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Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Severn Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.92 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
The card got underway with MASTER OF ALL (AUS 4yo g Charm Spirit – Funoon) winning the opener for Chris So and Keith Yeung. The gelding got away on terms under Yeung as the local hoop pressed forward on the four-year-old. As they sorted their order out, Yeung settled on the back of the leader, enjoying a lovely ruin throughout the middle stages. He remained on the leaders back right to the home turn, before getting away from the inside and into the clear with ease at the top of the straight. He set out after the leaders and took control with 150m left to run. Once he got to the lead, he saw off his initial threats to lead by over a length with 100m to run, and that gap was big enough to hold on for victory, winning by a half-length on the line. GENERAL WINNER was urged along shortly after the start to try and hold his position in the run but ended up being shuffled back to settle a little worse than midfield. Karis Teetan crossed down to the rail as they worked through the middle stages, before pushing his way off the inside at the 600m point. Teetan was already pushing the gelding along as they turned for home, but the gelding needed a touch of luck after straightening with tiring runners in front of him. Once he finally got into the clear he let down strongly to chase hard after the leader, but it was too little too late as Master Of All got the job done. YEE CHEONG WARRIOR didn't show much early pace under Zac Purton and was sitting toward the tail of the field. Turning for home, Purton rode for luck along the inside and got plenty of breaks as he eventually worked his way into the middle of the track. He was no match for the first two but kept on well to the line to be just a length off the winner.
Race 2 – Pollock Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:01.07 Standard Time: 2:02.35 Course/Class record: 2:00.67 Full Power
Matthew Poon and Pierre Ng combined to win the second as WINNING STEPS (AUS 5yo g Pierro – Crystal Fairy) proved too strong over the trip. He jumped on terms under Matthew Poon from barrier five and settled in a nice position about midfield. The field was strung out down the back straight as the leader continued to roll them along, with the five-year-old travelling comfortably. Poon had to urge the gelding along with 800m left to run to
keep in touch with the leading group as they'd broken away turning off the back, before the leader slammed on the brakes approaching the home turn. The field packed up with 600m remaining, with Winning Steps travelling strongly three-wide with cover, before getting into the clear and letting rip down the centre of the track. He moved up to hit the front with 200m left to run and showed plenty of strength to fend off his rivals and score by three-quarters of-a-length. LEGION OF MERIT got away well from the inside barrier and was sitting just off the speed for Ben Thompson throughout the race. The flashy grey was chugging along well as they turned off the back, improving to be on the back of the leader with 600m to run. He remained in that position as they turned for home before working his way across heels and pushing his mount into the clear. The grey fellow never hit the front, but he was strong to the line and didn't allow the winner to get away from him late. CHATEAU LE PECHE followed Legion Of Merit throughout the event and that continued into the straight. He didn't have the motor to match the first couple across the line but he was strong at the finish, ending up just 1-1/4 lengths away.
Race 3 – Barker Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.98 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS (AUS 5yo g Dream Ahead – Blue Ocean) continued his impressive season with an all-the-way victory in the third event. Zac Purton took the gelding straight to the front after getting away well from barrier three, taking luck out of the equation with the $2 favourite. He was able to do as he pleased out in front with no pressure being applied, with Purton putting the race away with an impressive 400 to 200m split. The Australian jockey put the race to bed shortly after straightening and it was very easy watch for favourite backers in the end, as Purton eased him down late to win by just a length. GRACIOUS EXPRESS wasn't the fastest into stride but mustered good speed to move up and settle on the back of the leader from the inside alley. Harry Bentley tracked the race favourite everywhere he went, remaining on his back as they turned into the straight. Gracious Express lacked the turn-of-foot possessed by the winner which may have cost him the race, but he was strong late in proceedings as he rallied back to bring the margin back to a length on the line. KA YING VICTORY returned to some form as he raced in that trail behind Eighty Light Years and Gracious Express. Brenton Avdulla stuck to the rail in the straight, never going around a runner to finish 2 lengths off the winner in third.
Race 4 – Lugard Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.12 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
SUPER GOLDI (NZ 4yo g Tavistock – Steer By The Stars) notched up his second career win and looked the relish the step out in trip for the first time. The son of Tavistock was taken back from the wide draw under Derek Leung, settling toward the back of the field shortly after the start. The pace was good early on as Leung crossed down to the rail and remained there throughout the middle stages. Leung waited until the top of the straight before coming wide, getting into the clear down the middle of the track and setting out after the leader. He was storming home right down the outside, only sticking his nose in front with 50m to run and showing plenty of strength to inch away and win by a neck on the line. SMILING COLLECTOR was ridden along to settle in a handy position for Karis Teetan, sitting just off the speed before peeling three-wide around the turn. He looked to be tracking into the race strongly as they turned for home and was grinding away out wide without really making an impact. The winner swept up on his outside to pass him with 150m to run, but Smiling Collector never let the winner get away, running him to a neck on the line. CIRCUIT FIERY was on the back of Smiling Collector turning for home and came off his back to challenge in the straight. He, much like the second placegetter, more ground away down the middle but the race shape played into their strengths as Circuit Fiery nabbed the leader right on the line to take third in a photo finish.
