3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Beacon Hill Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.25 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King
Zac Purton got his day underway with a narrow victory aboard the Jamie Richards-trained RATTAN WORLD (NZ 4yo g Per Incanto – Senatorial). The four-year-old was a touch slow into stride and settled in the second half of the field, racing three-wide with cover for Purton. The pace was solid off the back and Purton was able to improve his position with cover, rolling into a midfield position as they swung for home. He quickened well when Purton asked for an effort, eating away at the margin with every stride, but was still over a length away with 100m to run. He showed his strength in the closing stages, overpowering his opponents in the final couple of strides to score by a short head. SWEET DIAMOND was one of the first into stride and settled up on the pace for Alex Badel. He took a trial in behind the leaders turning off the back as the leader rolled pressed on with the tempo. After sitting with cover around the turn, Badel got into the clear and set out after the leader. He was a length away with a furlong to go, beginning to make ground on the tiring leader inside the final 200m. He eventually stuck his nose in front over the final 50m, though it didn't last long as Purton ran right past him to steal the victory. MILLENIUM FALCON just tired late in the race after sitting close to the good tempo through the middle stages. He was unable to sustain his sprint at the finish but was only a half-length away on the line.
Race 2 – Caroline Hill Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.78 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was an early double for Purton as he combined with John Size to win the second event, scoring comfortably by 1-1/2 lengths aboard GOLDEN RISE (AUS 4yo g Written Tycoon – Smooth Landing). The gelding was away on terms along the inside and held a midfield position on settling down, racing along the inside rail. The speed was only even turning off the back and Purton looked as though he needed a touch of luck around the home turn as he was caught three pairs back and along the inside. The seas parted when Natural Gold unfortunately went amiss, with Purton able to sneak through along the inside and push his way into the clear at the top of the straight. He got to the leader with 300m to run and took control with 150m remaining, pulling away late in the race to win by 1-1/2 lengths. RIVER VIEWS was able to miss all the interference turning for home as he led the field throughout the race for Karis Teetan. The gelding was still under a strong hold as they got around the turn but was quickly joined by Purton and Golden Rise midway down the stretch. He fought hard when the eventual winner loomed large, but it wasn't enough to peg back the margin. FIGHT TIME was able to follow the eventual winner into the straight and dodge the commotion out wider on the course, with Matthew Poon giving his mount plenty of time to chime in. He closed off well out near the middle of the track to hold on for third position in a close photo finish.
Race 3 – Bennet's Hill Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.93 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
James McDonald made the trip over from Australia a successful one early, getting one back on Purton as he edged out the odds-on favourite to bring up back-to-back wins aboard WUNDERBAR (AUS 3yo g Rich Enuff – Could Be Something). The three-year-old showed good speed early to hold a position along the inside, sitting in second position as they sorted their order out. When the leader crossed to the rail, McDonald moved up to sit on his outside and began to lay down the challenge as they turned for home. It was a ding-dong battle right down the straight, with McDonald only sticking his nose in front inside the final 50m and holding on for victory in a photo finish. His sparring partner KA YING RISING was on the wrong side of the ledger once again. This time, Purton tried to gain the upper hand by burning across from his wide stall to take up the running, getting across to the rail with around 600m left to run. He looked as though he had plenty to offer as they turned for home with Wunderbar beginning to creep closer to his outside. He fought gamely right down to the wire, never giving up right to the wire, unfortunately going down narrowly.
Race 4 – Cheung Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.90 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
He'd been right around the mark through his first four starts, but today was the day for RUBYLOT (AUS 3yo g Rubick – Emirates Comfort) as he shed the maiden tag under Hugh Bowman. He was bumped around at the start and settled toward the back of the field under the Australian hoop, who had worked across to be near the grandstand rail in the run. The field fanned across the track to make their runs, giving Bowman a great run right up behind the leaders. He was held up momentarily with 150m to run, but once clear the gelding let rip, with Bowman working his way through the traffic to score an impressive victory, winning by a neck on the line. MIDORI BEAUTY had been midfield in the run for Keagan De Melo and was tightened for room on a couple of occasions in the run. The South African hoop eventually worked his way out toward the centre of the track and shot through a gap at the furlong marker to challenge for the win. He took the lead with a 50m remaining and looked the winner until Rubylot came flashing down the outside right on the post. SPEEDY FORTUNE was tough from up on the pace and took the lead with 150m to run under Zac Purton but couldn't hold off the first two across the line who had the final shot.
