3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Chevalier Insurance Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.61 Standard Time: 1:22:35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Luke Ferraris got things underway with APEX TOP (SAF 7yo g Flower Alley – Cosima Liszt) scoring narrowly for Douglas Whyte. The gelding jumped quickly from the inside draw and led in the early stages, before obtaining cover shortly after settling into stride. He sat about a length off the leader as they turned off the back and used the leader as a bunny as they turned for home. Ferraris looked confident on his mount, asking the seven-year-old to let rip approaching the 300m point and setting out after the tiring leader. He took the lead with 100m remaining but was neck-and-neck with a rival right down to the wire, keeping his nose in front to score by a head on the line. ANGEL'S HUNTER had dropped in behind the eventual winner and followed him throughout the run. Matthew Chadwick popped off his back to make a challenge and the two ran to the lead together. It was a ding-dong battle down to the wire, but Apex Top proved too strong at the finish. BEAT HOLLOW led the field turning for home but was tiring late in proceedings. Despite tiring, he was able to hold on to third in a close three-way go.
Race 2 – Chevalier Lifts & Escalators Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.39 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
James McDonald began his short stint in Hong Kong on winning terms, saluting aboard the John Size-trained WUNDERBAR (AUS 3yo g Rich Enuff - Could Be Something). He jumped well from an inside barrier as McDonald worked across toward the outside rail. He ended up leading the field through the middle stages and paired off with a debutant with 300m to run. He quickly saw off that challenge and went on to win easily on the line, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length to secure back-to-back victories. FLYING DRAGON settled near the rear of the field from gate 14 and was forced to come out towards the centre of the track to make his run. He closed off strongly to get run into a clear second place. GANGNAM STAR did much the same thing. After settling along the grandstand rail, Matthew Chadwick was forced to cross behind the back of the field and make his run down the centre of the track. He got passed the tiring second-favourite close to the line to snatch the final step on the podium.
Race 3 – Chevalier Property Development Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.53 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
The first of the All Weather races went the way of ACA POWER (AUS 7yo g Zoffany – Lavender Bay) for Alex Badel and David Hall. The gelding jumped well but he was snicked back from the wide draw to settle at the tail of the field. The pace was strong up front as plenty of runners wanted to lead. Badel was smart to not let himself be too far back, moving three-wide at the 600m point to roll improve his position around the home turn. He was still 7-3/4 lengths off the leader heading into the straight but was building momentum out near the centre of the course. The leader was tiring which saw Aca Power pounce on the lead close to home and run away to score by a length on the line. DAILY TROPHY was another who sat off the leaders in running, settling about midfield and away from the rail. Vincent Ho always looked to be niggling at him in the run, but he made a run around the outside which the eventual winner followed him into. He looked to just peak on the run late, but was a very commendable run in second. LEAN MASTER had been one of the horses setting up the strong pace, burrowing through to lead off the inside barrier as they turned off the back. He tired late in the race but had built a big enough gap to hold on to third place comfortably.
Race 4 – Chevalier Property Management Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.84 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
It was an upset in the fourth as Keagan De Melo and Michael Chang teamed up with SMOKEY BEAR (IRE 6yo g Kodiac – Shamankiyna). The gelding got away well and landed in behind the speed early on, settling on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. The pace was once again fast early with De Melo getting a nice trail in behind. A gap opened for the South African hoop to get off heels and into the clear early in the straight with the six-year-old letting rip powerfully. He charged to the front with about 150m to run and pulled away over the closing stages, scoring by 2 lengths on the line in great fashion. PACKING BOLE had rushed forward to try and lead the field, but was kept out and away from the fence in the run. He still travelled well under Andrea Atzeni, rolling forward to lead despite staying away from the inside and broke clear shortly after turning for home. He was unable to sustain his effort, tiring late in the race, holding on for second ahead of SELF IMPROVEMENT who made a good run from midfield to finish in third.
Race 5 – Chevalier Aluminium Engineering Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.97 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Douglas Whyte brought up a winning double as Karis Teetan steered MISTER DAPPER (NZ 4yo g Tivaci – Posavina) to victory in race 5. He jumped well from his inside barrier and landed in a midfield position with the pace quite good early in the race. Teetan was strung up close to the inside and was forced to ride for luck as he tried to work his way into the clear early in the straight. The Mauritian had to duck back to the inside, getting off heels with 150m to run and storming over the top to take the lead with 50m to run. He was too strong late in the race, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. LUCKY ETERNITY burned across from the wide draw to lead the field in the early stages, setting up what was a strong early tempo. Matthew Chadwick was able to catch his breath through the middle stages before kicking away again in the straight. He had fought off his main rivals but Mister Dapper had the final crack at him. JOYFUL PROSPERITY stuck on gamely down the outside to claim third in a strong effort from midfield.
