Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Wheelchair Fencing 1200m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.27 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
The day got underway with the "Poon Train" Matthew Poon saluting with an all-the-way victory. SPEEDY FORTUNE (Pariah – Greytfilly) rolled straight to the front after being one of the first out of the barriers, setting a good tempo through the middle stages of the race and holding a clear advantage throughout. Poon led by 1-1/4 lengths turning for home and Poon hadn't asked the gelding for an effort just yet. He never looked like being beat in the straight as he went on to win by 3 lengths in very easy style. Second and third placegetters DREAM PERSUER and STAR CLUB both ran on strongly from the rear to round out the placings. Second favourite SPEEDY SMARTIE was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race and ran out of petrol close to home, finishing 30-1/2 lengths away in last.
Race 2 – The Hong Kong Sports Association For The Physically Disabled 50th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 55.14 Standard Time: 56.40 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
DREAM WINNER got away well from barrier 1 and gradually worked across to sit on the pace under Vincent Ho. He was travelling superbly and took control with about 500m to run. Ho continued to drift across the front of the field to get toward the outside rail, with the local hoop pressing the button with 350m to run. The gelding shot clear over the closing stages and never gave his rivals a sniff, with Ho easing up over the final 50m to win by a whopping 5-1/4 lengths. AMAZING ROCKY raced into a clear second placing after tracking the eventual winner through the middle stages of the race, but it was all about the winner who absolutely bolted in.
Race 3 – Development Focus Para Sports 1600m Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.87 Standard Time: 1:35.30 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
It was champion jockey Zac Purton's turn to hit the board, saluting with BULB PRINCE (Sacred Falls – Do Ra Mi) in the third event. The gelding was away quickly from his wide barrier but was taken back from the wide draw. He settled in the second half of the field with a genuine tempo on offer through the early and middle stages. Purton was able to move three-wide and get a nice trail into the race as they turned into the straight, getting into the middle of the track and beginning to make his run. He was running about under Zac Purton's riding, but eventually got to the front with a furlong to run. He went on to win by three-quarters of-a-length, but it was much easier than the margin suggested. MEDIC ELITE made a barnstorming finish in the closing stages to grab second place after being 6-1/4 lengths off the leader turning into the straight. INSPIRING CITY was disappointing for trainer David Hayes and his jockey Lyle Hewitson, unable to sustain the solid tempo at the finish. He was the third elect in the market but failed to make an impact as he finished 13-1/2 lengths away in 12th.
Race 4 – Boccia 1600m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.55 Standard Time: 1:35.10 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Race 4 belonged to Luke Ferraris, David Hall and JOYFUL GENIUS (Hinchinbrook – Waytoohigh). He was only fairly away from the barrier and the gelding slotted into a midfield position. Ferraris was able to get down along the rail on settling down, enjoying a cosy run in transit. The South African was able to get off the inside and into the clear turning for home, weaving through traffic rather than going wider on the turn. The five-year-old darted through between runners to take the lead 200m from home, before holding off his rivals to win by three-quarters of-a-length. Race favourite MASTER OF FORTUNE made a late run at Jofyul Genius close to home but was unable to reel in the winner after settling back in the run. SUPERB MOVE had the run of the race in third, sitting one-out-one-back for Harry Bentley and loomed as a winning chance early in the straight. He couldn't sustain the run though and faded to finish in 11th, beaten 7-1/2 lengths.
Race 5 – Lawn Bowls 1800m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.07 Standard Time: 1:48.20 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue
Matthew Poon bought up a double aboard PAKISTAN FRIEND (Not A Single Doubt – Heaven Beneath) in a similar way to his win in the opening event. The gelding jumped well, and Matthew Poon rolled across from the wide draw to lead the field early on, going at only a moderate clip through the early and middle stages. The local hoop was left alone out in front and was able to do as he pleased, getting to the 600m point before quickening the tempo as they turned for home. The eight-year-old dug in when Poon asked for an effort, fending off his first challenger and keeping the rest of his rivals at bay to score by a half-length. Zac Purton had every chance to run down the winner aboard ROUND THE EARTH, but the winner was just far too strong.