Race 5 – The Po Leung Kuk Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.35 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Hugh Bowman made it a race-to-race double, teaming up with Francis Lui to win aboard SUPERB KID (AUS 4yo g Sebring – Snitzel's Jewel). He was only away fairly and settled in the second half of the field with a solid tempo being set up front. The field was strung out turning off the back, with Bowman beginning to niggle his mount along with 500m to run as the race began to unfold. The Australian hoop got right to the outside and was making his challenge down the center of the track. He was doing his best work over the closing stages, taking the lead with 50m left to run and winning quite comfortably on the line albeit the final margin being just a neck. SUNLIGHT POWER was right out the back on settling down, initially sliding back from the wide draw under Harry Bentley. He was left three-wide and without cover through, so the Englishman improved into the race around the home turn, getting past the eventual winner and being almost two lengths in front with 300m remaining. He moved up to take the lead with 100m remaining but couldn't see off the final challenge of Superb Kid. CIRCUIT NINE got away much better today and settled midfield along the inside for Andrea Atzeni. The gelding didn't have the best of luck in the straight, running into a wall of runners as Atzeni looked for an opening and was forced to duck back to the inside. He finished 1-1/2 lengths off the winner, but may have been able to finish closer with a touch more luck.
Race 6 – Diamond Hill Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.36 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
MASSIVE TALENT (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Commiserate) bounced back from a disappointing effort last time out to notch up his maiden victory under Matthew Chadwick. The gelding was away well close to the inside and landed in a handy position just off the speed, stalking the leaders throughout the event. Chadwick was able to continue his run along the inside as they turned into the straight, only peeling away form the inside with 400m to run. The flashy grey looked to have plenty in the tank as the local hoop shot through a gap, taking the lead impressively when asked for an effort. He had a challenger come at him with 150m left to run, but the son of Swiss Ace was able to see him off and pull away late, winning by a length on the line in a rather impressive maiden victory. GENEVA had raced to the outside of Massive Talent in the run, settling just off the speed for Hugh Bowman. The debutant had been backed into an odds-on quote and looked as though he was about to run straight past his rivals when the Australian jockey pulled him to the outside turning for home. The baldy-faced galloper loomed up to the leader with 150m to run, but just peaked on the run late in the race and was unable to finish any better than his second placing. SUPER GOLDI was taken back from the tricky alley and settled near the tail of the field for Derek Leung. Turning for home, he was held up for clear running until the 250m point with a gap finally opening with a furlong to run. He rattled home late in the race to take third position but may have been able to challenge for the win with a touch more luck.
Race 7 – The Stewards' Cup, HK $13,000,000
Group One – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:33.97 Standard Time: 1:33.80 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
James McDonald brought up a winning double on the day with the horse he came to Hong Kong to ride, taking out the Group 1 feature with the Ricky Yiu-trained VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Raheights). The 2023 Derby Winner was the first into stride from barrier three and landed in a beautiful position one-out-one-back. McDonald took a sit on the back of his main rival in the race, stalking him wherever he went through the opening stages, before moving up onto the outside of his rival. Approaching the 600m, McDonald was left racing three-wide, but his mount had plenty of petrol left in the tank, moving up to take the lead with 300m left to run. He broke clear of his rivals inside the final 100 metres, being the strongest to the line and winning comfortably by 1-1/4 lengths. BEAUTY ETERNAL tried his best but just bumped into one better on the day. After settling outside the leader, Purton slotted into the trail with cover heading off the back straight before again presenting into the clear with around 600m left to run. He took the lead shortly after straightening but didn't hold onto it for too long as Voyage Bubble went straight past him. He hung in there down the stretch, but the winner was pulling away over the closing stages. BEAUTY JOY rattled home from a long way back to take third position and continued his strong run of recent form.
