3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Silent Witness Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.55 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Zac Purton and Danny Shum started their respective HKIR Day campaigns with GORGEOUS WIN (AUS 3yo g Press Statement – Hollywell) winning the first in dominant fashion. The gelding jumped well under Purton who was able to slide across from barrier 4 and land on the back of the leader on settling down. The pace was solid, and he found himself in a beautiful position, with the Australian hoop able to angle off the inside rail around the home turn, giving the three-year-old plenty of clear air at the top of the straight. The gelding ambled up to them shortly after straightening before putting his rivals away in a matter of strides. He rolled back to the fence but there was nobody around him, with Purton easing him down over the concluding stages for a 2-1/2 length victory. STORM RIDER finished a clear second, sticking on well after a nice run in transit. He got onto the back of the eventual winner turning for home but was unable to match him over the closing stages. LUCKY PLANET finished 5-3/4 lengths off the winner in third but finished off strongly over the final stages. He looks to have plenty of upside as he still did plenty wrong at the top of the straight and can notch up a win once he puts it all together.
Race 2 – Beauty Generation Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.34 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Karis Teetan and Ricky Yiu teamed up for the second winner on the day as WINNING DATA (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Solar Burst) showed plenty of talent to get the job done. He jumped well from a favourable alley and landed in a nice position about midfield with the pace quite solid early doors. Teetan was one off the rail around the turn and was looking for something to take him into the race but was forced to move five-wide around the home turn as the four-year-old was travelling far too strongly. He wound up in the straight to
stick his nose in front with 100m left to run and was strong right to the line, scoring by a half-length and giving the indication he'll be set for a 4YO Series campaign. JUMBO FORTUNE was the eye-catching run of the race. After settling toward the tail of the field, Keagan De Melo had his work cut out for him trying to get his mount into the clear as the approached the home turn. The seas parted in front of him though, allowing an unimpeded run right to the wire. He was making good ground late in the race but ran out of time to reel in the winner. EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS used the leader as a bunny turning for home and although he was headed at the top of the straight, the gelding fought on gamely in the run to the line, holding on for third in a photo finish.
Race 3 – Maurice Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.90 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Manfred Man picked up his first winner on a big day for him with the Alexis Badel-ridden CHIU CHOW SPIRIT (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Pearl Star) shedding the maiden tag. The gelding got away on terms from his sticky barrier with Badel caught a little wide early in the race. The Frenchman was still three-wide and without cover heading off the back but was able to slot into the running line passing the 600m point, having a back to follow as Badel pushed the button turning into the straight. He continued to find under the urgings of Badel, hitting the front with around 150m to run and holding off a wall of horses over the closing stages to score by a half-length. Under two lengths separated second through 10th as GLOBAL HARMONY was able to storm down the outside to claim the runner-up position. The gelding was a long last under Karis Teetan and was already under the whip prior to the home turn with the Mauritian earning his riding fee. He got to the outside and let rip down the centre of the course but was unable to catch the winner. BEAUTY CRESCENT was back there with Global Harmony in the run, but pinched runs close to the inside under James McDonald. He didn't have the best of luck in the straight either, having to bob and weave midway down the straight. He burrowed through along the inside to grab third with a stack of runners right on his tail.
Race 4 – The Longines Hong Kong Vase, HK $24,000,000
Group One – Turf - Distance 2400m - Track Good
Time: 2:30.12 Standard Time: 2:27.05 Course/Class record: 2:24.60 Viva Pataca
The Vase went to France as Maxime Guyon and Andre Fabre teamed up with JUNKO (GB 4yo g Intello – Lady Zuzu) to score the first of the G1 features. The gelding was a little slow into stride and Guyon just eased him back to settle at the rear of the field. The pace was farcical throughout as shown by the overall time, a whopping 3 seconds outside the standard. The field was packed up like a can of sardines travelling down the back, with Junko three-wide with cover toward the tail of the field, but only 3 lengths off the lead at the halfway stage of the race. The pace quickened substantially turning for home, with Junko getting a nice trial into the race before peeling wider at the top of the straight. The gelding sprinted quickly, going up to take the lead with 200m to run and fend off his nearest rival, scoring by a length on the line and bringing up another Vase win for Guyon and Fabre, nine years after their last. ZEFFIRO was almost in line with Junko in the run but was hemmed up along the inside for most of the event. Damian Lane was able to work his way through the traffic and the race was there to be won if good enough, but the colt just ran into one better on the day. WARM HEART finished back in third position, 3-1/4 lengths off the winner. She enjoyed a cosy run in transit sitting up on the pace. Ryan Moore tried to get the best out of the filly, but she was no match for the first couple.
