3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
A competitive dual-track meeting at Sha Tin as the season begins to come to a close. Winners weren't hard to find throughout the card with the longest-priced winner being $15. Inclement weather delayed proceedings for 30 minutes with thunder and lightning in the area, forcing the track from good to heavy between races 7 and eight.
Race 1 – Chai Wan Road Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1800m - Track Wet Fast
Time: 1:46.83 Standard Time: 1:48.20 Course/Class record: 1:46.46 Party Everyday
A handy race kicked off proceedings and it was the John Size-trained ERIMO (Street Boss – Undo) who saluted, bringing up back-to-back wins. The gelding jumped well and rolled forward to sit outside the leader in the early stages, before easing back to land in the one-out-one-back position down the back stretch. An even tempo was set through the middle stages and Alex Badel began to make his move approaching the 600m point. The Frenchman moved three-wide turning for home and took the lead with around 250m to run. He had to dig deep and fend off his rivals, but he clung on for victory by a Short Head. ADEFILL tried his hardest to turn the tables on the winner, but couldn't reel him in despite the weight difference. He raced three-wide and without cover throughout the race with Karis Teetan giving him every possible chance to win the race. He just wasn't good enough on this occasion.
Race 2 – Ho Sheung Heung Road Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.40 Standard Time: 56.40 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
The first straight race of the day saw AMAZING ROCKY (Bel Esprit – Arisma) win comfortably for apprentice Ellis Wong. He jumped well from barrier 3 and showed good pace to roll forward and ease across toward the grandstand rail. He was the closest to the centre of the course with a line of 4 horses up front, but he looked to be travelling well passing the 400m point. He struck the front with a furlong to run and was far too strong in the closing stages, pulling away from his rivals to score by a length on the line. MIDAS TOUCH ran on nicely from a midfield position to claim second, while the favourite, who was backed into $1.70 was eased out of the race to finish last, beaten 12 lengths. Zac
Purton mentioned to stewards' he heard an abnormal respiratory noise from the gelding, with a post-race veterinary exam finding blood in the gelding's throat.
Race 3 – Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 55.52 Standard Time: 56.20 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
There could be a star in the making with DREAM WINNER (Exosphere – Longbeach Lucy) as he scored by 2-1/2 lengths making it two-from-two for his career. The gelding jumped well and sat just off a handy tempo, with Vincent Ho creeping closer to the lead with 400m to run. The leader kicked well and gave Ho something to chase in the closing stages, but he showed his class inside the final furlong, taking the lead and surging clear to win easily. SUPER AXIOM set the tempo up front and stuck on gamely right down the outside rail to finish in second position. The class 3 down the straight ran over 1 second quicker than the class 4, highlighting Dream Winner's above average ability.
Race 4 – Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.98 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
MASTER OF LUCK (Burgundy – Precious) held on to score in the fourth event on the card. He jumped well from an inside barrier and railed through to sit on the back of the leader on settling down. He enjoyed the run of the race in behind the speed under Harry Bentley, with the Englishman easing out as they turned for home, getting away from the inside and into the clear at the top of the straight. He still had over a length to make up with a furlong to run, but he was digging in between runners and surging late. It was a head-bobbing finish with Master Of Luck getting his nose down at the right time to steal the victory. TRAVEL GLORY actually headed the winner in the xstraight but couldn't see off the final challenge and went down by the barest of margins.
Race 5 – Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:48.17 Standard Time: 1:48.75 Course/Class record: 1:47.45 Mission Bravo
It was back to the All Weather for the fifth event where TURQUOISE ALPHA (Excelebration – Start The Music reigned supreme. He got away on terms but was eased back from his middle alley by Karis Teetan, settling near the tail of the field as they sorted their order out. He looked to be racing keenly through the middle stages as the Mauritian hoop got one off the rail approaching the 800m point. He was still held up slightly with 500m to run and needed a way clear, but the seas parted early in the straight and the six-year-old was able to get into the clear. He had 4-1/4 lengths to make up at the top of the straight, but was making plenty of headway down the centre of the course. He took the lead with around 100m to run and had enough left in the tank to win by a head on the line. EL VALIENTE made things interesting at the finish as he closed off from near last position in the straight. Race favourite AMAZING TEENS was there to win if he was good enough after a great steer from Hugh Bowman, but he was very plain in the run to the line and finished 5-3/4 lengths away in 6th position. They finished well inside the standard time for this course and class, but were 1.5 seconds behind the Class 3 event over the same track and distance at the beginning of the card.
