Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Hebe Hill Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:50.26 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.67 Lucky Bole
After almost a year between drinks, COLOURFUL BARON (IRE 5yo g Dark Angel – Tawayna) scored the second win of his career in good style. From the outside barrier, Lyle Hewitson pressed on to try and slot in close to the speed and was forced to race wide around the first turn. He was left facing the breeze as they turned down the back, but he was travelling well sitting close to the speed as the pace was just even through the middle stages. The five-year-old was still looming large just behind the leaders as they approached the home turn, with the flashy grey moving into the race and hitting the front with 400m remaining. He sprinted quickly and shot away from the chasing pack, breaking the field apart and leading all the way down the straight to win by 1-1/2 lengths. KEEN UNITY settled on the back of Colourful Baron in the run after jumping from out wide as well. Keen Unity was able to slot into the running line in a midfield position for Harry Bentley, remaining one off the fence until the 700m point, where he improved into the three-wide trail and was stalking Colourful Baron. The pair swung around the home turn and Bentley was there to strike if good enough, with Keen Unity and Colourful Baron looking the only two hopes early in the straight. The race was there for him to win if he was good enough, but the winner was just too strong. JOYFUL CHAMPION stuck on well from beyond midfield, trailing Colourful Baron and Keen Unity into the straight in that three-wide line. He was unable to match the sprint of the first two, but closed off well to finish in third, 4-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 2 – Shek Uk Shan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.26 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure
SMART LEADER (AUS 10yo g Delago Deluxe – Aemilee) turned his form right around third-up into the season. The veteran burst out of the barriers to be leading out of the blocks, though Keagan De Melo didn't press on, attempting to ease back and slot into the running line. He was unable to slot in though, being forced to race wide and without cover throughout the event with a strong tempo being set throughout. He was under heavy pressure as they turned for home with the leading skating a couple of lengths clear at the top of the straight. The 10-year-old just kept coming under the urgings of De Melo, taking the lead with 100m to run and proving too strong late in the race, winning by a half-length after going under by 5-3/4 lengths at his start prior. RATTAN WORLD didn't show a whole lot of early speed and ended up in the second half of the field win what was a muddling affair. He never seemed to be travelling for Antoine Hamelin as the Frenchman was hard at work for most of the race, with the pair swinging wide in the straight and spotting the leader 7 lengths with 400m remaining. Despite never looking comfortable, he was making up plenty of ground right down the outside, storming home from well back to claim second position in a strong run. EXCELLENT DADDY stuck on well from beyond midfield after racing three-wide with cover throughout. He closed off well as a $42 chance to take third position, with the Tierce paying a whopping HK$115,329.
Race 3 – Tin Ha Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.21 Standard Time: 1:39.00 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
NEVER PETER OUT (AUS 4yo g Grunt – Hateel) was another who turned his form right around, saluting at just his second start for the Frankie Lor barn. He wasn't the fastest into stride, though he mustered plenty of speed under Keith Yeung to sit about midfield heading into the first turn. The local hoop was left racing wide, but he did have cover in the three-wide trail with just an even tempo being set. He was forced even wider on the track as they turned off the back straight, now being four-wide and without cover around the home turn and the widest runner as they entered the straight. He was poised to strike as they turned for home, though the leader kicked strongly to lead by two lengths with a furlong to run. The four-year-old knuckled down inside the final 200m though, rounding up the leader and inching away to win by a half-length on the line as a $15 chance. LUCKY BANNER jumped quickly and went straight to the lead under Ellis Wong, getting to the front with 1400m remaining and attempting to dictate proceedings. He was taken on down the back straight as the apprentice hoop tried to slow the tempo, but Wong was able to hold the lead around the home turn with the gelding kicking away strongly to open up a three-length gap early in the straight. Coming to the 200m point, his rivals were beginning to wind him in, with Never Peter Out eventually siting his head in front inside the final 100m. He didn't give up easily, holding on for second, but he just couldn't sustain the sprint to the line. HAKKA RADIANCE kept on well from a midfield position to run third as the $3.40 favourite.
