3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Flame Tree Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.80 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Apprentice Ellis Wong kicked off the day in winning fashion as EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS (AUS 5yo g Dream Ahead – Blue Ocean) got the job done for the Benno Yung stable. He was away on terms from the inside barrier and Wong made good use of the draw, burrowing through to hold out his rivals as they turned off the back straight. He led the field at a good clip turning for home and was travelling very strongly at the top of the straight while many of his rivals were off the bit and chasing. He quickened away from his competitors when Wong pushed the button and with nobody really making any inroads on the margin the race looked over with 150m to run. The gelding just kept on running, winning by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. CHAMPION INSTINCT drifted back from in the early stages to end up a little worse than midfield as they turned off the back, slotting into the running line. The gelding got a nice cart into the race as they worked around the turn, peeling into the three-wide trail before coming off heels at the top of the straight. It took a little while for the gelding to wind up as he stuck on down the outside. He was getting into the margin late in the race, but not quick enough as he finished a clear second. Debutant HANDSOME BOMB was the next to cross the line. After settling midfield in the run, James McDonald stuck close to the inside rail and tried to pinch runs along the inside. The rail opened up inside the final 200m point and the gelding went through the gap to take third position close to home. With more room to move next time out, he may be able to challenge for victory.
Race 2 – Flame Tree Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.75 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was a dominant performance from STORM RIDER (AUS 3yo g Dracarys – Zeffiretta) who was far too good for his rivals under the urgings of Zac Purton. The gelding got away well from a wide stall and Purton was able to work across and slot into a handy position just off the speed. It was a good tempo up front, and Purton was in the prime position around the turn, stalking his rivals before peeling out into the clear turning for home. The champion jockey got stuck into his mount at the top of the straight and he began to wind up down
the outside. He took the lead with 150m to run and that's where the gelding really started to get into his work, pulling away from his rivals and winning in easy fashion, with the David Hayes-trained galloper winning by 2-3/4 lengths. The market flipped just prior to the start, but TELECOM DRAGON had been favourite not long before the jump. The gelding ended up in the back half of the field on settling down and Hugh Bowman had to work his way through the traffic to give his mount any chance. The rail opened up in the straight and that's where Bowman headed, weaving around tiring runners to set out after the leader. He looked to be catching Storm Rider with 100m to run, but was left in his wake close to home, finishing in second. SPEEDY FORTUNE had set the tempo up front, setting a quicker overall time than the Class 4, 1200m event that kicked off the day. After leading off the inside draw, Brenton Avdulla was still in front with 200m left to run. The gelding was tiring late, but he held on for third spot in a great effort behind two progressive horses.
Race 3 – Cotton Tree Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:48.55 Standard Time: 1:47.60 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
C P BRAVE (IRE 7yo g Zoffany – Starship) showed his last start demolition job was no fluke, winning easily once again under James McDonald. The Kiwi hoop settled midfield on the Ricky Yiu-trained galloper with the pace only fair in the opening stages of the race. Not much covered first to last and McDonald was racing tight for room passing the 600m point. As the speed went on though, the field fanned and McDonald was able to slide into the clear at the top of the straight and begin making his run down the outside. The seven-year-old took the lead with 200m to run and never looked like being beaten, going on to score by 1-3/4 lengths to bring up back-to-back victories. SWAN BAY was taken right to the back of the field on settling down after jumping from barrier 10. Karis Teetan was able to work into the race nicely as he built his momentum from the rear of the field. He was the widest on straightening but quickened well down the centre of the course. He was right there down the straight but couldn't peg back the margin, finishing in second. ROMANTIC CHARM was under pressure a long way from home under Lyle Hewitson but ran on well in the straight. The South African hoop weaved along the inside rail and the gelding stuck on well late in the race to stick his nose down on the line to claim third.
