3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Tung Wan Shan Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 – All Weather – Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:40.16 Standard Time: 1:39.70 Course/Class record: 1:38.60 Lead To WIn
Winner: LUCKY VICTOR (AUS 4yo g Champions Gallery – Images) was fast away from barrier three and was able to take the lead as they passed the finishing post for the first time. He was over racing as they entered the back straight but began to relax with 900m left to run. Keith Yeung was able to get a breather around the final turn, and he kicked well at the top of the straight. His competitors chased hard, but Lucky Victor was able to lead from start to finish, recording a two-length victory.
Runner-Up: RUBY STARS got away well from barrier one and enjoyed a lovely run in transit, sitting right on the back of the leader throughout the event. He tried hard all the way to the line but couldn't reel in the winner.
Run Of The Race: KA FORTUNE found himself toward the rear of the field early on in the race but was able to close the gap to the leaders down the back straight. He moved into the three-wide trail as they straightened for the finish line and ran on strongly down the centre of the track to finish in third position.
Disappointment: KA YING BRILLIANCE started as an equal favourite at $5.60 and was caught wide early but moved around the field to sit outside the lead with 1200m to travel. He was under pressure a long way from the finish line, with Zac Purton using his whip on numerous occasions as they turned into the straight, where he tired and drifted back to finish eighth and beaten 8.25 lengths.
Comparison: Outside the standard time on the slow racing surface.
Market Mover: There was plenty of money for General Dino who was $26 in early markets and as a $6.30 chance.
Race 2 – Sai Wan Shan Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:09.90 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Winner: BLAZE WARRIOR (AUS 3yo g Sebring – Liesele) wasn't the fastest into stride and Joao Moreira decided to ease the gelding back to gain some cover after 200m. Moreira popped into the three-wide line with 600m left to travel and was able to get the red-hot favourite into clear air as they turned for home. He let down strongly when asked for an effort, rounding up the leaders with 200m left to run and racing away for a commanding 3.25 length win.
Runner-Up: SMART WONGCHOY jumped well from the gates and Alexis Badel was able to take up a position outside of the leading horse shortly after the start. He made light work of the leader as they entered the straight and was a clear leader with 300m to travel. He was strong to the line and fought off his rivals to finish in a comfortable second position, but the winner was just simply too good.
Run Of The Race: BLAZE WARRIOR was 3.5 lengths behind the leader at the top of the straight and went on to win by 3.25 lengths with a blistering 22.53 for his 400-finish sectional. It will be great to see what level this horse will be able to get to next season.
Disappointment: BOYS PARTY was shifted behind runners shortly after the start after jumping from a wide barrier and settled at the rear of the field. He stayed there throughout the event and appeared to be making some ground early in the straight but dropped back to be beaten 16 lengths.
Comparison: Outside the standard time on a yielding track.
Market Mover: There was plenty of late money for BOYS PARTY, who halved his quote to start at $18 odds.
Race 3 – Shouson Hill Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:23.57 Standard Time: 1:22.15 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Winner: FOX CHEUNGER (AUS 6yo g Hussonet – Belle d'Orleans) jumped with the rest of the field and wasn't pushed along in the early stages of the race, with Vincent Ho happy to have the gelding in a three wide position with cover. Ho began making his move on the turn, allowing the gelding to slide around the field to sit close to the lead as they swung into the straight. He was the widest runner in the straight, but he stuck to the task well, taking the lead with 100m left to travel and pulling away to win by 1.25 lengths.
Runner-Up: BLAZING PARTNERS was able to utilise his favourable barrier draw to sit on the leaders back and along the running rail. He was held up for a run momentarily in the straight, but the gap appeared as he passed the 300m mark. The race was there to be won if he was good enough, but still a good run, nonetheless.
Run Of The Race: FOX CHEUNGER made a sustained run around the outside of the field and still pulled away over the concluding stages of the race. A great performance.
Disappointment: THE FULL BLOOM was trapped out three wide and without cover for the entirety of the event but ranged up to the leaders with 300m to go as if he could win the race. He peaked on his run though, travelling to the line fairly to finish in seventh position.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: BLAZING PARTNERS $5.50 into $3.10.
Race 4 – Sheung Yeung Shan Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:38.50 Standard Time: 1:39.00 Course/Class record: 1:37.76 Gold Comet
Winner: SUPER FAST (IRE 5yo g Es Que Love – Dubai Pearl) jumped away well and was given a little nudge by Joao Moreira to hold onto the lead as they headed into the first turn. Moreira has a strong hold of the gelding throughout the race and he produced a strong kick at the top of the straight to run away with a dominant four length victory.
