3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Citi Global Wealth Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:02.79 Standard Time: 2:02.35 Course/Class record: 2.0067 Full Power
Zac Purton got his afternoon off to a winning start, scoring aboard KIMBERLEY (BRZ 4yo g Hat Trick – Notting Tomorrow) for the Jamie Richards stable. Jumping from the inside alley, the gelding got away on terms and worked into a good position about midfield. The pace was good through the middle stages with no change to the order, with the field packing up approaching the 800m point. The pace ramped up again from the 600m point with the field fanning wide on the turn, with Purton sticking along the inside rail at the top of the straight searching for an inside run. The gaps appeared and the gelding shot through to set out after the leading, levelling up with 100m left to run. It was a short battle to the line, but eventually Kimberley pulled away, scoring by a half-length on the line. DARCI JOY had raced to the outside of the race favourite throughout the event after getting across from barrier 7 early in the race. As the field began to pack up, James McDonald moved into the three-wide line to continue his run, before coming off heels and working into the race four wide at the top of the straight. The gelding let down well to hit the front with a furlong to run and fought gamely when Kimberley strode up on his inside. He was unable to hold off the winner though, maybe tiring close to the line to finish in second. STARSHIP EIGHTY came with a strong run down the outside under Derek Leung to finish in third position. He may not have been suited by the change in tempo from the 800m, but he definitely caught the eye over the concluding stages.
Race 2 – Citi Private Bank Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:35.21 Standard Time: 1:34.50 Course/Class record: 1:32.96 Not Usual Talent
Last year's 4YO Classic Cup winner SUPER SUNNY SING (AUS 5yo g Nicconi – Red Centre) returned to the winners list after an unusually bad run of form. The gelding was awkwardly away for Andrea Atzeni and settled at the tail of the small field. The pace was only steady during the race and once the field had sorted their order out, there were no moves through the first 1000m of the race. The pace went on from the 600m point, with Super Sunny Sing still at the tail of the field around the turn, with Atzeni looking to weave through traffic. The gap finally appeared with 150m to run and the son of Nicconi burst through, going up to take the lead inside the final 50m and inch away to win by a half-length on the line. SWEET ENCOUNTER had sat outside the leader throughout the event which was dictated by the runners on speed. He quickened well when asked turning for home under Karis Teetan and took the lead shortly after straightening. He was still in front with 50m to run, but was worn down late by his rivals, clinging on to second in a close photo finish. Race leader ATULLIBIGEAL was strong to the line after being headed early in the straight by Sweet Encounter, rallying back to only miss third by a bob of the heads. It was a very close finish with only 1-1/4 lengths separating the entire 6 horse field at the finish.
Race 3 – Citigold Private Client Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:36.04 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
It didn't take long for James McDonald to strike, steering home LITTLE FAIRY (AUS 4yo g Scissor Kick – Coffee Hit) for the Ricky Yiu barn. After getting away well from an outside barrier, McDonald snagged the gelding back in the run, slotting into the running line in a midfield position. There was no change to the order through the middle stages, with McDonald only beginning to get a move on coming up to the turn, peeling three wide and striding into the race ominously. He stuck on gamely when McDonald asked for an effort, eventually hitting the front with 100m to run, and keeping his run going close to the line. He would get away from his rivals close to the line, shedding the maiden tag by a half-length. STAR OF GLORY pushed forward from the wide draw to avoid being caught wide and without cover, sitting on the outside of the leader on settling down. Andrea Atzeni had the gelding under pressure turning for home, but he continued to find under the urgings to move up and hit the front 300m from home. He pulled away from many of his rivals, though he couldn't fend off Little Fairy who came at him in the closing stages. It was a run with plenty of merit despite being beaten late, finishing a clear second with a length back to third. BROTHER PEARL was the next horse across the line having made a strong run from the back of the field. He was the widest runner in the straight for Luke Ferraris and looked as though he'd fight out the finish before peaking on his run inside the final 100m.
