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Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Wan Tsui Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.23 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure
The apprentice Angus Chung got his day off to a winning start with BEAT HOLLOW (AUS 5yo g Outreach – Warrilla) proving too tough in the opener. The five-year-old was the first out of the barriers from a middle draw and worked across under Chung to sit on the outside of the leader on settling down. The pace was quick up front as the leader broke a couple lengths clear around the home turn, with Chung able to stalk the front runner as he raced a clear second. The local hoop shifted the five-year-old into the clear on straightening and set out after the breakaway leader. He took the lead with around 150m left to run and proved too strong late in the race, holding off some fast finishers to win by a neck on the line. Race favourite SUPER JOY was slowly away from the gates and settled near the tail of the field early on. Matthew Chadwick was able to improve his position as they turned off the back, sliding along the inside rail and pinching runs right around the turn. He wasn't too far off them turning for home and was still running on strongly along the inside, dodging tiring runners as he closed in on the leader. He made a big dive late in the race, but it was too late as Beat Hollow held him off on the line. ALL IS READY got away on terms and was ridden along to land just off the speed. Ferraris began to niggle at the flashy grey a long way from home as he just seemed to be losing ground around the home turn. He showed a good response at the top of the straight though, sprinting strongly as he chased after the leader. He looked to peak on his run close to home, finishing in third spot 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 2 – Lei Muk Shue Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.95 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
HONG KONG HALL (NZ 4yo g Charm Spirit – Lets Have Some Fun) turned his form right around under "Hong Kong Hughie". The four-year-old was the first into stride and took up the running from the outset. Bowman wasn't pressure out in front, allowing his mount to dictate the pace as they worked through the middle stages. He had plenty of rivals under the pump turning for home as he slipped away at the top of the straight to lead by 1-1/2 lengths. Bowman had a strong hold of the gelding until asking for an effort with 250m
remaining. There was a wall chasing close to the line, but he had built a big enough margin to keep them at bay, winning by a half-length on the line. SKY HEART drifted back from an outside alley to settle well back in the field as they sorted their order out. Although he was racing three-wide for Harry Bentley, he did have cover as the Englishman swung wide turning for home. He had plenty of ground to make up in the straight but showed good strength to run over the top of his rivals and finish in second position, being just too far back in the run to challenge the winner. PATCH OF THETA didn't have the best of runs, racing wide and without cover for most of the run, coming under heavy pressure around the turn and was inclined to fall out the back of the television, but to the horse's credit he continued to fight on in the straight. He wouldn't lie down, grinding away into third position in a gutsy effort.
Race 3 – Shek Yam Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.99 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Andrea Atzeni and Frankie Lor teamed up to win the third as AORAKI SUMMIT (NZ 4yo g Tavistock – Pondarosa Miss) proved to be a class above. The gelding was one of the first into stride and Atzeni rolled forward from barrier 5, eventually crossing to take the lead with around 900m left to run. The pace was good turning off the back and the field remained well spread as they rounded the home turn. Atzeni still had a strong grip of the gelding heading for home, and he shot away when the Sicilian finally asked for an effort. He put the race to bed with a furlong to go, going on to win by 3-1/4 lengths in fine style. WINNING DATA had been caught a little wide early in the race but did press on to join Aoraki Summit out in front as they worked off the back. Despite being only a length away around the home turn and into the straight, he was unable to match it with the winner's sprint at the top of the lane. He stuck on well in the straight to hold down second place, but he was no match for the winner. CALIFORNIATOTALITY raced in the second half of the field on settled down after Angus Chung was able to slot in from an awkward alley. Chung peeled wide heading around the straight and had plenty of clear air at the top of the straight, beginning to run on strongly inside the final furlong. He hit the line strongly as some of his rivals began to tire, finishing in third position in a solid outing.