Race 6 – Table Tennis 1400m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.74 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.08 Perfect Pair
The tightest finish of the day came up in race 6 with LUCKY GOLD (Iffraaj – Kitt Ann Miss) getting the nod in a photo finish. He got away well under Vincent Ho from barrier 7 but drifted back shortly after the start to try and slot into the running line. The pace was ferocious early doors and that allowed the local hoop to slot in one off the rail and in a midfield position. There were a few rivals already feeling the pinch coming to the straight, but the five-year-old looked to be tracking well 400m from home as he got into the clear at the top of the straight. He kept on well to take the lead 200m from the line but had a number of rivals coming at him. He had enough left in the tank to hold off the fast-finishing FLYING MOJITO who came with a withering burst in the closing stages. He settled well back in the field and was still 7 lengths off the leader as they turned for home but finished off strongly to go down by a short head.
Race 7 – Tenpin Bowling 1000m Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 55.51 Standard Time: 56.20 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
KAY YING SPIRIT (Rubick – Search The Stars) bought up a winning treble for Matthew Poon, again leading throughout. He was quickly away from his outside barrier and was ridden along to find the front for Poon. Racing along the outside rail, with the gelding setting some blistering sectionals out in front. He had plenty of rivals beaten at the 400m point and just kept on running. He held off one last challenger to score by a half-length at the finish. RUN RUN COOL turned in a strong run to finish second, coming on well from the back of the pack to take second close to home. CALIFORNIA DEEPLY was disappointing in his effort, but apprentice Angus Chung told stewards' he was concerned with the gelding's action.
Race 8 – Badminton 1200m Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.18 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Three-year-old gelding LUCKY ENCOUNTER (Epaulette – Miss de Vega) made it back-to-back wins with a three-quarter-length victory in race 8. Karis Teetan Teetan took the gelding straight to the front. He had to do a bit of work to get there, but he was able to get a little breather through the middle stages as his main danger came around to sit on his outside. He quickened well at the top of the straight to open a gap on his rivals with 300m remaining, with Teetan throwing everything he had at the gelding. He was challenged again with 150m to run but fought him off too, scoring with ease on the line. REWARD SMILE definitely had his chance to win after enjoying a perfect run on the back of the leader and eventual winner, but he couldn't reel in Lucky Encounter.
Race 9 – Para Sports Coach 1600m Handicap, HK $2,900,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.22 Standard Time: 1:34.35 Course/Class record: 1:32.96 Not Usual Talent
It was the Hong Kong Derby form to the fore with TUCHEL (Redwood – Trista Rossa) reigning supreme in the penultimate event. He got away on terms under Zac Purton and settled in a midfield position in running with a genuine tempo being set by the leader. Purton found himself 4-3/4 lengths off the leader turning for home, but got to the outside and let down strongly out near the centre of the course. He kept on strongly to take the lead inside the final 50m and score by a neck, getting the better of a very game FLAMING RABBIT. The former Brit led the field throughout and at a strong tempo, only being run down close to the line in a very brave effort.
Race 10 – Para Sports Volunteer 1400m Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.40 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62
It was an absolute blowout in the last with FIND MY LOVE (Frankel – Spring In The Air) scoring by a neck as the $69 outsider of the field. The gelding jumped well, but Keith Yeung took him back from the wide draw to settle at the tail of the field. The pace was solid with Yeung remaining along the inside rail around the home turn and into the straight, scraping the paint and needing to make up 5-3/4 lengths at the top of the straight. Yeung only went around 3 horses in the run, getting over the top of his rivals in the shadows of the post to score by a neck. TAJ DRAGON looked home for all money with 150m left to run, only to be outgunned by the longshot of the race. Race favourite MIGHTY STRIDE didn't feature in the finish, settling midfield and failing to run on, beaten 5 lengths and beaten 9th.
