3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Giant Treasure Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.67 Standard Time: 1:39.25 Course/Class record: 1:38.30 Apolar Warrior
Winner: RUN RUN GOOD (ARG 6yo g Grand Reward – La Campoy) got away on terms from a middle barrier and wasn't in a hurry early on, with Karis Teetan easing back to settle a touch worse than midfield. He raced three-wide with cover through the middle stages but was being suited by a genuine tempo up front. Teetan began to improve around runners approaching the 600m point but was under heavy pressure as they swung into the straight. He was a whopping 5-3/4 lengths off the leader turning for home and was making good headway early in the straight. He powered over the top of the leader late in the race to hit the front, but was beginning to tire close to home. A couple rivals lunged at him late, but he had enough in the tank to hold on to win by a neck.
Runner-Up: REGENCY GEM jumped well of the inside and held a prominent position for Matthew Poon, sitting just off the pace and along the rail. Not much changed through the middle stages, but the pace quickened around the turn and the gelding was left flat-footed turning for home. He was under heavy pressure for heading into the straight, but he was sticking on strongly over the latter stages. He came hard at the leader right at the finish, but he was unable to reel him in.
Run Of The Race: REGENCY GEM picked himself up nicely after being left for dead when the tempo increased around the turn. It was impressive to see him keep coming over the final stages.
Disappointment: JUBILATION raced midfield for Zac Purton throughout the race before the champion jockey began rousing the gelding along turning for home. He never really picked up in the run and ended up back in 11th position, beaten 5-1/2 lengths. Purton told stewards' that the gelding would be better suited over further.
Comparison: Outside standard with a slow second half of the race.
Market Mover: FORTUNE MARBO had good support, as did MEDIC ELITE late in betting.
Race 2 – Blazing Speed Handicap, HK $1.080,000
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.24 Standard Time: 1:38.65 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
Winner: SKYEY SUPREME (IRE 8yo g Henrythenavigator – Kykuit) jumped well and was ridden along in the early stages to hold the lead from barrier 3 with Angus Chung dictating proceedings from the front. He was allowed to do as he pleased the apprentice, slowing them to a walk through the middle stages of the race. He ramped up the pace as they turned off the back and was able to get a length clear as they turned into the straight. He travelled strongly into the straight and extended his lead early in the stretch. There was a rival flying down the outside at him late in the race, but the eight-year-old had enough left in the tank to hold on for the win.
Runner-Up: KILLER INSTINCT immediately drifted back from barrier 11 to settle at the tail of the field for Luke Ferraris. He was unsuited by the slow tempo on offer through the middle stages, but Ferraris was proactive in the run and moved into the three-wide trail. The South African hoop again moved wider turning for home and was tearing down the middle of the course in the straight. He ranged up to the leader in the closing stages, but he was unable to stick his nose in front.
Run Of The Race: SKEYEY SUPREME was ridden perfectly by Angus Chung. He got everything he could out of the gelding and scored a good win.
Disappointment: NICE BIRDIE was just too far back on an unsuitable tempo to play any major role in the finish. He jumped favourite, but was beaten 5-3/4 lengths in a sound effort, but not one you'd expect from a Zac Purton-ridden favourite.
Comparison: Well outside the standard time.
Market Mover: THE MULTIPLIER had good backing while a stack of money came for STARSHIP EIGHTY at a big price.
Race 3 – The Heung Yee Kuk Cup (Handicap), HK $2,640,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.56 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
Winner: TORONADO PHANTOM (FR 5yo g Toronado – Hathfa) was snagged back from his wide draw immediately and settled in last position. Vagner Borges improved along the inside fence to be second-last around the turn and stuck to the inside rounding the turn as he tried to pinch runs. He was held up slightly early in the straight, but Borges was able to cross back to the inside and go under a number of his rivals. The flashy grey then sped through a gap between runners to pop his nose in front with 50m to run, scoring by a neck in good style.
