3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Lukfook Jewellery Hexicon Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Goo
Time: 1:22.98 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
It was somewhat of an upset to kickoff proceedings when Derek Leung teamed up with Manfred Man to boot home DUBLIN STAR (NZ 7yo g Savabeel – Maxmara) at $22. Only moderately away from the inside draw, Leung was able to utilise the gate and slide up to settle in behind the leader on the fence. Travelling comfortably in third when making the home turn 1-1/2 lengths off the leader, the gaps appeared quickly in the straight with Leung obliging and soon took over from the leader approaching the 200m. Leung and his mount had to dig deep to fend off a strong late challenge, scoring by 1/2 a length. NORDIC COMBINED was the horse to cause the winner the late scare, launching home under James McDonald. After being slowly away and forced to settle last the fence and making the turn in the same spot 3-3/4 lengths off the leader, McDonald bided his time on the inside and trailed the eventual winner with a majority of the field pushing away from the fence. Finding a run through at the 200m, McDonald asked the gelding for his full effort and responded accordingly to eat into the margin and make for a tight finish. There was a healthy 3-1/2 length gap back to APEX TOP who picked up solidly over the concluding stages to round out the placings.
Race 2 – Lukfook Jewellery Wedding Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.59 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
The Aussie connection of Zac Purton and David Hayes took out the second with REGENT GLORY (AUS 6yo g All American – Amphlett) saluting at $6.80. Away sharply from an outside draw (8), Purton wasted little time burning across to find the fence and settle third. Making sure the leader didn't kick too far ahead at the turn, Purton had his mount under heavy riding as they entered the straight 2-1/2 lengths behind the front runner. Despite taking some time to work through his gears, the pair raced up and took over at the 100m and kept finding to score by 3/4 of a length. MAGIC SUPREME raced alongside the eventual winner for a majority of the contest but was forced wide when entering the straight, while Purton and his mount stuck to the fence. Similarly to the winner, it took MAGIC SUPREME some time to wind up but did lengthen impressively late under Ellis Wong to charge into second. LEAN MASTER managed to hold down a minor finish after showing plenty of early dash.
Race 3 – Lukfook Jewellery Diapure Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Goo
Time: 0:56.83 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Jerry Chau and TP Yung combined to take out the third with JAMES TAK (AUS 3yo g Headwater – Patois) at $6.50. Away quickly from barrier seven, Chau strode across to the grandstand fence to settle third. The pair travelled smoothly in the early stages but found themselves 2-3/4 off the leading pair at 400m. With the front runners fading sharply on their efforts, Chau and his mount took over at the 200m and then let down strongly to race away and score by 1-3/4 lengths. SPEEDY FORTUNE trailed the eventual winner for a majority of the race, before coming off his back at the 300m to put forward his challenge. He couldn't quite go with the winner but chased gamely to the finish. PATCH OF THETA showed good fight to run into third after travelling the runner closest to the inside fence throughout.
Race 4 – Lukfook Jewellery Love Is Beauty Collection Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.41 Standard Time: 1:48.40 Course/Class record: 1:47.37 Incredible
The Jamie Richards-trained top weight COLOURFUL BARON (IRE 4yo g Dark Angel – Tawayna) took out the fourth at $7.50 with Lyle Hewitson in the saddle. Away cleanly from the low draw, Hewitson was happy to take a sit and settle just off the pace in the early stages. Ever so steadily edging away from the fence, it was clear Hewitson's intentions were to get right away from the inside going when passing the 400m only 1-3/4 lengths off the leader. Pushing out to the middle of the track early in the lane, Hewitson struggled to keep his mount running straight with the gelding racing waywardly when placed under heavy pressure. It took to the 100m before the pair were able to fully apply themselves and knuckle down gamely to get the better by a neck in a tight tussle. TURTLE AGAIN had a much less favourable run in transit and showed plenty of heart to be in the finish. After getting trapped wide and racing off-midfield in the early going, Derek Leung made a move at the 600m when wrapping around the field and entering the straight just off the hindquarters of the eventual winner. Briefly hitting the front at the 200m, Leung's mount peaked on his run but battled bravely to the finish. DIAMOND WINNER was somewhat of an eye-catcher back in third but was no match for the winner who was 3 lengths ahead of him.
Race 5 – Lukfook Jewellery Goldstyle Handicap, HK $26,000,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.16 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Zac Purton brought up his second success of the day when saluting aboard TORNADO PHANTOM (FR 5yo g Toronado – Hathfa) at $10. Away fairly from the outside draw, Purton pulled the handbrake on his mount to take up a spot at the rear of the field. Spotting the leader 4-3/4 lengths at the 400m, Purton fanned widest in the lane and quickly popped the question to his mount. Responding promptly, the five-year-old lengthen impressively down the outside and arrived just in time to score by a neck. Settling much closer to the leading pair, CALL ME DADDY was given a lovely steer from Vicent Ho. Camped just off the leader when entering the straight, Ho and his mount burst through to hit the front at the 200m and strode strongly, only to be captured late. Viva Chaleur also had the benefit of a smart steer under James McDonald but just couldn't quite go with the winner, chasing gamely to finish 1-1/4 lengths away in third.
