Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – L'Oreal Paris Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:48.27 Standard Time: 1:48.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.37 Incredible
KINGLY DEMEANOR (GB 4yo g Oasis Dream – Brom Felinity) shed the maiden tag, turning his form around following a 12-3/4 length defeat the start prior. In a change of tactics, Keith Yeung fired the gelding out of the barriers with the four-year-old taking up the running from barrier three. He rolled forward to hold the lead when challenged early, setting a solid tempo through the first 1000m of the race. The field began to fan from the 600m point, though Kingly Demeanor was travelling well under Yeung with the local jockey yet to pull the trigger. Swinging for home, he kicked strongly at the top of the straight and quickly put up a couple of lengths on the chasing pack. He had extended that margin down to the 200m point and nothing was making enough ground to challenge. He went on to win comfortably on the line, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths. CHATEAU LE PECHE had landed in the one-out-one-back position for Jerry Chau after a good piece of riding early on. Chau was trying to get his way into the clear as they came to the 600m point, but was pocketed by runners to his outside initially, with the local hoop pushing his way into the clear at the top of the straight. He closed off strongly inside the final 100m to run to a clear second, but he never really looked like he was getting to the winner. TURTLE AGAIN made a strong move around the home turn and into the straight, ending up in the middle of the track down the stretch. He kept on well to the line to finish in third, but he was no match for the first couple across the line.
Race 2 – Kate Tokyo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.94 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
GENEVA (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Sebrina) made it back-to-back wins after being smashed late in betting. After being a little slow into stride, Hugh Bowman landed in the second half of the field with a strong tempo being set up front. He was racing comfortably well back in the field with Bowman electing to stay closer to the inside, rather than swing out wide around the home turn. He was still spotting the leader 6-1/4 lengths at the top of the straight, but the gaps appeared for the $1.60 favourite as he began to get up onto the back of the leaders. He got clear air with 150m to run and it all looked easy in the end under Bowman, with the Australian hoop never reaching for the whip as the four-year-old went to the line under hands and heels. PACKING ANGEL rolled forward from a sticky draw to settle close to the speed under Zac Purton, eventually sliding into the one-out-one-back position. He was within striking distance of the leaders throughout the event and the horse was there for Purton when he asked for an effort early in the straight. He showed plenty of strength to pocket one of his rivals at the top of the stretch before kicking strongly to hit the front with a furlong to go. He was only collared late in the race in a strong performance, finishing a length clear in second. GREAT SPIRIT loomed as though he'd be a winning hope early in the straight but just peaked on his run inside the final 100m.
Race 3 – Grace One Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.48 Standard Time: 1:34.95 Course/Class record: 1:33.70 Family Jewel
Brenton Avdulla picked up his seventh win of this season, guiding home the Tony Cruz-trained CALIFORNIATOTALITY (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Total Attraction). The gelding was left racing wide and without cover in the early stages after jumping form barrier 12, with Avdulla looking to slot into the running line down the back straight. The Australian hoop eventually continued to push on, moving up to sit on the outside of the leader as the approached the 800mn point. The speed slackened around the home turn, allowing the four-year-old to catch his breath momentarily as the field bunched with 600m remaining. Avdulla waited until they were into the straight before asking for an effort, with the gelding under attack from all angles. He wouldn't go down without a fight, kicking strongly under the urgings of Avdulla to fend off all his rivals right to the wire in a very tough win under the top weight, scoring by a half length on the line. JUMBO FORTUNE settled in the second half of the field for Karis Teetan despite being away on terms from barrier four. He was travelling strongly back in the run and was pulling the Mauritian into the race approaching the 600m point. Teetan ended up working into the race four-wide without cover, with the big chestnut there to strike if good enough. He had plenty of time and space to round up Californiatotality, but he just lacked the knockout blow. SOARING BRONCO stuck on well from sitting on the speed to take third position without having the smoothest of runs in the straight.
