3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Hau Wong Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.10 Standard Time: 1:48.40 Course/Class record: 1:47.37 Incredible
Brenton Avdulla and Tony Cruz began their big day with a win in the opener, teaming up with SMART BEAUTY (IRE 5yo g Dark Angel – Layla Jamil). The grey galloper jumped on terms and settled in an off-pace position for Avdulla, who was able to get across from barrier 8 and settle on the rail. The five-year-old travelled well throughout the race and was travelling strongly approaching the home turn where Avdulla got away from the inside. The Australian hoop was able to slide across heels and get into clear running at the top of the straight looming into the race ominously and taking the lead at the 200m point with Avdulla still holding him together. When Avdulla let him rip, he shot away from his rivals and put the race to bed in a matter of strides, scoring by 2-1/4 lengths on the line. COLOURFUL BARON jumped well for Zac Purton and worked across to settle in second position. He travelled into the straight nicely and looked to have plenty to offer under Purton, but he was given windburn by Smart Beauty who blew by him at the 200m point. Colourful Baron stuck on well in the closing stages to run second, but he was no match for the winner. M M NEBULA led the field throughout and stuck on gamely to finish in third.
Race 2 – Junction Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.83 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
BOWSER (AUS 3yo g All Too Hard – Be Happy) picked up his maiden win by the barest of margins down the Sha Tin Straight. He was away well for Antoine Hamelin and settling about midfield in the run with some cover. The frenchman eased him into the clear at the 350m point and the three-year-old began to work into the race nicely. He responded well to the urgings of Hamelin in the straight but was still doing plenty wrong as he wobbled about under pressure. He stuck his nose in front inside the final 50m and clung on to victory in a very tight three-way photo finish. LUCKY SYMPHONY was flashing late after settling well back in the run. Andrea Atzeni got onto the back of Bowser as he began to make his run, following the gelding through and setting out after him in the concluding stages. He tried hard to reel him in, only going down by a nose in a photo finish. On the opposite side of the course, PROSECCO was making an eye-catching run right down the grandstand rail. After being held up for much of the straight, Karis Teetan only saw clear air for the final 100m with the gelding rocketing home. He hit the line locked together with Bowser and Lucky Symphony, ending up just a short head away from victory.
Race 3 – Nam Kok Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.04 Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
After over a year between drinks, SOLID IMPACT (NZ 6yo g Sweynesse – Ultra Explosive) returned to the winners list. After getting away on terms, Alexis Badel founds himself in a midfield position as they settled down. He raced along the inside rail through the middle stages and initially rode for luck at the top of the straight as he remained along the inside rail. He was held up along the inside, with Badel getting off the rail at the 200m point and finally seeing clear air with around 150m to go. The six-year-old let rip once he got into the clear, charging down the odds-on favourite in the final stride to score by a short head. EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS jumped the odds-on favourite and was urged along by Purton to get across from the wide alley, settling on the outside of the leader. He travelled strongly in the run and did hang out on the turn slightly, but once he was balanced in the straight Purton got to work. The pair took the lead with 200m to run and was still a length in front with 50m to run. He was curling up late in the race and couldn't hold off Solid Impact who was finishing full of running. NORTHERN BEACHES turned in an improved effort, running on strongly from his midfield position and only finishing a neck off the winner.
Race 4 – Lung Kong Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.30 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was the favourite's way home in the fourth with AEROINVINCIBLE (NZ 3yo g Per Incanto – Miss Bondi) notching up his maiden victory. Andrea Atzeni got the gelding out of the barriers well, with the pair settling on the back of the leader once they sorted their order out. The three-year-old enjoyed a lovely run in transit but showed his inexperience when coming off the bit a long way from home and wobbling about under pressure when Atzeni asked him to quicken. Once in the straight, the son of Per Incanto got into his work, levelling up to the leaders midway down the straight before taking control at the 150m point. He pulled away from his rivals for an impressive 1-1/2 length victory at just his second start. DREAM PURSUER raced midfield and between runners for Matthew Chadwick. The gelding was held up turning into the straight with Chadwick looking for a way clear, getting forced back to the rail at the top of the straight. It was a good piece of riding in the end, with the local hoop going underneath most of his rivals before popping off the rail and toward the middle of the track with 150m left to run. He chased hard to the line, but he was no match for the winner. ALL RICHES kept on well after leading the field throughout and will command respect wherever he lines up next time.
Race 5 – The Lok Sin Tong Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.98 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
David Hall made it a winning double on the day as STAR CLUB (AUS 4yo g Star Turn – Madame Bookworm) notched up his second win of the season in fine style. The four-year-old flopped out the back early from barrier four and settled near the tail of the field for Zac Purton as the rain began to fall at Sha Tin. Purton remained to the inside as they turned for home, with the champion hoop looking to weave his way through the traffic early in the straight. Things worked out perfectly for Star Club as he was able to move into clear running midway down the straight and set out after the leaders which were well within striking distance. The gelding moved through his gears nicely to hit the front inside the final 150m and pull away for a very easy win, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths. LIFELINE EXPRESS was caught wide and without cover early in the race as he jumped from a wide barrier, before eventually slotting into the running line in a midfield position. Turning for home, Avdulla went back to the inside as his competitors moved away from the fence. The Australian was able to weave his way around and take the lead momentarily with about 150m to go. He didn't have the lead long though as Star Club blew right past him, and while he was no match for the winner, he stuck on well for second. PHOENIX LIGHT was a very good run, weaving his way through traffic from the back of the field and should have finished much closer than he did on the line.
