Selections and analysis for Sunday's (03/11/24) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin.
Race 1: #2 Pakistan Friend, #1 Casa Legend, #4 Fury And Gold, #3 Chateau Le Peche
Race 2: #1 Geneva, #8 Packing Angel, #2 Victor The Rapid, #10 Great Spirit
Race 3: #11 Soaring Bronco, #5 Dragon Four Seas, #3 Corleone, #2 California Banner
Race 4: #6 Gallant Epoch, #2 Sugar Ball, #1 Lifeline Express, #5 Flying Double
Race 5: #4 Markwin, #1 Thriving Brothers, #8 Dragon Joy, #11 Master Of All
Race 6: #8 Solid Win, #5 View Of The World, #11 Flying Luck, #2 Yuen Long Elite
Race 7: #13 Karma, #3 Massive Sovereign, #4 Chancheng Glory, #14 Ensued
Race 8: #1 Glory Elite, #10 Packing Turbine, #5 Awesome Treasure, #6 Alonso
Race 9: #9 Sky Trust, #2 Prestige Always, #11 My Wish, #8 Stellar Swift
Race 10: #10 Steps Ahead, #2 Beauty Crescent, #4 Lo Pan Spirit, #1 Mighty Stride
Race 1 - L'OREAL PARIS HANDICAP
#2 Pakistan Friend steps up to his preferred distance after a solid third over the mile first-up, positioning him well to return to winning form. #1 Casa Legend brings consistent form to this field, a claim few others here can make. Despite drawing barrier 10, he has the early speed to find a comfortable position. #4 Fury And Gold is better suited back on turf and had valid excuses last time on the all-weather track when his saddle slipped. #3 Chateau Le Peche returned to form last start with a strong third at this course and distance, showing he's back on track and edging close to a win now well placed in Class 5.
Race 2 - KATE TOKYO HANDICAP
#1 Geneva finally broke through for a win last start and looks capable of progressing further. He appears better than Class 4 calibre and has trialled nicely between races. Barrier 3 will offer him every chance under Hugh Bowman. #8 Packing Angel makes his second career start after a promising fourth on debut last term, and his trials ahead of this run have looked strong with Zac Purton aboard. #2 Victor The Rapid has been competitive in Class 3 with some excuses, but now in Class 4, he should have the opportunity to capitalise. #10 Great Spirit landed a solid betting plunge first-up with his maiden win, and second-up from barrier 1, he'll be afforded every chance to secure back-to-back wins.
Race 3 - GRACE ONE HANDICAP
#11 Soaring Bronco is due for a change in fortune after racing wide last start. He has since trialled well and looks ready to make his mark in what is a competitive contest. #5 Dragon Four Seas hasn't had much luck with barrier draws recently but has performed solidly, suggesting a win is close. #3 Corleone put in a promising debut effort, finishing third to Win Speed over 1400m, and should appreciate the step up to the mile second-up. #2 California Banner impressed first-up from a wide gate when he bounded out, catching the eye with his late run. Still a three-year-old, he's likely to show more as he gains experience.
Race 4 - CANMAKE TOKYO HANDICAP
#6 Gallant Epoch looks well-prepared for his debut, impressing in his latest trial with blinkers against some horses who performed well on their own debuts. #2 Sugar Ball won nicely two starts back and put in a game effort when trying 1400m last time. Freshened and back in distance, he should find conditions to suit. #1 Lifeline Express returns after a layoff since April, having shown promise last term before being sidelined with lameness after his final run. He's trialled well, draws barrier 3, and partners with Hugh Bowman. #5 Flying Double has shown enough in his trials, all under Zac Purton, though he appears a bit tricky to ride, hence the shadow roll for his debut.
Race 5 - ELEANOR HANDICAP
#4 Markwin was unlucky not to break through on debut, encountering heavy traffic in the straight. He has since trialled well and looks primed to go one better second-up. #1 Thriving Brothers steps back up to 1400m, which should suit after a good third over 1200m last start on the class drop. A win in Class 4 is near for him. #8 Dragon Joy was very well backed last start but got too far back from a wide draw first-up over 1200m. The step up to 1400m should be ideal. #11 Master Of All is a model of consistency and should be in the mix once again, especially with an advantageous inside draw.
Race 6 - LA ESTEPHE HANDICAP
#8 Solid Win benefits from a lower draw this time in gate 8, having been left with too much to do from out wide last time but finding the line well to finish fifth. He maps as a leading chance in an open field. #5 View Of The World looked dominant first-up and should be competitive again, especially after a strong trial win between runs; though Zac Purton has barrier 11 to overcome. #11 Flying Luck endured a wide run first-up but wasn't far off the finish. With blinkers added and a more favourable draw in gate 1, he should turn his luck around. #2 Yuen Long Elite enjoys a positive jockey switch with Hugh Bowman taking the reins, and his first two runs this term have been promising.
Race 7 - THE SA SA LADIES' PURSE (HANDICAP)
#13 Karma is flying this preparation, and despite this being his toughest test yet, he looks ready to rise to the occasion under handicap conditions that suit him well. A decent pace in the race should also play to his strengths. #3 Massive Sovereign, last season's Derby winner, has been underwhelming in two starts since that victory but has been trialling impressively leading into this run. He's ready to bounce back. #4 Chancheng Glory resumed well when third to Galaxy Patch in the G2 over a mile and typically makes his own luck on the pace, though his versatility will serve him well. #14 Ensued is out of the handicap, which raises some concerns, though he is a promising horse with further improvement to come.
Race 8 - SUISSE PROGRAMME HANDICAP
#1 Glory Elite should find the front or sit handy and looks set for a bold showing from his low draw. #10 Packing Turbine has a tough barrier in 12 to overcome on debut, but this newcomer from the Pierre Ng yard has shown plenty of promise in trials and appears ready to fire first-up with Zac Purton aboard. #5 Awesome Treasure will benefit from the rail position in the C+3 setting, and with Britney Wong's 10lb claim, he'll be aiming to replicate his last-start front-running success. #6 Alonso has shown enough promise in his trials to suggest he can make an impression on debut for the Mark Newnham stable, especially with barrier 1 in his favour.
Race 9 - SANTA MONICA HANDICAP
#9 Sky Trust was gallant in his first test at Class 3 level last start, finishing a game runner-up and looking ready to go close again in what shapes to be a competitive contest. #2 Prestige Always is in top form, putting in strong performances from wide draws in his last two runs. With a low gate, he'll be tough to get past. #11 My Wish has trialled well since his last-start third to Packing Power, which reads well for this race, though he'll have to overcome a challenging barrier 14. #8 Stellar Swift steps back up into Class 3 following a comfortable Class 4 win and should map nicely for a chance to measure up.
Race 10 - DR.G HANDICAP
#10 Steps Ahead returns this season with solid form from last term, now stepping up into Class 3 but well-positioned to measure up, especially with a better barrier than some of his more fancied rivals. #2 Beauty Crescent will be handier from his inside gate on this third-up run, following a good second-up effort from a tough barrier 13. He is a long-standing maiden but has run plenty of good races. #4 Lo Pan Spirit should be ready to fire third-up after two encouraging runs from wide gates; though he draws wide again, he has shown enough to warrant respect. #1 Mighty Stride resumed off a six-month spell with an impressive late charge into second in a strong race and looks to have improvement to come.
