3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Wu King Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.98 Standard Time: 1:09.10 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure
It was a dominant display to kick off proceedings as MIRACLES (AUS 5yo g Better Than Ready – Dance Moves) bolted in for James McDonald and Manfred Man. After getting away on terms, the gelding failed to show much early speed despite McDonald urging him along, with the Kiwi hoop sliding back to settle in the second half of the field. The five-year-old always had a back to follow in the run, with McDonald staying closer to the inside as they worked around the home turn. The pair had a clear run in the straight and Miracles let rip when McDonald asked for an effort. He shot to the front with about 100m to run and pulled away from his rivals in great style, winning by 3-1/2 lengths. SUPER JOY was slowly away from an inside barrier and was at the tail of the field early doors with Matthew Chadwick sticking to the inside. The local hoop got away from the inside turning for home and was actually on the back of the eventual winner as they turned for home, with Chadwick coursing wider as they entered the straight. He couldn't match it with the winner in the straight, but he stuck on well to hold on for second position. PRESTIGE MOOCHI ran the best race of his career, running into third after jumping a $49 chance. He was back in the ruck alongside Super Joy for much of the event and essentially went to the line alongside that runner.
Race 2 – Yue Wan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.98 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Zac Purton notched up his first win of the afternoon aboard the well-backed NOBLE ONE (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Sugar Bay) for Francis Lui. Punters would've had their hearts in their mouths as the gates opened, with the five-year-old missing the start and being a clear last after only a few strides. Zac Purton didn't panic though, getting down to the inside rail and attempting to pinch runs along the paint. The pace sowed mid-race and Purton got close to heels, with the champion hoop looking as though he'll need plenty of luck as the worked around the home turn. All of a sudden, things opened right up for Noble One as he cruised up behind the leaders under a strong hold with 300m to run. Once Purton got into the clear with 250m to run, it looked as though Purton had the race within his grasp and the horse did the rest. He shot to the front with 100m to run and won very easily, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. TSUEN WAN GLORY got away swiftly from out wide and worked across from the draw to settle just off the pace as they settled down. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, Alex Badel moved into the clear at the top of the straight and ran to the front with 250m to run. Despite the Frenchman's best efforts, he was no match for the winner who looked a class above over the closing stages. FORTUNE MASTER settled on the back of Tsuen Wan Glory in the run and peeled off that runners back to mount his challenge in the straight. Although he never looked a winning chance, he stuck on well to hold on for third place in a blanker finish for the minor placings.
Race 3 – Choi Hung Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.66 Standard Time: 1:08.30 Course/Class record: 1:07.27 Winner Supreme
It was a great finish to what was probably the feature event of the day, with XPONENTIAL (AUS 8yo g Equiano – Eternal Circle) picking up his second win of the season. Karis Teetan took the gelding straight to the front from the jump, urging the gelding along quite vigorously to lead. Although he was the leader with 600m to run, he was kept away from the rail by his rival with the eight-year-old already under the bat as they swung for home. He'd done all the hard work up front but was still responding to Teetan's riding in the straight and dug deep when his rivals loomed large late in the race. Teetan essentially picked him up and threw him over the finish line, holding on to victory by a nose to score the best win of his career. SEASONS WIT had settled right on the back of the eventual winner and followed him wherever he went in the run. The gelding was a touch keen under Zac Purton through the middle stages, but he quickened nicely when Purton asked for an effort at the top of the straight. He was grinding away at the margin with every stride and although he put in a big dive right on the wire, it wasn't enough to stick his nose in front, going down by the narrowest of margins. The flashy grey CHANCHENG PRINCE was well back in the early stages, but he did improve around the home turn under Andrea Atzeni. Turning for home, Atzeni was forced back to the inside looking for a gap, with the gelding hitting the line full of running for third.