Runner-Up: TRILLION WIN got away quickly and rolled to the front under Alex Badel, setting an even tempo through the middle stages. He wasn't pressure out in front and stacked the field up turning for home. Badel was sitting there patiently on his mount at the 300m point whilst his rivals were under heavy pressure in the straight. He kicked well when the Frenchman finally pressed the button, but he couldn't hold off the grey who came at him late.
Run Of The Race: TORONADO PHANTOM was just too good for his rivals today. He hadn't been seen in over a month and hadn't finished in the top-5 since May 2022. He bounced back to form today with a solid win.
Disappointment: BEAUTY TYCOON was up into a class 2 today looking for a hat-trick of victories, but couldn't match it as he faded after sitting outside the leader. He finished 2 lengths away in 5th.
Comparison: Way outside standard time.
Market Mover: No market moves to speak of with BEAUTY TYCOON jumping the $2.80 favourite.
Race 4 – Glorious Days Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.78 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Winner: HAPPY FOR ALL (AUS 3yo g Impending – Ilovewhatsebrings) wasn't the fastest out of the barriers but was able to slot into a midfield position after some good riding from James McDonald. The pace was solid early on and the three-year-old found himself in a handy position as McDonald moved three-wide around the turn. The Kiwi hoop got moving as they swung for home and the son of impending was making good ground early in the straight. He took a narrow lead 150m from home but had to fight for the win late in proceedings. He was able to hold off his rival sin the dying stages and score his maiden victory by a neck.
Runner-Up: EASY SNIP was another who was a touch slow into stride and settled midfield after jumping from an inside barrier. The gelding raced to the inside of the eventual winner throughout the middle stages, but stuck closer to the inside turning for home as Jerry Chau looked to sneak runs through the traffic. He was held up for the first half of the straight and was unable to get out, before a gap finally opening up with 200m left to travel. He rattled home once clear but couldn't make up all the ground needed, finishing in second position.
Run Of The Race: James McDonald summed the race up brilliantly aboard HAPPY FOR ALL and got the chocolates. STAR ASCENSION was also a huge run for fourth position.
Disappointment: FURTHER FORWARD got into a brilliant position on the back of the leader in the run for Zac Purton. He looked to be making good ground early in the straight as the Australian jockey went back to the inside. He didn't have anything left in the tank the final 200m and finished back in 11th, beaten 5-3/4 lengths.
Comparison: Outside standard.
Market Mover: Again, not much to speak of from a market point of view as FURTHER FORWARD jumped favourite at $2.60.
Race 5 – Able Friend Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:37.34 Standard Time: 1:38.45 Course/Class record: 1:36.79 True Legend
Winner: ROYAL BOMB (AUS 6yo g Zebedee – Private Nancy) got away well from an inside barrier and was able to slide up the rail as the runners in front of him ran wide on the turn, allowing Jamie Kah to lob in a great position just off the speed. The field broke into two groups down the back straight, before stretching out through the middle stages. The leader kicked away turning off the back straight and led comfortably as they turned for home, with Kah pulling her mount to the outside and beginning to build into the race on straightening. He was 4-1/2 lengths off the leader on straightening but charged over the closing stages to round up the leader and pull away for an emphatic 2-1/2 length win.
Runner-Up: HANDSOME TWELVE was ridden up in the early stages to try and hold a prominent position from the draw, eventually landing in a position just forward of midfield for Zac Purton. He was still niggling at him heading into the back stretch, but did tack onto the back of the eventual winner at the halfway stage of the race. Purton was urging him along as they turned for the finish and he stuck on well but was no match for the winner.
Run Of The Race: ROYAL BOMB was very impressive in winning, making up a stack of ground before sprinting away for an emphatic win.
Disappointment: BEAUTY CHAMP raced midfield in the run and looked to be moving into the race nicely on the turn as Harry Bentley swung wide into the straight. He as unable to pick up as anticipated though and finished in 9th spot, beaten 9-1/2 lengths.
