3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Primula Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.00 Standard Time: 1:09.10 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure
Derek Leung got his day off to a winning start, scoring aboard SPANGLE FORTUNE (IRE 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Hope So) for the Manfred Man barn. He jumped well and rolled forward from a wide alley, eventually slotting into the one-out-one-back position. The pace was good early as they sorted their order out and Leung had 3 lengths to make up in the straight after coming under pressure turning for home. He was sticking on well out wide and was there to pounce as the leader began to tire. The five-year-old closed off strongly to take the lead inside the final stages and get the job done, winning by a half-length on the line. BEAT HOLLOW surged forward from the wide draw to cross and lead the field as they turned off the back straight. Angus Chung allowed the gelding to catch his breath around the home turn, before putting in a strong kick at the top of the straight to get away from, his rivals. He was over three lengths in front at the furlong pole, but his stride began to shorten shortly after. He was clinging on for dear life but was eventually passed by Spangle Fortune close to the wire. FORTUNE MASTER was a little slow into stride and ended up near the tail of the field early on. He was still well back under Zac Purton turning for home, but the gaps appeared, and the gelding quickened nicely down the middle of the course. He ran on strongly over the closing stages, nabbing third on the line in a photo finish but he was too far back to challenge for the win.
Race 2 – Peony Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.58 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
After a very unlucky effort last time out, luck went the way of PANDA (AUS 3yo g Hualalai – Eulogise) this time as he notched up his maiden victory. He jumped well from an outside barrier and Zac Purton had the gelding just off the speed on settling down. Through the middle stages, the Australian hoop crept a little closer to the leading group, with a big gap along the grandstand rail there for the taking. Approaching the 300m point, Purton went through that gap, taking the lead with 100m to ruin as the three-year-old npulled away from his rivals and won by three-quarters of a length. BOWSER had disappointed on debut but showed what he is capable of at his second start, just edging out his rivals for second in
a four-way photo finish. The gelding was a little slow into stride and Antoine Hamelin settled near the tail of the field, eventually working closer toward the grandstand side as they moved through the middle stages. He was held up behind runners for some time, with Hamelin only able to ask his mount for an effort inside the final 250m. The Frenchman followed the eventual winner through the same gap and hit the line full of running, getting his nose down on the wire to steal second position. METRO WARRIOR was on the class drop today and had rolled forward as he usually does to be up on the pace. He never gave in under the big weight, seeing off plenty of his rivals despite looking as though he'd been headed in late in the race. He stuck on gamely to hold on for third with only half a length separating second through fifth.
Race 3 – Peach Blossom Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.16 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
ILLUMINOUS (AUS 4yo g Rock Sturdy – Dubai Diamond) made an impressive start to his career in Hong Kong, running over the top to score under Karis Teetan. The four-year-old settled at the rear of the field early on after being a little slow into stride, with Teetan keeping the gelding along the inside rail throughout. He needed plenty of luck turning for home with the position he as in, but things looked to be panning out well approaching the furlong as he went for a gap between runners. His final 100m was the most impressive, going from being a half-length behind, to taking the lead and inching away from his rivals in fine style, winning by half-a-length in a good debut effort. YOUNG CHAMPION was also on debut in Hong Kong. James McDonald had the gelding racing midfield from the inside draw and pushed his way into the clear at the top of the straight. He strode up to take the lead inside the final furlong and looked the winner 100m from home, before a powerful finishing burst from Illuminous got the better of him late. NOT USUAL STAR has the perfect run in transit sitting one-out-one-back and stuck on well after Young Champion bumped him out of the way at the top of the straight. He finished third in a photo finish and although he is coming up on a year without winning, he may be getting back into form.