Race 5 – The Longines Hong Kong Sprint, HK $26,000,000
Group One – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.25 Standard Time: 1:08.20 Course/Class record: 1:07.50 Sacred Kingdom
It was the World's Best Sprinter in LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ 5yo g Sweynesse – Madonna Mia) who took the prize in the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint. The gelding wasn't the quickest into stride and was ridden along by Zac Purton early to land in a handy position just in behind the speed. They were three across the track up front and Zac Purton would've been licking his lips at the midway point of the race, sitting on the back of the leader and having room to gallop down along the inside. The Australian hoop tried to push the five-year-old through a gap between leaders at the top of the straight, but that closed in front of him, and Purton was forced to change course with him. For a fleeting moment it looked as though he may get beat, but the son of Sweynesse knuckled down over the final 100m and won very easily in the end, despite the final margin only reading three-quarters of-a-length. It was found post-race that the gelding had blood in his trachea, making the win even more impressive. LUCKY WITH YOU has run the race of his life in second position. Andrea Atzeni planted the gelding right on the back of hot favourite and eventual winner Lucky Sweynesse, following his every move. He was able to follow the winner through a gap and was strong right to the line, claiming second position but was no match for the winner. WELLINGTON showed he's back in good form, running on well down the outside under Alexis Badel t finish in third.
Race 6 – Jim And Tonic Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:48.00 Standard Time: 1:47.60 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
It was the six-year-old C P BRAVE (IRE 6yo g Zoffany – Starship) upstaging the younger horses in the middle of the card, bolting in under Mickael Barzalona. The gelding got away on terms but was cut out shortly after the start, with Barzalona settling toward the rear of the field. They were still in a big clump at the 1200m point and the Frenchman was able to work his way a little closer through the traffic, being just a little worse than midfield passing the 600m point. He got a lovely run into the straight and once the gap appeared, the gelding shot through impressively. He took the lead with 150m to run and burst clear to win by 4-1/4 lengths in a fantastic display. ROMANTIC CHARM was near the tail of the field on settling down under Lyle Hewitson but ended up following the ventual winner through a gap in the straight. He too finished off very strongly over the closing 50m and looks set for a rise in trip in the near future. SWEET ENCOUNTER was an emergency who gained a start and exceeded his market expectations. The gelding burst to the front shortly after straightening but couldn't hold on t the lead, tiring over the final stages and finishing in third position.
Race 7 – The Longines Hong Kong Mile, HK $32,000,000
Group One – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.10 Standard Time: 1:33.80 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
Hong Kong's champion GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS 8yo g Medaglia d'Oro – Gaudeamus) proved why he's one of the best to ever do it in the Asian city, bolting in to win his third Hong Kong International Mile. The old boy flew out of the barriers to be one of the first into stride, but Vincent Ho eased him back from the draw to settle midfield. He was racing wide on settling down but did have cover as he improved his position turning off the back straight. He was now only a few lengths off the leaders with 600m remaining and Ho peeled out at the top of the straight. The crowd roared as Golden Sixty breezed by his rivals with 300m left to run. He was tiring close to the line, but it didn't matter as he bolted in to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a superb win. Derby winner VOYAGE BUBBLE continues to impress, running into second position at long odds. He jumped well under James McDonald and put himself in a handy position one-out-one-back and enjoyed a lovely run in transit. McDonald got him clear air early in the straight, but he was given windburn by one of Hong Kong's champions. A bold effort to run second which must be commended. NAMUR was a long way back in the run under William Buick, but was racing in the three-wide trail. Buick
got to the outside and got the filly moving a around the home turn, giving her plenty of air to run on if she was good enough. She stuck on gamely to run into third, continuing her improvement throughout the year.