Race 6 – The Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association Cup (Handicap), HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.12 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Zac Purton hit the board in race 6, steering LADY'S CHOICE (Charm Spirit – No Pushover) to glory in the feature event of the day. The gelding got away on terms and settled in a lovely position just off the speed from barrier 3. The pace was good through the middle stages and didn't ease up around the turn, with Purton just niggling his mount along to keep within striking distance coming to the 600m point. Purton was able to build some momentum heading into the home straight and moved into the clear at the top of the straight to lay down the gauntlet. He moved up to take the lead with 150m to run and keep his main danger at bay, scoring by a head on the line. CALL ME DANDY made Purton work for the victory and wouldn't go away once headed, but it looked as though the winner always had his measure close to home.
Race 7 – Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.31 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Vincent Ho bought up a double with ALL IS GOOD (Press Statement – Lago Joy) proving far too good for his rivals. He got away on terms from barrier 2 and was ridden along in the early stages to find a position just off the pace. He was racing comfortably through the middle stages with remaining with cover right around the home turn, only popping out at the top of the straight. He was still a length off them with 300m to run but was making steady ground early in the straight, before really letting rip inside the final 150m. He took the lead with 100m to run and pulled away from the field in fine style, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths on the line. UNPRESUMING was second across the line after jumping the favourite, sticking on well from on the pace.
Race 8 – Lung Mun Road Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Heavy
Time: 1:36.82 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
After a lengthy delay with the weather, the track went from good to heavy after a downpour of some 30mm in just 30 minutes. The change in track didn't affect Vincent Ho or SECRET VISION (Elzaam – Arakans Secret), with the local hoop using the inside barrier to his advantage in the early stages to settle midfield. He didn't look to be travelling that comfortably with Ho already urging the gelding along with 800m to run and even using the whip approaching the 600m point. The field fanned across the track going in search of better ground and Ho was able to slice through closer to the inside with the gelding under heavy pressure. He just kept on coming under the urgings of Ho, sticking his nose in front with 50m to run and scoring by a head on the line. BEAUTY MISSILE made a solid run from the back of the pack to almost hit the front and take the win, but the eventual winner was just too strong.
Race 9 – Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Heavy
Time: 1:10.70 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
PULSAR STRIDER (Foxwedge – Val de Loire) burst out of the barriers and took up the running with ease from barrier 8, cruising to the front turning off the back stretch. He was headed turning off the back but rallied through along the inside to regain the lead as they turned for home and kicked clear when Lyle Hewitson asked for an effort. There was a wall of runners chasing him, but he still led by over a length with 150m to run. He was beginning to tire late but he had built a big enough margin to hold on for victory, with the official margin being a neck. EXCELLENT FIGHTER made a strong run down the outside after settling in the second half of the field. Race favourite LUCKY ENCOUNTER took the leader and eventual winner on through the middle stages but couldn't sustain his effort, finishing fifth, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 10 – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap, HK $2,900,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Soft
Time: 1:49.02 Standard Time: 1:47.50 Course/Class record: 1:45.88 Solar Hei Hei
When the rain comes, BOURBONAIRE (Darci Brahma – Star Guest) comes out to play with both his wins in Hong Kong coming on rain-affected surfaces. He jumped well from an outside barrier and eased across to sit on the outside of the leader on settling down. He was travelling comfortably through the middle stages with the pace only fair passing the halfway point of the race. The leaders sprinted clear at the top of the straight and got away from their rivals to fight out the finish. Just when Bourbonaire looked as though he was gone, he climbed off the canvas to make one last lunge at the leader, putting his nose down on the line and scoring by a short head in a photo finish. He outlasted ALL FOR ST PAULS who dictated from the front for Matthew Poon. He did as he pleased out in front and almost pinched the win with a beautiful front-running ride. Race favourite TUCHEL stuck on well for third.