Race 4 – Gladiolus Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.89 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Apprentice Angus Chung rated VANTASTIC CHOICE (AUS 5yo g Choisir – Fantastic Flo Jo) perfectly out in front, bringing up his second win in three starts. It was an even line away and to avoid being caught deep and without cover, Chung pressed on to take up the running approaching the first turn. Once in front, the apprentice put on the brakes, slowing the field down through the middle stages before kicking strongly at the top of the straight. He broke away from his rivals early in the stretch and was some three lengths in front with 100m to run. He was getting tired late, but he'd built a big enough margin, winning by three-quarters of-a-length on the line. FOOLISH HEART was left racing wide and without cover throughout the event as Derek Leung couldn't slot into the running line from an awkward alley. Despite the tough run in transit, he continued to find under the urgings of Leung, taking plenty of ground off the tiring leader late in the race, but he ran out of time to reel him in. SKY HEART had absolutely no luck in running under Hugh Bowman, sitting four-wide and facing the breeze throughout the race. He moved into the race strongly around the turn though and kept finding under the urgings of the Australian hoop, finishing third in a photo finish.
Race 5 – Daffodil Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:01.98 Standard Time: 2:01.95 Course/Class record: 2:00.37 Champion Supreme
Andrea Atzeni and Pierre Ng have struck up a successful partnership since the former arrived in Hong Kong, with the pair teaming up once again with KA YING GENERATION (IRE 4yo g Churchill – War Goddess). After being slow into stride, Atzeni was able to pick the gelding up and roll forward from the draw, settling in fourth position with a genuine pace being set up front. He got into the running line around the first turn but was left facing the breeze as the field strung out down the back straight. The four-year-old was 6-3/4 lengths off at the 1200m point, and that margin was still 6 lengths as they turned off the back straight. Around the turn, Atzeni swung wide to keep his momentum going as he asked his mount for an effort 500m from home, building into the race nicely at the top of the straight. He took the lead with around 250m to run and held off the late challenge of the favourite, holding on to win by a neck in a good staying performance. SIMPLE HEDGE jumped favourite for the race and looked to be travelling in a handy position relative to the speed. He was about midfield turning off the back and just lost touch on the rest of his rivals passing the 600m. To the gelding's credit, he responded well to the urgings of Purton to peg back the margin in the straight, challenging for the win late but unable to stick his nose in front. INTREPID WINNER bounced back to some form after a somewhat disappointing effort at Happy Valley last time out. He's a genuine stayer and back to 2200m at the Valley can see him return to winning ways.
Race 6 – Cineraria Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.82 Standard Time: 56.25 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Angus Chung made it a winning double on the day as he guided home BABY CRYSTAL (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Makkura) for his second career victory. After getting away well from out wide, Chung raced up on the speed, taking a trail just in behind the leaders. The apprentice moved away from the grandstand rail and toward the middle of the track to make his move. He took control with 250m to run and began to drift across to the outside under pressure. Chung was able to straighten him up though and despite being there to be beaten, he was able to keep his rivals behind him, winning by a half-length. STELLAR EXPRESS settled about midfield under James McDonald as they worked into the race down the grandstand rail. He quickened nicely passing the 400m as he worked through a gap to challenge for the lead. The win was there for the taking if he was good enough, but Baby Crystal was just too strong on the day. RUBYLOT stormed home from a long way back to finish in third position after a nice win at this track and trip last start.
Race 7 – The Hong Kong Classic Mile, HK $13,000,000
4 Year Olds – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.44 Standard Time: N/A Course/Class record: N/A
He was all the rage heading into the first leg of the 4YO Series, and HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Paris Texas) did as expected in the Classic Mile. After getting away on terms from barrier 6, Hugh Bowman was able to slot into a lovely position on the back of the leader. He was racing a touch keenly through the early stages with the pace rather sedate, but he settled better around the home turn and was there to strike when the pace went on. Bowman pushed his way into the clear at the top of the straight and although it took the gelding a little while to get into his work, he hit top gear at the furlong pole. He strode to the front and pulled away for an easy victory locking up the Classic Mile by 1-3/4 lengths. HELENE FEELING pressed on to sit outside the leader in the run and worked into the race strongly around the home turn. He sustained his run well in the straight to take the lead but only momentarily before Helios Express was on the scene. He held on for second position as the $46 chance STAR MAC was flashing late. On the quick back-up after finishing in the placings last week, the gelding ran home strongly along the inside, weaving through traffic to claim third position.
