3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Furore Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.76 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
DIVANO (AUS 3yo g Brave Smash – Been Scene) was very impressive in the opener on Derby Day. The debutant jumped a $21 with Lyle Hewitson in the saddle and showed plenty of pace to get across from the wide barrier and lead the field early on. Once up front, Hewitson was able to dictate proceedings around the home turn with little pressure being applied through the middle stages. Francis Lui's charge still led at the top of the straight, kicking away when Hewitson pressed the button. He quickly put up a couple of lengths on his rivals, but they were chasing hard inside the final furlong. He was still well clear inside the final 100m and went to the line an easy winner in the end, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. HAPPY FOR ALL was a little slow into stride and ended up toward the back of the field on settling down. James McDonald was racing between runners in the back half of the field and moved into the three-wide line approaching the halfway point of the race. Turning into the straight, McDonald got onto the back of the $1.50 favourite and began to set out after the leader who had gotten away from the rest of the pack. He was chasing hard out wide, showing good strength close to the line to keep coming inside the final 100m and run into second position. GENEVA went around the $1.50 favourite and didn't look to have many excuses in the run. He was in a handy position three-wide with cover through the middle stages and Hugh Bowman popped him out at the top of the straight appearing to have plenty of horse underneath him. He only plugged away to the line with Happy For All going past him late, finishing 1-3/4 lengths off the winner in third.
Race 2 – Fay Fay Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.92 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Francis Lui and Lyle Hewitson quickly made it a winning double on the day as SECOND TO NONE (NZ 4yo g Astern – Forbetterforworse) reeled in the leader to score by a neck. The gelding got away on terms from an inside draw and let some of his competitors go early in the race as Hewitson settled on the back of the pace. He was getting a beautiful run in transit and the four-year-old travelled well around the turn, with the South African hoop just needed a touch of luck at the top of the straight. The leader skipped away shortly after
straightening, which allowed Second To None to work through his gears and push into the clear with a furlong to run. He was coming after the leader strongly with 100m to run and showed superior strength to stick his nose in front with 50m remaining and inch away to score by a neck. AFFIRM burst out of the barriers and was sent forward by Karis Teetan to take up the running. When he got to the front, Teetan was able to slow the pace of the race and catch his breath through the middle stages, with no pressure being applied to the leader. Turning for home, the Mauritian asked his mount for an effort and got away from his main dangers early in the straight. It didn't last long through as Second To None got into the clear and loomed up with 100m to run. He couldn't hold off the winner late in the race, though it was a strong effort for second. WINNING GOLD had come from well back in the run to finish third, flashing right down the outside under Keagan De Melo.
Race 3 – Ping Hai Star Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.04 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Ryan Moore and John Size combined to win the third as LIFELINE EXPRESS (AUS 3yo g Shooting To Win – La Comedienne) secured his maiden victory. After getting away well from barrier seven, Ryan Moore was able to get across and put the gelding in the one-out-one-back position, enjoying a beautiful run in transit. Coming to the top of the straight, Moore peeled out three-wide and began to urge the three-year-old along, with the son of Shooting To Win getting through his gears. Lifeline Express got to the leaders and took control with around 250m left to run and didn't stop over the concluding stages, extending his lead with every stride to win by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. FULL CREDIT jumped well from barrier 9 and rushed forward out of the barriers for Hewitson, working across to take up the running. The gelding looked to have plenty to offer as they turned into the straight, still leading narrowly with 300m to run. He hung in there when Lifeline Express took over, keeping him within touching distance until the last 50m. LUCKY TOUCH was planted three-wide and raced without cover in the event for Zac Purton. He was midfield in running and looked to be very one-paced at the top of the straight. Despite his tough run, he stuck on well to finish in third position in an effort that holds plenty of merit.
