3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.

Race 1

#6 G One Excellent might be winless from ten starts thus far, but this isn't a race filled with prolific winners and I liked the way he performed at his latest start. On that occasion, he drew wide and had to cover ground but still managed to finish off the race well enough for fourth.  He's only recently dropped down to class five and should get a much better run from the inside gate this time.  Ruan Maia, who was on the winner's board Tuesday night, takes the ride.

#2 Theta Hedge drops in grade and maps to get a charmed run in transit from gate three. This is his third run back from a break and he hasn't been far away in class four this season. He put in a decent trial at Sha Tin recently while trainer Francis Lui has made a slight gear change with him by putting the visor on for the first time.

#3 Strive For Glory is the obvious choice here, dropping in grade and with Zac Purton riding as he tries to win his fifth jockey's title in Hong Kong.  He hasn't been far away in class four either, however, he's drawn a wide gate, he's yet to win from 21 starts and I thought there might be more value with the two runners selected ahead of him.

#10 Give Way Please showed a lot of natural ability early in his career but has ended up in class five and is a noted roarer.  He's an interesting runner here though because he's having his first run for Jimmy Ting, who's made a number of gear changes with him, and I like him coming back to 1200m for this race.  If he can run up to his best, he'll make his presence felt.

#1 The Multiplier is racing well and has drawn a decent barrier for the Hayes and Shinn combination, but he needs to transfer that better form on the dirt over to the turf.

Selections: 6,2,3,10,1

R2 - 9,11,10,6,3

R3 - 1,8,9,3,5

R4 - 2,5,13,8,4

R5 - 6,9,1,3,4

R6 - 3,5,8,1,6

Race 7

"Hong Kong Reunification Cup"

#3 Nervous Witness has been one of the boom horses this season and can end his campaign on a winning note in today's feature event. He ran a brave race to finish second behind another rising star of the sprinting ranks in "Cordyceps Six" last time out at what was his first try at 1200m.  Since then, he's trialled very well at Sha Tin and has Zac Purton back in the saddle this time. The fact that he has 5lbs less to carry than two of the other class runners in the race, "Lucky Express" and "Master Eight", is also significant.

#2 Master Eight comes into this race on the back of a freshen up but is another sprinter who has risen through the ranks this season. He won his first five starts in succession, culminating in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy earlier this year, and while he hasn't won since then, he was only beaten a length by Hong Kong's best sprinter "Wellington" last time. He's trialled well leading into this race and maps to stalk the speed before pouncing on the likes of "Nervous Witness", if he's good enough to do so with the topweight.

#1 Lucky Express is a tricky horse to place but has found himself in a winnable race.  He put in a very good effort to run second behind the highly talented "Beauty Joy" at group level time and as a get back, run on sprinter, I think the drop back to 1200m is in his favour.  If the leaders overdo it in front, he can run over the top of them to win.

#7 Trillion Win has raced well all throughout the season and has form behind the likes of "California Spangle" and "Cordyceps Six". It's questionable whether he's got the class to win but he gets in well at the weights and is a chance of finishing in the frame.

#4 Duke Wai has been a great horse for his connections and it was interesting to read his trainer Paul O'Sullivan saying that he needs to get down a little in the ratings to be able to win again. 

While I'm not disagreeing with Paul here, I do think that with his racing pattern and the likely pace in the race, he's capable of running well enough to finishing on the better side of the first half.

Selections: 3,2,1,7,4

R8 - 6,1,3,2,10

R9 - 5,10,1,9,12

Race 10

#4 Sakewin may have suffered his first defeat last time out but that was in a stronger race than what he finds himself in here and he should bounce back. He impressed with his first two wins, he's a lightly raced, promising horse who should be able to control things from the front under Joao Moreira. Leading trainer Frankie Lor has also given him a bit of time to get over his last run and in a race that lacks depth and doesn't have the same quality of field that he met at his latest outing, he should be hard to beat.

#6 Power Koepp has been racing really well and ran third over this course and distance despite having to cover ground. He put in a good performance to win three starts ago, he's much better off at the barrier draw this time out and can use his turn of foot to figure in the finish.

#1 Ace One has been in great form having won his last two in a row and is the type of horse that makes his own luck on speed. However, he does have a lot more weight to carry this time around, he's drawn a wide gate and the presence of "Sakewin" in this event is another reason why I didn't have him higher up the pecking order.

#7 Super Baby was known as "Invincible Crown" in Australia where he won twice at Moonee Valley over 1500 and 1600m.  The 1200m here will be on the sharp side for him but I did like the way he got to the line in his latest barrier trial and he's one to consider for the place and exotic wagers.

#10 Regency Bo Bo mightn't be at his best but he was placed three starts ago behind a handy horse in "Brilliant Way", he's drawn well, has dropped a long way in the ratings and finds himself in a race that he could use to gain better form.

Selections: 4,6,1,7,10