Race 4 – Canmake Tokyo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.47 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
SUGAR BALL (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Miss Vinnoire) clung on to win the fourth race narrowly for Derek Leung and Cody Mo. After getting away on terms from barrier five, the gelding ended up in the second half of the field. Derek Leung would remain there throughout the race, sitting one off the fence around the home turn before angling out into the clear shortly after straightening. The five-year-old got into the clear and stormed down the outside of the course, looming up to the leaders with 100m to run. He stuck his nose in front inside the final 50m to win by a short head on the line, surviving a photo finish to win narrowly. LIFELINE EXPRESS also ended up back in the ruck following a moderate getaway, settling second last along the fence. Rather than swinging wide turning for home, Bowman remained closer to the inside and rode for luck. The gaps appeared with around 250m to run he came out after the leader. Once he got to the front, he and Sugar Ball got away from the rest of the pack, but he couldn't fend off the challenge of Sugar Ball right on the line. CHEERFUL WORLD settled in a midfield position for Luke Ferraris and was there to strike if good enough. He kept on well to the line, but just bumped into two better on the day.
Race 5 – Eleanor Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.72 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Keith Yeung made it a winning double on the day as he partnered MASTER OF ALL (AUS 5yo g Charm Spirit – Funoon to his first win of the season. The gelding jumped sharply from barrier three and put himself on the speed right away, with Yeung keen to hold his spot out in front. He led comfortably turning off the back and the local hoop was able to dictate the speed, slowing the tempo through the middle stages with the field bunching up approaching the home turn. He kicked strongly, turning for home and was still in front with a furlong to run, though he was under siege inside the final 100m. It looked as though he was going to be beaten late in the race with his rivals looking as though they were ahead of him, though he kicked back strongly along the rail to stick his nose down right on the wire. He claimed a narrow victory right on the post in a gutsy display. DRAGON JOY jumped from a wide barrier but showed good early speed to get across and sit close to the speed. Hugh Bowman would take a sit one-out-one-back aboard the gelding, sitting right on the back of the leader division as the moves came around the home turn. He was able to get off heels with ease and let down well to make his challenge down the outside. It looked as though he had taken a narrow lead inside the final 50m, but he couldn't fend off Master Of All who got up off the canvas to steal the victory. MARKWIN stormed home from the back of the pack to grab third as the $2.20 favourite.
Race 6 – La Estephe Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.12 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
FLYING LUCK (AUS 4yo g Written Tycoon – Snitzel Blitz) scored his maiden victory in the sixth event. From the inside gate, Vincent Ho came out relatively neutral, sitting just off the speed. He would rally up along the fence to be on the back of the leader as they turned off the back straight, travelling sweetly through the middle stages of the race. He couldn't get any clear air early in the straight, being held up on the back of the leaders and needing a way clear with 300m remaining. Vincent Ho had to bide his time aboard the big galloper because the gap came with about 200m remaining and the big fellow was able to get into his work. He worked through his gears impressively to hit charge up the inside and hit the front close to home, getting the job done by a neck on the wire. SOLID WIN rolled forward from a good draw to be right on the speed for Andrea Atzeni, settling on the outside of the eventual winner in the run. He seemed to be losing touch with the leaders through the middle stages, with Atzeni just niggling the gelding along to hold his spot in the run. Atzeni then got to work abord the gelding swinging into the straight, getting into the clear and letting down strongly to hit the front with a furlong to run. He looked the winner with 100m to run, but Flying Luck caught his second wind up the inside and stole the victory close to home. It was a bunched finish for the final placing, with SUNDAY'S SERENADE getting the nod for third. After being near the trail of the field on straightening, the gelding charged home strongly between horses to run into third position, getting the photo for third as a $69 chance.
