3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Hung Shui Kiu Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:23.09 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Matthew Chadwick got the day started in winning fashion, steering home TSUEN WAN GLORY (NZ 6yo g Smart Missile – Anne Of Cleves) for the Manfred Man barn. The six-year-old was one of the first into stride from barrier five and was prominent in the early stages, before settling on the back of the leaders as they sorted their order out. He was racing between horses off the back in the one-out-one-back position and was travelling strongly as they rounded the turn. Chadwick had plenty of space to get into the clear, with the son of Smart Missile quickening well to take the lead with around 300m to run. He shot away to lead by about two lengths with 100m to run, with that break big enough to hold his rivals at bay. SMART BEAUTY was a long way back in the run under Angus Chung and was racing along the inside rail turning off the back. Chung began to work his way through the traffic passing the 600m point and opted to ride for luck through the traffic rather than going all the way around at the top of the straight. It was a plan that almost came off, with the gelding getting a seemingly unimpeded run to the line, doing his best work in the final 150m and running Tsuen Wan Glory to a half-length on the line. DIAMOND DIAMOND was back in the field racing alongside Smart Beauty through the early and middle stages. Unlike his rival, Lyle Hewitson swung wide on the turn and did cop some interference early in the straight. He made a sustained run down the outside, but just found a couple better on the day as he finished 2-1/4 lengths back in third.
Race 2 – Lam Tei Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.13 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
"Team Golden Sixty" combined to win the second in relatively easy fashion, with Vincent Ho giving SECOND TO NONE (NZ 4yo g Astern – Forbetterforworse) his maiden victory. The Francis Lui-trained gelding jumped on terms and after initially being neutral out of the gates, Ho got busy to make sure his gelding was just off the speed. He enjoyed a lovely run just off the speed and snuck through along the inside rail as they turned for home. He was spotting the leader 2-1/2 lengths at the top of the straight but remained pinned to the fence as he went through to set out after the leader. The leader was the only horse he went around, taking the lead inside the final furlong and he never looked like being caught, winning by a length on the line. TOP SCORER jumped the race favourite but was one of the last to leave the barriers, forcing Zac Purton to ride the gelding along in the opening stages to improve his position. The Australian hoop was able to roll forward and settle on the outside of the eventual winner in the run. After racing in a stalking position throughout, Purton got his mount into the clear with plenty of time to make a statement if he was good enough. The Australian hoop was hard at work on the gelding, more grinding away in the straight rather than sprinting like Second To None. He was strong to the line to hold on for second position but had his chance to win if he was good enough. MASTER MASTERMIND was in the second half of the field turning for home and stuck on well out wider on the course to run into third position, just 1-1/2 lengths off the leader.
Race 3 – Lam Tei Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.13 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was an all-the-way victory for RUN RUN TIMING (AUS 3yo g Deep Field – Exotic Escape) as he notched up his maiden victory under Harry Bentley. The gelding wasn't the fastest into stride, with Bentley riding the gelding along to work across from his wide draw to lead the field off the back. The field was strung out around the home turn and Bentley had a number of rivals under pressure with 500m left to run. The Englishman began to ask his mount for an effort at the top of the straight with the three-year-old responding impressively to kick away from his nearest rival. He was over a length in front with a furlong remaining and although he was getting tired late in the race, he had enough left in the tank to hold on for victory, winning by three-quarters of-a-length. COPARTNER PRINCE also pushed forward from a wide barrier, sitting on the outside of Run Run Timing on the pace. The gelding looked to be travelling the better of the two leaders turning for home but couldn't match it with the eventual winner when asked for an effort. He did show good string in the run to the line, taking ground off the tiring leader to hold on for second position. INVINCIBLE LUCKY was a very eye-catching performance late in the race, running on from well back to steal third place in the final stride.