Race 5 – Barker Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.99 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Hugh Bowman was the next jockey to put his name on the winners list, guiding home the Francis Lui-trained HASTEN DELIGHT (AUS 4yo g Star Turn – Hostile Witness) to an easy victory. After jumping well, Bowman eased his charge out of the early battle for the lead, sitting on the back of the leader. The pace was good despite the small field and Bowman was cruising through the middle stages, getting off the inside and into the clear with ease at the top of the straight. The Australian jockey hadn't moved on the four-year-old as he slid up to join the leaders early in the straight, with Bowman only asking for an effort with 300m remaining. After wandering about a touch initially, the four-year-old got to work and hit the front with 150m left to run. He hit top gear from that point and pulled away from the rest of his rivals, going on to win very easily by 1-3/4 lengths. CALIFORNIA DEEPLY was taken back from the sticky alley early in the race and settled near the tail of the field. He looked to travel well through the middle stages and worked into the race nicely as they turned into the straight. Luke Ferraris went for runs between horses and it worked to his advantage, getting the gap and setting out after the leader. He was no match for the eventual winner, but he flashed home strongly down the outside to claim second position in a photo finish. LADY'S CHOICE showed good pace from the outset, rolling forward to
take up the running as the $2.40 favourite. While there was a good go for the lead early on, the gelding hadn't over-exerted himself to hold his position, with Purton still having a strong grip of the gelding as they turned into the straight. He put in a good kick when asked for an effort, but the winner was just simply too good as he blew by him at the 150m point. He stuck on well from out in front but was on the wrong side of the photo finish for second.
Race 6 – Homestead Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.42 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was a simply dominant display from the Mark Newnham-trained FULL CRDIT (AUS 3yo g Va Pansiero – Ready To Impress) as he bolted in by 5-1/4 lengths. From an inside draw, Lyle Hewitson took his mount straight to the front with the $2.60 favourite leading the field on settling down. He broke clear to lead by over a length at the 800m point and he continued to keep the field running through the middle stages. Turning for home, he'd kicked even further in front, leading by 2-3/4 lengths with 400m to run, with the margin only widening from that point. The race was all over at the furlong as Full Credit was a mile in front and not stopping, with the three-year-old stopping the clock in good time and winning by a huge margin. RUBYLOT ran home well into second position after settling well back in running. Hugh Bowman was about midfield with 600m to run and began to work his way into the clear around the home turn. He spotted the leader a big start at the top of the straight and while Full Credit was in a race of his own, Rubylot closed off strongly down the centre of the track to finish in second. LIFELINE EXPRESS had enjoyed a lovely run in transit and wasn't too far off the leader as they turned into the straight. He ran to a clear second midway down the straight and was no match at all for the winner, with Brenton Avdulla's mount just feeling the pinch late as he finished in third.
Race 7 – The Sprint Cup, HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.17 Standard Time: 1:08.20 Course/Class record: 1:07.50 Sacred Kingdom
After a couple of below average efforts, LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ 5yo g Sweynesse – Madonna Mia) was back in business in the lead up to FWD Champions Day. The World's Best Sprinter was a touch slow into stride once again and had to be ridden along by Hugh Bowman in the opening stages. The gelding failed to match the pace of his rivals early on,
with Bowman electing to sit toward the rear of the field, third from last. The pace was strong throughout as Bowman moved into the three-wide line turning for home, peeling wider again at the top of the straight. The gelding moved into the race strongly when placed under pressure but was hanging in as Bowmn got to work aboard the multiple Group One winner. He stuck his nose in front with around 100m to run and got the job done easily in the end, scoring by a half-length on the line. INVINCIBLE SAGE jumped well from a wide stall and pressed forward under Alex Badel to be prominent in the run. The leader continued to roll forward and Badel was happy to take a trail through the middle stages. After a lovely run in the race, Badel peeled into the clear shortly after straightening and the gelding let down well to take the lead approaching the 200m mark. He wasn't in front for long as Lucky Sweynesse moved up to take the lead, but he didn't let the $2 favourite get away in the closing stages. Invincible Sage clung on well, finishing just a half-length off Lucky Sweynesse and two lengths ahead of the third placegetter. FLYING ACE was last in the run as Zac Purton tried to pinch runs through the traffic rather than swing wide. He followed Invcincible Sage through a gap in the straight and was there to strike if he was good enough, but he looked to tire late in the race as he ended up in third, 2-1/2 lengths away.
