3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
The first of this season's twilight meetings saw two Group 3 contests taken out by the favourites. Lyle Hewitson rode a treble and Benton Avdulla hit the board with his first win in Hong Kong. Away from the features, it was somewhat tough going for punters, but that's what competitive racing brings.
Race 1 – Ma Liu Shui Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.90 Standard Time: 1:35.10 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Brenton Avdulla secured his first in in Hong Kong at the start of the program with GO GO SIXTEEN (Per Incanto – Ritzy Lady) getting up the fence in the nick of time. The five-year-old was slowly away from his outside stall and raced toward the rear of the field early in the race. Avdulla had gotten down to the inside rail and was able to improve his position along the inside, ending up a little worse than midfield at the halfway point of the race. As the field fanned turning for home, the Australian hoop found himself just 2 lengths off the leader as the Golden Sipper winning hoop tried to find a clear path. A gap opened back to the inside and the gelding let rip over the closing stages, sticking his nose in front in the shadows of the post and scoring the win in a photo finish. DARCI JOY looked as though he had the race all sewn up with 100m to run, but was out-lasted by Go Go Sixteen along the inside. The David Hayes-trained STRONGEST BOY also stuck on well from his midfield position to be beaten a head. Race favourite HAPPY DAY finished 7-3/4 lengths away in 10th place, appearing to be very plain in the straight after enjoying a cosy run throughout. A post-race veterinary examination found blood in his throat, with Zac Purton telling stewards' the gelding failed to run out the 1600m journey.
Race 2 – Sha Tin Hoi Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.83 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
It was an all-the-way victory for Lyle Hewitson and COLOURFUL PRINCE (Per Incanto – Waimiha). The gelding jumped well from barrier 7 and worked to the front, eventually crossing to take the lead approaching the 800m point. Hewitson applied the brakes through the middle stages, stacking the field up around the home turn before shooting clear at the top of the straight to open up a margin. He was over a length in front with 200m to run, but did have rivals coming out of the pack to challenge for the win. He was falling in a hole late in the race but held on to claim victory by a nose on the line. ELON was the one who made the late challenge, storming down the centre of the track to just miss. MIRACULOUS HONOUR stuck on well after sitting wide and without cover throughout, holding on for third as the outsider of the field.
Race 3 – The Lion Rock Trophy (Handicap), HK $3,900,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.34 Standard Time: 1:33.85 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
The first of the Group 3's was taken out by up-and-coming star BEAUTY ETERNAL (Starspangledbanner – Ithacan Queen) for Zac Purton and John Size. He was only fairly away from barrier 3 and was restrained early doors to settle in behind the speed, racing keenly for the first600m of the race. He settled much better heading off the back stretch and was in the box seat through the middle stages. Purton moved three-wide at the top of the straight and it was ominous signs for his rivals as he levelled up to the leaders with ease. It took a while for the four-year-old to wind up, but he eventually took over with 150m to run and pulled away to score easily by 1-1/4 lengths. Interestingly, Zac Purton never used the whip in the straight, urging the gelding along under hands and heels right to the line in an impressive win. CIRCUIT STELLAR was brave in defeat once again. It was a blanket finish behind the winner, with BEAUTY JOY doing his best work late and running into third.
Race 4 – Fo Tan Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.04 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was Lyle Hewitson saluting again in race four, bringing up a double with SWEET BRIAR (Shamexpress – Allawara). The gelding was away on terms and landed in a handy position shortly after the start, getting a beautiful run sitting just off a genuine tempo. There was some commotion ahead of him around the first turn, but it didn't affect the four-year-old as he continued his lovely run in transit turning for home. He was under heavy pressure in the straight but just continued to find under the urgings, finishing strongly over the top of his rivals and scoring by a neck on the line. HONG KONG HALL stuck on well from the front after setting a genuine tempo through the middle stages, breaking away from third place. BABY CRYSTAL hung badly on the turn and raced ungenerously as he hung out around the home turn, eventually weakening to finish in fifth.