Race 6 – Lung Kong Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.27 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
PATCH OF THETA (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Fortune Of War) finally delivered his maiden victory after being right in the finish since his debut back in December. He was a little bit slow out of the barriers, but he lobbed in a great spot under Hugh Bowman as they settled down just off the speed. Bowman was able to stay away from the inside rail to give his galloper plenty of room to move with the race being run at a solid clip. He was still 3 lengths off the leader as they swung into the straight with Bowman hard at work asking the gelding to pick up. He levelled up to the leaders with 150m to run as he hit top gear, before taking the lead with 100m to run and pulling away under hands and heels to win comfortably by 1-1/2 lengths. VOYAGE SAMURAI backed up his debut victory with another strong performance under Derek Leung. After sitting up on the pace throughout, the gelding took a narrow lead with 200m to run as Patch Of Theta was baring down on them. He couldn't go with the winner in the closing stages, but he stuck on well himself to end up a clear second. GOLDEN RISE and Voyage Samurai battled it out early in the straight when the race was there to be won. He just tired late in the race, but he had a big gap behind him.
Race 7 – The Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, HK $13,000,000
Group One – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.18 Standard Time: 1:21.10 Course/Class record: 1:07.50 Sacred Kingdom
It was a big return to form for CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE 6yo g Starspangledbanner – Pearlita's Passion) as he led all the way to secure his second Group One victory. After jumping well, Brenton Avdulla rolled to the front aboard the six-year-old, leading the field on settling down with little pressure being applied. After getting a breather through the middle stages, Avdulla ramped up the pace from the 600m point and kicked away from his rivals at the top of the straight with a blistering 11.05 second sectional from the 400 to the 200m point. He fought off his closest rival to be over a length in front with 100m to run with a wall chasing him late, but they couldn't catch California Spangle who made every post a winner. GALAXY PATCH was touted as a possible Group One horse in the future, and he definitely showed what he's capable of in his first try at the elite level. He ended up well back in the run and was left flat footed when the pace went on turning for home. They got away from him early in the straight, but he showed plenty of grit and strength to storm down the outside late in the race and claim second place in a photo finish. RED LION snuck up the inside close to home after being on the back of the leader in running. He narrowly missed out on second by the barest of margins.
Race 8 – Nga Tsin Wai Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.70 Standard Time: 56.25 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Andrea Atzeni notched up his second winner of the day as he guided home BABY CRYSTAL (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Makkura) down the Sha Tin Straight. The gelding was away well from the outside barrier and showed good speed to be right on the pace. He was sitting about a a length off the leader throughout but was stalking ominously as they passed the 400m point, levelling up to the leader with around 350m to run. He strolled to the lead under his own steam with Atzeni waiting until the 250m point before asking for an effort. There were a couple rivals there to beat him if he was good enough, but Baby Crystal was just too strong in the run to the line, scoring by a neck. JAMES TAK had stalked Baby Crystal in the run as he settled about midfield in running, coming off his back to challenge at the 400m point. Jerry Chau threw everything he had at the gelding, and the race was there ot be won if he was good enough, but he couldn't peg back the margin and settled for second. There was a good gap back to STELLAR EXPRESS in third spot who stuck on well for Purton down the middle of the track.
Race 9 – South Wall Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:48.94 Standard Time: 1:47.40 Course/Class record: 1:45.88 Solar Hei Hei
HAPPY TOGETHER (IRE 5yo g Dragon Pulse – Ruby Girl) continued his impressive campaign, bringing up his fifth win of the term and a double on the day for Alex Badel. He was urged along out of the barriers by Badel to make sure the five-year-old settled in a handy position just off the speed. The pace was solid through the early stages before slowing through the middle part of the race with the leader looking to stack them up and kick away, turning for home. The field scattered turning for home with handed Badel a beautiful run in the straight, getting off the inside and into the clear with plenty of time to reel in the leader. He was chipping away with every stride and looked to sprout wings late in the race, closing strongly to stick his nose down right on the line and get the job done in a photo finish. James McDonald gave CHAMPION DRAGON a brilliant ride. The gelding jumped well from his wide draw with McDonald staying out wide and away from his rivals as they worked down the back straight, before eventually sliding across to take up the running at the 1000m point. McDonald then stacked the field up, slowing the tempo through the middle stages before kicking away again at the top of the straight. Champion Dragon wouldn't lay down in the straight, keeping his rivals behind him right until the final stride where he was only narrowly beaten. FIVE G PATCH stormed home from well back in the field and was the eye-catching run of the race.
Race 10 – Tak Ku Lung Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:36.59 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
FRANTANCK (GB 5yo g Frankel – Janey Muddles) shed the maiden tag in Hong Kong, leading all the way under Angus Chung. He was away on terms and was niggled along by Chung to press on from barrier 8, getting across to sit on the pace. He was racing keenly on the outside of the leader as Chung tried to get the gelding to relax turning off the back straight. The tempo was only moderate passing the 600m point with the field packing up heading for home. The five-year-old took the lead at the top of the straight and kicked over a length clear of his rivals with a furlong to run. The field was stretched right across the track, but they couldn't catch Franktanck who was too strong to the line, scoring by three quarters of-a-length. ILLUMINOUS was ridden along shortly after the start to improve his position down the back straight, but ultimately ended up being at the tail of the field. His racing manners weren't too flash throughout the event, with Teetan searching for some clear air approaching the straight. With the field fanning across the track, it left plenty of room for Teetan and Illuminous to make their run. He had plenty of time to catch the leader if he was good enough, but he couldn't reel in Frantanck. Zac Purton went right to the outside fence aboard BEATO in the straight, searching for some firmer footing. After being at the back of the pack in running, the pair closed strongly to finish in third position out wide.
