3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Spoonbill Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.89 Standard Time: 1:48.35 Course/Class record: 1:47.45 Mission Bravo
Antoine Hamelin brought up his second win in as many meetings, picking BLISSFUL STAR (NZ 6yo g Power – La Vienne) up off the canvas to win narrowly. The gelding got away to a good start and was able to slide into a handy position early on, eventually landing on the leader's back as they sorted their order out. The tempo was only fair down the back and a mid-race move had already come by the 1000m point. That upped the tempo a touch with Hamelin niggling his mount along as they turned off the back straight. He was able to hold his position around the turn despite being pushed along and shot through along the inside rail as the leader wobbles off the rail, sneaking through to join the leader with a furlong to run. He was headed out wide in the closing stages but fought back valiantly to stick his nose in front right on the line, scoring by a short head. WINNING STEPS had raced alongside the eventual winner throughout the event, sitting in the one-out-one-back position from barrier five. He appeared to be travelling much better than most of his rivals as they approached the home turn, with Harry Bentley working into the clear and quickly going around his rivals to hit the front. He looked as though he'd pull away with the victory, but he couldn't shake Blissful Star who came back at him in the closing stages. He couldn't hold him at bay and was beaten in a very close photo finish. RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE settled well back in the run for Lyle Hewitson and was looking to work his way through traffic around the home turn. The South African followed Blissful Star into the race before getting away from the inside and into clear air near the middle of the track. He chased hard but found a couple better on the day as he ended up 1-1/2 lengths off the winners.
Race 2 – Egret Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.10 Standard Time: 1:37.85 Course/Class record: 1:36.15 Hongkong Great
The Class 2 event of the night was taken out in an absolute crawl, with ALL FOR ST PAUL'S (AUS 7yo g Magnus – So Enticing) leading all the way. The seven-year-old pinged out of the barriers to take up the running early on and was never pressured up front, with Angus Chung able to dictate proceedings. The Frankie Lor-trained galloper did as he pleased
through the middle stages, setting a leisurely tempo before producing a strong kick at the top of the straight to get away from his rivals. He kicked clear turning for home and although he had rivals right there to catch him, All For St Paul's had just had it too easy in the run, holding them at bay and winning by three-quarters of a length. ALACRITY had sat outside the leader throughout the event and looked to be looming large at the top of the straight. He was unable to match it with All For St Paul's as he sprinted away, but was taking ground off him in the closing stages. He had every chance but was essentially outsprinted by the winner. MR ASCENDENCY was next across the line having settled on the back of All For St Paul's in the run. He was left flat footed with the quick change in tempo but was grinding away well late in the race to rally back into third position. The first four in running were the first four across the line, with the time some 20 lengths outside the standard.
Race 3 – Peacock Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.60 Standard Time: 1:38.80 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
It was another all the way victory in race three with G LINER (GB 6yo g Siyouni – Toi Et Moi) shedding the maiden tag for Karis Teetan and Jamie Richards. The son of Siyouni was the first to leave the machine and rolled straight to the front under Teetan, getting across to take up the running around the first turn. The field were strung out down the back, but the pace was only moderate with the Mauritian hoop able to do as he pleased out in front. Around the turn, many jockeys began to get a move on so they didn't get caught stranded as they did in race 2, with the field fanning right across the track as they swung for home. G Liner showed a strong turn-of-foot at the top of the straight to get away from his rivals and put a length on them early in the straight. He had a runner loom up to him inside the final 100m, but he was just too strong to the line, keeping his rivals at bay and winning by three-quarters of-a-length. MISSION BRAVO was very slowly away from the barriers and couldn't keep up with the field through the first 600m, being a distance last as they headed down the back straight. The slow tempo probably helped him as Luke Ferraris was able to not only get onto the back of the field but keep his momentum going heading around the turn. Mission Bravo was continually pushed wider and wider on the course as they headed for home, making his move down the middle of the track. He loomed up to the leader as if he was going to run straight past him, but he looked to peak on his run just when it mattered most. He held his position to the line, unable to peg back the margin as he settled for second. VIVA HUNTER raced in a midfield position and ended up in a horrible position passing the 600m point. With the field beginning to make their moves, Ellis Wong found himself with nowhere to go, strung up behind a wall of runners as he looked for a way through the traffic. He still couldn't get moving early in the straight, with the
apprentice hoop only able to ask his mount for an effort at the furlong pole. He got into the clear and flashed home late, but it was all over by the time he had gotten out.
Race 4 – Swan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.55 Standard Time: 1:39.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.30 Apolar Warrior
Race four told a different story than the previous two events with CHIRON (NZ 6yo g Makfi – Inara Belle) running over the top of his rivals for an impressive victory. The David Hayes-trained galloper was straight out the back on settling down with plenty of pace being poured on by the front runners. The field was well strung out down the back straight, with Derek Leung being 10-3/4 lengths off the leader as they worked past the 800m point. Leung began to work into the race passing the 600m point and was travelling strongly as they turned for home with many of his rivals already under heavy pressure. He charged down the middle of the course to gather up the leaders impressively. He pulled away late in the race, winning by three-quarters of-a-length. CHARMING STEED wasn't the cleanest away but mustered good speed to roll forward from out wide, getting across to land in third position on settling down. It was a good piece of riding by Badel to land in third position, stalking the speed as they travelled down the back. Badel gave himself plenty of space as they rounded the home turn, peeling three-wide and moving up to take the lead shortly after straightening. He charged away with the lead, quickly putting two or three lengths on his rivals, but he wasn't ready for what was coming. Chiron stormed right by him inside the final 100m with Charming Steed tiring late in the race but managing to hold on for second place. ASIAN ONE enjoyed an economical run in the race, settling midfield along the rail with Andrea Atzeni weaving his way through the traffic at the top of the straight. He stuck on gamely late in the race to run into third position, with the race favourite finishing 3-3/4 lengths off the leader in sixth.
