tough effort.
Run Of The Race: SUPER ELEGANCE was another who turned in a gritty performance, who made a long and sustained run around the outside of the field to run into third position.
Disappointment: EL JEFE was another who was caught wide and without cover for the event and was unable to stake his claim on the race. He finished in eleventh position.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: BIG TWO $15 into $9.40.
Race 7 – The Premier Cup (Handicap), HK $3,500,000
Group 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:20.55 Standard Time: 1:21.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.05 Beauty Generation
Winner: SKY FIELD (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Laravissante) jumped with the field but settled towards the back of the field. Blake Shinn started to build momentum just before the turned for home, with the gelding letting down strongly and taking the lead with 200m to go. He continued to pull away and win well by 1.75 lengths and give Blake Shinn his first feature race win in Hong Kong.
Runner-Up: SKY DARCI was a little slow into stride and was forced to settle at the rear of the field. He moved up to take the back of the eventual winner on the turn but copped a bump just as he was getting into his work at the top of the straight which caused him to lose some momentum. He picked up well and ran into second position for a Caspar Fownes quinella.
Run Of The Race: CHAMPIONS WAY was another who settled back in the pack. He made plenty of ground along the rail and was hitting the line very hard for third position.
Disappointment: HEALTHY HAPPY appeared to be in a great spot and able to be in the finish of the race, but he quickly dropped out of the race and finished a long last place after being eased out of the race by Alexis Badel. Healthy Happy was found to be displaying an Irregular heartbeat and had blood in his trachea after the race.
Comparison: Inside the standard time.
Market Mover: LUCKY PATCH $10 into $4.90.
Race 8 – Hung Mui Kuk Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.72 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.29 Dublin Star
Winner: KILLER BEE (NZ 3yo g Savabeel – Chilled Out) continued the impressive start to his career, making it four wins and a second from his five starts. He was caught wide during the run but had cover. Joao Moreira just steered him into the middle of the track, and he let rip, quickly gathering the leaders up and running away for another impressive 1.5 length victory.
Runner-Up: DUBLIN STAR settled near the back of the pack and was under the whip as the turned into the straight. He stuck on well under Karis Teetan to run into second position.
Run Of The Race: It's hard to go past KILLER BEE once again. He appears to have serious talent and with the break coming up, next season looks bright for the son of Savabeel.
Disappointment: HURRY HURRY GAIN loomed up as though he would be in the finish but instead dropped out to be beaten over eight lengths in 13th position.
Comparison: Inside the standard time and done easily by the winner.
Market Mover: KILLER BEE $2.50 into $1.60.
Race 9 – Alexandrite Handicap, HK $2,200,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:20.83 Standard Time: 1:21.35 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
Winner: HINCHINLOVE (AUS 6yo g Hinchinbrook – Wildly Entertained) got away well from the wide barrier and was able to cross to the lead with relative ease. Once in the lead, Matthew Chadwick tried to slow the pace, with a couple of horses passing him on his outside on the turn. He came off the leaders heels and mounted a challenge. He fought off the leader and was able to hang on and win in a photo finish.
Runner-Up: LUCKY EXPRESS sat about midfield on the run and looked as though he had found trouble in the straight. He was forced back to the rail when he was travelling better than his competitors and he finished the race off strongly. He was just unable to get past Hinchinlove, having to settle for second position.
Run Of The Race: MASTER MONTARO found himself last in running after jumping from the wide barrier. He finished off the race very well, posting the fastest last 400m sectional of the race and running into fourth position.
Disappointment: THE CROWN was another who was settled at the rear of the field. He failed to run on like some of his competitors and finished in tenth position after starting the race at $9.40.
Comparison: Inside the standard time.
Market Mover: E-STAR $16 into $6.70.
Race 10 – Aquamarine Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm.
Time: 1:21.70 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Winner: MALDIVES (NZ 4yo g Burgundy – Celtic Dream) jumped from barrier 11 and was positioned at the back of the field and was just over racing a touch in the early stages. Zac Purton let him slide up along three wide around the turn and got him to the middle of the track. It took him some time to wind up, but he really got going over the final 150m to get the job done in the shadows of the wining post, to win by a neck.
Runner-Up: GOLDEN LINK enjoyed a beautiful run in transit, sitting just behind the leading pair with cover. He was narrowly in front as the passed the 50m pole but was gunned down late by the eventual winner.
Run Of The Race: MALDIVES was an eye-catching run from the rear of the field, flashing home to steal the victory.
Disappointment: WAR WEAPON was right in the race as they turned for home, but tired as the passed the 200m mark, drifting back to finish in fifth position.
Comparison: Just outside the standard time in an evenly run race.
Market Mover: LIFELINE VISION $21 into $11.