Race 4 – Willow Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.44 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Zac Purton made it an early double on the card as he guided FIRE BALL (NZ 7yo g Burgundy – Lady Winifred) to a narrow victory. Purton had to press forward on the Dennis Yip-trained gelding to negate the wide draw early on and avoid being caught wide and without cover. The leader rolled along in front and Purton was able to take up a stalking role in second position, slotting in behind the leader and following his every move as they entered the straight. The Australian got to work aboard Fire Ball while the leader still looked to be travelling comfortably early in the straight and the pair set down to battle it out. He stuck his nose in front inside the final 100m and held off a late challenge on the line to score by a short head. STARSHIP EIGHTY was the one to make the late challenge under Hugh Bowman. The gelding had been away fairly from barrier 6 but snagged back to settle in the second half of the field. He was racing between runners back in the field, with Bowman peeling wider at the 600m point to begin making his charge. Bowman got to the outside at the top of the straight and the gelding stormed home down the outside. He looked like the winner 100m from the finish, but just couldn't stick his nose in front, going down narrowly. BEAT HOLLOW had led the field at a reasonably good clip as he burned across from the outside draw. Matthew Chadwick still looked to have plenty of horse underneath him turning for home and the gelding stuck in there when challenged for the lead. He got tired close to home though and faded out of winning contention, holding on for third position.
Race 5 – Poplar Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.75 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
After a couple of second placings earlier in the card, Hugh Bowman finally crossed the stripe first with DREAM PUSUER (AUS 6yo g Moshe – Gloray). The six-year-old was a little slow into stride, but Bowman was able to settle midfield as he moved down to the rail and scooted along the paint early doors. The Australian was able to slide up behind the leading division as they worked around the home turn and needed some luck at the top of the straight as he was stuck behind a wall of runners. He bustled his way into the clear passing the 200m point and once he found clear air, he let rip. He mowed down the leader and went on to win by a half-length in a fine effort. LUCKY PLANET had raced in behind the leader throughout the event and popped off heels to make his challenge at the top of the straight. He was running around a bit under Karis Teetan's riding, but eventually stuck his nose in front approaching the furlong pole. It wasn't long after he took the lead that Dream Pursuer ran right by him, with Lucky Planet able to hold on for second. GOLDEN RISE jumped the race favourite at $2.90 and made a long run from the back half of the field under Zac Purton. The leading jockey moved him into the clear as they turned for home, but the gelding did prove difficult to ride early in the straight, ducking in under the pressure. Once Purton switched the whip into the right hand, he ran much straighter but couldn't reel in the front two, hitting the line nicely for third.
Race 6 – Poplar Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.40 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
ENDEARED (GB 4yo g Dark Angel – Frankel Light) notched up his maiden victory in Hong Kong and brought up a winning treble for Zac Purton on the day. The gelding was away well from out wide, and Purton rolled forward looking to slot in from the draw, getting across to be one-out-one-back in a great piece of riding. The field strung out as they turned off the back with the leader pressing on, but things did begin to pack up once again with around 500m left to run. Purton had a beautiful cart into the race, and he popped out at the top of the straight ready to lay down the gauntlet. The four-year-old took control with 200m to run and shot away from his opponents with 100m to run, putting the race to bed. A couple rivals were coming at him late, but he won easily in the end by three-quarters of-a-length. CELTIC TIMES was a little slow into stride and ended up a long way back under Hugh Bowman, settling near the tail of the field. Coming to the 800m point, Bowman moved into the three-wide trail and began to improve his position a touch with around 600m left to run. He had plenty of space to move wide into the straight and the gelding ran on well near the centre of the course. He was making good inroads late in the race, but the winner had built too big of a margin. BEATO crossed the line in third after racing alongside Celtic Times in the run. James McDonald opted to stick close to the inside while his rival went wide on the course, with only a half-length separating them on the line.
Race 7 – The Chinese Club Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.98 Standard Time: 1:21.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.05 Beauty Generation
The feature of the day went to none other than man-of-the-season Pierre Ng, with TAJ DRAGON (IRE 5yo g Mehmas – Next Trial) pulling away for a comfortably victory. Andrea Atzeni slid back from an outside draw, settling about midfield with an even pace being set up front. Atzeni peeled into the clear as they turned for home and the response was immediate from the five-year-old, storming down the outside to take the lead with 100m to run. He shot away from his rivals once in front and went on to win by 2 lengths on the line. HEALTHY HAPPY had to used up a bit of fuel early on to get across from the wide draw, eventually landing outside the leader as they worked off the back. There wasn't a whole lot of speed on up front, with Healthy Happy taking control under a good hold at the
top of the straight for Alexis Badel. He quickened well, but not well enough as the winner ran straight past him with 150m to run. He stuck on well to hold on for second position with the winner just too good. BEAUTY JOY ended up a long way back and was doing a few things wrong in the run as usual. It took the gelding a little while to wind up in the straight but was good to the line and stepping back out to the mile may be what he needs to get back into the winners' stall. The favourite's CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (jumped $3.30) and RED LION ($3.40) ran second last and last respectively.