Race 4 – Lau Fau Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.05 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
After a delayed start due to a couple of incidents at the barriers, the Pierre Ng show was able to continue. The young conditioner added to his championship-leading tally with SUPER COMMANDER (SAF 7yo g Vercingetorix – War Path). The seven-year-old burst to the front when the gates opened, with Karis Teetan taking up the running as he scraped the grandstand rail. He showed sustained pace down to the 400m point as he led by 2L, with Teetan still having a strong hold of the gelding until the 300m point. He was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, but they couldn't reel in Super Commander as he led all the way to win by a length on the line. LIFELINE EXPRESS settled just off the pace in the run and had a nice opening close to the outside rail to sprint through as they passed the 400m point. He had his chance to catch the leader if he was good enough, but the winner was just too strong late in the race. JAMES TAK ended up jumping a very short $1.50 favourite and was right up close to the leader in the run. Ellis Wong began to ride his mount along passing the 400m point, with the gelding sticking on well in the straight. He didn't justify the short quote, but the run held enough merit, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
Race 5 – Nam Sang Wai Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.87 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Hugh Bowman and Ricky Yiu combined in the fifth event with VOLCANIC SPARK (NZ 4yo g Wrote – Peggy Hookham) sticking his nose in front in the final bound. The gelding didn't show much pace out of the barriers with Bowman settling in the second half of the field from an inside barrier. The field packed up passing the 600m point and Bowman looked as though he'd need plenty of luck from his position, hemmed up along the inside rail around the home turn. The Australian hoop stuck to the inside and rode for luck, which worked in Bowman's favour as the field fanned right across the track, leaving plenty of openings for Volcanic Spark to run through. Passing the furlong pole, Bowman got into the clear and set out after the leader. He was doing his best work late in the race as he ranged up to the leader in the shadows of the post and got his nose down right on the line, winning in a photo finish. MASTER TORNADO was one of the first into stride under Karis Teetan, with the gelding rolling across from the draw to eventually land on the back of the leader. The Mauritian enjoyed a cosy run in transit, but he was held up early in the straight with a wall of runners in front of him. Teetan had to wait until the 200m point before he pushed his way into the clear and taking the lead with around 50m left to run. Teetan was throwing everything he had at the gelding close to home, but he went down by the barest of margins. PATCH OF TIME had worked hard early to get across and lead the field under Luke Ferraris. He bumped into two better on the day, but his run deserves plenty of merit as he held on for third position.
Race 6 – Ping Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:36.02 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Vincent Ho and Francis Lui made it a winning double on the day as HOLY LAKE (IRE 4yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Lake Louise) proved too good. The local hoop pressed on from the wide draw to settle on the pace on settling down, getting across relatively easily in the end to settle on the back of the leader. The pace was only fair as they turned off the back with the field packing up around the turn. The pace quickened when one rival shot around with a mid-race move which saw Ho start pushing the gelding along to keep up with the pace rise heading for home. Not only was the gelding able to keep up, he was gaining on the leader as he forced his way into the clear with around 250m to run after being held up slightly. Once clear, he continued to eat into the margin of the leader, taking control with 50m to run and pulling away late to win by a half-length. ARIEL drew out wide as well and showed good pace early on to get across and lead comfortably down the back. Once Luke Ferraris got to the front, the South African hoop slammed the brakes on to try and dictate proceedings off the back. The pace went up again with 600m remaining when taken on up front, but the gelding responded well to hold the lead around the turn and into the straight. He was over a length in front with a furlong to run, but the gap was quickly eaten up by Holy Lake who took the lead close to home. Ariel was unable to fight back, finishing a half-length off the winner. LUCKY ETERNITY raced close to the speed for Hugh Bowman and was sitting on the outside of the eventual winner as they turned into the straight. Bowman had absolutely no luck in the straight, being held in a pocket as he tried to push his way clear, before having to duck back to the inside and follow Holy Lake through the same opening at the furlong marker. He closed off strongly to finish in third position, but there's not doubt he could have finished closer with more luck early in the straight.
