3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – L'Oreal Paris Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.43 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Angus Chung continued his good form through the early part of this season, holding on to win narrowly aboard BEAT HOLLOW (AUS 5yo g Outreach – Warrilla) for Me Tsui. The gelding was one of the first out of the barriers and rolled forward to take the lead on settling down. He wasn't taken on out in front, allowing to dictate from the front through the middle stages before kicking away at the top of the straight. He still led by nearly over a length at the furlong pole and only began to get tired inside the final 100m where the challengers began to make ground. Chung was able to keep the five-year-old in front and survive a close photo finish to score by a nose on the line. Jerry Chau and YOO YOO KNIGHT were doing the chasing, having settled just off the speed through the middle stages. Chau stuck to the inside on straightening and went underneath his rivals to challenge for the lead. He chased hard and was strong to the line as he dived right at the post, but just missed out by the barest of margins. COMPULSORY was a further 1-1/2 lengths back in third having run on strongly from near the tail of the field.
Race 2 – Grace One Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.11 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
I GIVE (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Grace And Eva) made it four wins from as many starts this season with Andrea Atzeni leading all the way. The gelding showed good speed form the wide draw to burn across and lead the field on settling down. He wasn't hanging about out in front, setting a genuine tempo throughout but showed plenty of talent as he kicked clear when Atzeni asked for an effort. It was all over in a matter of strides as the five-year-old had a winning margin at the furlong and never looked like being run down, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. Debutant MEEPMEEP had settled about midfield and along the rail from his inside stall and snuck right up the fence to run into second position. He was taking good ground off the winner late in the race and might be looking for further in time. A nice debut effort despite the beaten margin. LUCKY QUALITY was a further 1-1/2 lengths behind, running into the final placing for Ellis Wong in a photo finish.
Race 3 – Kate Tokyo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.29 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Karis Teetan and John Size combined in the third as WUNDERBAR (AUS 3yo g Rich Enuff – Could Be Something) proved too good on debut. The gelding jumped well from barrier 5 and worked across toward the outside rail early in proceedings. He was just off the leader through the middle stages before striding forward and taking the lead with 300m to run. The three-year-old quickened well under the urgings of Teetan as he moved close to the favorable grandstand rail. He showed plenty of strength close to the line to score by a neck on the line, fending off his more experienced opponent. MULTISUPER was right alongside the debutant and winner throughout the event but was unable to stick his nose in front at any stage. Zac Purton threw everything he had to get the gelding over the line, but he was unable to reel in the winner. RUN RUN TMIING was another debutant in the race, finishing 2-3/4 lengths off the leader in third, running on strongly after settling back in the pack.
Race 4 – Canmake Tokyo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.92 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
It was another all-the-way winner, making that three of the first four races with WIDE BLUE YONDER (NZ 5yo g Power – Pierian) making every post a winner. He was quickly away from barrier 9 and rolled straight to the lead under Lyle Hewitson who didn't slam the brakes on once he got to the front. They were going along at a decent tempo, but he wasn't pressure in the lead until they turned into the straight as the second horse loomed at the top of the straight. Hewitson got to work aboard the five-year-old and he quickened well at the top of the stretch to fend off his closest rival down the straight. He only got tired inside the final 50m but had a big enough gap back to his rivals to core by a neck on the line. MASTER HERO had sat three-wide and without cover throughout the race but was superb through the line, only going down by a neck. With a kinder run in transit next time out he can be should be going close to winning. He held off AESTHETICISM who was coming home strongly from a midfield position under Zac Purton, finishing in the placings.
Race 5 – Eleanor Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.17 Standard Time: 1:34.50 Course/Class record: 1:32.96 Not Usual Talent
After a tough start to the day for favourite punters, HAPPY TOGETHER (IRE 4yo g Dragon Pulse – Ruby Girl) put the ship back on course. The gelding got away on terms under Alex Badel and drifted back from the favourable alley to settle midfield in the run. The pace was good out in front as Badel moved into the three-wide trail turning off the back. The pace slowed around the home turn with the field bunching up, prompting Badel to move wider again entering the straight. He built the momentum turning for home and hit the front with 200m to run as Badel really got to work on the four-year-old. He showed plenty of strength close to the line as a rival came out after him, holding on to win by a half-length on the line. BEAUTYVERSE put in his best run for some time in Hong Kong, putting in a strong effort to finish in second. He's getting close to a drop in grade where he's sure to be competitive. THE BEST PEACH had settled last in running and made plenty of ground to finish just 1-3/4 lengths away.