Race 6 – Chevalier Building Supplies & Engineering Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.36 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
FUN TOGETHER (NZ 5yo g Rip Van Winkle – Honorjeu) proved far too good after leading throughout. He jumped well for Jerry Chau and rolled across from his wide draw to lead. He had to do some work to find the front, but Chau was determined to lead, and he got there, and then to the rail as they turned off the back with 850m remaining. He was able to stack the field around the home turn but looked to be headed at the top of the straight. Chau was waiting patiently though, with the gelding letting down strongly to shoot away from his rivals. He never looked like being tun down in the closing stages, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in a very impressive effort. CELTIC TIMES crossed from out wide to land in third position just off the pace for Matthew Chadwick. He enjoyed a cosy run in transit before popping three-wide at the top of the straight to mount his challenge. He wouldn't lie down, chasing hard to the line albeit in a losing effort. BEATO jumped favourite in this event and ended up in a tricky position for Angus Chung midfield and along the inside. The apprentice did well to work his way through the traffic and closed off strongly to claim third place.
Race 7 – The Chevalier Cup (Handicap), HK $4,075,000
Class 1 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.36 Standard Time: 1:34.25 Course/Class record: 1:32.24 Preciousship
James McDonald made it a winning double on the day as THE GOLDEN SCENERY (AUS 6yo g Deep Field – Saga's Gift) clung on to win the feature. The gelding got away on terms under McDonald and settled midfield along the inside as it took a while for them to sort their order out. The pace slowed around the home turn and things worked out well for McDonald who was able to punch up along the inside and be on the back of the leader passing the 600m point. The field got away from the inside rail on straightening and left it wide open for McDonald to get through, going under his rivals to take the lead with 100m to run. He was able to hold off his more fancied opponent in the run to the line, scoring by a short head in a close photo finish. ATULLIBIGEAL had actually been racing on the back of the eventual winner throughout the event, but coursed wider on the turn as he began to build into the race. Keagan De Melo shoved his way into the clear at the top of the stretch and motored home strongly, hitting the front alongside The Golden Scenery. It was a close finish with the two spread apart at the line, but The Golden Scenery got the nod. HAPPY TOGETHER had landed in a handy position on settling down, racing just off the speed for Alex Badel with no weight on his back. He swung wide into the straight and ambled up to the leaders as though he was just going to run away with the race. He only plugged away though once Badel asked for an effort, running into third.
Race 8 – Chevalier Car Dealership Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.66 Standard Time: 1:21.55 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
Pierre Ng continued his hot streak as DROMBEG BANNER (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Drombeg Dawn) led all the way to score for Andrea Atzeni. He was away on terms from the wide draw and other rivals showed plenty of speed early on as Atzeni took his time to work across and lead approaching the 900m point. Once he got to the front, he was able to dictate the race as the field packed up with 600m left to run. Turning for home, the four-year-old kicked clear and led by a good margin with 50m to run, with the gelding leading all of the way to bring up back-to-back victories this season. FIND MY LOVE made plenty of ground from the rear of the field for Keith Yeung. After settling near the tail, Yeung was able to work his way into the clear and the gelding didn't let him down. He ran on well to take second place at a massive $43 starting price. DANCING CODE was caught wide throughout the event but stuck on strongly to take third in a photo finish.
Race 9 – Chevalier Cold Storage & Logistics, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.53 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
It was another all-the-way winner in race 5 as CHANCHENG GLORY (USA 3yo Mor Spirit – Solid Scam) got the job done. He was away well for Lyle Hewitson who urged the gelding along to take up the running on settling down. The pace was only fair early on with Hewitson able to put the brakes on as they turned off the back stretch, stacking the field up from the 800m point. The South African then began to ramp things up again as they turned for home, kicking clear at the top of the straight to lead by over a length. He was challenged at the furlong pole, but he had enough left in the tank to hold his rivals at bay right to the wire, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. WOODFIRE BRO had tracked the leader throughout the event and came off his back to challenge for victory. At times it looked as though he was going to win the event, but he just didn't have the extra gear to run down the leader, who did carry 11 pounds less. BEAUTY FIT looks to have hit his straps of late, running another good race without winning as he was an eye-catching run into third.
Race 10 – Chevalier Construction Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.99 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
The final three races on the card were all taken out by the leader as Pierre Ng and Andrea Atzeni brought up winning doubles with the very much in-form I GIVE (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Grace And Eva). The gelding was away on terms and mustered good speed to take up the running. He kept the field running off the back as the field strung out passing the 800m point. He turned into the home straight 2-1/4 lengths in front and was still well in front with 200m left to travel. He was tiring close to the line as his rivals were flashing late, but he'd done enough to hold on for victory, scoring by a head. COTTON FINGERS was only fairly away but was ridden along by Matthew Chadwick to settle on the back of the leader. He remained right along the inside rail as he moved into second position around the home turn, setting out after the break away leader. He was inching closer and closer in the straight and was getting awfully close as I Give tired close to the line, but he ran out of time to stick his nose in front and was forced to settling for second. GLOBAL HARMONY was a very eye-catching run right down the outside of the field, coming from last position on the turn to grab third.
