3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Pakistan Star Plate, HK $950,000,
Griffin – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.29 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.47 California Spangle
LIGHT YEARS GLORY (IRE 3yo g Advertise – Capla Cubiste) caused an upset in the opening event of the day, running over the top to score as a $45 chance. The debutant was away on terms and used the inside barrier to his advantage, kicking up to hold a midfield position on settling down. Matthew Chadwick remained along the inside fence as they worked around the home turn and the gap was there for the three-year-old to slide through with the field fanning wide. He just needed a gap with 150m to run and the gap appeared shortly after, with Chadwick threading the needle to take the lead close to home. He got the job done in good fashion, winning by a neck on the line as he only went around 1 horse in the race. QUICK MONEY jumped the $1.5 favourite from a wide barrier but showed good early speed to roll forward and slot into the one-out-one-back position early on. He was left facing the breeze off the back straight as the lead changed hands, though he travelled strongly to the top of the straight and Chau had a strong hold of his mount until the 300m point. The odds-on favourite ran to the front inside the final 150m and looked to have the race won until Light Years Glory shot through late. He was claimed in the shadows of the post. BABIECA pushed Quick Money slightly wider on the turn as Zac Purton looked to make his challenge on straightening and the gelding had his chance to win if good enough. He was headed by Quick Money close to home and couldn't fight back but did finish just half-a-length off the winner.
Race 2 – Viva Pataca Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.45 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
GOLDENTRONICMIGHTY (AUS 4yo g Harry Angel – Dubrovnik) secured back-to-back wins in an impressive victory under Keith Yeung. The gelding was away on terms and with good speed early, Yeung was able to land in a midfield position, one off the fence. He worked around the turn well and got into the clear at the top of the straight as the local hoop began to ask for an effort, and the gelding responded early on. He joined the leaders with a furlong to run and quickly took control, scooting away from the chasing pack with 100m to run. He felt the pinch in the dying stages, but he was going well enough to hang on, scoring by a half-length on the line. Odds-on favourite INVINCIBLE IBIS was a touch slow out of the barriers and had to be ridden up by Luke Ferraris to try and hold a position early on. The debutant ended up in the second half of the field with his inexperience showing around the home turn. Once he got his mind on the job, he was impressive, closing off well down the outside to make a last-ditch effort at the Goldentronicmighty. He went under by a neck on the line after being 6-1/2 lengths off the leaders on straightening, just giving his rivals too big of a start. SHINE BRIGHT followed GOLDENTRONICMIGHTY into the race on straightening and stuck on well to finish in third position, beaten half-a-length as a $25 chance.
Race 3 – Makarpura Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.73 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Frankie Lor and Derek Leung combined to win the third race on the card with debutant VOYAGE BOSS (NZ 3yo g Darci Brahma – Italic) getting the job done. From barrier one, the gelding showed good speed to kick up along the fence and hold a forward position under Leung, eventually easing back to take a sit on the back of the leader. The gelding settled better with some cover as they turned off the back, with Leung stalking the favourite around the home turn and into the straight. The leader wobbled off the fence which allowed Voyage Boss to sneak through underneath, taking the lead inside the final furlong. He didn't break away from his rivals, but he always maintained a healthy margin, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length on the line. COPARTNER FLEET was a more-fancied debutant from the Francis Lui yard, and he scooted across under Zac Purton to take the lead off the back straight. He was able to slow the tempo around the home turn before quickening impressively on straightening, clocking a slick 10.99 second sectional from the 400-200m. He got off the rail however, allowing Voyage Boss to get through along the fence and take the lead. He fought hard to the line, but Copartner Fleet couldn't peg back the margin. CIRCUIT VICTORY landed in the one-out-one-back position and peeled three-wide at the top of the straight to make his challenge. He wouldn't reel in the first two across the line, but he didn't go away and finished just a length off the winner.
Race 4 – River Verdon Handicap, HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.21 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:19.92 Packing Hermod
PACKING HERMOD (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Black Tulip) made it back-to-back victories, sitting close to the speed and proving he's an above-average galloper. Zac Purton got the gelding out of the barriers quickly and put him close to the speed which was good early on. He moved up to pressure the leader up front who was a touch keen early on and kept the tempo flowing off the back straight. The leader tried to skip away on straightening, but Packing Hermod was there to pounce, and he moved up quickly on the outside of the leader. He took control with 200m to run and proved far too strong over the closing stages, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length at the post as the $1.5 favourite. DANCING CODE jumped quickly from gate six and showed enough speed to take up the running. He was a touch keen as Ben Thompson tried to slow the tempo, settling better when he was allowed to settle into stride through the middle stages. He tried to kick away as they turned for home but couldn't shake the favourite and was eventually gobbled up halfway down the straight. He didn't go away however, sticking with Packing Hermod to the line. YOUNG CHAMPION bounced back to form after following Packing Hermod into the race around the outside. He finished a clear third, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, but he never really looked like a winning chance.