Race 8 – Chinese Banyan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.54 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
GLOBAL HARMONY (NZ 5yo g Shamexpress – Spray) was far too good for his rivals, winning impressively and handing a winning double to both James McDonald and David Hayes. The gelding was very slow out from the inside draw and ended up a long way back in the run as they sorted their order out. Being near last as they turned off the back, McDonald remained to the inside rail with the field packing up approaching the 600m point. As runners began to fan wide on the turn, the Kiwi hoop was able to get off the inside rail and begin to pick his way through the traffic. That didn't work though as McDonald was forced to take the five-year-old right across heels to be the widest on straightening as he began to let rip with 300m to run. He stormed right down the outside, eating up the margins as he went past the leader like he was nailed to the fence inside the final 50m. He was just too good on the day, winning by a half-length, but it could've been much more. SWEET ENCOUNTER continued his return to form. He too was a long way back after not showing a great deal of early pace, and peeled out three-wide a long way from home to make sure he didn't get locked up. Andrea Atzeni moved into the race ominously out wide, and the gelding quickly took the lead with around 300m left to run. He was getting away from his rivals when Global Harmony sped right by him with 50m to run. It was a great effort, but he just bumped into an in-form galloper. LOST CHILD snicked back from the outside alley for Brenton Avdulla and was in second-last as they worked around the home turn. He was overtaken early in the straight by Sweet Encounter, but he never really went away as he hung in there down the stretch, finishing in third, beaten two lengths.
Race 9 – Cherry Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.12 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
In his final ride of his stint in Hong Kong, James McDonald went out a winner, bringing up a treble on the day and a double for John Size with the progressive WUNDERBAR (AUS 3yo g Rich Enuff – Could Be Something). After getting away smartly from barrier 7, McDonald took a sit on the three-year-old, something he hasn't done in his career thus far. He raced generously behind the leader who ran along at a good tempo throughout the race and McDonald was there stalking his every move. As he had done a couple of times in the day, the Kiwi waited upon an opening along the inside rail as they turned for home, sneaking though to take the lead with 200m left to run. He was in front a long way from home and had a rival come out to challenge him inside the final 100m in a ding-dong battle. It was a close finish, but McDonald pushed Wunderbar's head down at the right moment, scoring by a nose in a very tight photo finish. KA YING RISING lost no admirers in defeat. The gelding jumped well from barrier two and landed in a handy position just off the speed as they sorted their order out. The pace was good, and Zac Purton peeled into the clear at the top of the straight to ask the gelding for an effort. He quickened well down the outside and ranged up to the leader with 100m left to run, challenging for the lead in an exciting finish. Purton threw everything he had at his mount but went down by a bob of the head. The first two cleared out ahead of MUGEN who crossed the line 3-1/2 lengths off the quinella. He ran on well from the back as he had done in his starts prior but couldn't go with the first two who look on the way up.
Race 10 – Chinese Banyan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.00 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Jerry Chau ended the night on a winning note as Benno Yung bookended the card with FUN TOGETHER (NZ 5yo g Rip Van Winkle – Honorjue) notching up his third win in-a-row. He jumped quickly from gate 6 and was up running on the speed on settling down, racing keenly through the early part of the race as the pace was awfully slow turning off the back. Chau stalked the leader around the home turn, sitting on his back and using him as a bunny turning for home, peeling off his back to make his challenge. He responded well when Chau asked for an effort, sprinting clear of his rivals, and leading by a length with 100m to run. There was a wall coming at him late, but he'd done enough to hold on for victory, winning by a half-length on the line. BEAUTY FIT continued his good run of recent form. After settling about midfield under Antoine Hamelin, he looked to be in a sticky position with 600m to run as the pace came out of the event. The Frenchman was able to work around some tiring runners and into the clear in the straight, doing his best work over the final 150m to make a charge at the leader. It was too late though as he couldn't reel in the leader. SWEET BRIAR had much the same run to Beauty Fit, as they raced side-by-side around the home turn and into the straight. Lyle Hewitson made his run right alongside
Beauty Fit as they went to the line together, but he lacked the dash needed close to home, finishing in third.
