3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Ownership Pride 1200m Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.93 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King
Karis Teetan and David Hall combined to win the opening event on the card with MR GOOD VIBES (NZ 4yo g El Roca – Rubi de Lago) breaking his maiden status. The four-year-old wasn't the fastest into stride and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down. The gelding was travelling well in the run and approaching the home turn, Teetan was able to slide forward three-wide with cover, building up his momentum as he headed into the straight. The Mauritian hoop got his mount into the clear with plenty of time remaining, coming down the middle of the track as the widest runner in the straight. He continued to eat into the margin down the outside, eventually sticking his nose in front inside the final 50m and drawing away over the closing stages. TACTICAL COMMAND didn't show much early speed despite getting away on terms from an inside alley. Alexis Badel was third last in running, sitting along the inside rail buried in traffic as they rounded the home turn. Badel was trying to pick his way through the congestion but ran into a wall of runners with a furlong to go, with the Frenchman having to bide his time and wait for a gap to open. The gap came close to the inside where Badel was able to duck back to the rail, shoot beneath his rivals and run into second position, getting his nose down on the line to steal the position in a photo finish. COMMANDING MISSILE had been left racing wide and without cover throughout the event after jumping from a wide alley. Despite the tough run, the gelding trucked into the race strongly turning for home, letting down strongly to move up and hit the front with 150m to run. He only held the lead momentarily as Mr Good Vibes blew by him shortly after, with the wide run maybe costing him late in the race as he was pipped on the post, ending up in third.
Race 2 – Racing Passion 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.28 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was the debutants who shone brightest in race two, with Hugh Bowman and John Size saluting with THE WINNABE (AUS 3yo g Caravaggio – Maewyn). From an inside alley, the three-year-old was able to hold a position in the first half of the field, settling just off the speed under Hugh Bowman. Turning off the back, Bowman was able to get off the rail and
continue his run one off the fence, scooting around his rivals and getting into the three-wide trail as they began to swing into the straight. He trucked up ominously in the straight and sprinted quickly when asked for an effort by Bowman. He was joined out in front with 150m to run and looked as though he had been headed, but to the gelding's credit, he dug deep and showed plenty of strength to begin to pull away. He was a clear leader with 50m to run as Bowman put the whip away and stopped riding with 25m to run, scoring by a half-length. SUPER INFINITY was another debutant in the race who had performed well at the trials. From a wide draw, Zac Purton eased the gelding back in the run and he was sitting 6-3/4 lengths off the leader in ninth as they passed the 800m point. He was still a long way back as they rounded the home turn, but the gelding picked up swiftly under Purton who got him into the clear down the middle of the track. It looked as though he hit the front with 150m left to run, but the debutant just peaked on his run close to home, with The Winnabe able to fight back and score. HAPPY FOR ALL was a whopping 4 lengths behind Super Infinity, with Derek Leung weaving his way through the traffic in the straight to finish a clear third.
Race 3 – Racing Heritage 1400m Handicap, HK $3,720,000
Class 1 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.56 Standard Time: 1:21.25 Course/Class record: 1:19.92 Encouraging
It was as tight finish in the Class 1 event of the day, where TAJ DRAGON (IRE 5yo g Mehmas – Next Trial) came out on top in a photo finish. On jumping, Ellis Wong landed in a midfield position on settling down, sitting fourth in the small field. Sitting one off the fence throughout, Wong looked to have a strong hold of the galloper around the home turn as the apprentice hoop shifted into clear running at the top of the straight. It took a little while for the gelding to get through his gears in the soggy conditions, but he showed plenty of strength to dig in over the final 100m and take the lead. He survived a late challenge late in the race, winning by a short head on the line in a photo finish. ATULLIBIGEAL settled out the back in running as Zac Purton took the gelding back to last from the outside gate. He ended up on the back of the winner around the home turn, with the Australian hoop getting to the middle of the track to make his run. Atullibigeal was unable to sprint with them at the top of the straight, having to grind through his gears before launching with a run inside the final 100m. He hit the line full of running but he couldn't peg back the margin, finishing in second position in a photo finish. WONDER KIT had sat up on the speed throughout the event and kicked strongly as they turned for home to take the lead with 300m remaining. He wasn't claimed until the closing stages in a bold effort, but he just found a couple better on the day.