Race 4 – Tin Ha Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.36 Standard Time: 1:39.00 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
RELIABLE PROFIT (NZ 6yo g Reliable Man – Oh So Royal) made it back-to-back wins in very impressive fashion. Matthew Poon rolled forward from an inside draw to be on the speed heading into the first turn. As the race unfolded, he would eventually settle on the back of the leader through the middle stages, enjoying a lovely run in transit with an even tempo being set by the leader. He came off the bit as they passed the 600m point, but Poon got the gelding to the outside around the home turn, and he trucked into the race ominously. He hit the front with around 150m to run and put his rivals away with ease, sprinting clear to win by 2-3/4 lengths in very impressive fashion. EXCEL WONGCHOY jumped on terms from barrier four but was left racing three-wide around the first turn with horses kicking up on the inside of him. Vincent Ho did have cover racing wide through the middle stages and the local hoop was able to improve his position approaching the 600m point. He travelled into the race nicely out wider and looked to be getting a run on his rivals as he was now ahead of the eventual winner turning for home. He quickened well to hit the front with 200m remaining, but it was only momentarily as Reliable Profit blew right by him. FOREVER FOLKS ran on well from midfield to take third position, 3-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 5 – The JCI Hong Kong Senate Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.68 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
SUNNY DARLING (AUS 5yo g Shalaa – Honesty Prevails) scored his maiden victory in Hong Kong as he proved far too good from the front. From barrier 10, the gelding showed good speed under Vincent Ho to drive forward in the early stages and be up on the speed. Approaching the first turn, Ho pushed on to get across and land on the outside of the leader with the pace slowing around the home turn. The two leaders were clear of the chasing pack as they entered the straight and it didn't take long for Sunny Darling to hit the front. He took control shortly after entering the straight and while he was a sitting duck for a long way, they weren't making any ground on him. He kept on strongly to the line, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in a great effort. SHANGHAI STYLE got away quickly from an inside barrier and was urged along by Ellis Wong to hold a position close to the speed. He would rail through and land about midfield as they turned off the back straight, with the local apprentice remaining to the inside rail as they turned for home. Taking the shortest way to the finish, Wong only had to go around one tiring runner on his way to the line, sticking on gamely to stick his nose into second close to home and finishing a half-length clear in second. SONIC BOOM had raced in the one-out-one-back position throughout the race and had his chance if he was good enough to feature. He kept on well to the line, just missing out on second as he began to weaken close to home. He would end up 2-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 6 – Tiu Yue Yung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.12 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
ROBOT KNIGHT (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Brookton Flash) scored his maiden victory with an all-the-way victory. The gelding jumped well and was able to put himself close to the speed. The leader was trucking along in front and Andrea Atzeni sat over a length off the leader through the middle stages. Swinging around the turn, Atzeni moved into a clear second position but was still spotting the leader 2-1/4 lengths at the top of the stretch. He didn't appear to be making much ground early in the straight, but it was approaching the 200m pole where he really hit his straps. He blew right past the leader midway down the straight and never looked like getting beaten, running away to win by 2-1/2 lengths in a strong effort. GOLDEN LONG was left racing very wide in the run after jumping from barrier nine. Derek Leung took his medicine and sat in a midfield position four-wide and facing the breeze, but that allowed him to work into the race strongly around the home turn and be a chance of winning at the top of the straight. He was close to the eventual winner when the sprint went on, but he couldn't match Robot Knight over the closing stages, tiring late in the race to finish in second. ACA POWER ducked back to the inside on straightening and rallied up the inside fence to take third in an eye-catching effort.
Race 7 – Tsim Mei Fung Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.80 Standard Time: 1:38.60 Course/Class record: 1:36.79 True Legend
Zac Purton led home a Pierre Ng-trained trifecta in race seven with TURIN MASCOT (IRE 5yo g Caravaggio – Longing) scoring his first win in 12 months. From a middle draw, Purton was happy to let the speed go heading into the first turn, settling in the second half of the field and getting down to the inside rail. Down the back straight, Purton was able to get off the inside fence and move one-off the rail. As the race began to unfold around the home turn, Purton was able to get a nice tow into the race, with the grey just needing an ounce of luck at the top of the straight. He was held up until the furlong pole where he was able to shoot through a gap between horses, swiftly taking the lead and drawing clear over the concluding stages to get the job done by 1-1/2 lengths. FIGHTING MACHING settled in the back half of the field for Alex Badel who was left racing three-wide. The gelding began to make his move as they turned off the back and was continually pushed wider on the course, ending up being one of the widest runners turning for home. He kept the eventual winner boxed in early in the straight, but it was to no avail as Turin Mascot burst through late to win. Fighting Machine stuck on well to the line to hold on for second in a close finish for the minor placings. SUPREME AGILITY stormed home late in the race to get his nose down for third to round out the Pierre Ng one-two-three.
Race 8 – Wa Mei Shan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.82 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
CAPITAL DELIGHT (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Eiffel Tower) rounded out the night with his first victory of the season, bringing up a winning double for Vincent Ho. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper didn't show much speed from the outset and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down. Ho was always niggling at him in the run, sliding up the inside rail to sneak through as they turned off the back, slicing his way through traffic to be right on the back of the leaders turning for home. It was a great piece of riding, and the gelding let down powerfully at the top of the straight, with the gelding letting rip to hit the front with around 200m remaining. He wouldn't be caught in the run to the line, finishing 1-1/4 in front to end the night on a winning note for favourite backers. MUST GO ended up in the second half of the field on settling down but like the winner, he began to make his move turning off the back. He was slightly held up as they turned into the straight with Antoine Hamelin having to switch off heels to make his run down the middle of the track. He stormed home impressively to get up for second position, though he was never really a winning chance. SKY FOREVER was running on impressively close to home but just peaked on the effort late, ending up in third position for Keith Yeung.