Race 4 – Tsui Lok Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:48.13 Standard Time: 1:48.15 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue
SPECIAL HEDGE (NZ 4yo g Unusual Suspect – Delgatie Pearl) continued the "on-pace" theme of the day, holding off his rivals for an all-the-way victory. He got away well off the inside alley and Jerry Chau didn't have to do much work to find the front on the Benno Yung-trained galloper. There was no change through the middle stages as Chau kept the field running along at a good tempo, having plenty of them under heavy pressure turning for home. The four-year-old put in a good kick at the top of the straight but was challenged with a furlong to run by runners to his outside. The gelding dug deep over the final stages, holding his rivals at bay, and winning by a head on the line. SUPER CONTENTED had settled in behind the leader as they settled into stride, getting across from the wide barrier under a good piece of riding by Keagan De Melo. After enjoying a cosy run in transit and stalking the lead throughout, De Melo peeled into the clear turning for home and set out after the leader. He ranged up to him at the furlong pole and it was a ding-dong battle all the way to the post. Super Contented just couldn't stick his nose in front of the game winner, going down by a slender margin. FOREVER FOLKS lobbed in the one-out-one-back position in the run for Antoine Hamelin, getting the run of the race as he was forced four-wide around the bend. He looked as though he would also challenge for the win with 150m to run, but just peaked on the run late, tiring to finish 1-3/4 lengths away in third.
Race 5 – Choi Yuen Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.55 Standard Time: 56.25 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Ellis Wong notched up his second win in as many meetings, guiding home the Ricky Yiu-trained PLEASANT ENDEAVOUR (AUS 6yo g Redoute's Choice – Via Africa) to victory down the straight. The six-year-old jumped well and the apprentice was able to work across to be just off the grandstand rail on settling down. The leader broke well away from the pack in the run and Wong was already urging his mount along with 450m left to run. The leader was coming back to them inside the final 200m, and Pleasant Endeavour wasn't lying down, moving up to take the lead with around 50m to run and showing plenty of strength to win by a half-length on the line. FLYING HIGH was away only fairly from the outside barrier and found himself about midfield, hemmed up on the outside rail on settling down. Matthew Chadwick still had a good hold of the gelding with 300m to run, but just needed clear running to have his shot at victory. Chadwick was able to push the button with 200m remaining and tried to squeeze his way through small gap late in the race but left his run too late and was forced to settle for second. CHEVAL VALIANT has burned along out in front and was leading by 3-1/3 lengths as he passed the 400m marker. He was still in front until the 50m point as he tired late in the race, finishing a length off the winner in a good display of strength. Race favourite NORTHERN BEACHES was tiring late in the race anyway but did cop some interference from Flying High at around the 100m point. He ended up back in 7th place, beaten 2-1/4 lengths.
Race 6 – Shek Lei Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.82 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
Andrea Atzeni brought up a winning double as FAST BUCK (AUS 4yo g Al Maher – Pentimento) sped away from his rivals. He was quickly into stride from the widest barrier and Atzeni pressed on to get across early. He was able to slot into the one-one and raced in behind a very fast pace set by the leaders turning for home. The four-year-old was under the pump at the top of the straight, but he was responding to the urgings as he set out after the leader. He hit the front with about 100m to run and pulled away late in the race, winning by 2-3/4 lengths in a fantastic win. DIAMOND FLARE was unable to back up his big win last start, though his run today does deserve plenty of merit. The gelding was a tad slow into stride under Angus Chung, and then copped a massive bump shortly after the start which saw him settle in the second half of the field. Chung did improve his position along the inside a touch through the middle stages and stuck to the rail as they turned for home. He was a mile back on straightening, but the run was very eye-catching as he weaved through the traffic and finished second in a blanket go for the minors. COLOURFUL PRINCE flew out of the barriers and set a fast tempo up front under Hugh Bowman. They were burning along through the middle stages, though the gelding did look to be travelling well at the top of the straight. He was only run down with around 100m to run and although he was tiring late, he finished in third spot in a three-way photo finish.
Race 7 – The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.86 Standard Time: 55.75 Course/Class record: 54.96 Super Wealthy
The feature of the day was a boil over as WHIZZ KID (AUS 5yo g Shalaa – Santa Rocks) took out the Group Three after jumping at $25. Only one rival started longer than Whizz Kid in the race, but that didn't bother Harry Bentley as he put the gelding right on the speed from barrier 2. He was up setting the pace in the run and took control passing the 400m point. He was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, but the five-year-old was just too good in the end, winning by a length on the line and scoring his first win in over a year. INVINCIBLE SAGE continued his good run of recent form. After sitting just off the leading pair in the run, he was forced to face the breeze throughout as he was left racing without cover from his inside barrier. He was always about a length off the leaders in the run and
was unable to wind in that gap over the concluding stages, finishing in a clear second place. PACKING TREADMILL was they eye-catcher of the event. He showed good early pace, but lost touch with the group after racing in restricted room between the 600 and 400m. Lyle Hewitson was hard at work on the gelding passing the 400m point with the gelding doing his best work over the final 150m. He ran on well late in the race to steal third placing in a photo finish.