Race 5 – Tolo Harbour Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.85 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.08 Perfect Pair
FLAMINGO TRILLION (Wandjina – Double Dee) scored a strong victory for the Frankie Lor stable in race 5. He jumped well from an outside barrier with Derek Leung pressing forward form the barrier to settle on the pace. The gelding was left racing wide and without cover throughout though and Leung was hard at work at the top of the straight, urging his mount to pick up. He was plugging away well and eventually rallied back to hit the front 100m from home, staying on strongly to score by three-quarters of-a-length to hold off PROUD DRAGON. Ellis Wong snuck right up the inside to run into second position, storming home from near the tail of the field, while NATURAL GOLD held on strongly after leading the field throughout. STURDY RUBY jumped favourite for Hugh Bowman and Manfred Man, but was unable to make an impression at the finish. Bowman told stewards' that he recommended to connections to step the gelding up in distance next start.
Race 6 – Kau To Shan Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.92 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
GOLDEN EMPIRE (Fastnet Rock – Pretty Paper) shot out of the barriers to find the front initially, before allowing runners to go ahead of him, settling on the back of the leader for Lyle Hewitson. He enjoyed a lovely run throughout, but had some ground to make up on the leader who kicked away at the top of the straight. He was nearly 2 lengths off him at one point, but sprinted quickly to take the lead with a furlong to run. He held all of his rivals at bay and was able to hold off the fast finisher. HELIOS EXPRESS made a big impact in his Hong Kong debut, storming home down the centre of the track under Zac Purton. The gelding was having just his second career start and it showed in the straight as he was very green under the hard riding of Purton. FLYING ACE was solid enough back in third.
Race 7 – The Sha Tin Vase (Handicap), HK $3,900,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.00 Standard Time: 1:08.35 Course/Class record: 1:07.50 Sacred Kingdom
The second of the Group 3 events was all about the world's best sprinter, LUCKY SWEYNESSE (Sweynesse – Madonna Mia). The talented four-year-old jumped well and rolled forward from barrier 3 to settle in the one-out-one-back position with a quick tempo being set through the early and middle stages. Many of the rivals behind him were feeling the pinch turning for home, but despite carrying the big weight he ambled up to the leaders on straightening. He let down strongly when Purton pressed the button and shot away with 100m to run, winning comfortably by 1-1/4 lengths with Purton riding hands and heels to the line. VICTOR THE WINNER kept his strong run of form together, running second and hanging on off the hot tempo, while CORDYCEPS SIX turned in a great effort to finish in third.
Race 8 – Penfold Park Handicap, HK $2,640,000
Class 2 – All Weather – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.31 Standard Time: 1:08.05 Course/Class record: 1:07.27 Winner Supreme
The second and final All Weather event of the card was dominated by YOUTHFUL DEAL (Deep Field – Orchid Beach). After jumping on terms, the gelding was left racing wide for Vincent Ho, but did have cover as they ran along up front with four across the track. He enjoyed a lovelly run and quickened powerfully in the straight. Vincent Ho barely breathed on the four-year-old as he went on win by 1-1/4 lengths eased down in an emphatic victory. CHANCHENG PRINCE made good ground from the rear to finish second, but it was all about the winner Youthful Deal.
Race 9 – Shing Mun River Channel Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.91 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Apprentice Ellis Wong bought up his second victory in Hong Kong, teaming up the horse who bought him his first winner in STORM LEGEND (Night Of Thunder – Kymera). The gelding settled midfield and along the rail with the leader running along in the opening stages of the race. The field was strung out approaching the 600m point, with Wong staying along the inside turning for home and getting a lovely run up the rails at the top of the straight. He was still a couple of lengths off the leader with a furlong to run but found another gear, scraping paint along the inside and getting up in the shadows of the post. The outsider of the field BIG RED led them up for Victor Wong and Michael Chang and went down narrowly on the line at massive odds. Definitely the best run of his career to date. WINGS OF WAR rounded out the placings while race favourite CHIU CHOW SPIRIT was only fair in sixth, beaten 3 lengths.
Race 10 – Shing Mun River Channel Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.78 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
It was an arrogant victory to end the night with A PAL (More Than Ready – La Fluorescent) bringing up a winning double for Derek Leung. He jumped well from an inside draw and held a handy position on settling down, landing in the box seat. He enjoyed a cosy run throughout, but needed clear air at the top of the straight as Leung tried to push his way into the clear. Leung pushed his way into the open nearing the 200m pole and shot clear, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides and scoring by 2-1/4 lengths. HAPPY DAILY didn't have the best of luck on straightening either but closed off well to finish second, but it was all about A Pal who was far too good.