Runner-Up: EL VALIENTE jumped awkwardly from barrier four and was pushed along in the early stages by Keith Yeung to try and find a position. He was able to take up a position three pairs back from the lead and along the running rail and settled into a lovely rhythm. He let down with a nice sprint at the top of the straight and chased the leader the entire straight, but he was unable to bridge the gap.
Run Of The Race: SUPER FAST was a very impressive winner, controlling from the front and kicking away from the field to win strongly.
Disappointment: LADY FIRST was given a rev-up by Jerry Chau after the start and he settled on the pace, just behind the leaders. He only plugged away in the straight and was beaten by 11 lengths.
Comparison: Inside the standard time.
Market Mover: EL VALIENTE $26 into $11.
Race 5 –Needle Hill Handicap, HK 1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 2000m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 2:02.11 Standard Time: 2:01.95 Course/Class record: 2:00.37 Champion Supreme
Winner: SUPERBELLA (GB 5yo g Passing Glance – Lizzie Tudor) broke well from the barriers but found himself wide but with cover in the early part of the race. He was left without cover with 1100m left to travel, but Moreira didn't panic, staying in his midfield position until the 700m mark when he began to make his move. He ranged up to the leaders as they entered the straight. He took the lead with 300m remaining and pulled away to win by 1.75 lengths.
Runner-Up: ENTRUSTED jumped well but was restrained shortly after the start as he settled near the rear of the field. He sat along the rails throughout the event, biding his time for the final stretch. He was held up for a run momentarily turning for home, but Alexis Badel was able to find clear galloping room on the inside of the course, where he ran home strongly to finish in second spot.
Run Of The Race: ENTRUSTED was five lengths away from the lead with 400m left to run and charged home over the final stages of the race to finish within two lengths of the winner.
Disappointment: Led in the early stages of the race before settling just behind the leader through the middle stages. He was placed under pressure with 600m to run and didn't offer any effort. He wasn't tested over the final 350m and finished a very distant last.
Comparison: Just outside the standard time.
Market Mover: ENTRUSTED had been well backed since markets opened, being $21 into $6.80.
Race 6 – Shek Nga Shan Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:22.44 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Winner: VICTORY SCHOLARS (NZ 3yo g Per Incanto – You Little Ripa) got away fast from barrier six and held the lead sitting one horse off the rail, but he was eventually able to cross to the running rail as they headed into the turn. He kicked well at the top of the straight and was able to quickly put a length and a half on his competitors. He started to get tired as they passed the 100m and had horses breathing down his neck, but he was tough late to hold on and win by a neck.
Runner-Up: BRILLIANT CHINA had the advantage of barrier one but was slow into stride, but Matthew Chadwick was able to pick him up and position three pairs back from the leader and along the running rail. He was held up for clear running for some time in the straight, only gaining clear air with 250m left to travel. He charged hard once into the clear and drove to the line to finish in second in a three-way photo finish.
Run Of The Race: BRILLIANT CHINA had no luck after blundering at the start and then was held up for some time down the straight. To pick himself up and run second is a brilliant effort.
Disappointment: LIGHT OF WANSHI jumped with the field but wasn't asked to do much by Vincent Ho, settling near the tail of the field. He appeared to be making ground down the centre of the track, but tired late in the race and finished ninth, beaten 5.75 lengths.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: DRAGON FORTUNE $11 into $6.70.
Race 7 – Nam Long Shan Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:37.94 Standard Time: 1:38.55 Course/Class record: 1:36.87 Hongkong Great
Winner: TRUE LEGEND (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Jolie Bay) jumped away fast as Matthew Poon pushed the gelding along after the start to take up a forward position. He was able to sit on the outside of the leader as we turned into the back straight. Many of the horses behind him were under pressure at the 500m mark, but Poon still had a strong hold of the gelding as they turned into the straight. He took the lead early in the straight and was two lengths in front with a furlong to run. He was pressured late but had enough of an advantage to win by half a length.
Runner-Up: SO WE JOY was slow away from the gates, so Zac Purton crossed straight to the running rail as he looked to improve his position early in the race. He was able to settle in the midfield along the running rail. He inched his way closer to the front down the back straight and around the turn and straightened up 3.5 lengths away from the leader. He stuck to the inside rail and sprinted well, putting some pressure on the winner, but unable to catch him. The front two broke away, with third place a further 4.5 lengths away.