Race 7 – The Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:46.41 Standard Time: 1:47.35 Course/Class record: 1:45.25 Southern Legend
The feature of the day went to ENSUED (USA 4yo g Lemon Drop Kid – Alluvial Gold) who scored his first win since December last year. From out wide, Karis Teetan spent the first part of the race trying to slot into the running line, draggin the gelding back to be midfield early on. Midway down the straight, the Mauritian was able to slot the gelding into the one-out-one-back position, with the pace going right on from the 900m point. The leaders broke the field apart, with Teetan remaining with the leading bunch around the turn and travelling strongly into the straight as he pulled wide and into the clear. The field were scattered across the track, but it was Ensued who ran to the lead with 200m to run and pulled away for a very impressive victory. He went on to win by three quarters of-a-length, with big gaps back through the rest of the field. LA CITY BLANCHE looked like the only danger close to home. He put himself right on the speed from the outset under Matthew Chadwick and was sitting on the inside of the eventual winner in the run. Tracking the leaders, he looked to have plenty to offer as they approached the home turn, with Chadwick remaining to the inside around the turn. He was forced back to the inside early in the straight, but he had his chance if he was good enough. He closed off well to grab second and looks right on song as he steps out over further in his future races. CHANCHENG GLORY was off the bit a long way from home as the field split in two, with Vincent Ho leading the chasing pack up to the leaders around the home turn. He stuck on well under his light weight to finish in third, but he was 2-1/2 lengths off the winner at the post.
Race 8 – Suisse Programme Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.81 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
GLORY ELITE (AUS 4yo g Russian Revolution – The King's Meadow) was far too good today, blowing apart his rivals from the front. The gelding wasn't the fastest into stride, but he showed plenty of early speed to move up and take the lead early in the race. He was able to hold his position turning off the back, leading by about a length approaching the 600m point. He was full of running coming into the home straight and had already extended his lead under a hold early in the stretch. Leung waited until he was inside the final 300m before asking for an effort and the gelding never looked like being beaten. He would run away for an easy win, scoring by 2-1/2 lengths in fine style. LADY'S CHOICE pressed on early to sit on the outside of the leader and eventual winner in the run. After swinging for home, he came under plenty of pressure early in the straight, but he kept kicking to his credit. He didn't go down without a fight, showing plenty of strength to rally back into second. The first three in the run were the first three across the line with ALSONSO also sticking on well to claim third after battling it out with Lady's Choice down the straight.
Race 9 – Santa Monica Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.33 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
MY WISH (AUS 4yo g Flying Artie – Set The Tone) returned to the winner's stall in the penultimate event and looks to have a bright future. From barrier 14, Luke Ferraris allowed the gelding to roll forward, taking his time to get across and using the gallopers natural speed to sit on the speed. The South African didn't have to bustle him along to land on the pace, with the leaders setting a good tempo throughout the race. Ferraris moved up to apply the pressure around the home turn and the gelding took the lead with ease early in the straight. He kept kicking under Ferraris' urgings despite being challenged midway down the stretch, but My Wish packed too many punched as he went on to win by a half-length. SKY TRUST jumped well from barrier seven and was able to roll across and land in the one-out-one-back position for Lyle Hewitson. The South African jockey would stalk the eventual winner throughout the race and peel off his back early in the straight to mount his challenge. The race was there for him to win if he was good enough, though he couldn't peg back the margin and had to settle for second place. The first two across the line gapped third place, with STELLAR SWIFT holding on for third position in a photo finish three lengths behind the winner.
Race 10 – Dr.G Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.76 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Vincent Ho and Francis Lui combined to win the final event on the night with STEPS AHEAD (AUS 4yo g Written By – Avocado) bringing up back-to-back victories either side of a break. The gelding wasn't the quickest out of the barriers and he was ridden along to hold a more prominent position under Ho in the early stages, eventually slotting into a position just off the speed. Ho would creep closer around the home turn, being right on the back of the leaders as they turned into the straight and peeling into the clear to make his challenge. He quickened impressively to hit the front with around 250m remaining but was wobbling back to the rail under pressure. He was still a length in front at the 100m point with a rival bearing down on him close to home, but Steps Ahead had enough left in the tank to hold on, winning by a head at the post. ARMOUR WAR EAGLE was the horse making a late charge after sitting well back in the pack. Lyle Hewitson drifted back from barrier 13 at the start and remained there throughout the event. He was 4-1/2 lengths off the lead turning into the straight and ducked back to the inside down the stretch, squeezing between horses to make his charge. He came out after the leader strongly, but just ran out of time to catch him. BEAUTY CRESCENT had his chance if he was good enough but just bumped into a couple better on the day.
