3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Shing Mun River Channel Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.93 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Hugh Bowman and David Hayes combined to win the opening event of the day as LUCKY MAN (NZ 4yo g Shamexpress – Christmas Day) picking up his maiden victory. The four-year-old got away on terms off the inside barrier and Bowman was neutral aboard the gelding. He ended up holding a position on the back of the leader in the run with a good tempo being set and the Australian hoop was trying to edge off the inside as the approached the home turn. Bowman needed a touch of luck on straightening as he was boxed in along the rail, though the gelding was travelling well and he was able to push his way into the clear early in the straight. He got into the clear with around 300m to run and he loomed ominously on the outside of the leader. He took the lead with 150m to run, and he inched away with every stride down to the line, scoring comfortably by three-quarters of-a-length. CIRCUIT MIGHTY showed good speed early on, rolling forward under Zac Purton to land on the outside of the leader. He was a little keen heading into the first turn, but settled better passing the 800m point as he sat a half-length off the leader passing the 600m point. Purton inched closer around the turn and headed off the leader as they swung the bend, sprinting well to open up by a length. He led past the furlong pole, but Lucky Man was eating into the margin and eventually got by Circuit Mighty. The gelding stuck on gamely to the line, putting up a big gap back to the third horse. CIRCUIT FIERY needed a touch of luck on straightening but he let down strongly once he saw daylight. He ran into third position, but he ended up 3-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 2 – Sha Tin Hoi Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.79 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
MATTERS MOST (GB 4yo g Advertise – Squash) scored his maiden in in a big reversal of form, dominating the race with the blinkers going on for the first time. The four-year-old was a little slow into stride but he mustered quickly under Ellis Wong and settled on the back of the leader with a solid tempo on offer. He was racing strongly along the fence and with the field fanning wide on the turn, it opened a big gap for Matters most to come through. Once he was asked for an effort, Matters Most shot through and took the lead at the furlong pole, sprinting away from his rivals in very impressive fashion. He opened a big gap on his rivals, winning in fine style with the official margin being three lengths. FLOWING RICHES jumped sharply and rolled across under Keith Yeung to land on the speed. The local hoop kicked up as they turned off the back to be on the outside of the leader around the home turn and he was there to strike if good enough at the top of the straight. As he moved up to the leader, Matters Most flew right by, and Yeung just tried to grab hold of his tail. He was beaten a long way but finished in a clear second position. KA YING RESILIENCE flew across to lead the field and kicked strongly at the top of the straight. He was gunned down midway down the stretch however and got tired late, holding on for third position, beaten 4-1/2 lengths.
Race 3 – Sha Tin Hoi Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.41 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
LUCKY MY WAY (NZ 3yo Proisir – Spirit Of Sandford) picked up his maiden victory in strong fashion, showing he may have a part to play ahead of the 4YO Series next season. He was awkwardly away from barrier nine and found himself at the rear of the field shortly after the jump, with Derek Leung happy to take up a rearward position aboard the three-year-old. He crossed down to the rail in the run with a strong tempo being set up front, and Lucky My Way was travelling strongly up to the turn. Leung got off the fence and started urging the gelding along around the home turn and didn't swing wide on the turn as he looked to weave his way through the traffic. He ran up backsides however and was blocked for a run early in the straight, eventually shifting off heels and into clear running with 300m left to run. Once clear he displayed his strength, winding up impressively to hit the front with 50m to run and run away with a dominant win, scoring by two lengths on the line as a $25 chance. PRESTIGE HALL eased out of the speed battle early on the land in a midfield position under Hugh Bowman, with the gelding racing keenly into the first turn. He got the head up off the back but had enough room to move around the turn, edging wider around the home turn and the gap appeared on straightening for Bowman to sprint through. He came through out wide to hit the front with 150m to run but Lucky My Way gave him windburn down the outside. He led home a bunch of rivals, holding on for second position in a photo finish. SMART FAT CAT was at the back of the pack on the home turn and flew home down the outside for Matthew Poon. He just missed out on second position in a photo but rounded out a massive trifecta with the main market hopes finishing back in the pack.