Race 6 – La Colline Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.88 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Karis Teetan brought up a winning double as WINNING DATA (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Solar Burst) scored impressively. He got away on terms but eased out of the early speed battle to cross down to the inside, settling in a midfield position. The pace slowed as they turned off the back and the gelding got close to heels near the 800m point. He settled well passing the 600m point though and Teetan began to work through traffic, getting off the rail as they turned for home. He had a wall of horses in front of him at the top of the stretch and nowhere to go, with Teetan forced back to the inside where he shoved his way through a gap with 150m remaining. He burst through to take the lead inside the final 100m and lengthened powerfully to score by 1-1/4 lengths in grand style. ARIEL was second across the line after settling on the outside of the eventual winner in the run. Luke Ferraris followed the three-wide line into the race and was part of the reason why the winner was pocketed at the top of the straight. He hit the front with 100m to run but couldn't hold off the winner who charged late. CHAMPION INSTINCT was in a tricky position midfield and between runners but got into the clear in the straight and finished off nicely to claim third, 1-3/4 lengths behind the winner.
Race 7 – The Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf – Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:47.40 Standard Time: 1:46.80 Course/Class record: 1:45.25 Southern Legend
The feature of the day went to Manfred Man and Derek Leung who teamed up with ENCOUNTERED (IRE 4yo g Churchill – Enrol), handing Leung his first Group race win for two years. Everything worked out perfectly for the gelding, jumping well from gate 6 and landing on the back of the leader as the settled into stride. The pace was only fair through the middle stages as the leader tried to stack them up turning for home, but the four-year-old had the run of the race. As his rivals peeled wide in the straight, Leung got off the leaders back with plenty of space to sprint through. It took him a while to wind up, but he got through the gap to take the lead with 100m to run and was far too strong close to the line, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths. CHAMPION DRAGON had sat outside the leader in running and stuck on gamely to the line as the leader dropped out of contention. He's a consistent galloper who will find another race to win eventually. LA CITY BLANCHE put forward his best run since arriving in Hong Kong, sitting midfield, and running on strongly, passing some handy types in the process.
Race 8 – Suisse Programme Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.88 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
John Size brought up another winner on the day as PINS PRINCE (NZ 6yo g Pins – Urban) saluted under the urgings of Zac Purton. He jumped well off the inside and found a perfect spot in running on the back of the leader. It was a good go for the front early and Purton was able to watch it all unfold from the inside alley, stalking the pace through the middle stages before needing clear air at the top of the straight. Luckily for Purton, the leader kicked clear in the straight, allowing the champion hoop to follow him through before coming off his back approaching the furlong marker. Purton put the race away in a matter of strides as he never looked like being beaten once into the clear, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in a great finish. BEATO stormed home from the rear, weaving through traffic in the straight to claim second in what was the run of the race. He never really got a fair rack at them, but he let down strongly once clear and powered through the line, he edged out CHILLI BABA for second who was just tiring at the line but must be respected moving forward after a great effort.
Race 9 – La Estephe Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.03 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Mauritian hoop Karis Teetan scored a winning treble aboard the David Hayes-conditioned HLOBAL HARMONY (NZ 5yo g Shamexpress – Spray). He got away on terms but drifted back in the early stages to settle a little worse than midfield in the run. The pace was strong up front, which had him in a perfect position as he moved into the three-wide trail heading around the home turn. Teetan gave the five-year-old plenty of clear air at the top of the straight and he didn't disappoint. He let down strongly over the concluding stages to stick his nose in front and score by a neck on the line. LADY'S CHOICE pressed on from a wide gate to sit outside the leader and looked to have plenty of gas in the tank turning for home. Zac Purton waited patiently on the gelding before letting him rip, but he couldn't fend off the winner who had all the momentum out wider on the course. BEAUTY CRESCENT was strung up between runners heading into the straight before getting into the clear with 200m to run. He closed off soundly to finish in third position and probably could've finished closer with more air at the top of the straight.
Race 10 – Neogence Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.53 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Angus Chung bookended the card as he again led all the way, this time with the Pierre Ng-trained DROMBEG BANNER (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Drombeg Dawn). It was an even line away from the barriers, but Chung urged his mount along to take control approaching the 1000m point. Once he got to the front, the apprentice wasn't pressured at all and was able to do as he pleased, leading by three-quarters of-a-length at the top of the straight. He had a wall of runners chasing him right down the straight and it looked as though they were getting to him close to the line. The gelding hung in tough at the finish, fending off all his rivals and scored by a short head on the line in a close three-way photo finish. GREEN N WHITE had been caught wide throughout but did have cover for Zac Purton who cruised around the outside of the field coming into the straight. He was five-wide turning for home but was lengthening nicely down the centre of the course. He was presented to win if good enough but couldn't get past the leader who was tough to the line. BEAUTY FIT also loomed as a danger close to the finish, darting through between runners and making his charge right up the inside rail. He too looked a winning chance close to home but had to settle for third in a tight finish.