Race 8 – The Chairman's Trophy, HK $5.350,000
Group Two – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.03 Standard Time: 1:33.80 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
It was a 'Beauty' quinella in The Chairman's Trophy, but this time it was Tony Cruz' charge BEAUTY JOY (AUS 7yo g Sebring – Impressive Jeuney) getting the win as the local trainer teamed up with Brenton Avdulla for more success. After jumping well from the inside barrier, Avdulla didn't have to bustle the gelding along to find a position with the seven-year-old landing in a midfield spot on settling down. Avdulla was able to use the rail to his advantage as he continued to improve his position toward the end of the back straight with the field relatively compact. As they worked around the turn, Avdulla was able to get off the fence and into the clear, letting down strongly at the top of the straight. The favourite took the lead with 200m to run, but Beauty Joy was right there to strike late in the race, and that he did. He moved up and took the lead with 100m to run, drawing clear impressively close to home and winning by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. BEAUTY ETERNAL was unable to hold off Joy this time as he had done last year, but it was a gallant effort in second place. He jumped well from barrier eight and had to do a bit of work to get across from the barrier, eventually slotting into the one-out-one-back position for Purton. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, Purton was already urging the gelding along as they swung the bend and the five-year-old moved up to hit the front a furlong from the finish. The lead didn't last long through as Beauty Joy quickly took control, with Beauty Eternal looking to tire close to home. He couldn't fight back in the closing stages and finished 1-1/4 lengths
off the winner. RED LION was trapped three-wide and without cover throughout the event but showed plenty of strength to still figure in the finish. He was unable to go with the first couple across the line, but he ran out a strong mile to finish in third as he got the nod in a photo finish.
Race 9 – Plantation Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:36.04 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Brenton Avdulla and Tony Cruz brought up a race-to-race double as CALIFORNIATOTALITY (AUS 3yo g Zoustar – Total Attraction) made it back-to-back wins. The three-year-old jumped well and rolled forward from a wide barrier to get across and sit outside the leader initially. As the race continued to unfold, Brenton Avdulla was happy to take a sit in behind the leaders, stalking his prey as they turned off the back. He was right on the back of his rivals with 600m to run, prompting the Australian to move three-wide as they turned for home. He didn't have the sprint to match his rivals at the top of the straight, but it was inside the final furlong where he really got to work. He rallied strongly inside the closing 200m to reel in the leader and take the lead with 100m to run, before inching away and winning comfortably in the end by three-quarters of-a-length. LAUGH TALE got away well from out wide and after initially sliding back to try and slot in, Hugh Bowman allowed the gelding to stride forward and get across to sit on the outside of the leader. The pace was only fair through the middle stages which allowed the gelding to catch his breath. He travelled strongly into the straight and took the lead shortly after straightening, getting a length in front with around 200m remaining. He was eventually chased down close to home by Californiatotality, but he put in a game effort to finish in second. CAN'T GO WONG had raced in a three-wide position with cover throughout the event and was one of the widest runners on straightening. Alex Badel looked to have plenty in the tank as the gelding trucked into the straight, but he only plugged away close to the line, holding on for third in a three-way photo finish.
Race 10 – Harlech Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:02.66 Standard Time: 2:01.95 Course/Class record: 2:00.37 Champion Supreme
EIGHTEEN CARAT (IRE 4yo g Gleneagles – Kikonga) produced a strong effort to win the final event over the staying trip. After getting away a little slowly from a wide draw, Alex Badel
pushed forward to take up the running after being caught very wide around the first turn. The field stretched out as they worked down the back straight with Badel ensuring a good tempo was being set. He led by over a length right down the back straight and continued to hold a similar margin as they turned off the back. The gelding was challenged a long way from home, but the son of Gleneagles wouldn't go down without a fight. He and his main rival paired off to fight the race out at the top of the straight with Badel throwing everything he had at Eighteen Carat. He fended off his main danger, keeping him at bay as the four-year-old won by a half-length on the line. UNBELIEVABLE gave punters their first look of the Hong Kong Derby form. He led the field heading into the first turn before Eighteen Carat went around him to take up the running. Derek Leung was happy to sit just off the leader throughout, stalking him through the middle stages before moving up to challenge the leader with 600m left to run. Eighteen Carat and Unbelievable squared off and got away from the rest of the field, fighting out the finish right to the line. He was there to win if he was good enough Unbelievable, but he just found one better on the day. ILLUMINOUS was having his first try at the trip today. He was about midfield in the run, but he showed good staying ability to keep coming to the line. He was spotting the leader 4-1/2 lengths at the top of the straight and ran on well to be just 2-1/2 away at the finish.