Race 4 – Citigold Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.91 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Andrea Atzeni made it an early double on the card as CHAMPION INSTINCT (NZ 4yo g Holler – Acantha) cruised home for a comfortable victory. The gelding was one of the first into stride and Atzeni pressed forward from the draw, going up to sit outside the leader without doing too much work. He was able to catch his breath through the middle stages before the pace ramped up again at the top of the straight. Whilst still under a hold, the four-year-old strode to the lead, before kicking clear of his rivals when Atzeni pushed the button. He was a length in front with a furlong to run and continued to move away from his opponents in the straight, winning impressively by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. SOLID SHALAA got away well from an outside barrier and was running up front in the opening stages before Karis Teetan took a hold of the gelding. He would eventually settle in the second half of the field, moving into the three-wide line approaching the 600m point. Teetan had a nice cart into the race and moved into the clear at the top of the straight. The horse kept on well out in the middle of the track, making good headway close to the line but the winner was just too good. PACKING PROSPECT had settled on the back of the leader in the run. He may not have had the best of luck in the straight and he was doing a few things wrong, but it's hard to see the tables turning on the 1-3/4 length margin.
Race 5 – Citi Ultima Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.59 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was very impressive debut performance by CALL ME GLORIOUS (AUS 3yo g No Nay Never – Boomex) who burst away to win for Lyle Hewitson and Francis Lui. The three-year-old was away on terms and showed good early pace to get across from barrier 10 and sit on the outside of the leader. The pace was good through the middle stages, and he was already under pressure turning for home, but he ran to the lead shortly after straightening. He'd extended his margin to be two lengths clear at the 200m point and continued to extend his lead getting down to the 100m point. He was in no danger close to the line as Hewitson eased up on him, scoring by two lengths in a very impressive debut performance. Race favourite GENEVA was the one doing all the chasing. He was the slowest out of the barriers and was initially last in the run, but Hugh Bowman was able to improve along the inside rail. He needed plenty of luck swinging for home with Bowman hemmed up along the rail, and it wasn't until the 200m point where Geneva finally saw clear air. By the time he got out the race was over, but he did finish off well for second. SUNNY DA BEST had settled just in front of Geneva in the run with Zac Purton persisting for inside runs right down the straight. He finally got clear late in the race and rattled home between runners to finish in third.
Race 6 – Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.78 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
LOYAL BO BO (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Sacred Vow) showed too much pace for his rivals. He was one of the first into stride from the deep for Derek Leung and eventually worked across to take up the running. The pace slowed a touch as they turned off the back, with Leung not pressured out in front. He gradually ramped up the tempo from the 600m point and left his rivals in his wake at the top of the straight. He never looked like being caught, powering away from his rivals for a very impressive 2-3/4 length all-the-way win and ran slick time in the process. AEROINVINICIBLE positioned just off the speed for Atzeni and travelled comfortably throughout the event. He was held up slightly at the top of the straight as Atzeni tried to go for a rails run, before shifting out into the clear with around 250m to run. The winner was off and gone by that point, but the gelding closed off nicely to finish a clear second. JOY OF SPRING stuck on well to finish in third and was one of the only horses to make substantial ground from the back.
