3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Our second look at possible HKIR runners saw one of last year's victors salute in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy as Hugh Bowman rode four winners across the card. Andrea Artzeni and Zac Purton both rode doubles as the racing begins to heat up with big races just around the corner.
Race 1 – Wo Che Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:02.37 Standard Time: 2:02.85 Course/Class record: 2:01.56 Gorgeous Again
Hugh Bowman wasted no time getting on the board, teaming up with David Hall to win with KYRUS UNICORN (IRE 7yo g Havana Gold – Zindana). The flashy grey jumped quickly from barrier 5 and rolled forward in the early stages, before getting cover around the first turn as the field sorted their order out. They were going along at a good clip through the middle stages as Bowman got shuffled back to midfield at the halfway point as the field strung out a touch. The Australian hoop began to move into the race around the turn and after a bit of contact at the top of the straight, the gelding hit the front. He showed supreme straying power to run away from his rivals close to the line, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in a solid effort. Fellow grey JOYFUL CHAMPION ran into second position after he and Kyrus Unicorn had spent much of the race alongside each other. Andrea Artzeni stuck to the inside on straightening and weaved his way through the traffic to finish in second position. FIERY FLYING stuck on boldly out wide to run third, with the favourite finishing back in 7th after copping plenty of interference early in the straight.
Race 2 – Shek Mun Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.05 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Bowman and Hall made it a winning double to begin the day as SUMMIT CHEERS (AUS 6yo g Zoustar – Saffie Darling) was too good down the straight. The gelding jumped on terms but wasn't bustled along in the early stages as Bowman worked across to the grandstand rail. The gelding was racing in a midfield position throughout the event but began to creep closer passing the 5400m point. The gaps appeared right in front of him, and he exploded to take the lead with a furlong to run. He was far too strong for his rivals and won very
easily in the end, with the margin being a length on the line. MULTISUPER stuck on gamely to finish second after settling just in front of the eventual winner. He was under heavy pressure a long way from home but kept on gamely right to the line. SUPER COMMANDER led the charge right down the outside fence. The time was outside standard, but he had run along in the opening stages and did well to hold on for third.
Race 3 – Shun Chui Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.16 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Andrea Artzeni notched up his third win of the season, leading all the way aboard the Pierre Ng-trained I GIVE (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Grace And Eva). The gelding jumped quickly and rolled to the front under Artzeni, setting a solid tempo in the process as the field strung out through the middle stages. He led by over a length around the turn and had extended his lead at the top of the straight, leading by 1-3/4 lengths under a strong hold. He was challenged with a furlong to run but saw off that opponent as he ended up winning quite comfortably, with the final margin being a length. Zac Purton and KA YING WARRIOR had to settle for second again after looming as the winner with 200m to run. That's the second time he's looked the winner close to home before fading late in the race, whether that is immaturity or something else remains to be seen. KAHOLO ANGEL ran on well from the back to claim third in what was the 'eye-catching' run of the race.
Race 4 – Sun Tin Wai Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.27 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
LESLIE (AUS 5yo g Shooting To Win – We Can Dance) got away on terms from barrier 5 and landed in a midfield position as the field settled into stride. He was racing between runners throughout and didn't have much room at all through the middle stages, but he was sure to get his chance with a good tempo being set throughout. Angus Chung was able to slide his way across heels and into the clear midway down the straight with the gelding beginning to lengthen. He finished full of running, taking the lead in the final couple of strides and scoring by a neck. It was a bunched finish for the minor placings where ALWAYS FLUKE held on for second. He had settled on the outside of the eventual winner in the run, posted three-wide but he did have cover. Vincent Ho began to improve as they swung into the straight and lengthened nicely down the outside of the field. He ran in a little under
pressure, but took the lead with 100m to run before being gunned down late in the race. PINS PRINCE snuck through between runners to snatch third place, with only three quarters of-a-length separating the first 5 across the line.
Race 5 – Sun Tin Wai Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.22 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Hugh Bowman made it a winning treble through the first half of the card, running over the top aboard SUPER PURSUIT (NZ 4yo g Savabeel – Okahu Bay). The gelding was one of the first out of the barriers, but Bowman snicked him back from the wide draw and settled near the tail of the field. He was racing three-wide but did have some cover throughout as he improved his position slightly, passing the 800m point. He travelled comfortably and enjoyed a cosy run in transit as they swung the bend, getting out into the clear early in the straight and storming down the centre of the track. Bowman was throwing everything he had at the gelding who showed plenty of strength right through the line, scoring by a neck. SMART FIGHTER had shot to the lead with 100m to run and looked the winner close to the line, only to be run down by the winner in the shadoes of the post. YOUNG HORIZON snuck up the rail to run into third position, only beaten a half-length.