Race 5 – Russian Emperor Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.14 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
DO YOUR PART (NZ 4yo g Coats Choice – Blue Bond) picked up his maiden victory at start 9, proving far too strong under Luke Ferraris. The gelding jumped quickly and rolled forward under the South African hoop, leading early on before dropping in and ending up on the back of the leader as they settled down. He tracked the leader right through the middle stages and was ready to pounce on straightening. The gap appeared shortly after straightening and Ferraris got off heels. The gelding let down strongly once clear, took the lead and shot away, winning by two lengths on the line in a very impressive performance. KA YING GLORY showed plenty of speed to roll to the front at the 1000m point, setting the tempo under Zac Purton. He led comfortably through the middle stages of the race and kicked strongly on straightening, shaking off his immediate rival, but in turn opening the door for Do Your Part. Those two paired off from the rest of the field, but he couldn't match the strength of Do Your Part late in the race. He was eased down close to home, finishing 1-3/4 lengths ahead of the third runner. SUNNY Q was in the back-half of the field on straightening and snuck up the fence in the straight to finish in third place.
Race 6 – Helene Superstar Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.94 Standard Time: 1:34.95 Course/Class record: 1:33.28 Bright Inheritance
MISTER DAPPER (NZ 5yo g Tivaci – Posavina) bounced back to winning form with a strong performance from up on the pace. Brenton Avdulla pressed on from barrier four to be on the speed, eventually landing on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. The speed was good through the early stages and Mister Dapper travelled sweetly up to the home turn where Avdulla began to ride the gelding along. The field broke apart at the top of the straight, but the five-year-old was there to strike, sticking to the leader and eventually taking the lead with 150m left to run. He was too strong late in the race, running away to score by two lengths as the race favourite. SPECIAL HEDGE rolled across to lead the field, setting a solid tempo throughout the event. He kicked away strongly at the top of the straight but couldn't shake Mister Dapper who was poised to strike. He couldn't go with the winner once he was overtaken in the stretch but held on to finish a clear second under Lyle Hewitson. FIGHT TIME closed off well from midfield to finish in third position, doing his best work late in the race.
Race 7 – Exultant Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.50 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Zac Purton made it a winning double on the day with SHAMUS STORM (AUS 3yo g Shamus Award – Sacred Walk) picking up his maiden victory at start five. The three-year-old wasn't the fastest into stride and ended up in the second half of the field on settling down. Purton was racing along the fence and was able to improve his position as they turned off the back, sliding up the fence before getting off the rail with around 600m to run. He was into the clear by the time they'd entered the straight and he cruised up to the leaders under a strong Purton hold, before taking the lead when asked for an effort. He pulled away close to home, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in good style as the $2.2 favourite. MAZ QUE ounced well and went forward under Hugh Bowman, settling in the one-out-one-back position early on. He was shuffled back a touch as they turned off the back straight and Bowman didn't work into the three-wide trail which proved costly at the top of the straight. A sharp move by Purton saw him move up on the outside of Max Que, holding Bowman in a pocket as the race favourite kicked away from his main danger. Bowman was forced to bide his time and wait for the gap to open up, and he was unable to run down Shamus Storm once he found clear running. ONLY U flew home down the outside to finish in third position after being near last on the turn.
