3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.

Rail - C+3 Position

Race 1

#8 TURF BRILLIANT put in a very good performance last time out in the first race of the season, getting to the line well for fourth despite sitting three wide for much of the race. That performance and his overall record demonstrates that he'll appreciate the step up in trip to 1800m, while from barrier four is the best draw he's had for quite some time, and he should be able to take advantage.
#10 THIS IS CHARISMA would have been a tragedy beaten last time out had he not got clear room, but he got the run when he needed to and was able to secure his first win. Zac Purton, the reigning champion jockey, retains the ride, he's drawn well, and while he's not a prolific winner, he's a pretty consistent campaigner for a horse in this grade. 
#7 OWNERS' STAR has generally done his best work at Happy Valley, however, he hasn't done enough racing at Sha Tin to completely dismiss his hopes at the bigger track, he's a well rated horse who's also come up with a good draw and this is his favourite distance. 
#5 EL JEFE has dropped a long way in the rating points, he's had the benefit of a run this season and although his only win was over a shorter distance, his get back, run on pattern suggests that he'll appreciate getting up to this longer distance. 
#1 COURAGEOUS KNIGHT is a recent class dropper who has performed well at a higher grade than this and has the in-form Lyle Hewitson onboard. The fact that the blinkers are being reapplied for this assignment is a factor in his favour.

Selections : 8,10,7,5,1

R2 - 5,4,2,10,6

R3 - 7,5,1,2,9

R4 - 11,8,4,2,5

R5 - 4,1,6,3,5

R6 - 9,2,4,5,10

Race 7

"National Day Cup"

#6 CORDYCEPS SIX is an exciting sprinter on the rise in Hong Kong with a terrific turn of foot and this Group Three down the Sha Tin straight is his for the taking. He won five of his nine starts last season, culminating with his victory in the Group Three Sha Tin Vase in May and as a horse on the rise in these handicap events, these are the type of races that he should be winning before testing himself against the proven elite sprinters at level weights. This is his first run for the season, but his work to and through the line in a recent trial at Happy Valley suggests that he's come back in good order. 
#4 SUPER WEALTH won this race last year with less weight on his back but he's still in that right vein of form to play a prominent role in this year's renewal. Trained by David Hayes and with champion Australian rider Zac Purton booked for the ride, Super Wealthy copped a bad check at his first up run in the "Chief Executive's Cup" and was able to recover from that to get home and run fourth. A less troubled time of things in the run should see him go close here. 
#2 STRONGER is one of the proven class angles to this race as a Group One winner last season and has performed really well at the trials, as he builds up towards his seasonal reappearance in this event. His last trial in particular suggested that he's sharp enough for the 1000m first up, a distance that he's done the majority of his winning at. 
#3 LUCKY PATCH was arguably the best sprinter in Hong Kong early last season before things went wrong for him, but his first up effort was good considering that he had excuses, he's a classy horse and while the 1000m might be a bit sharp for him, he's good enough to be one of the hopes in the event. 
#5 MASTER EIGHT was in super form in the early part of last season before his rating may have caught up with him.
However, he has a relatively light weight to carry, he's shown enough in his recent trials, he's got a good first up record and is a proven performer down the straight.

Selections : 6,4,2,3,5

R8 - 4,1,3,2,6

Race 9

#1 MONEY CATHER is the horse that Zac Purton beat to secure the jockeys' premiership last season and this time, he's the man in the saddle. He will have to shoulder the top weight but he's got class on his side, as seen by his placing in this year's Hong Kong Derby and from the inside draw, he won't have to do any work early to find a prime position in the run.
 #9 MR ASCENDANCY profiles as a progressive horse in Hong Kong, and he's now had time to acclimatise and he quickened well and attacked the line really strongly to score last time. That effort suggested that he'll relish the rise in distance, he's got an edge against a number of his rivals with his race fitness and he's also got a reasonably light weight on his back. 
#7 ALL FOR ST PAUL'S won at the end of last season over this course and distance and in this grade, beating "Bourbonaire", who he meets again here. He's a tough horse to get past, he'll be on the speed making his own luck and will be in the thick of the action for a long way.
 #2 BOURBONAIRE does have a wide draw to deal with, but he's consistent, he's one of the class horses in the race and should perform well here. Any rain would enhance his chances as he bolted in two starts ago on a rain affected track.
 #11 COPARTNER ELITES hasn't won yet in his Hong Kong career, but he's figured in the placings on a number of occasions. He wasn't beaten far at Happy Valley last time out, so he's got the race fitness edge on several of his rivals, while the light weight is in his favour.

Selections : 1,9,7,2,11

R10 - 6,5,2,4,11