Run Of The Race: SO WE JOY ran extremely well after being slow away and buried in the pack. He sprinted well to make up three lengths on the tough All Weather surface.
Disappointment: STAR OF YUEN LONG broke well and was pushed along by Jerry Chau early in the race and was able to find a position midfield. He was under the whip a long way from home, but only battled his way down the straight to finish in 13th.
Comparison: A great effort to be inside the standard time.
Market Mover: STAR OF YUEN LONG $21 into $8.30.
Race 8 – Mount Nicholson Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.68 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Winner: BELUGA (NZ 4yo g Tavistock – Presitgious Miss) jumped away well but found himself caught out wide. Zac Purton pushed on to sit in third spot behind the leading pair. He pulled off the leaders heels and began to level up to them as they turned into the straight and took the lead with 300m remaining. He was strong through the line and won comfortably by three-quarters of a length.
Runner-Up: LEAP OF FAITH jumped a little awkwardly, but Joao Moreira was able to cross to the rail after jumping from barrier 10. He scooted along the rail to sit three pairs back from the leader and got into the clear air once into the straight. He tried hard to catch the leader but was forced to settle for second.
Run Of The Race: BELUGA was a great winner back in distance.
Disappointment: CHEERFUL DAYS jumped well and appeared to be in a great position early in the race. He pulled out and ranged up to the leaders on the point of the turn, but he dropped back midway down the straight to finish in eighth position.
Comparison: Around the standard time on an improving suface.
Market Mover: CHEERFUL DAYS $26 into $9.50.
Race 9 – Mount Cameron Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.54 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.29 Dublin Star
Winner: IMA SINGLE MAN (AUS 3yo g Gingerbread Man – Single Spice) jumped with the field and was pushed along by Neil Callan to make sure he was able to find a position at the beginning of the event. He was able to sit midfield one off the rail and held that position all the way into the straight. He was held up slightly but was able to get into clear air with 250m remaining and he charged home to take the win by a neck.
Runner-Up: WHEN YOU BELIEVE broke well from barrier one and was able to use that to his advantage to sit on the back of the leaders. Zac Purton pulled him out three wide as they straightened for the finish and he quickly sprinted to the lead passing the 300m point. He got tired late in the race and was passed in the shadows of the post to finish a close second.
Run Of The Race: The way IMA SINGLE MAN sprinted when he got into clear running was electric. They ran a good time as well, making him an exciting horse for the 2021/2022 season coming up.
Disappointment: COPARTNER AMBITION jumped from a wide barrier and struggled to find a position until passing the 800m point. He lost some ground on the turn and was forced to push his way to the outside as they entered the straight. He made some ground but was simply too far back, finishing five lengths away from the leader in sixth spot.
Comparison: Well inside the standard time and faster than the Class 2 1200m event.
Market Mover: WHEN YOU BELIEVE $26 into $8.10.
Race 10 – Lai Pek Shan Handicap, HK $2,200,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.74 Standard Time: 1:08.65 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
Winner: HIGHLY PROACTIVE (NZ 5yo g Coats Choice – Blue Blond) was away fast from barrier six, with Jack Wong pushing on from a wide position to sit outside of the leader as the headed into the turn. He pulled out into the three wide line as they straightened for home, allowing his rivals to come up along the inside of him. He was passed early in the straight and was two lengths away from the leader but lifted off the canvas to snatch the victory at the post.
Runner-Up: SHINING ACE jumped well from barrier two and used the inside barrier to his advantage, holding out his rivals and keeping them wide early in the race. He settled on the back of the leaders as they headed into the turn and was able to slide up between runners to challenge for the lead upon straightening. He took the lead early in the straight and was two lengths in front with 150m remaining, but he tired late in the race and just couldn't hold on, having to settle for second position.
Run Of The Race: ALL IN MIND flashed home down the outside of the field after settling just worse than midfield in running. He was able to get to the outside passing the 300m point and he really let rip over the final 200m to only finish half a length from the leader.
Disappointment: ROMAN TURBO was a favoured runner in the field starting at $6.50, but was slow away and was under pressure for most of the race. He didn't offer much of an effort when asked by Vincent Ho, with Ho easing the gelding down over the final stages of the race. Ho reported that Roman Turbo felt uncomfortable in his action, but a vet assessment after the race failed to find anything.
Comparison: Just outside the standard time.
Market Mover: ROMAN TURBO $9 into $6.50.
