3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive preview of Sha Tin races.
Rail - C+3 Course
All Weather Track (5,6,7,10)
Race 1
#5 BROTHER PEARL looks well placed to break through for his first career victory at what will be his fourteenth career start. Trained by Dennis Yip, Brother Pearl hasn't been too far away at his last couple of starts and caught the eye with the way that he closed off at Sha Tin last time out. The rise in distance to 1800m looks to be a key advantage for him, he's drawn a reasonable gate and is at a rating where he's ready to win.
#6 DIAMOND WINNER is another horse knocking on the door for a win. He's a fit horse who's coming back in distance from 2200m and in a grade where these horses can mix their form, he's been very honest. He's drawn well in barrier four, Antoine Hamelin knows him well now, and is trained by one of the best in the business in John Size. He's a winner in waiting.
#3 COPARTNER ERA is getting older but he has won at a higher level than this in the past and he has only recently dropped into class five. He didn't have much luck last time out with the way the race unfolded and should have finished closer, while he was well in the market two starts ago. Although his wins have been over shorter distances than this, he's now at the stage of his career where 1800m should suit him. With a bit of luck this time around, he's sure to be in the finish.
#1 STARSHIP EIGHTY is one of only two horses in the race with recent winning form and is trained by Hong Kong's leading trainer, Pierre Ng. He's a versatile horse, having won on both turf and dirt, and he didn't have a heap of luck last time but still got to the line well. From the outside draw, he's likely to get back and will need the tempo on, but he's got the formlines to make his presence felt here.
#7 GREEN LASER is the only other runner with recent winning form, having saluted at Happy Valley two starts ago. He maps to get an economical run just off the speed under Keith Yeung, he's a fit horse and if he reproduces his performance from a couple of runs ago, then he'll be competitive.
Selections: 5,6,3,1,7
R2 - 6,5,4,9,1
R3 - 4,8,7,5,11
R4 - 11,1,8,10,7
R5 - 7,10,12,3,1
R6 - 6,7,2,11,9
R7 - 5,4,3,12,7
Race 8
#9 SUPERB BOY is enjoying a really good season and it took a classy galloper in Mugen to defeat him last time out. He's got a terrific record over this distance, he's drawn to get the ideal run off the pace on a day where it will be an advantage to be close to the speed, and he's trained by Francis Lui, who is flying at the moment. After a couple of seconds at his last two starts, this is his turn to score.
#11 GLOBAL EXCHANGE has taken a big step forward this season, but he's also got his quirks as well; a case in point being last time out where he refused to leave the gates and took no part in the race. Since then, he's been forced to go back to the barrier trials and looked good in a trial down the Sha Tin straight when he finished second to group one winner California Spangle. David Hayes has elected to put the blinkers on him for the first time and also has engaged the services of Zac Purton, who is known for his skills with these barrier rogues. He's likely to get back in the run against the likely track pattern but he's certainly got the necessary talent to win this.
#5 GUMMY GUMMY may have been better known for his exploits on the dirt but his first up run on the turf behind the highly promising Galaxy Patch showed that he's also capable on the turf. He was given every chance last time out but was unlucky to be grabbed in the final bounds by Bundle Of Charm. After two runs over 1200m, he looks ready for the step up to 1400m and at his third run for the campaign, he should now be at peak fitness. Jerry Chau has picked up the ride and will have to combat the slightly awkward barrier draw of gate eight.
#3 ATULLIBIGEAL doesn't win out of turn and his racing pattern means that he relies on races to be run to suit his get back, run on style. In saying that, he's been very honest and he got home really well in the race that was won by Mugen last time out. Brenton Avdulla jumps aboard, who's been finding a bit of form recently, and this horse should be around the mark and is capable of winning if they run along in front.
#2 DROMBEG BANNER also comes out of the Mugen race. He had to do quite a bit of work from an awkward draw to get to the lead and understandably faded away over the concluding stages. This time though, he won't have to work nearly as hard to find the front from barrier one and with the rail out as far as it can go, you would expect he'll be favoured by the track pattern and should be in front for a long way.
Selections: 9,11,5,3,2
R9 - 7,4,1,2,11
Race 10
#3 ADEFILL has been a model of consistency and got home really well to finish second behind So We Joy last time out, which is the main form reference for this event. He loves this course and distance on this surface and while barrier nine looks tricky on face value, there appears to be genuine pace in this race, which will allow him to enjoy clear galloping room in transit and finish strongly from the second half of the field. Trainer Ricky Yiu is enjoying a terrific season and in a competitive race, this horse should be at a reasonable price.
#2 YELLOWFIN is the likely front runner in this race and will be hard to run down if he doesn't cop too much pressure in the run. He's also a super consistent horse and from barrier four under Lyle Hewitson, he won't have to do much work from the tricky 1650m start to get across and put himself up on the pace. Hewitson knows the horse well, having guided him to all three of his wins, while trainer Francis Lui is having another superb season. He'll be in this for a long way.
#12 FRANTANCK has been knocking on the door for a win for sometime and was the beaten favourite in the So We Joy race last time. Champion jockey Zac Purton jumps onboard for the first time at a light weight by his standards, while leading trainer Pierre Ng has made a slight gear change with the hood going on as well. He was probably too close to a strong pace last time but with Purton riding from a good draw, he may have him a pair further back this time around, which will enable him to be stronger at the finish.
#4 SO WE JOY beat most of these last time over the same track and trip, which he's won over four times overall in his career. The speed map also suggests that, just like last time, it's likely to be a genuinely run race that will suit one of the swoopers. On the flip side, he's never won twice in a row in his life and has eight pounds more to lump on this occasion. Nevertheless, I expect him to be competitive and one to consider for the exotics but without winning this.
#5 PERFECT TEAM also comes out of the So We Joy race and was also finishing off the race well despite not enjoying a great deal of clear galloping room. Like Adefill, he should get the race run in his favour and with a wide draw, hopefully he'll be away from the inside part of the track and not encountering any traffic issues. His one and only win was over this course and distance and with Ellis Wong retaining the ride, he gets in again with a lightweight.
Selections: 3,2,12,4,5