Race 4 – Luger Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.28 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Brenton Avdulla continued his good association with Tony Cruz, guiding home CALIFORNIATOTALITY (AUS 3yo g Zoustar – Total Attraction) to break his maiden status. The gelding was ridden along out of the barriers by Avdulla and he burrowed through between runners early in the race. The Australian eventually eased back to take a sit on the leader turning off the back. After tracking the leader off the back, the Australian hoop began to make his move approaching the straight, moving up on the outside of the leader. He was under heavy pressure at the top of the straight but continued to grind away under the hard riding, eventually sticking his nose in front with 200m remaining. He shot away once he got to the front, showing plenty of strength over the concluding stages to win by 1-1/4 lengths. MARADO settled in a midfield position under Jerry Chau with the pace solid through the middle stages. He didn't appear to be travelling all that comfortably with 600m remaining, but he had plenty of room to build up the revs at the top of the straight. He quickened well and with plenty of space to work in, he set out after the leader. He couldn't reel him in late in the race, but it was a very respectable effort for second. JOYFUL PROPSERITY was in last position shortly after the start as Zac Purton took the grey gelding back to last. It was a great ride by Purton to get him into the clear at the top of the straight and he ran on strongly down the outside, sticking on gamely to run into third position from a long way back in the run.
Race 5 – Werther Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.19 Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Zac Purton got on the board in race five with up-and-coming talent KA YING RISING (NZ 3yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) bringing up back-to-back wins. The Australian jockey was one of the first into stride and he urged the gelding forward out of the barriers, sliding across to land outside the lead. The pace was even right through the middle stages with the two leaders getting away from the rest of the pack turning for home. Purton still had a strong hold of his mount as he loomed up with 300m to run, eventually putting pay to the leader and running away to score by 1-1/2 lengths. CALL ME GLORIOUS wasn't disgraced at just his second start. He showed plenty of speed from barrier 9 to lead the field in running and put in a good kick at the top of the straight. After breaking away from the rest of the pack, he was wobbling about under pressure and Ka Ying Rising got the better of him with about a furlong to go. He didn't give up though, hanging in there right to the line and finishing a length clear in second. SOLID IMPACT ran on well from a midfield position to finish in third position for Alex Badel, beaten 2-1/2 lengths.
Race 6 – Sky Darci Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.52 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
LOYAL BO BO (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Sacred Vow) justified his short quote to get the job done very easily for Hugh Bowman and Frankie Lor. The gelding jumped well from barrier 9 and after being caught wide early on, Bowman continued to work forward and sit up on the speed. He was on the outside of the leader on settling down and travelling comfortably through the middle stages, with many of his rivals already under heavy pressure at the top of the straight. The four-year-old took the lead under a strong hold shortly after straightening and bounded away from his rivals once Bowman got to work on him. He was just too good on the day, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in good style. ARIEL was urged along by Ellis Wong to burrow underneath Loyal Bo Bo and hold the lead as they turned off the back. He travelled well around the turn and into the straight was claimed shortly after straightening by the eventual winner. He didn't go away though, sticking on gamely down the straight and holding on to second position in a photo finish. GOLDEN DARCI ran an improved race for third position with James McDonald in the saddle. He's still looking for his maiden victory but judging by his run in this race, he mightn't be a maiden for too much longer.
Race 7 – The BMW Hong Kong Derby, HK $26,000,000
4 Year Olds – Turf – Distance 2000m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:59.85 Standard Time: N/A Course/Class record: N/A
The main event of the day and it was MASSIVE SOVEREIGN (IRE 4yo g No Nay Never – Sweet Charity) who claimed the Hong Kong Derby in a race for the ages. After drawing a wide barrier, Zac Purton was happy to slide back on the gelding and settle near the tail of the field with his main market dangers around him at the back of the pack. The pace was strong through the middle stages and passing the 1200m point the leader turned it up another notch with the field stringing out as they turned off the back. As they turned off the back, Purton remained along the inside rail and was a whopping 10-3/4 lengths off the leader with 800m left to run. Purton still had a strong hold of his mount around the home turn while many of his rivals were under heavy pressure, the Australian hoop just needed some luck from his position as they turned for home. Massive Sovereign was still 9-3/4 lengths off the leader at the top of the straight, but the gaps were appearing for Purton as he guided the four-year-old into the clear with 300m to run. He just kept coming under the hard riding of Purton, sticking his nose in front inside the final 50m and holding off his rivals to win by a neck on the line. A great race as mirrored by an equally as-great training performance as GALAXY PATCH ran second. Going from 1400m to 2000m for the first time
in two weeks is a hard task, but Galaxy Patch almost did the unthinkable. Blake Shinn immediately took the gelding back to the tail of the field and spent the majority of the race out the back. Turning for home, Shinn followed Massive Sovereign through the gaps and made one last charge at the leaders. He was coming home full of steam, but he was unable to reel in the winner close to home. KA YING GENERATION set up the quick speed and set off at the 1200m point to make a break on the rest of the pack. He was a big leader at the top of the straight and was still in front with 50m to run but he was getting tired. It was a superb effort by the $40 chance, but he was collared late in the race to only be beaten three-quarters of-a-length.
