3 minute read
Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s (8 March) race meeting at Sha Tin.
Race 1: #1 Winwin Thirtythree, #7 Smiling Success, #10 The Full Bloom, #13 Big Bully
Race 2: #7 Strathclyde, #2 Fortune Happiness, #3 Touch Of Luck, #10 Excel Delight
Race 3: #1 King's Race, #11 Incanto Prepared, #5 My Winner, #3 Circuit Hassler
Race 4: #3 Full Of Beauty, #1 Hot King Prawn, #2 Mr Stunning, 4 Thanks Forever
Race 5: #11 Breeze Of Spring, #10 Judy's Star, #12 Supreme Witness, #5 Jade Phoenix
Race 6: #7 Moon Peaks, #14 V Chevaliers, #3 Fantastic Show, #9 Focus
Race 7: #8 Bright Vision, #2 Mr Wealth, #6 Will Power, #7 Coby Oppa
Race 8: #5 Lakeshore Eagle, #3 Glorious Lover, #14 Cheerful Leader, #6 Mr Aldan
Race 9: #5 Hezthewonforus, #11 Winning Delight, #9 High Rev, #3 Chefano,
Race 10: #3 Duke Wai, #1 Saul's Special, #7 Mr Lumieres, #12 Hong Kong Win
Race 11: #5 All In Mind, #7 Valiant Dream, #6 Meridian Genius, #1 Lucky More
Race 1: Yi O Handicap
#1 Winwin Thirtythree sits on the cusp of a return to Class 4. He's capable of doing this here coming off two narrow defeats and with Joao Moreira taking the reins he rates as the one to beat. #7 Smiling Success can roll forward for Victor Wong as he has done lately. He's winless but this appears suitable and with steady improvement again he can figure. #10 The Full Bloom is proven in this grade as well as being a Class 4 winner previously. He's down to his mark and with Zac Purton up it wouldn't surprise to see him go close. #13 Big Bully has shown glimpses of ability and form the inside draw he should get every opportunity.
Race 2: Tai O Handicap
#7 Strathclyde rattled home last start over this course and distance to grab third. He's a two-time course and distance winner previously and with a fast pace set here he can add a third. #2 Fortune Happiness soared 18 rating points thanks to three consecutive wins however since then has found it difficult. Still, his best is very good and he can be a leading player with a positive ride close to the speed. #3 Touch of Luck has mixed his form but has shown the qualities of a winner on the dirt, although his sole win came on the grass. Zac Purton hops aboard and he warrants respect. #10 Excel Delight got off the mark two starts ago over this course and distance. He can figure with the right run.
Race 3: Tung Chung Handicap
#1 King's Race can roll forward and lead from the good gate as he has done previously as a winner in this grade. He's drawn to do exactly that for Matthew Poon who knows him well and this race appears his to lose. #11 Incanto Prepared has shown steady improvement like a lot of these John Size gallopers. Joao Moreira now takes the reins at his fifth start and from the inside draw he won't be too far away. #5 My Winner flashed home last start to grab second behind the runaway Mighty Giant. He'll be coming from well back in the field but with a race run to suit, he's capable of adding a second course and distance win to his name this season. #3 Circuit Hassler rarely runs a bad race. He's gone close on a number of occasions this term and he's shown that it's only a matter of time before he breaks through for the first time in season 2019/20.
Race 4: Chek Lap Kok Handicap
#3 Full Of Beauty has drawn to get the gun run for Chad Schofield and he's shown this term that he is up to this level of racing. He caught the eye at the trials recently, dashing up the inside to cross the line in second. This is a difficult but suitable contest and with even luck he'll be fighting out the finish. #1 Hot King Prawn has placed in his last three starts, all at G1 level in Hong Kong. He returns to 1200m after stepping out over 1400m last start which suits and he could be the one to take up the running for Joao Moreira and play catch me if you can. #4 Mr Stunning was beaten less than a length two starts in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint by Beat The Clock. If he can replicate that performance here he's going to be competitive. A trip to Dubai beckons for #4 Thanks Forever who is entered for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m). He's a leading chance though this is a hot little contest and his form can be very hit and miss, so depending on his price he could be worth opposing.