Race 5 – Kestrel Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.01 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
Brenton Avdulla notched up his first win since November 29 as he guided home SKY FOREVER (AUS 6yo g Not A Single Doubt – Tango) for a comfortable victory. He got away on terms from a wide barrier but didn't have the pace to go with them early, settling near the tail of the field on settling down. As they moves began to happen passing the 600m point,
Avdulla got on the move into the three-wide trail and was enjoying a lovely run in transit around the home turn. He was travelling strongly at the top of the straight and let down powerfully once clear, storming to the front and pulling away for an impressive victory, with the official margin being two lengths. COOL BLUE got away on terms, though Karis Teetan was very neutral on the gelding early on, sliding back in the run to settle worse than midfield. He was in a sticky position around the home turn and the eventual winner beat him to the gap when it opened at the top of the straight. Sky Forever burst clear with the win, while Cool Blue had to follow him through afterwards. He closed off well to finish a clear second, with third a further 1-1/2 lengths behind. DIAMOND SOARS slotted into the running line a touch worse than midfield for Angus Chung and was racing alongside Cool Blue as they turned off the back. He lost his position in the run and was being roused along a long way from home, with Chung following the eventual winner through early in the straight. He finished off well to claim third in a photo finish, but he was unable to match it with the first two across the line.
Race 6 – Kestrel Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.84 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
It was a boil over in race six with the $40 chance STRIVE FOR GLORY (US 7yo g Dialed In – Chu And You) saluted for the Chris So barn. Shortly after the start, Keagan De Melo drifted back from the wide draw to settle at the rear of the field on settling down. He was 7 lengths off the lead passing the 800m and was still a long way back as they turned for home. He did travel up strongly though as they turned into the straight and De Melo pulled the gelding to the outside, letting down strongly in the middle of the track. He was mowing down the leaders inside the final 100m, taking the lead and going away close to the line, winning by a length on the line. SPEEDY SMARTIE was the first out of the barriers and held the early lead, getting across from the sticky alley before runners from out wide came across to take up the running. Hewitson punched up to hold his position as they turned off the back and was creeping closer to the leader around the turn. He chased hard in the straight to range up and take the lead, but shortly after getting to the front Strive For Glory ran straight by him. He finished a clear second, with third a further 1-3/4 lengths away. SOLID SHALAA was in a tricky spot turning for home and ran into trouble at the 200m marker when held up for clear running. Karis Teetan was able to dart back to the inside rail and close off strongly scraping the paint, finishing in third spot with a late burst.
Race 7 – Flamingo Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.60 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Jamie Richards made it a winning double on the night as Hugh Bowman steered MAGNIAC (AUS 4yo g Lucky Street – Top Show) to an easy victory. The four-year-old got away well from an inside barrier and showed good speed early to hold his position on the back of the leading division. The pace was strong up front, and Bowman found himself in a very handy position around the home turn, with the leaders well within striking distance. Bowman worked his way into the clear turning for home and the gelding responded to his riding immediately. He went up to take the lead inside the final 200m and gave nothing else a chance, running away to win by two lengths in a very impressive effort. SMOKEY BAR and Keagan De Melo raced in a midfield position in the run, sitting on the back of eventual winner Magniac. As Bowman and Magniac peeled off the inside, De Melo snuck up along the rail and stayed close to the inside on straightening. He made his run up the rail in the straight, scraping the plastic and quickening strongly. He closed off well for second position but by the time he got moving, the winner was off and gone. CAPITAL DELIGHT was able to avoid some of the commotion in the back half of the field and moved into the race strongly out wide. He had plenty of time and space to get the job done if he was good enough, but just bumped into two better on the night as he finished 3-2/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – Heron Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.60 Standard Time: 1:38.25 Course/Class record: 1:36.76 True Legend
Andrea Atzeni made it eight different jockeys winning the eight races on the card, with SO WE JOY (AUS 8yo g So You Think – Soho Secret) scoring at $23. Atzeni slid the gelding back from his wide draw to settle near the tail of the field. There was a good go for the lead early on which set up a solid pace through the early stages, before slowing a touch as they travelled down the back. The eight-year-old was in the back half of the field and strung up along the inside with 600m to run but was able to sneak some runs along the paint to improve his position turning for home. The race opened right up for Atzeni to get into the clear at the top of the straight with the pair needing to make up 5 lengths on the leader. Once into the clear, the gelding began to let rip, hitting top gear inside the final 200m and powering right over the top to win very impressively, with the official margin being 1-3/4 lengths. ADEFILL had also settled back in the run under Hugh Bowman, racing just ahead of the eventual winner as they travelled down the back. As runners in front of him started to fan wide, Bowman was able to sneak through underneath and had plenty of space to mount his challenge out wide on the course. He just had too much ground to make up, closing off strongly in the run to the line but unable to reel in the winner. YELLOWFIN
showed good early speed to take up the running early and was able to do as he pleased down the back. He showed a nice turn-of-foot on straightening to break away from his rivals and was still in front with 100m to run. He was tiring late in the race though as So