Race 8 – The Longines Hong Kong Cup, HK $36,000,000
Group One – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:02.00 Standard Time: 2:00.05 Course/Class record: 1:59.23 Romantic Warrior
The biggest of the Group 1's on the day is saved for last and it produced one of the best finishes of the day. Cox Plate hero ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE 5yo g Acclamation – Folk Melody) clung on to score narrowly in a superb Hong Kong Cup for James McDonald and Danny Shum. The gelding got away well from barrier 7 and after being caught a little wide heading into the first turn but managed to slot into the one-out-one-back position as they worked around the corner. The pace was only fair but the field were strung out down the back straight. McDonald was 4-3/4 lengths off the leader at the 1200m point, but the field began to pack up as they turned off the back. McDonald was forced to pop out maybe a little earlier than he would've wanted due to that, with Romantic Warrior cruising into the straight and taking the lead at the 300m point. It looked as though he would run away with the prize at the 200m mark, but his rivals kept coming in the closing stages. McDonald threw everything he had at the five-year-old, picking him up and pushing him over the line to score by a short head and see off his rivals. LUXEMBOURG and Ryan Moore had the back of Romantic Warrior throughout the event and were the ones to flush out the eventual winner around the home turn. Romantic Warrior kicked away and it looked as though Luxembourg was beginning to drop off, but he showed his strength and stamina by rallying back close to the line and making a lunge at the winner. He just missed in a photo finish, but it was a brave effort from the European raider. Japan rounded out the podium as HISHI IGUAZU hit the line alongside Luxembourg for third. A great race.
Race 9 – Lord Kanaloa Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.08 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
The Pierre Ng barn continued their hot streak in the ninth with the very progressive GALAXY PATCH (AUS 4yo g Wandjina – Voltara) winning his third race from four starts. The gelding was a little slow into stride but was able to work into a nice position shortly after the start with a good piece of riding by Karis Teetan. The Mauritian was able to sneak runs
along the inside as they swung the bend into the straight, before coming wider on the track and letting rip from the 200m point. The four-year-old put the race away in a number of strides as he absolutely bolted in, scoring by 2-3/4 lengths and looking destined for bigger and better races. THE HEIR settled well back in the field and looked to be in a tricky position as they turned for home with not much room to move. Vincent Hofollowed the eventual winner through a gap before ducking back to the inside to make his run. He finished off well in the closing stages and wasn't stopping at the line, but the winner was in a different post code. BEAUTY WAVES loomed up in the straight and took the lead with 300m remaining. He was passed at the 150m point by Galaxy Patch and looked to be tiring close to the line, but held on to claim third in a photo finish.
Race 10 – Highland Reel Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.26 Standard Time: 1:21.55 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
Pierre Ng made it a race-to-race double to end the card, saluting with TAJ DRAGON (IRE 4yo g Mehmas – Next Trial). Andrea Atzeni settled the gelding in the back half of the field after getting away on terms. He was racing wide throughout the event, but did have cover as they worked around the turn, improving his position slightly as he was getting a nice cart into the race. He had plenty of room to come off heels and let down in the straight, quickening up beautifully to hit the front 100m from home. He dug in late to hold off his opponents, winning by a short head on the line in a close photo finish. DANCING CODE was the one making the challenge late in the race. He settled last under Vincent Ho and had the back of a couple of live chances in the race as he swung widest heading for the finish. He stormed down the middle of the track to just miss out on victory, finishing a short head away. HELIOS EXPRESS has been climbing through the grades rather quickly and ran well at his time over 1400m. The four-year-old was wedged between The winner and second placegetter in the run and finished only a length away. He saw out the 1400m journey and with a better draw next time, who knows what could happen.