Race 8 – Rapper Dragon Handicap, HK $3,720,000
Class 1 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:07.87 Standard Time: 1:08.60 Course/Class record: 1:07.61 Lucky Patch
Zac Purton wasn't done riding winners just yet, making it a hat-trick on the day with the David Hall-trained FLYING ACE (NZ 6yo g Swiss Ace – Dancescape). After getting away on terms, Purton put the gelding in a midfield position with a hot tempo on offer through the opening stages. It was a good battle for the lead with a number of horses going forward, with Purton ending up midfield and along the fence as they turned for home. He was travelling strongly in the straight, he just needed clear air which he got with 300m remaining, bursting through a gap to hit the front a furlong from home. It was a great battle to the line with three horses all vying for victory, but it was Flying Ace and Purton who held on to win in a very tight photo finish. HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE ended up toward the rear of the field in running for Brenton Avdulla but began to work into the race nicely around the home turn. Avdulla came wide in the straight and the gelding looked to be finishing strongly right down the outside as Flying Ace got to the front. He continued to make ground late in the race, lunging hard in the closing stages and just missing out on victory by a nose on the wire. INVINCIBLE SAGE enjoyed a lovely run on the back of the pace throughout the event and peeled wide at the top of the straight to show a good sprint under Blake Shinn. He never quite hit the front, but he was right there battling it out for the victory inside the final 100m. He couldn't fight back against two class runners, going under by a neck on the line.
Race 9 – Designs On Rome Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:47.22 Standard Time: 1:47.60 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
Karis Teetan hadn't really been sighted throughout the afternoon until punching home THE BEST PEACH (IRE 5yo g Twilight Son – Poyle Meg) for Tony Cruz. After getting away on terms, the Mauritian hoop dragged him back to the rear of the field. After sitting at the back early, Teetan rolled into the three-wide trail and got a lovely cart in the race, being a little worse than midfield with 600m left to run. Teetan continued to peel wide and was the widest runner in the straight, coming down the outside to chime in midway down the stretch. He kept coming down the outside to hit the front with 150m to run and pulling away over the closing stages, winning by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. C P BRAVE was able to work across and land midfield under James McDonald. He ended up between runners through the middle stages which forced McDonald to try and push his way into the clear at the top of the straight. He was hanging in under pressure early in the straight as well, but he was no match for the winner who blew right by him in the straight, but he kept on well to the line to finish in second. HOLY LAKE had a good run in transit on the back of the leader and peeled off his back to mount his challenge early in the straight. He couldn't fend off the first two across the line, but he showed plenty of fight, finishing in third.
Race 10 – Ambitious Dragon Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.57 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Karis Teetan made it a race-to-race double to end the card as PATCH OF THETA (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Fortune Of War) got the job done, making it a winning treble for trainer Francis Lui as well. From an inside alley, the four-year-old jumped well and showed good early speed to settle just off the speed. He was racing on the back of the leader right through the middle stages and stayed close to the inside as they turned for home. Teetan ducked back to the inside to make his run with 300m remaining, scraping the paint to go under his rivals and take the lead with 150m to go. He showed his class in the closing stages, getting away from his rivals and winning by a length on the line, making it back-to-back victories. GREEN N WHITE raced three-wide through the middle stages but did have cover for Zac Purton as he raced in a midfield position. He was left exposed at the top of the straight but looked to be working into the race strongly at the top of the straight with the Australian hoop having a strong hold of the gelding. He took the lead momentarily in the straight but didn't quicken as expected as he plugged away to the line. It was a blanket finish, but Green N White was able to hold on to second position in a photo finish. MAGNIFICENT NINE came from a long way back under Brenton Avdulla to just miss out on second position in a photo finish.
