3 minute read
Selections and Analysis for Saturday’s race meeting at Sha Tin (12/10/19).
Race 1: #9 Friends Of Nanjing, #2 Gold Velvet, #5 Joy Master, #4 Le Panache
Race 2: #6 Victory Power, #4 Shimmer And Shine, #3 Allied Agility, #5 Willful
Race 3: #2 Silver Fig, #4 Just Not Listening, #7 Triumphant Arch, #1 Mr Genuine
Race 4: #7 King's Race, #1 Starship, #13 Lotus Breeze, #5 Smart Rocket
Race 5: #14 Mr Magellan, #4 Sunshine Universe, #1 Simple Elegant, #9 Relentless Me
Race 6: #2 Gunnar, #8 Trust Me, #7 Dollar Reward, #12 Star Superior
Race 7: #3 Harmony Victory, #8 Tianchi Monster, #9 Classic Beauty, #5 King Opie
Race 8: #2 Assimilate, #3 Vincy, #1 Glorious Dragon, #7 Unicron Jewellery
Race 9: #6 Voyage Warrior, #7 Aethero, #1 Saul's Special, #5 Thanks Forever
Race 10: #13 Flying Victory, #6 Craig's Star, #14 Gift Of Lifeline, #4 Guy Dragon
Race 1: Chung On Handicap
#9 Friends Of Nanjing returned nicely first-up this season, closing from the tail of the field to finish just two-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. He's down to a competitive mark and the step up to a mile only enhances his claims. #2 Gold Velvet narrowly missed last start and if he's held his form from that, he's capable. Switching back to Sha Tin is a bonus and this race is well within his grasp. Fresh off a Wednesday double, Caspar Fownes has #5 Joy Master engaged in this. He comes into it with two runs under his belt, including an eye-catching fourth at his latest. He'll relish the extra furlong on offer here. #4 Le Panache is not without claims.
Race 2: Hoi Pa Handicap
#6 Victory Power is winless in Hong Kong but he's finished inside the top three on eight occasions and his narrow defeat last start suggests that it is only a matter of time before he breaks through. #4 Shimmer And Shine is a course and distance winner. He gets Moreira on this time which is a good push and if he does find his best, he's up to this. #3 Allied Agility has struggled since his debut win last season, although if he manages to recapture that form, he's more than capable. #5 Willful steps out on debut.
Race 3: Sha Tsui Handicap
#2 Silver Fig returned impressively first-up last start, scoring by three lengths over this course and distance. He'll have taken plenty of benefit from that effort and there's no doubt he can win again, even with the poor draw. #4 Just Not Listening is the likely leader. He's found a new lease of life racing on dirt, winning three times over this course and distance last season. #7 Triumphant Arch is on the up for trainer Benno Yung. He was well beaten last start behind Winner Supreme but there was plenty of merit in his run, as the majority of the field were spaced by Winner Supreme. #1 Mr Genuine is the veteran of the field having won four times from 56 starts. He's not without a chance if he can shoulder the 133lb.
Race 4: Tak Wah Handicap
#7 King's Race enjoyed a torrid run in transit last start, sitting three-wide with no cover and from there he struggled accordingly. He's shown enough potential however and his last-start effort deserves forgiveness, especially breaking this time from the inside gate. #1 Starship put in an eye-catching return to the track last start, finishing fast to grab third. Purton sticks aboard and he's a player in this spot. #13 Lotus Breeze has won two out of his last three starts. He's more than capable of scoring again and his best commands respect. #5 Smart Rocket rarely runs a bad race. He'll need the run but he's still not without place claims.
Race 5: The Yan Chai Trophy (Handicap)
#14 Mr Magellan gets another chance to breakthrough. He has two runs under his belt already this season and with just 114lb on his back, he should be around the mark once again. #4 Sunshine Universe is racing well. He gets Derek Leung aboard this time and with even luck from the gate, he'll find himself in the finish. #1 Simple Elegant made all to score his first Hong Kong win last start. Suspect he does the same again here and with Alfred Chan's 10lb claim he gets in very well at the weights for a horse sitting on the cusp of Class 3. #9 Relentless Me is likely to go off under the odds again. He's a chance, no doubt, but if he's too short it's worth looking for one to beat him.
Race 6: Tai Ho Handicap
#2 Gunnar has gone close to breaking through on three occasions across his six-start career, placing second in each by a small margin. Neil Callan retains the ride and the inside draw should see him find the front. #8 Trust Me won a recent trial. He's another who from the draw should roll forward and he could be the value. #7 Dollar Reward got off the mark last start at his 30th attempt. He can take another step forward. #12 Star Superior gets in with just 114lb to carry. He's a lightweight chance as long as he can overcome the awkward draw.
Race 7: Tsuen Fu Handicap
#3 Harmony Victory steps up in distance after finishing a narrow third last start. He's won over this course and distance previously, and the booking of Zac Purton suggests he's ready to do it all again. #8 Tianchi Monster peaked on his run first-up at Happy Valley, however, he still raced impressively with only his fitness giving way over an unsuitable distance. This is a much more suitable, especially as he's a course and distance winner previously. #9 Classic Beauty ran on last start over an unsuitable distance. This still might be a furlong too short but he's capable of closing off strongly. #5 King Opie is proven in this class, the only unknown is the nine furlongs.
Race 8: Tsuen Lok Handicap
#2 Assimilate has taken a while to acclimatise to Hong Kong but he's shown of late that he's nearing a breakthrough win. He made a stack of ground last start to finish third and with race-fitness under his belt he's more than capable of serving it up to this lot. #3 Vincy has gone close on a number of occasions. He's twice placed over this course and distance, once previously with Zac Purton who hops back on for this assignment. #1 Glorious Dragon steps out for Tony Millard following an eye-catching turf trial. He wants further but he isn't without a chance of finishing inside the top three. #7 Unicron Jewellery is next best, if he manages to return to form.
Race 9: Wo Tik Handicap
Arguably the sprint race of the season so far with a number of big race aspirants set to do battle. #6 Voyage Warrior makes his seasonal return following a four-start campaign last season which resulted in only one defeat at the hands of Thanks Forever. Still, he's returned in excellent condition, crushing his rivals in a recent trial, and if he finds that level this Saturday, he'll take a power of beating. #7 Aethero is the main danger. A talented sprinter in his own right, he suffered his sole defeat last start after he jumped midfield and copped a torrid run in transit. He ran well in defeat and his best prior deserves respect, especially his first win straight out Griffin into Class 3, which not many gallopers can do. #1 Saul's Special is as honest as they come. The Michael Chang-trained-galloper does his best racing down the Sha Tin 1000m, and, behind the leading duo, he's the next best. #5 Thanks Forever is the only horse to have defeated Voyage Warrior, getting the better of him at his first run of last season. He's since mixed his form and it's hard to have him on top based on his most recent two runs, even if his latest trial was encouraging.
Race 10: Yeung Uk Handicap
#13 Flying Victory slots in on top. He failed first-up last prep and as a previous course and distance winner, he commands respect. He'll take improvement from that first-up effort and a repeat of his win last season would not surprise. #6 Craig's Star wasn't far away first-up this season. He's shown he can shape up in this grade and he should be around the mark with improvement. #14 Gift Of Lifeline steps up to Class 3. He's a talent on the rise and if they run this race to suit, he'll rattle home strongly. #4 Guy Dragon gets Purton. He shouldn't be too far away, especially following an impressive trial behind Hezthewonforus.