Comparison: Way inside the standard time.
Market Mover: YES WE CAN had some good support just prior to the start.
Race 6 – Seasons Bloom Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.59 Standard Time: 56.40 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Winner: JUNEAU FLASH (AUS 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Gemini Miss) jumped on terms from barrier 8 but was a touch awkward into stride, bumping into runners in the opening stages of the event. He raced off the pace and out toward the centre of the course through the middle stages. Ryan Moore got clear air at the 400m point and started eating into the leader's margin, with the gelding sprinting powerfully out wide. He stuck his nose in front with 50m to run and was too strong in the closing stages, running away to score by a half-length in great style.
Runner-Up: INNOCONSTRUCTION was badly chopped out at the start when eventual winner Juneau Flash came across from his barrier. Zac Purton settled back in running and allowed the gelding to improve throughout the run, working through gaps as they reached the 400m point. The gelding let down well in the straight, and was in front of the eventual winner with 200m remaining. Purton never quite hit the front as the winner blew past him down the outside late in the race, but he stuck on well to run into second position.
Run Of The Race: INNOCONSTRUCTION showed his debut effort was no fluke as he stuck on gamely for another second placing today. He was set a task after copping interference shortly after the start. It was a bold effort to run second and he's sure to get a win soon.
Disappointment: Everyone ran up to expectations.
Comparison: Over a second outside standard.
Market Mover: No market moves with JUNEAU FLASH going off the $3.00 favourite.
Race 7 – The Stewards' Cup, HK $12,000,000
Group One – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:33.99 Standard Time: 1:33.85 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
Winner: GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS 7yo g Medaglia d'Oro – Gaudeamus) jumped well from barrier 2 and crossed down to the inside immediately, taking a sit on the back of the leader in running. They were only strolling early on in a compact field, but the leader quickly injected some pace into the race as they rolled off the back straight. The three leaders broke away from the rest of the group as Vincent Ho sat patiently aboard the champion Golden Sixty, He was spotting the leader a length with 300m to run before getting off heels and into the clear 200 from home. He showed his traditional sprint to take the lead with 100m to run and pull away for a 1-length victory, keeping his title as Hong Kong's best horse.
Runner-Up: ROMANTIC WARRIOR was one of the first into stride and worked across to settle a length off the leader, sitting one off the rail in running. He was right there when the pace amped up around the turn and Karis Teetan was beginning to urge the gelding along turning for home in anticipation for the sprint to go on. Despite being prepared for the sprint, the five-year-old was unable to match it with them early in the straight as the winner and California Spangle got away from him. He showed plenty of heart to come again in the closing stages and take second position, showing that he's a force to be reckoned with when he steps up in distance again.
Run Of The Race: GOLDEN SIXTY had his doubters after the defeat in the G1 HK Mile in December, but showed he's still got it today. He put away a quality field of runners and scored comfortably by a length. He's still the champ.
Disappointment: No real disappointments as the race panned out as expected.
Comparison: Just outside standard.
Market Mover: ROMANTIC WARRIOR went off a well-supported favourite with no other market moves.
Race 8 – Helene Paragon Handicap HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.37 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Winner: UNPRESUMING (IRE 4yo g Bated Breath – Shy Audience) jumped on terms and showed good early pace for Ryan Moore to roll forward and settle in behind the pace setters. Moore stayed away from the rail as they sorted their order out, with the pace slowing through the middle stages of the race. There was a massive gap for Moore to run through on straightening and the Englishman didn't waste any time, going up to snatch the lead with ease 300m from home. He rolled back to the rail once clear but wasn't quite breaking away from the field as it looked as though he may. The gelding was fighting on well though and held off a late challenge to score by a short head.