Race 4 – Po Shek Wu Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.62 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Lyle Hewitson had gone 21 rides without a winner but ended his drought with the Benno Yung-trained FUN ELITE (AUS 3yo c Brazen Beau - Intendment). The debutant was well-backed late in betting and jumped smartly from barrier four as Hewitson eased his way across. The colt raced down the middle of the course as Hewitson was unable to get to the favourable outside rail, with the three-year-old facing the breeze throughout. He improved nicely when the South African gave him a squeeze and came again when the whip was produced. He looked like a smart horse over the closing stages as he put away his rivals with relative ease, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in a very impressive effort. BABY CRYSTAL jumped well from out wide and rolled to the front with the blinkers on for the first time. He led the field under his own steam down the outside rail and looked to put most of his rivals away with ease. That was all except Fun Elite, who gained the upper hand inside the final 100m, and Vincent Ho was unable to match the debutant late in the race, settling for second. LIFELINE EXPRESS had been racing midfield but travelled up strongly as they linked up with the course proper. He may have found them a bit quick over the 1000m journey, but he was very strong to the finish, ending up in third position in a nice debut.
Race 5 – Shui Pin Wai Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.76 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Frankie Lor looks to be turning things around after a rough start to the season, unleashing debut winner SUPER GOLDI (NZ 4yo g Tavistock – Steer By The Stars). He showed good pace from the barriers to land right on the back of the leader for Derek Leung with the pace quite genuine through the middle stages. He was racing all alone in third position and eased off heels as they turned for home to mount his challenge. The son of Tavistock showed fighting qualities, grinding away to hit the front with 150m to run. He ran out a bit under pressure, but not enough to have the win taken away from him, going on to score by a half-length on the line. TOP SCORER was another on debut, this time for Zac Purton and John Size. The gelding settled midfield in the run and was racing in restricted room at times. As things unfolded in front of Purton, he was able to get off heels and into the clear at the top of the straight as he began to run on down the centre of the course. He kept coming under Purton's urgings, getting closer and closer with every stride but the line came up too quickly, having to settle for second. PHOENIX LIGHT was one of the more experienced horses in the race and Hugh Bowman used that to his advantage turning for home. The Australian hoop bumped his rivals out of the way to obtain clear running in the straight and looked to have plenty to offer with 400m to run. He stuck on well, but found a couple better on this occasion, finishing in third spot.
Race 6 – Tin Sau Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.62 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
It was an impressive display of both pace and stamina as DIAMOND FLARE (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Tempest Tost) led all the way for an emphatic victory. The flashy grey jumped well and went straight to the front under Luke Ferraris. He led with ease and had extended the margin to a length as they turned off the back with a number of rivals already feeling the pinch approaching the home turn. Ferraris still had a good grip on the gelding turning for home, before asking the five-year-old for more with around 300m to go. He responded brilliantly and shot away from his rivals, extending the margin substantially to bolt in by 3 lengths in a superb effort. SPEEDY SMARTIE was also away quickly off the inside and sat on the back of the leader in the run. He enjoyed a cosy run in transit under Jerry Chau, who didn't have to ask for an effort until they'd swung into the home straight. With plenty of space to keep the momentum up, Chau ran into second position inside the final 200m, but there was no catching the leader who was in another postcode. ACA POWER was slowly away and railed through beneath rivals early on to improve his position. Things worked out quite well for him in the end as his momentum was never halted, staying in clear air and running into third position.
Race 7 – Tin Wan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.38 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
It was an upset in the first leg of the quaddie as FALLON (IRE 3yo g Galileo Gold – Providence) had a sharp turn around in form. After finishing 12th, 10th and 11th in his first three outings, the step up to the mile may have done the trick. After getting away well from an outside barrier, Keith Yeung snagged back to last position, settling along the inside rail. The pace was good up front, and the gelding found himself 10-1/4 lengths off the lead as they turned off the back straight. Yeung was still 8-1/2 lengths off the leader at the top of the straight and had to halt his momentum to get into clear running as the widest runner in the straight. He just kept coming under the urgings of Yeung, sprouting wings right down the outside to take the lead in the final stride and score by a head with runners stretched right across the track. CHATEAU settled just off the pace in running and copped a couple of bumps as they worked around the home turn, keeping a rival in a pocket as Andrea Atzeni improved. The gelding kept finding under Atzeni and took the lead momentarily late in the race before being swamped from out wide by Fallon. G LINER was the one bumping Chateau turning for home as Vincent Ho tried to get into the clear. Ho ended up making his run right alongside Chateau with the two doing battle right down the straight. He couldn't edge his nose in front though and was forced to settle for third in a close finish.