Race 6 – Sha Kok Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:48.03 Standard Time: 1:47.60 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
Hong Kong debutant ENSUED (USA 3yo g Lemon Drop Kid – Alluvial Gold) put his name up in Hong Kong Derby lights with a gutsy victory. Zac Purton steered the gelding across from barrier 11 to sit three-wide with cover, settling just forward of midfield. There were a few moves near the 1000m point which left the three-year-old facing the breeze out wide, but Purton rated the gelding beautifully as he crept closer to the lead with 600m remaining. The champion jockey was still cuddling the gelding as they turned for home, but it did look as though the wide run had taken its toll with 250m left to go. He found another gear though under Purton's urgings and took the lead with 100m to run, seeing off his rivals and scoring by a half-length on debut. SNAFFLES looked to head the three-year-old midway down the straight, but couldn't hold his position as Ensued rallied again close to the line. SWAN BAY ran home strongly from the tail of the field to finish in third position, burrowing through along the inside.
Race 7 – The Sha Tin Trophy (Handicap), HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.18 Standard Time: 1:33.80 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
Hong Kong Mile champion CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Pearlitas Passion) resumed in winning form, leading all the way under Hugh Bowman to bring up his fourth win of the afternoon. From the extreme outside, the five-year-old pinged out of the barriers and worked across to take the lead shortly after the start, with no pressure being applied to the Group 1 winner. Bowman was able to do as he pleased through the middle stages, leading by about a length throughout and at only a moderate tempo. The Australian hoop still had a strong grip of the gelding turning for home and when he finally asked for an effort, he quickened powerfully. He held his rivals at aby right to the line, scoring by a half-length in a fantastic return. ENCOUNTERED got up along the inside fence to run into second position. He was disappointing first-up, but getting out in trip and with a little more pace on offer this time working in his favour. Odds on favourite BEAUTY ETERNAL landed in a brilliant spot and had every chance to pick up the winner if he was good enough, but may have peaked on his run close to home and had to settle for third place.
Race 8 – Lung Hang Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.80 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
LUCKY ENCOUNTER (AUS 4yo g Epaulette – Miss de Vega) made it back-to-back wins and four wins from 6 outings as he put away his rivals with relative ease. The David Hayes-trained gelding shot across from the wide draw, showing good pace to land in second position on settling down. The tempo was quick early but the gelding was travelling comfortably under Karis Teetan around the turn, before the Mauritian began to inch closer turning into the straight. He wound up strongly under the urgings to stick his head in front with a furlong to run and draw clear from his rivals in the closing stages, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length in a fantastic effort. We may not have gotten to the bottom of him just yet. BEAUTY CRESCENT came out of nowhere to run into the finish. He stormed home over the closing stages. He was definitely the "flashing light" run in the race. GREENWICH turned in another solid effort at the bottom of the weights. He worked hard to find the lead and was still thereabouts at the finish. A strong effort and a win looks close.
Race 9 – Mei Tin Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.11 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton brought up a winning double with TAJ DRAGON (IRE 4yo g Mehmas – Next Trial) crossing the stripe first. He jumped well from the inside barrier and landed in a brilliant position for Purton with the tempo strong early doors. He was travelling well throughout the middle stages as the good tempo continued around the turn, with runners peeling wider on the course giving Purton plenty of options at the top of the straight. He was still nursing the gelding along until the 300m point, where he asked for an effort and shot through a gap to charge after the leader. He took control with 100m to run and went on to win very easily on the line, with the final margin being a length. Angus Chung gave SUPER WINNER a fantastic front-running ride, but just found one better on this occasion. He speared across from out wide and set a genuine tempo in the run, so it was a great effort to hold on for second. Race favourite JOYFUL HUNTER made some good ground late in the race, finishing in third position but he was no match for the winner.
Race 10 – Lek Yuen Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.17 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
Andrea Artzeni posted his first double for the season as LUCKY WITH YOU (AUS 6yo g Artie Schiller – Heredera) saluted in his first start for Frankie Lor. He got away on terms from barrier 7 as Artzeni looked to slot into the running line early on. He couldn't get into the running line, but did have cover as he raced three-wide in the run. He travelled well around the turn and Artzeni popped off heels heading into the straight as the gelding quickened well under the urgings. He kept coming out wider and took the lead with 150m to run. He had runners coming at him out wide and back along the inside, but he had enough left in the tank to score by a head and hold out his rivals for a first-up win. FLYING ACE continues to get too far back in his races, but he is somewhat dictated to by the barriers he's been drawing. He is absolutely airborne at the moment and when he's able to sit closer in the run, he'll be winning. BUNDLE OF CHARM was making a bold play up along the inside rail for Karis Teetan and only missed out on victory by a neck.