Race 7 – The Pok Oi Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.68 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
The impressive rise of GALAXY PATCH (AUS 4yo g Wandjina – Voltara) continued with another impressive display as he moved into Class 2 company for the first time. The Pierre Ng-trained galloper was allowed to find his feet at the jump, settling in the second half of the field for Karis Teetan. The pace was good throughout and Teetan found himself in an okay position around the home turn, sticking close t the inside and weaving through traffic rather than swinging out wide. It took a little while for the gelding to wind up, but he evtnually took over with 150m to run and the race was all over. He raced away from his rivals under a hold and was getting stronger as the race went on, winning by 1-1/2 lengths on the line in a very impressive win. He looked very green in the straight still too, wanting to duck in under pressure, but he was just a class above, with the victory giving Ng a winning double. GUMMY GUMMY had ended last season in good form on the All Weather surface, winning two on-end. He landed in a handy position from the draw and Lyle Hewitson began to move into the race around the home turn, swinging wide and giving his mount every possible chance at the top of the stretch. The gelding quickened well to take the lead early in the straight, but it was short lived as Galaxy Patch zoomed straight past him. He finished 1-1/2 lengths off the winner, but third position was a further 3 behind Gummy Gummy. A very good effort. LUCKY ENCOUNTER didn't have the best of luck turning for home when shoved wide by Gummy Gummy. He couldn't go with the first couple when the sprint went on, but the gelding showed good strength in the run to the line to finish in third, 4-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – Tai Tong Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.07 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
The Pierre Ng show rolled on, making it a winning treble on the night with I GIVE (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Grace And Eva) returning to the winners' stall. The gelding bounced well from an outside alley and pressed on to lead per his usual racing pattern. Andrea Atzeni kept the field running off the back stretch with the field strung out around the home turn, leading by about a length at the top of the straight. Atzeni still had a strong hold of the gelding early in the straight, but he looked to have plenty of company at the 300m mark. Once Atzeni asked for an effort, the gelding shot clear and never gave anything else a chance. He broke away from his rivals and went on to win by 1-3/4 lengths in an all-the-way victory, bringing up the gelding's sixth win from 7 starts this season. MAGNIFICENT TIME settled in a midfield position for Zac Purton after getting away cleanly from barrier five. He looked to be travelling in a good spot around the turn as he stalked the leading division, peeling into the clear at the top of the straight and beginning to make his run. He had his chance to catch the leader if he was good enough, but I Give was just too strong late in the race. Magnificent Nine stuck on well though to steal second position late in the race after jumping the $3.10 favourite. SUPER FORTUNE had raced on the outside of I Give up on the pace throughout the event and looked ominous at the top of the straight with Matthew Poon still having a strong hold of the gelding. He wouldn't go away midway down the straight, but it was inside the final furlong where he lost touch with the eventual winner. He tried hard to hold his position, but Magnificent Nine got the better of him close to home with Poon having to settle for third.
Race 9 – Tin Shui Wai Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 (Restricted) – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.90 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
The "unofficial 4YO Classic Mile Trial" was taken out by FALLON (IRE 4yo g Galileo Gold – Providence) who proved his last-start victory at long odds wasn't a fluke. The gelding glopped out the back from barrier 6 to settle near the tail of the field on settling down with the early tempo pretty genuine as they sorted their order out. The tempo slowed passing the 800m point with the field packing up turning off the back straight, but Keith Yeung wasn't in a bad spot, sitting one off the rail as the came past the 600m point. The gelding looked to be held up for running early in the straight and it wasn't until the 350m point when Yeung got the four-year-old into the clear. He let rip down the centre of the course to take the lead with 100m left to run and was far too good late in the race. He wasn't stopping on the line as he went on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a very impressive display. SIMPLE HEDGE raced midfield for Zac Purton, sitting three-wide and with cover after being unable to slot into the running line from the wide alley. The gelding got a nice tow into the race on the back of rivals and was only a length off the leaders as they turned for home. Purton got his mount into the clear and early in the straight, running on strongly to move up to the leaders with 150m to run. He took the lead, but only for a few strides before Fallon swooped right down the outside. He stuck on gamely close to the line, holding on for second in a photo finish, but he was no match for the winner. GOLDEN ARTIE had tracked Simple Hedge into the race and peeled off his back at the top of the straight to make his presence felt. Andrea Atzeni threw everything he had at the gelding, but he was unable to get past Simple Hedge in the run to the line, as Fallon flew straight past them both.
Race 10 – Yuen Long Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.46 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
It was a blowout in the last with the "Poon Train" Matthew Poon making every post a winner aboard AMAZING DUCK (AUS 4yo g Cluster – Grand City) for the Jimmy Ting barn. The gelding didn't show a whole lot of early speed, but Poon made sure he'd be prominent early on by pushing the four-year-old along to hold his position form an inside alley. The field was well strung out early in the race, with Poon allowing the gelding to catch his breath turning off the back. A couple of cheap sectionals worked in the gelding's favour as he was able to produce a good kick at the top of the straight and keep his rivals at bay. Poon was throwing everything he had at the three-start maiden, seeing off all challengers in the run to the line to hold on in a photo finish, winning by a head on the line after starting at $47. It was a hard watch for backers of BEAUTY CRESCENT who was an absolute certainty beat. After racing midfield in the run, Purton tried to work his way off the inside rail and into the clear at the top of the straight. The gelding didn't quicken like his rivals, with Purton held up badly until the 200m point. Once clear, the gelding rattled home down the outside, just missing in a photo finish. BEAUTY FIT continued his good run of form, sticking on gamely to finish a neck away in third. He had his chance to win if he was good enough, but was unable to chase down the eventual winner.