Race 8 – The Centenary Vase (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf – Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:47.40 Standard Time: 1:46.80 Course/Class record: 1:45.25 Southern Legend
It'd been nearly a year between drinks, but today was the day for NIMBLE NIMBUS (NZ 6yo g Sacred Falls – Marahau), securing his first victory at Group level. The gelding got away on terms and was able to slot into the running line relatively easily, settling in the second half of the field. Turning off the back, Andrea Atzeni moved into the three-wide line and began to roll into the race nicely, peeling into the clear at the top of the stretch. He let down well in the middle of the track, hitting the front with 100m to run and surviving a late challenge to win narrowly on the line. FIVE G PATCH raced in the second half of the field under Matthew Chadwick and looked as though he needed plenty of luck in the run. Chadwick was hemmed up along the inside but was able to get away from the inside early in the straight. He continued to find under the urgings of Chadwick, shooting through a gap inside the final 100m to make a late charge at Nimble Nimbus, but he couldn't stick his nose in front on the line. STRAIGHT ARRON was chopped off badly at the start and settled a long way back in the run. Things didn't get any better for Hugh Bowman on the gelding, with Bowman unable to obtain clear running early in the straight as he tried to get away from the inside. He was forced to go back and around Nimble Nimbus in the straight and was taking ground late off the eventual winner. He ran into third position, but what could have been with a touch more luck.
Race 9 – Gladiolus Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.89 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Harry Bentley and Ricky Yiu teamed up to win the penultimate event with SUNLIGHT POWER (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Emirates Comfort). After a bit of a slow getaway, Bentley was able to land midfield and one off the fence in a good piece of riding. Just cruising through the middle stages, Bentley was looking for a way clear as they turned for home, but the gelding was hanging in when the Englishman asked for an effort. Whether it was by design or not, being along the inside worked out well as he only went around a couple runners inside the final 200m. He shot through a gap to take the lead with 100m to run and proved far too good, sprinting away to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a fine display. ARIEL went straight to the front from the inside draw and set a genuine tempo throughout. He took plenty of catching from the front as he put in a good kick at the top of the straight. He was no match for the winner who blew right by him inside the final 100m, but he put in a strong effort to finish a clear second. TOP SCORER jumped the equal favourite and was
snagged back to the tail of the field from the wide draw. He was 6-1/2 lengths off the leader turning for home but made a strong run right down the outside for Zac Purton.
Race 10 – Azalea Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.03 Standard Time: 1:08.30 Course/Class record: 1:07.27 Winner Supreme
BUNDLE OF CHARM (AUS 5yo g All Too Hard – Dubleanny) caused a blowout in the final event, storming over the top to get the job done. Alex Badel drifted back on the gelding after jumping from a wide draw, racing three-wide with cover near the tail of the field. Badel began to make a move around the field on the turn, building up the revs and making a strong run down the centre of the track. He just kept coming under the Frenchman's riding, storming home late to stick his nose in front late in the race and edge out the favourite to score a narrow victory. GUMMY GUMMY jumped the $2.60 favourite and used the inside draw to his advantage, settling midfield in the run. He was able to work along the inside rail to get onto the back of the leader turning for home, peeling off his back early in the straight to make his run. He took control with 200m to run and ran away from the rest of the field, except for Bundle Of Charm who was coming with a head full of steam. Gummy Gummy was unable to hold him off out wide. WONDER KIT stuck on well for third after racing just off the speed. He was 2-1/4 lengths off the winner across the line but showed plenty of grit.
