3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive preview of Sha Tin races.

Rail - B+2 Course
Awt - 1,10

Race 1
#8 ALL IS READY is worthy of forgiveness on the turf last start after he was checked and galloped on during the run.In the race prior, on dirt, he ran a cracker to finish third behind BEAT HOLLOW whilst carrying more weight.He's previously proven the dirt is his preferred surface and from the low draw he should position up handy.He'll have to dig deep when the chase for home goes on but he has the engine capacity to close in over the top.
#3 BEAT HOLLOW lead all the way to win five runs ago on the turf and in the process got his confidence up.He's since continually displayed faultless gate speed and proven if he's given the opportunity to lead or race handy, in rhythm, he'll run you a big race.Therefore, another race on to the all weather surface suits perfectly despite the tricky draw in gate eleven.
#4 DAILY TROPHY ran an excellent race behind FAST BUCK and ACA POWER earlier in the season and both efforts were in the higher grade of class 4.With blinkers now being applied, along with the services of Hugh Bowman, there are reasons to include him in calculations.He has an inclination to begin with lethargy but if he switches on from the outset he'll probably go on and win.
#10 FORTUNE MASTER would be one of the lowest rated horses Zac Purton has ridden in a longtime but he does have previous experience aboard.He won on him midway through last season over 1400m on turf when they finished fast to claim the prize.He'll get down to a very light weight to ride this guy, which normally counts for plenty, so you'd want him included.
#1 MY INTELLIGENT has only been in class 5 once during his career and it was a race in which he won.Since then, he's been honest without troubling the higher graded runners and has now been relegated back to class 5.He debuts on the service and has trialled well on it before, but the booking of a 10lbs claiming rider makes him extremely attractive on the eye.
Selections : 8,3,4,10,1

R2 - 3,11,1,7,12

R3 - 1,6,10,3,2

R4 - 1,4,9,11,8

R5 - 3,5,9,1,7

R6 - 1,14,13,9,13

Race 7
"Hong Kong Classic Mile"1st Leg 4yo Series(1600m - Set Weights)
#1 HELIOS EXPRESS is the highest rated and expected favourite for the first leg of the Hong Kong 4yo series and despite the depth of class it's his race to lose.The former Australian galloper arrived with a 3yo maiden victory at Benalla under his belt and has thrived since joining the stable of John Size.As a last start winner in class 2, over the 1600m, he was elevated by the handicapper an additional ten points to an overall rating of 102.In comparison, ROMANTIC WARRIOR was only rated 101, after already winning the 2022 Classic Mile, which highlights his current ability and potential star status.
#3 HELENE FEELING ran a career best recently in the Gp3 January Cup at Happy Valley when finishing third.That performance, over the 1800m, has him rated a serious contender along with the likes of HELIOS EXPRESS and HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE.He's proven his versatility by winning at both Happy Valley and Sha Tin and the return in trip to a mile is seen as positive, opposed to a query.Zac Purton also jumps back aboard in search of a victory in the only feature race that still eludes him.
#8 FALLON is struggling for a competitive rating after a sluggish beginning to his Hong Kong career but he's now headed in the right direction.The former Irish galloper remains relatively unexposed but could dramatically improve on his handicap with a good performance in this event.He's been thrown in the deep end by trainer Tony Cruz, who's done this before with success, so I'm intrigued to see how close he gets to those established.
#2 HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE has been on a 4yo series mission since he arrived in Hong Kong and in the process has more than paid his way.The challenges he faces today, if he's to go higher and towards the Hong Kong Derby, are the rise in distance to a mile, wide draw and inexperienced at Sha Tin.All four wins to this point have been recorded Happy Valley over 1200m, however, John Size is a maestro at fulfilling a plan and it's fair to say there's a reasonable jockey in the saddle.
#7 SPEED DRAGON appears another high quality animal judged on his recent efforts plus form in New Zealand where he won a maiden, before finishing fourth in the Gp 2 Auckland Guineas at a mile.He's a long way out of the handicap and likely to be needing more time but he should develop into a feasible horse.He's a get back type who'll be giving away a start but does possess an instantaneous change of gear when it counts.
Selections : 1,3,8,2,7

Race 8
Centenary Vase(Gp 3 - 1800m - Hcp)
#13 LA CITY BLANCHE ran well in a similar race to this, at Sha Tin, in early November and is worthy of serious consideration.That run was then followed by another honest performance where he closed in powerfully in the Gp 2 Jockey Club Cup over 2000m.I'm overlooking his next two starts, for various reasons, where his form now reads ordinary.He then performed with credit in the Gp 3 January Cup at Happy Valley when closing in hard for second, and that form is good enough to win.
#6 HAPPY TOGETHER is one of the newest revelation's to the Hong Kong racing scene after winning four of his past five starts.We'll learned plenty about him last start in the Gp 3 January Cup because that win was completed when he was up in class and trip, and that is only for the top echelon of thoroughbreds to achieve.The barrier draw and weight are on his side again today as he returns to Sha Tin and his overall sectional data suggests he'll measure up.
#1 STRAIGHT ARRON stood up on International Dayin the Gp 1 Hong Kong Cup and was probably a little stiff not to have won.The handicappers elevated him significantly following the luckless fourth behind ROMANTIC WARRIOR so he's now fully entrenched in the Hong Kong group one club.The 1800m still slightly goes against him with his ultimate goal this campaign either a Gp 1 contest in Dubai, or the Gp 1 QE 11 Cup at Sha Tin in April.Whatever the case, he must run well today if he's to continue along that path, even with the big weight.
 #3 MONEY CATCHER is a proven competitor at the elite level and noted front runner at the same time.He has the power to push hard from the wide draw before eventually finding the rail, and the lead, as they run down the long back stretch.The depth to this year's edition of the Gp 3 Centenary Vase appears stronger, to that of 2023, so it won't be an easy race to win, but he'll definitely run a better race on speed than he did at the Valley.
#5 SWORD POINT has returned in fine fettle this season with close up finishes in three of his four runs and they've all been at a very high level.I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt at Happy Valley most recently where he performed ordinarily through the second half of the contest.From the perfect draw he can position handy in race that lacks speed and combined with the fact he goes in fifth up, can atone and run well.
Selections : 13,6,1,3,5

R9 - 11,10,4,5,3

R10 - 6,10,11,4,8