Race 5: Siu Ho Wan Handicap
#11 Breeze Of Spring has taken time to acclimatise but he appears to be hitting his straps coming into this off two game top three efforts. Grant van Niekerk knows how to get the best out of this galloper and it could be third time lucky for him here following those runs. #10 Judy's Star has taken time to adjust to Open company since stepping out of Griffin this term. His last run was impressive form the tail of the field and with a fast-run-race he can do similar again for Blake Shinn. #12 Supreme Witness scored back-to-back wins before finishing third last start. Still, he gets in light and the inside gate will see him with every opportunity. #5 Jade Phoenix has two thirds next to his name in Hong Kong. Joao Moreira retains the ride again and the blinkers first time should is expected to sharpen him up.
Race 6: Tung Chung Handicap
#7 Moon Peaks has done plenty across his short four-start career to suggest that a win was close and this race appears suitable. He'll need to overcome the awkward gate but if he can, he's an excellent shout to break through especially getting up to 1400m now. #14 V Chevaliers gets in with no weight on his back. He's shown glimpses of ability across his short career, enough so to suggest a competitive run. #3 Fantastic Show flew home from the rear of the field to score last time out. He can do similar again with a fast-run race. #9 Focus is a winner already this season. Concern is that he clearly prefers Happy Valley but still, he appears well enough to warrant respect.
Race 7: Sha Lo Wan Handicap
#8 Bright Vision steps out on debut for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. He displayed plenty of early toe in a recent Conghua trial and although he lacks race experience, he appears forward enough on debut to be competitive in a strong dirt contest. #2 Mr Wealth won well over this course and distance first-up this term. He recaptured his form last start after two lacklustre performances with Zac Purton now taking the reins he warrants plenty of respect. #6 Will Power went under last start after winning his first races. Still, he's racing well and even in defeat he still displayed the qualities of a winner. #6 Coby Oppa has proven himself on the surface he just needs to recapture is form of last season where he was a three-time winner. Next best.
Race 8: Tong Fuk Handicap
#5 Lakeshore did well to win four starts ago and since then has raced consistently without winning. This is a suitable contest, especially from gate four and with Karis Teetan engaged he should get every to steam over the top of them. #3 Glorious Lover grabbed fourth on debut under Zac Purton, who, retains the ride here. He's open to further improvement and the retention of the Australian indicates that a win isn't too far away. #14 Cheerful Leader won his way into Class 3 last start with an impressive score. He can figure with no weight on his back and the services of Joao Moreira. #6 Mr Aldan powered home late last month to score. He can continue that form here.
Race 9: Mui Wo Handicap
#5 Hezthewonforus ran a blinder last time out and if he manages to do that again he's going to take beating. Chad Schofield hops back aboard here and although he hasn't won since mid-2019, he just might be ready to return to the winner's stall here. #11 Winning Delight storm into Four-Year-Old Classic Series contention with a fighting win last start at the Valley and he lines up here with next to no weight on his back. #9 High Rev is nothing short of consistent. He's another who gets in light and as a four-time winner already, he knows what racing is all about. #3 Chefano put a few costly runs behind him three starts ago when winning. He's held his condition and the booking of Zac Purton commands respect.
Race 10: Fan Lau Handicap
#3 Duke Wai notched four wins in a row prior to his last start defeat, three of which over this course and distance. He was only beaten by a nose last time out and if he manages to unleash his powerful finish here, he can go on with it. #1 Saul's Special surprised last start when grabbing second over this course at 241/1. He gets a seven pound weight relief thanks to Alfred Chan and he's likely to make his own luck up on the speed. #7 Mr Lumieres is a two-time winner already this term and he can add a third here. He's versatile and might represent excellent value against this bunch. #12 Hong Kong Win won two in a row before his hat-trick was halted last start by Stronger, who raced to a course record time. Still, he's a course and distance winner who can bounce back with Joao Moreira up, especially in a competitive contest such as this.
Race 11: Ngong Ping Handicap
#5 All In Mind has hit the ground running since his arrival to Hong Kong from Australia where he was a winner on the Kensington track at Randwick in Sydney. He fought gamely on the pace that day only to be narrowly defeated by Good Beauty who saved ground to best him. He's a leading player. #7 Valiant Dream has finished inside the top two his last four runs, including two wins. He's in top condition and this race is appropriate. #6 Meridian Genius hasn't missed the top two this season, including two wins. Joao Moreira retains the ride which suits and he appears to have a number of rating points in hand. #1 Lucky More mixes his form but his best should see him finish thereabouts.