Race 6 – Lukfook Jewellery Dear Q Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.24 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Karis Teetan picked up his first win of the day aboard $3.90 fav JUMBO FORTUNE (AUS 5yo g Pride Of Dubai – Little Miss Smiley) for the Pierre NG camp. Slowly away from the inside draw, the five-year-old struggled to muster early speed in the opening stages of the contest but was soon able to utilise his spot on the inside and slide up the fence to settle just off the pace. Edging away from the fence when rounding the home turn, Teetan pushed his way though at the 400m with 1-1/4 lengths to reel in. Hitting top gear to take over at the 200m, Teetan's mount kept finding over the concluding stages, pushing out to score by 3/4 of a length. Jumping from the widest draw, ENDEARED was forced back in the early stages and found himself with 4 lengths to make up at the 400m when sitting 11th. Fanning wide when entering the straight, the three-year-old let down impressively from the 200m and finished strongly into second under Zac Purton. MACH TEN had a similar run to ENDEARED but had to undergo more of a checkered passage to the finish when electing to take runs towards the inside, hitting the line nicely 2L back in third.
Race 7 – The Lukfook Jewellery Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 0:57.08 Standard Time: 55.90 Course/Class record: 54.68 Valiant Dream
The hat-trick was brought up for Zac Purton in the seventh when piloting $2.20 favourite INVINCIBLE SAGE (AUS 4yo g Thronum – Thorsborne) to victory for David Hall. Jumping fairly, Purton was happy to be on the conservative side in the early stages in what was a tightly packed field with 3-1/4 lengths separating first-to-last at the 400m. As the field fanned passing the 300m, Purton still had his mount under a solid hold and waited until the 200m to let down with his challenge. Sprinting quickly, the four-year-old took over passing the 100m and maintained his lead to win by 3/4 of a length. Settling in similar spots either side of the eventual winner, CARROL STREET and WONDER KIT chased gamely into the placings, with the latter finishing a length away from the winner.
Race 8 – Lukfook Jewellery Heirloom Fortune Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.24 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 More Than Lucky
Zac Purton made it two on the bounce and four for the day when booting home the $2.50 public elect AESTHETICISM (NZ 4yo g Derryn – La Petite) for Pierre NG, which also brought up his second win on the card. Only moderately away from a middle draw, Purton took a spot in the second half in the field in the early going and held a similar position until well after rounding the home turn. With 5-1/4 lengths to make up at the 400m, Purton came with the second widest run in the lane and let down sharply passing the 200m to emerge on his rivals and score comfortably in the end, although it only being by 3/4 of a length. Settling a pair closer but on the fence under James McDonald, SUPER WISE DRAGON worked his way in the clear at the 300m and chased strongly to the finish but could never quite find the lead, with the winner taking over by the time he had reached the leader. MASTER HERO had settled the closest out of the three and took over at the 200m but couldn't sustain his run, beaten 1-1/4 lengths in third.
Race 9 – Lukfook Joaillerie Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.92 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
After a couple of close placings, James McDonald was finally able to finish on top when scoring aboard SPEED DRAGON (NZ 4yo g Darci Brahma – Keenly) for K W Lui at $8.60. Settling slightly worse than midfield after drawing barrier 10, like many of the day's winners McDonald was keen to push well away from the fence when rounding the home turn. 3-3/4 lengths off the pace at the 400m, the four-year-old was soon placed under heavy riding to eat into the margin and responded accordingly. Sprinting up to them at 100m, McDonald was able to push his mount right out at the finish to get the bob and score by a short head. BEAUTY FIT had taken much closer order in running when settling in behind the leading pair. Finding the front at the 200m, the seven-year-old John Size runner sprinted sharply but was ultimately done by one of James McDonald's special efforts. STAR MAC was the eye-catcher of the race, rattling down the outside to finish a length away in third after being 5-1/4 lengths off at the 400m.
Race 10 – Lukfook Jewellery Beloved Collection Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.24 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
It was the Karis Teetan and Pierre NG show to close out proceedings, with the pair linking back up to secure their second and third successes of the day, respectively, with $2.80 favourite Mugen (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Little Favours). Ridden conservatively from an outside gate, Teetan kept his mount under lock and key until rounding the home turn before pushing through at the 400m with 3-1/4 lengths to make up. Sprinting quickly at the 200m, MUGEN quickly put the contest to bed as he cruised past his rivals before idling to the line to score by 2-1/4 lengths. The fashion of the win suggested he'll be able to go up in grade and be fiercely competitive. WUNDERBAR, although no threat to the winner at the end of the 1200m, did show great fight to hold down second after taking over from the leader at the top of the straight. EXCELLENT FIGHTER was then in another race entirely back in third, closing off solidly late to get the bob for third, 3-3/4 lengths back from the winner.