Race 8 – The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, HK $13,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 2400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:26.67 Standard Time: 2:27.00 Course/Class record: 2:24.60 Viva Pataca
The final Group One of the season and after 31 years, VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS 6yo g Deep Field – Raheights) claimed the Hong Kong Triple Crown, pocketing a handy HK$10 million bonus along with the prestige. The tactics were interesting off the start and as they travelled down the home straight for the first time, James McDonald was able to land on the back of his main rival one off the fence. He remained in that stalking role as the speed went right out of the race through the first half, before the speed picked up with 1200m to run thanks to a mid-race move. They weren't hanging about turning off the back and McDonald found himself in a handy position just trailing the speed, getting a lovely tow into the race behind and had plenty of space to peel out and make his run on straightening. Voyage Bubble sprinted quickly when asked for an effort and put his rivals away with ease at the top of the straight, opening up a big margin in the run to the line and securing the Triple Crown by 3-1/2 lengths. RUBYLOT was near the tail of the field in the run and had plenty of work to do as the pace went on down the back straight. After initially looking to swing wide on the turn, Hugh Bowman ducked back to the inside and rode for luck up the fence. It was a plan that worked as he squeezed through a couple of narrow gaps and got up on the pain to finish in second position. The Derby form held up as CAP FERRAT finished in third position. He looked as though he may have a part to play in the finish as he trailed Voyage Bubble into the race, but he was unable to match motors in the run to the line. He finished 4 lengths away in third place.
Race 9 – Indigenous Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.40 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Brenton Avdulla picked up a winning double on the day as STELLAR EXPRESS (FR 5yo g Zoustar – Darinja) gave John Size his 1600th winner in Hong Kong. From barrier five, the Australian hoop fired the gelding out of the barriers and got across to lead the field down the grandstand rail at a slick tempo. He was scraping the outside fence as they joined the course proper and inside the final 400m he was still travelling strongly. He kicked away again with 200m to run and put the race to bed with 100m remaining, scoring an emphatic victory by two lengths on the line. METRO POWER tracked Stellar Express across to be on just behind the speed on settling down, stalking the leading division through the middle stages. He was travelling well with 400m to run and shifted into the clear under Ben Thompson as he began to make his mark. He was no match for the winner, but he stuck on well to finish in second position. WE ARE HERO turned in a much-improved effort at his first run back for the season after being scratched on Vets Advice back in October. The strong tempo suited him as he flew home late for third in a positive return under Hugh Bowman.
Race 10 – Vengeance Of Rain Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:01.06 Standard Time: 2:02.00 Course/Class record: 2:00.37 Champion Supreme
Andrea Atzeni and Manfred Man combined tow in the penultimate event of the card with the impressive GOLD MASTER (AUS 4yo g The Autumn Sun – High Lago) continuing his good run of form. The four-year-old jumped well and was able to land in a great position on settling down, kicking up around the first turn to settle on the back of the leader entering the back straight. The speed was even through the middle stages as Atzeni had a big look behind him at the 1200m point. The leader quickened the speed approaching the 800m point but he was up to the task, with Atzeni stalking every move the leader made coming to the home turn. Gold Master was travelling wetly as the leader kicked away at the top of the stretch, but this gave Gold Master the room to move as he set out after the leader. He mowed down the leader with 50m to run and inched away late in the race to win by three-quarter of-a-length in a great effort. LIVEANDLETLIVE was able to burn across from a wide barrier to lead the field around the first turn. Angus Chung gradually ramped up the speed from the 1000m point and kicked away strongly on the home turn to lead by a couple of lengths early in the straight. He couldn't fend off Gold Master who was just too good on the day, but he finished well clear of third position as a $15 chance. ENTHRALLED stuck on well after being just off the speed in running, crossing the line three lengths away in third position.
Race 11 – Oriental Express Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:20.85 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton rounded out a successful day in the saddle with his third victory, guiding TOP DRAGON (AUS 3yo g Pierata – Mica Lil) to back-to-back victories. After jumping on terms, plenty of rivals went looking for the lead which prompted Purton to ease back after the start and land in the second half of the field. The tempo was strong early and the Australian hoop was able to move into the three-wide trail turning off the back. He was given a nice cart into the race and was down the middle of the track on straightening. The gelding let rip at the top of the straight to move up and take a narrow lead halfway down the stretch. He didn't run away with the race however, having to fight off a close challenger down to the wire, but Top Dragon got his nose down where it mattered most, scoring by a head on the line. SUPER EXPRESS was well backed and found a great position one-out-one-back under Craig Williams in the run. After tracking nicely through the middle stages, Williams was able to get into the clear and continued to have a strong hold of the gelding as they approached the 300m point. The gelding ran to the front with a furlong to run, but only momentarily as Top Dragon quickly took over. Super Express didn't go down without a fight, trying to gain the upper hand in the run to the line, but he couldn't peg back the margin. SOUTH STAR finished in third position after trailing Super Express into the race, but he was three lengths off the first pair across the line.