Race 8 – Kwai Shing Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.55 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Caspar Fownes had many of his runners supported late in betting, but it was CAPITAL DELIGHT (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Eiffel Tower) who got the job done for the barn and drifted late. The gelding had no early pace to go with the field, being near the tail early doors. He did muster well under the urgings of Vincent Ho to move into the three-wide trail, albeit still in the second half of the field. There wasn't much separating the leader and the tail enders in the middle stages with the field fanning right across the track turning for home. Ho and Capital Delight made their run down the centre of the track where he let down strongly, making up plenty of ground to join the leaders with 100m to run. He got right over the top of his opponents in the last couple of strides, winning by a head on the line. GOOD BUDDY pressed forward early on to avoid being caught wide in the run, settling on the outside of the leader in the event. He looked to only be plugging away in the straight as Alex Badel pressed the button turning for home, but he did eventually take the lead with a furlong to run. There was a wall chasing him close to the line and he looked to be seeing most of them off before Capital Delight stuck his nose in front in the shadows of the post. MARK THE MOMENT led the field turning for home and hung in their boldly alongside Good Buddy to finish in third position, beaten just three-quarters by the winner, with just 1-1/2 lengths separating the first seven across the line.
Race 9 – Lai King Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.90 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
The softer draw proved the winning formula for BLUE MARLIN (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Greneda) as he returned to the winners' stall on the quick turnaround. He was a little slow to move when the gates opened Blue Marlin, but he mustered well under Harry Bentley to
be just off the pace on settling down. The gelding travelled well in the run and was tried to be kept in a pocket passing the 600m point, though it ended up working out well for Bentley as he obtained clear air at the top of the straight. He moved into the race strongly and challenged the leader a furlong from home. The five-year-old had to fight for the victory as the leader wouldn't lie down, but he stuck his nose in front in the final couple of strides to take the win by a short head. SUPER BOY was one of the first into stride and rolled forward from the draw to settle right on the speed. He kicked up along the inside to keep the leader away from the fence, sitting on their hindquarters as they worked off the back. Hugh Bowman eventually snuck through to take the lead around the home turn and kicked clear of his rivals at the top of the straight. He was challenged a long way from home by Blue Marlin, but the gelding wouldn't go down easily over the final stages, fighting on strongly. Eventually he was ground down in the shadows of the post, only beaten in a photo finish. SILVER UP was back in third, making good ground late in the race to claim the final step of the podium.
Race 10 – Butterfly Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.48 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Paris Texas) propelled himself to the top of the 4YO Classic Mile pecking order with a devastating win to end the night. At his first try over the mile, Hugh Bowman slid the gelding into a position just off the pace after the four-year-old got out of the gates swiftly. The pace was good up front as the Australian hoop found himself three pairs back and scraping the paint, now about midfield as they race had taken shape with 600m remaining. Bowman looked as though he'd need a touch of luck heading for home, but he also gave the son of Toronado a great steer, getting off the fence and into the clear with 300m remaining after being held up on the back of the leaders. Once into the clear the gelding went woosh, putting the race to bed in a number of strides and going on to win very, very impressively, stopping the clock in good time and winning by 2-3/4 lengths. SPIRITED EXPRESS was slowly out of the barriers and taken back early, before Alex Badel got to the rail and improved his position to be a little worse than midfield on settling. He tracked the eventual winner in the run but was already being niggled at as they turned for home. Badel followed the winner through a similar gap midway down the straight, but he was no match for the winner who was just a class above. The gelding stuck on well though to hold on for second, getting his head down on the line in a photo finish. THE BEST PEACH jumped from the widest gate and was out the back in running under Luke Ferraris. After being last in the run, Ferraris moved into the three-wide line and peeled out to be the widest runner on straightening. The gelding made a long and sustained run right to the wire, but there was no catching the winner.