Race 4 – The Racing Club 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.02 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was an emphatic victory in very fast time for the Jimmy Ting-trained GLORY ELITE (AUS 3yo g Russian Revolution – The King's Widow) scoring his maiden victory in fine style. The three-year-old showed superior speed from barrier eight, working across to take up the running shortly after the start. He wasn't waiting around out in front as the field strung out passing the 600m point, with a number of rivals already off the bit and chasing prior to the home turn. In the straight, Leung still had a strong hold of his mount with 300m to run and the gelding was still pulling away from his rivals. He skipped away once the button was pushed late in the race and he never looked like being run down in a dominant display, winning by 3L in emphatic fashion. LUCY IN THE SKY enjoyed a lovely run on the back of the leader throughout the event and always seemed to have Glory Elite within striking distance. Around the turn, Karis Teetan asked for an effort and shifted Lucy In The Sky into clear running early in the straight. The win was there for him if he was good enough, but the gelding was no match for the winner who just kept on running. SUPER BONUS was another who sat up on the speed throughout the event and clung on for third position in a photo finish, beaten 5-1/4 lengths with the first four in running the first four across the line.
Race 5 – The Hilltop In The Valley 1800m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:47.64 Standard Time: 1:48.15 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue
Zac Purton was the next jockey to strike, guiding home the David Hayes-trained SATIRICAL GLORY (AUS 5yo g So You Think – Satirical Lady) to his first victory at start 21. After getting away we4ll from a wide alley, Purton strolled across to take up the running before they reached the course proper, getting across to the inside rail. There was a runner out wide who headed Purton passing the 1200m point, with the Australian hoop happy to take up a trailing position through the middle stages. As the pace began to slow, Purton moved off the leader's back and moved up to eyeball the leader around the home turn, travelling strongly into the straight and quickly regaining the lead at the top of the straight. He sprinted quickly when the button was pushed, shooting away from his rivals to put up what would be an insurmountable lead. He was still miles in front with 50m remaining, as Purton eased the gelding down over the concluding stages, with the final margin only being 1-1/2 lengths. JOY OF SPRING continued his solid run of form but is still finding his maiden victory elusive. Despite jumping from a middle alley, Vincent Ho ended up toward the tail
of the field on settling down, racing with only a few behind him as they turned off the back. Ho placed the gelding under pressure a long way from home as he tried to pick his way through the traffic. The field fanned across the straight with allowed Ho to get into the clear midway down the stretch, but by the time he found space the race was all over. He closed off well to narrow the margin back to 1-1/2 lengths, but he never appeared a winning threat. FLYING MOJITO stuck on well from a midfield position to end up 2-3/4 lengths off the winner in third position.
Race 6 – Sha Tin Clubhouse 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4– Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.77 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Hugh Bowman brought up a winning double on the card as SKY TRUST (AUS 3yo g So You Think – Humble) secured his maiden victory at start number 7. There was a good charge for the lead early doors and Bowman was happy to let them fight it out, with the Australian settling about midfield as they sorted their order out. The pace was solid throughout the event and Bowman remained one off the rail throughout, with the Australian swinging wide at the top of the straight to get to the middle of the track. He was spotting the leader 4-1/2 lengths on straightening, but the gelding let rip down the outside to move up and join the leader with 100m to run. The horses were wide apart, but it was inside the final 50m where Sky Trust did his best work, taking the lead and getting the win comfortably by a half-length. ARIEL had enjoyed a lovely run in the race, sitting on the back of the leader under Ellis Wong. As they turned for home, Wong stuck close to the rail and shot up underneath the leader to take control with 300m left to run. He was well clear of the rest of his rivals, with Sky Trust looming as the only danger in the run to the line. He still looked to be leading with 100m to run, but he was caught over the closing stages, ending up in a clear second place. MEEPMEEP was on the back of Ariel in the run and followed that galloper through along the inside in the straight. He was no match for the first two across the line, but he stuck on well enough for third.