Race 8 – Keung Shan Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:02.54 Standard Time: 2:01.75 Course/Class record: 1:59.53 Glorious Forever
There was a massive upset in the eighth race as NATURAL STORM (NZ 7yo g Pins – Miracle Miss) saluted at a massive $55. Antoine Hamlin had to urge the gelding along from his handy draw to ensure he made the most of it, settling about midfield and along the rail heading around the first turn. There was no real change to the order through the middle stages with a moderate pace being set, which forced runners to fan wide on the turn to make their runs. This allowed Hamelin to sneak underneath his rivals and onlny go around a couple of runners in the straight. He was part of a six-horse wall all vying for the lead with 150m to run, showing his staying ability over the concluding stages to take control with 50m to go. He scored by a neck on the line after starting a massive price, scoring his first win over 2000m after 13 unplaced attempts at the trip. Derby hopeful ENSUED was giving the winner five pounds in the handicap but had enjoyed a lovely run in transit sitting in the one-out-one-back position. Karis Teetan moved into the race ominously around the turn, sticking with his rivals when the pace went on and making a strong run in the straight. He never quite took the lead as Natural Storm stormed by as Teetan was about to, with Ensued unable to fight back in the final couple of strides, settling for second position. There was a dead heat for third with C P BRAVE storming home right down the outside to hit the line locked together with WOODFIRE BRO. C P Brave just had too much work to do in the closing stages, while Woodfire Bro stuck on strongly from his position on the back of the leader.
Race 9 – Tin Wan Shan Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.27 Standard Time: 1:21.55 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
It looked as though the rise in trip would suit MUGEN (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Little Favours), but he produced the best win of his career in the process. Karis Teetan was neutral on the gelding when the barriers opened, eventually sliding back after getting away from gate 10. He was a clear last in the run with Teetan looking to go between runners at the 600m point and remained in last place at the top of the straight, 5-3/4 lengths off the leader. After initially going to swing wide on straightening, the Mauritian hoop sliced his way through the field and the gelding let rip once clear with 200m to run. He showed plenty of speed to take the lead inside the final 100m and burst away from his rivals to win by 2 lengths in a very impressive effort. SUPERB BOY enjoyed a lovely run just off the speed. SUPERB BOY enjoyed a lovely run just off the speed and was absolutely trucking around the turn for Alexis Badel. The Frenchman got his mount into the clear turning for home and set out after the leaders, quickly going up to take the lead when asked for an effort. He was over a length in front with 150m to run and was pulling away from most of his rivals, except for Mugen. The winner got the better of Superb Boy with around 50m to run, with the gelding probably tiring a little late in the race, just holding on for second in a photo finish. ATULLIBIGEAL was a long way back in the run and made a strong effort down the straight to claim third position under Zac Purton.
Race 10 – Tsz Wan Shan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.07 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton bookended the card, winning the last aboard race favourite STORM RIDER (AUS 3yo g Dracarys – Zeffiretta). Purton pushed on from the wide draw to be prominent in the early stages, before moving up to sit outside the leader to avoid racing wide and without cover. The leader was going along at a good gallop heading off the back and Purton was stalking him around the home turn, before moving up at the top of the straight under a strong hold to take the lead. Once Purton shook the reigns, the gelding put the race away in only a few strides. There were plenty chasing in the straight, but they weren't making any ground on the Storm Rider as he went away to win by 1-1/4 lengths in very impressive fashion. THE HEIR continued his good start to life in Hong Kong but is still chasing his first victory in the Asian city. After settling a touch closer this time in a midfield position, Hugh Bowman got onto the back of the eventual winner turning for home. He was held up for clear running momentarily passing the 300m point and stuck on well once clear, but may have needed more room earlier in the straight to get through his gears. He was probably doing his best work over the concluding stages, finishing a clear second. SILVER UP was alongside The Heir as they swung into the straight and essentially hit the line together too.