Race 7 – The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, HK $13,000,000
Group One – Turf – Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:00.31 Standard Time: 2:00.50 Course/Class record: 1:59.23 Romantic Warrior
James McDonald showed why he's touted as being one of the best jockeys of all time, giving ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE 6yo g Acclamation – Folk Melody) a beautiful ride to guide him to victory. After getting away well from a wide draw, McDonald summed up the situation for a few strides passing the winning post before pressing forward about the Cox Plate winner. He moved up to be fourth in running, pushing his main danger to the inside, before rolling further forward to be in a clear third down the back straight. The pace was good through the middle stages as some moves came approaching the 1000m mark. McDonald moved off the rail to keep Purton and Voyage Bubble three-wide turning off the back. Around the turn, McDonald went back to the inside and punched up underneath a tiring rival, being placed under heavy pressure at the top of the straight. He was headed by his main rivals turning for home, before levelling up and taking the lead with a furlong to run. It was a two-horse war over the final 200m, with Romantic Warrior not giving in and keeping his rival behind him, winning by a neck on the line in a terrific race. VOYAGE BUBBLE was brilliant at just his second try over 2000m. He was beaten by a champion racehorse and a brilliant ride. He was in front at the top of the straight as Zac Purton elected to go wide around the home turn and wouldn't go down without a fight as he and Romantic Warrior squared off close to home. The first two across the line put a massive gap back to the rest of the field, with Dubai now on the agenda for Voyage Bubble. NIMBLE NIMBUS continued his rise through the ranks, finishing third albeit 3-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – Citi Insurance Services Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.71 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
It was a superb finish to race 8 with the first 9 across the line all separated by just 1-3/4 lengths, and it was UNIVERSAL HORIZON (AUS 5yo g Shalaa – Aurora's Star) who got the nose down first. The gelding was away well from a favourable alley and Jerry Chau punche him up along the fence to be on the back of the leader. The field was stretched out turning off the back with the pace quite good through the middle stages. Universal Horizon travelled strongly into the race, with Chau getting off the rail and into the clear early in the stretch. He began to rally between runners with a line of 9 runners all looking to have a chance at winning with 150m to run. The gelding stuck his nose in front with 50m to run and got his head down right on the wire to secure victory by a bob of the head, winning by a short head on the wire. KARMA was one of the first into stride but was snagged back by McDonald shortly after the jump, sitting about midfield in the run. He raced three-wide and without cover throughout the event and was hanging out around the turn. McDonald ended up near the middle of the course as they made their run and was one of the strongest to the line, just missing out on victory by a bob of the head. SILVER UP was on the inside of Karma in the run and the pair made their runs together down to the wire. He looked to have Karma's measure with 50m to run but finished third in the end with a blanket finish.
Race 9 – Citi Mortgage Services Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.57 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Zac Purton brought up a winning double on the day as he guided home the $1.60 favourite GORGEOUS WIN (AUS 3yo g Press Statement – Hollywell) to a comfortable victory. The three-year-old jumped well and put himself in a handy position from the draw, getting into the one-out-one-back as they turned off the back. Purton peeled out three-wide around the turn and was trucking into the race under a strong hold unlike his rivals. He sprinted clear when Purton pressed the button, putting up over a length on his rivals. He never really looked in danger down the straight despite a couple of rivals closing late, as he scored by three-quarters of-a-length. BEAUTY MISSILE raced in the three-wide trail on settling down, sitting a little worse than midfield in the run. As the field fanned out passing the 600m point, Antoine Hamelin got a lovely run into the race and was one of the widest runners on straightening. He made a sustained run from the back and was taking ground off the winner late in the race, but he just bumped into a smart one on the way up. RUBYLOT was also making good ground in the closing stages. He didn't have the clearest of passages in the straight under Karis Teetan, but once clear he hit the line full of running for third.
Race 10 – Citi Investment Services Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.41 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
YOUNG CHAMPION (IRE 4yo g Zoustar – Sharliyna) rounded out a big day for James McDonald, bringing up a treble on the day including the Group One feature. After getting away well, McDonald pressed forward to land in the box seat one-out-one-back. The pace was only fair through the middle stages, with the gelding travelling comfortably as the kiwi hoop pulled him into the clear. He rolled to the front as McDonald pressed the button on him, but he had company as they fought it out. He was in for the challenge though, finding an extra gear when the horse loomed up on his outside, putting him away with 100m to run and going on to win by a length on the line to bring up his maiden victory. GREEN N WHITE settled midfield for Zac Purton after being away well from barrier three. Purton couldn't wait any longer as he came wide heading into the straight and it looked as though the gelding would just run right by his rivals. He loomed up to challenge the leader with 200m to run, but Young Champion found an extra gear that Green N White failed to find. He looked to be tiring close to home, holding on to finish second. AMAZING VICTORY tracked green N White into the race and although he lacked the sprint to go with him early, he showed plenty of strength to narrow that margin close to the line, finishing third.