Race 7 – The Members Cup (Handicap), HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.66 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
The Cup race of the day went to Frankie Lor and Derek Leung as VOYAGE SAMURAI (AUS 4yo g Dissident – Love Commands) continued to work his way through the grades. In the
driving rain, the gelding was the first horse out of the barriers, and he showed plenty of early speed to get across and lead the field. He had some pressure early in the race, but Leung was able to hold those rivals out and remain out in front as he dictated the pace through the middle stages. As they turned into the straight, Leung had skipped away from his rivals with the son of Dissident sprinting quickly to break away by over two lengths passing the 300m point. He never looked like being run down in the straight, always holding a clear advantage and winning easily on the line by 1-1/2 lengths. STUNNING PEACH was left racing wide after jumping from barrier 12, though he was racing with cover. Zac Purton had the gelding in a midfield position turning off the back and he continued to creep forward around the home turn, with the champion jockey popping into the clear toward the middle of the track as they turned for home. He sprinted quickly when asked for an effort and ran to a clear second with a furlong remaining, with Purton looking to chase down the leader. Voyage Samurai was a class above on the day, but Stunning Peach kept on well to the line under top weight, holding on for second place in a tight photo finish. AEROINVINCIBLE was in a tricky position turning for home and didn't have much room to move at the top of the straight. He came with a strong run once he finally got into the clear, though it was too late as he just missed out on second by a bob of the head.
Race 8 – Beas River Country Club 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4– Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.48 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It took 19 starts, but STRATHPEFFEER (AUS 4yo g Dundeel – Quizzed) finally broke his maiden in race 8 on the card. Douglas Whyte's charge ended up a little worse than midfield on settling down with Matthew Chadwick sliding into a position in the three-wide trail. He was moving into the race strongly passing the 600m point, improving around horses and getting plenty of clear air at the top of the straight. The gelding let rip down the centre of the course to hit the front with 150m left to run and he shot away inside the closing stages, winning impressively by 1-1/2 lengths. MISSION VOICE had settled close to the speed in running as Luke Ferraris was able to keep the leader within striking distance in the run. He moved up to hit the front with a furlong to run, but he was only in front momentarily as Strathpeffer moved up close to home. He stuck on well to the line to hold on for second position after jumping a $20 chance. SUPER UNICORN ran on strongly from toward the back to finish in third position in an eye-catching effort.
Race 9 – Levade 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.71 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Race favourite FULL CREDIT (AUS 3yo g Va Pansiero – Ready To Impress) bounced back to winning ways, making every post a winner. Lyle Hewitson got the gelding out of the barrie4rs and into the lead relatively easily, with not a whole lot of pressure being applied in the early stages. He kept the field running around the home turn though, with the two leaders getting away from the chasing pack early in the straight. When Hewitson pressed the button, Full Credit broke a length clear of his nearest rival, and still led by that margin with 100m remaining. He was tiring close to the line, but the gap was big enough to manage as he scored by a half-length on the line. LADY'S CHOICE tracked Full Credit everywhere he went after jumping on the outside of the race favourite. Karis Teetan sat outside the leader in the run and was right there to apply the pressure as they turned for home. Lady's Choice lacked the sprint that Full Credit showed at the top of the straight, but he rallied back well in the closing stages to narrow the margin back to a half-length. MAGNIFICENT NINE cut the corner on straightening with Zac Purton sticking to the inside part of the track in the run to the line. The gelding closed off well down along the inside to take third position, but the first two across the line were better on the day.
Race 10 –Beijing Clubhouse 1400m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.15 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Hugh Bowman rounded out a successful day in the saddle, bringing up his third winner of the meeting aboard PATCH OF THETA (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Fortune Of War) for the Francis Lui stable. The gelding got away on terms from barrier 9 and he was able to slide across and slot into a position just off the speed which was solid early in the event. There was no real change to the order as the field split in two through the middle stages, with Bowman able to tack onto the back of the leading division. Turning for home, Bowman got his mount to the crown of the track to make his run, but he was quickly overtaken on his outside early in stretch. Bowman went to work aboard the gelding who wrestled back the advantage with 100m to run and he showed plenty of class in the final stages to win by a head on the line. SUNLIGHT POWER didn't have the best of luck in running and arguably should have won with an unimpeded run in the straight. The gelding had to duck and weave around runners under Harry Bentley, with Sunlight Power launching at the leader late in the race. He got very close to winning, but just ran out of time to reel in Patch Of Theta in a very eye-catching run. LOST CHILD had burrowed his way between runners to make a challenge midway down the straight, but he was unable to sustain that effort to the line as he weakened late to finish in third position, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