Race 8 – Nam Shan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.83 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
John Size looks to have another smart one on his hands as RAGING BLIZZARD (NZ 4yo g Per Incanto – Perfect Beat) scored his second victory from just 4 starts. The gelding jumped well off an inside barrier and landed in a beautiful spot as the field sorted their order out, getting onto the back of the leader. The pace was solid throughout and Karis Teetan found himself in an ideal position around the home turn, sneaking up the inside of the leader at the top of the straight. He shot through to take the lead with 300m remaining, but had the favourite to his outside right throughout straight. Teetan got everything he could out of the gelding as he held on to in by a short head, getting the nod in a photo finish. GORGEOUS WIN raced alongside the eventual winner throughout the event and strode up to the leader ominously at the top of the straight. He was right there with Raging Blizzard in the straight and Zac Purton was throwing everything he had at his mount, but he was unable to stick his nose in front. LADY'S CHOICE had the drop on the first two across the line after stalking them in the run, but couldn't match it with the progressive youngsters in the straight.
Race 9 – Hoi Lai Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.58 Standard Time: 56.25 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Lyle Hewitson made it a double on the day as he guided NORTHERN BEACHES (AUS 4yo g Not A Single Doubt – Aloona) to his maiden victory in Hong Kong. The gelding jumped on terms from an outside draw and landed in behind the leading division on settling down. Hewitson had plenty of galloping room down the straight and a big gap opened for him to sprint through as they linked up with the course proper. Passing the furlong, the South African hoop was forced to change direction back toward the middle of the track, with the gelding really exploding over the final 100m to take the lead and inch away for victory by three-quarters of-a-length. CALIFORNIA TOUCH was up running on the speed throughout the event, facing the breeze near the centre of the track. He worked into the race well under Vincent Ho passing the 400m point but ran out under pressure despite Ho's best efforts. He was still in front with 50m to run, but he couldn't fight off Northern Beaches who was doing his best work when California Touch was most vulnerable. HEROIC MASTER was back in the field in the run but made a strong run down the middle of the track to claim third under James McDonald.
Race 10 – Pak Tin Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.67 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
The last saw Francis Lui bring up a double while Lyle Hewitson scored a treble as they teamed up with CHANCHENG GLORY (USA 3yo g Mor Spirit – Solid Scam). It was the gelding's fourth win in-a-row, but he had to do it differently to how he'd won his past three. After getting away well, Hewitson was happy to take a sit on the three-year-old as opposed to sitting on the pace as he had done his previous three wins. He was about midfield turning off the back with a good tempo being set, as Hewitson just began to angle wider with 550m left to run. The South African gave his mount plenty of time and space to move into the event, and he did so powerfully in the straight. He went up to take the lead with 150m to run and was far too strong in the closing stages, winning by three-quarters of-a-length and extending his winning streak. FLAMINGO TRILLION had settled on the back of the leader in running and was poised to strike at the top of the straight as he moved off heels and into the clear. He let down well under Leung to quickly take the lead 350m from home, but couldn't fend off the eventual winner. He fought hard over the closing stages, but Chancheng Glory was just too good in the end. SIMPLE HEDGE was taken back from the draw by Zac Purton and settled in the back half of the field. He raced three-wide throughout, but did have cover throughout as they worked into the stretch. Purton was one of the widest on straightening and the gelding ran on well out beyond the middle of the track. He kept chipping away at the margin, but he couldn't reel in the leader who was just too good.