Runner-Up: WIDE BLUE YONDER drifted back from barrier 6 right after the jump, but Hugh Bowman improved his position early on to be midfield and long the rail turning off the back. He was travelling strongly through the middle stages and needed a way clear as they began turning for home. The Australian hoop was able to work his way into the clear with 350m to run as the gelding began to charge home over the concluding stages. He was finishing the strongest of anyone late in the race, but he ran out of time to reel in the leader.
Run Of The Race: UNPRESUMING put in a good performance to shed his maiden tag at just start number 2. He looks to have a good future ahead of him.
Disappointment: KARMA was racing just forward of midfield in the run and had every opportunity to be in the finish if he was good enough. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper was very ordinary in the straight though and finished back in 11th and beaten 5-3/4 lengths after having good market support just prior to the start.
Comparison: Outside standard.
Market Mover: Plenty of market moves in the eighth event. KARMA was backed in late along with HIGH CLOUD and JANGXI STAMINA at double figure odds. MELBOURNE HALL and ON EXCEL STAR were both specked at big odds.
Race 9 – The Hong Kong Classic Mile, HK $12,000,000
4 Year Olds – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.58 Standard Time: N/A Course/Class record: N/A
Winner: VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Raheights) jumped well off the inside draw and rolled to the front for Jamie Kah as nobody else really wanted to lead. The field were strung out in the opening stages, but there was no pace at all being set up front. Kah was left to do as she pleased turning off the back and around the turn, beginning to quicken the tempo from the 600m point. The gelding kicked clear turning into the straight and was travelling sweetly while his rivals were under heavy pressure behind him. He quickened again when Kah finally pressed the button, but with 100m to run you were confident Voyage Bubble had the first leg of the 4YO Series won.
Runner-Up: TUCHEL was one of the first out of the barriers and slid across to the rail from barrier 6, settling just off the pace in fourth position for Luke Currie. He sat off the leader despite the slow tempo. He tracked up along the inside strongly as they turned into the straight and quickened well when Currie pressed the button, going between runners to set out after the leader. He tried hard to reel in the leader, but to no avail.
Run Of The Race: Jamie Kah did as she pleased out in front aboard VOYAGE BUBBLE and scored an impressive victory in the process.
Disappointment: KEEFY was probably the most disappointing of the beaten brigade. The tempo was very much in-favour of the on-pace runners and he weakened badly after sitting outside of the leader. He finished in 7th spot, beaten 5-1/4 lengths, while the horses around him in transit filled the top 4 positions.
Comparison: Over a second slower than the G1 mile event on the day.
Market Mover: VOYAGE BUBBLE was heavily backed while BEAUTYVERSE had some specking.
Race 10 – Ambitious Dragon Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.06 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Winner: SUPER DYNAMITE (IRE 6yo g Kodiac – Epping) wasn't the quickest into stride but he was able to settle about midfield from the inside draw. He was held up slightly down the back stretch and ended up a bit worse than midfield off the back, while Hugh Bowman stuck to the inside around the turn and into the straight. The field fanned and Bowman was able to get into the clear with ease as the velding began to motor home over the final furlong. The six-year-old got the lead with 50m to run and was too strong at the finish, winning comfortably by a neck.
Runner-Up: BEAUTY MISSILE was able to slide across from barrier 7 and land just off the speed after getting away well for Jamie Kah. He enjoyed a great run in the race and peeled wide into the clear as they straightened. He kept on coming under the pressure of Kah, but never quite hit the front as the eventual winner came down the outside. He finished second in his HK debut in a great effort.
Run Of The Race: SUPER DYNAMITE was brilliant today. He got plenty of luck in the straight, but was far too strong over the closing stages to score comfortably in the end.
Disappointment: TAMRA BLITZ looked to be travelling in a great spot in running, but when he got clear in the straight he never really let down. He was only fair to the line and ended up 2 lengths away in 7th.
Comparison: Just outside standard.
Market Mover: PARTERRE and TAMRA BLITZ both had good support late in betting, as did COPARTNER AMBITION and STUNNING IMPACT.
