3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive preview of Sha Tin races.
B+2 Course
AWT (Races 1 & 3)
Race 1
#7 CHARMING STEED has only won once from 36 career starts in Hong Kong but he gets the perfect opportunity to add to that tally in this event. He ran a huge race two starts ago over this course and distance where he took off mid race and it was only late in the piece where he was rundown by Chiron, who he meets again this time. His latest effort was a solid performance at Happy Valley where he kept on well to finish fifth. After drawing wide barriers at those last two outings, he's drawn perfectly in gate four and maps to get the run of the race without doing any work to get there. This could be the perfect return to Hong Kong for Blake Shinn, who's flying in for the meeting to ride Elliptical in the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
#9 CHIRON finished strongly to score two starts ago over this course and distance and only has a slight rise in the weights compared to that occasion, with just three pounds extra to carry. His subsequent effort at Happy Valley was an honest one for fourth. 1650m is clearly his best trip and after drawing wide last time, he's drawn the inside this time around. He's an in form horse from the David Hayes stable and on weights and measures, he's a legitimate contender once again.
#1 ASIAN ONE is a recent class dropper who ran on well for third in the race won by Chiron last time. Those form lines bring him right into contention for this assignment, he's won at a higher level than this in the past and has drawn well in barrier five. Andrea Atzeni retains the ride from last time and is doing a terrific job in his first full season of riding in Hong Kong. What's more, for a horse in this grade, he does have a good record over this course and distance. There should be genuine pace in this event and if that scenario does eventuate, then look for him to be making his presence felt at the business end.
#5 SUN OF MAKFI is a two time winner over 1650m, and while those wins were at Happy Valley, he did run well over the distance on this surface earlier this season. He's had a break since then and performed well in a recent trial at Conghua. Most importantly, David Hall has engaged Hugh Bowman for the ride and the duo have a strong record together, indicating that there is a degree of expectation from the stable here.
#10 MILLENNIUM FALCON hasn't won for over two years but he's been in consistent form and only has a light weight to carry. The market has gravitated towards him at his recent outings and given that his wins have been over 1400m, the rise in distance from 1200m will be in his favour. He's one to consider for the exotics and multiples.
Selections - 7,9,1,5,10
R2 - 3,4,2,9,14
Race 3
#9 ADEFILL has been in outstanding form recently, having won two of his last three starts, and he adores racing on the dirt. He finished over the top of his rivals to prevail last time out and while he does come up against a stronger field this time around, he should get the race run to suit once more and I can see him finishing powerfully inside the last 200m once again, Furthermore, he still looks like he's on the rise and with a light weight on his back, this is the perfect opportunity for him to strike in this grade before weight and the ratings eventually catch up with him.
#6 ALACRITY had every chance to beat All For St Paul's two starts ago on face value, but there are a few factors in his favour this time around. Firstly, on that occasion, All For St Paul's got an uncontested lead, the pace was moderate and Alacrity over raced as a consequence. However, the addition to the field of Telecom Fighters means that there's a rival pace influence here and a faster tempo will suit Alacrity. Secondly, he meets All For St Paul's five pounds better off at the weights, while thirdly, he has six time champion jockey Zac Purton in the saddle. Furthermore, he was getting home well last time out behind Atullibigeal and this looks like the right race for him to possibly return to winning ways in.
#2 ALL FOR ST PAUL'S will find this race more challenging, for the reasons mentioned above, but you can never write him off. He's been a terrific horse for Frankie Lor throughout his career and has a really good record on this surface and over this course and distance. There does look to be more speed in this race compared to last time out, but he's an on-pace horse who makes his own luck on a surface that tends to favour the on pacers. He also has only slightly more weight to carry compared to when he last won and he beat a number of his rivals when he scored that time. He'll be in this for a long way.
#3 MR ASCENDANCY is racing in good form at the moment. He ran a good race two starts ago at his dirt debut behind All For St Paul's and Alacrity, before going on to win at Happy Valley last time out. This is technically a step down in class, he's proven that he handles this surface and from barrier one, he maps to get a charmed run behind the speed. He's a legitimate contender here.
#7 GALAXY WITNESS began his Hong Kong career in a blaze of glory and did run third in the Hong Kong Classic Cup last year. He hasn't won for a long time and perhaps hasn't reached the heights that might have been expected of him, but he's still capable in a race like this. He's been racing well this season and he did work to the line nicely at Happy Valley last time. He's only got a light weight to carry and while he's just had a couple of starts on the dirt, he has been placed on it before, indicating that he can be competitive here.
Selections - 9,6,2,3,7
R4 - 11,6,9,1,12
R5 - 6,5,1,8,10
R6 - 6,7,5,2,3
Race 7
"Classic Cup"
1800m - Set Weights
(2nd Leg - 4yo Series)
#1 HELIOS EXPRESS was a convincing winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first leg of this series, and on ratings is the one to beat again. He's a classy galloper, having won five of his seven starts in Hong Kong, and from barrier two, he'll get a charmed run in transit under outstanding jockey, Hugh Bowman. Bowman has expressed his concerns about this horse not settling in the past and over 1800m, if he does overdo things, then he could prove to be vulnerable late. However, if he can relax in the run and produce his best, he'll be hard to beat and will join Rapper Dragon and Golden Sixty in completing the Classic Mile-Classic Cup double.
#2 HELENE FEELING ran second to Helios Express in the Classic Mile but there are a few reasons why he could turn the tables on him this time. Blinkers going on for the first time could bring out further improvement, he's likely to be closer to the speed while Helios Express while concede some sort of a start to him, and as a past winner over 1800m, there are no stamina queries with him at this distance, which remains a query for his main rival. On ratings, form and for the reasons mentioned above, he's the main danger to Helios Express.
#11 KA YING GENERATION looks an improving type of horse who impressed me with his win last time out over 2000m, where he had to work in the early part of the race, but was still too good for his rivals late. He's drawn well in barrier four, he shouldn't be too far off the pace and if it is a genuinely run 1800m, that will bring him into contention. He's also from the leading stable at the moment, as his trainer Pierre Ng has had a wonderful season and his horses have been racing in great fashion throughout the campaign.
#14 STAR MAC is a long way behind his rivals on the official ratings but he put in an eye catching run in the Classic Mile, attacking the line strongly and suggesting that he'll be better suited stepping up in trip. He's trialled really well since then, the blinkers have gone on for the first time and he looks like a horse on the up. I expect him to put in a competitive showing.
#4 ENSUED has done a great job since he joined John Size's stable in Hong Kong, winning three of his five starts, while he was only rundown in the final bounds by Natural Storm over 2000m last time out. He's a proven stayer, he's a fit horse and he's in form. It's also significant that Ryan Moore has been flown out to ride this horse, as he and Size have a great record together. My two queries with him though are where he'll get to in the run from an awkward draw and does he have the brilliance to win a race of this quality? We'll learn more about him on Sunday afternoon.
Selections - 1,2,11,14,4
R8 - 4,5,3,9,8
R9 - 2,6,8,4,12
R10 - 11,1,6,12,4
