3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive preview of Sha Tin races.
Rail - C Course
Awt - 5,9
Race 1
#2 NICHOLSON RETURNS is well placed dropping in grade and getting the services of Zac Purton in the saddle. All three of his wins have been in class four company and although he hasn't won over 2000m before, he has been placed over this distance. He suggested that a win wasn't far away at his latest outing on international day where he settled towards the rear of the field and covered ground in a muddling run race but still got to the line well to finish sixth behind CP BRAVE. The 2000m start is always tricky but from barrier two, Purton can position him as he likes and he's entitled to go very close.
#1 MISTER DAPPER is a progressive horse who won impressively last time out. At what was just his third race start, he was badly held up on the inside for much of the home straight but when he did get clear galloping room, he put the race away within a matter of strides. The 2000m presents a new challenge for him after all of his runs thus far have been over 1600m, but the way he finished off to win last time out indicated that he can handle the rise in distance. In a race with several exposed types in it, he's a horse that still has rating points in hand and is one of the key contenders in this race.
#11 JUBILATION has been in great form under Chris So's training this season and was only rundown late by WONDER YEARS at Happy Valley last time out over 2200m. While he's done his winning at Happy Valley and on the all-weather track in the past, he has been placed on the turf at Sha Tin before, suggesting that he's capable of put in a competitive performance on this surface. He's a fit horse with a light weight who can stay the trip and in a race where there doesn't appear to be a great deal of speed, he can go to the front and give a great sight for a long way.
#4 WONDER YEARS beat a number of his rivals last time out at Happy Valley and excels at the 2000m to 2200m distance range. Although he's got 8lbs more on his back, he's racing well, is from an in form stable and will be finishing strongly late which will suit him if it turns into a proper staying contest.
#3 SUPER HONG KONG put in an improved performance behind WONDER YEARS at Happy Valley last year and is a two time winner over this course and distance. He's drawn a good barrier, is fit and off his last run and his overall profile, he's capable of playing a prominent role in this type of contest.
Selections: 2,1,11,4,3
R2 - 4,1,2,12,6
R3 - 4,1,8,11,10
R4 - 13,11,6,14,1
R5 - 2,4,8,5,11
R6 - 2,7,10,11,3
Race 7
#10 ENSUED also had little luck last time out where he was beaten as the $2.70 favourite in the race won by C P BRAVE on international day. He'd been unbeaten in two previous starts up until that point, including a victory over this course and distance two starts ago. Barrier nine is tricky but he's progressive, he's trained by one of Hong Kong's best ever trainers in John Size and only has a light weight on his back. A win here would also boost his credentials for the 2024 Hong Kong Derby.
#2 FIVE G PATCH covered most of the New Territories when he was forced to sit three wide for the entire 2400m of the Hong Kong Vase last time. While he was always going to be outclassed in an event like that, he should have finished closer if he'd had a more economical run in transit, which he should get this time under Zac Purton. Prior to that, he wasn't far off Straight Arron in the Jockey Club Cup, who then franked that form through his gallant and unlucky performance in the Hong Kong Cup. He should appreciate the step back in class and his recent credentials have him as one of the main hopes in this event.
#5 RISE BRETHREN had absolutely no luck last time out where he never got clear galloping room for the last 200m of the race, while prior to that, he'd been racing well in the right form references leading into an event like this. One of the world's best jockeys in James McDonald takes the ride here, he's drawn well and has a very good record over this course and distance. With any luck, he'll be fighting out the finish.
#8 AWESOME FLUKE comes through the same race that ENSUED comes through, however, he was given every chance in that race and seemed to peak on his run in the last 200m. In saying that, it was just his second run in Hong Kong, so a lack of fitness may have counted against him on the day and he's likely to have improved for the run. He's clearly got class on his side as a winner of this year's WATC Derby when he was known as AWESOME JOHN and that form proves that stepping up to 2000m now shouldn't be an issue. He's only got a light weight to carry, is an improving type of horse and any luck from that wide draw will only enhance his chances.
#1 TOURBILLON DIAMOND is a proven group level performer both in Australia and Hong Kong and put in a solid effort for fifth behind HELENE FEELING at Happy Valley recently. The 2000m distance has been an issue for him in the past but he maps to get a soft run in transit from the inside and with the quality of form that he boasts throughout his career, he shouldn't be too far away at the finish.
Selections: 10,2,5,8,1
R8 - 2,3,8,10,9
R9 - 4,7,14,11,10
Race 10
#6 THE HEIR arrived in Hong Kong with strong form from Australia, having beaten group one performer HAWAII FIVE OH at his final start in Sydney when he was known as WATCH THE CLOCK before he was sold to his new connections. He's had two runs for Caspar Fownes in Hong Kong and has performed well in both outings behind the smart GALAXY PATCH. He looks well suited by the step up to 1400m and while he's drawn awkwardly on face value, there's good pace on in this race, so he should get the right run in transit and be finishing off powerfully.
#5 PINS PRINCE is a classy galloper who's won two of his last three starts. Last time out, he settled midfield and once he got clear galloping room in the home straight, he quickly put the race away. He's drawn well again in barrier one, Purton sticks with him and while he may not have the upside of a horse like THE HEIR, he's the proven benchmark in a race like this.
#2 BEAUTY CRESCENT had to go back from a wide draw last time out and attacked the line strongly to grab third placing in the race won by CHIU CHOW SPIRIT. Top jockey James McDonald retains the ride and he maps to get an ideal run in transit this time around from barrier three. He's a young horse from the Tony Cruz stable that's racing well and should give a good account of himself.
#7 E LEGEND is an honest campaigner from Manfred Man's stable who's fit and racing well. He's likely to roll forward and make his own luck in running and while he's done his winning at Happy Valley, he has performed well at Sha Tin in the past. This is a strong race that he's in though and just how much work he'll have to do from the wide draw is a concern.
#14 RATTAN KINGDOM was supported in the market last time out and wasn't beaten far by PINS PRINCE, who he meets again on this occasion. The weight is a significant factor for him, as he drops 9lbs in the weights thanks to Angus Chung's and he's likely to get a soft run from barrier two. In a strong race, he's one that will go around as a good each way chance for talented young Kiwi trainer, Jamie Richards.
Selections: 6,5,2,7,14