Race 4 – Pai Tau Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.53 Standard Time: 1:39.00 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
NEW FOREST (AUS 4yo g Justify – Paulownia) picked up his first win in Hong Kong as he dropped back to Class 4 for the first time. From the wide barrier, Lyle Hewitson flew out of the gates and crossed to lead the field heading into the first turn with a solid tempo being set early on. He set a solid tempo up front but he wasn't pressured through the middle stages, leading by about a length as they turned off the back. He travelled well past the 600m point and kicked strongly when challenged around the home turn to extend his margin at the top of the straight. He was there to be caught if his rivals were good enough, but they couldn't peg back the margin as he scored by 1-1/2 lengths, with the margin remaining the same right down the stretch. PRECISION GOAL showed good speed to get over from barrier five and settle on the back of the leader in the run. Hugh Bowman was stalking the leader around the first turn and the gelding was racing keenly into the back straight, settling better through the middle stages as Bowman remained within striking distance on the turn. The Australian hoop remained to the inside as they swung around the bend, following the leader around the turn before coming off heels to make his challenge early in the straight. The race as there for him to win if he was good enough, but he couldn't reel in New Forest down the straight, remaining in second right down to the line. MEEPMEEP finished off strongly from well back in the field to grab third, finishing 2-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 5 – Tin Sam Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.58 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Impressive three-year-old DAZZLING FIT (NZ 3yo g Ribchester – Sapphire Lass) made it back-to-back wins in great style and he looks destined for bigger and better races next season. Despite jumping from barrier three, Luke Ferraris allowed the speed to roll forward as he slot in just off the leaders, landing in a midfield position one off the fence. The field was bunched heading to the first turn but there was good tempo up front and Ferraris was well within striking distance coming to the home turn. The South African hoop just needed a touch of luck on straightening and the gap came early, with Ferraris getting off heels and nursing the progressive gelding through the split. Once clear he got through his gears and he never really looked like going under, taking the lead inside the final 150m and getting away to score by 1-1/4 lengths under hands and heels. FUN TOGETHER jumped well and rolled forward under Jerry Chau, sitting on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. Chau allowed the runners from out wide to cross him, putting him in the one-out-one-back position to the turn and the gelding moved into the race strongly around the turn. Chau let the gelding get through his gears before taking the lead approaching the 200m point. He didn't lead for long as Dazzling Fit claimed him shortly after, but he finished a clear second with third a further two lengths away. GOLDEN LUCK was caught wide early on from barrier 11 and had to press on early to take up the running. He led the field around the home turn and was traveling strongly heading into the straight. The gelding kicked strongly at the top of the straight but ultimately proved no match for the first two across the line. He stuck on well to the finish, ending up in third place.
Race 6 – The Lion Rock Trophy (Handicap), HK $4,200,000,
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:33.83 Standard Time: 1:33.95 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
The first Group race of the day went to Cody Mo and Matthew Chadwick with PRAY FOR MIR (AUS 4yo g Justify – Formality) leading all the way to pick up just the second win of his career. He was one of the first hoses out of the barriers and Chadwick took the gelding straight to the front, leading the field on settling down with ease. Once up front, Chadwick was able to control the speed, setting just an even tempo through the middle stages and hitting the brakes as they turned off the back. From the 600m, the local hoop turned up the heat, rolling into the home straight and sprinting very impressively when asked for an effort. He was challenged with a furlong to run and he may have been headed with around 150m remaining. Chadwick threw everything he had at the gelding however, and he fought back to reclaim the lead and pull away to win by a half-length, sealed with a first pump across the line. CHANCHENG GLORY also drew out wide and followed Pray For Mir across to sit on the outside of the leader in running. He moved closer turning off the back straight and was right there to strike on straightening. Luke Ferraris looked to take a narrow lead early in the straight, but he couldn't fend off Pray For Mir who fought back late in the race. He finished a clear second as a $20 chance. Group 1 winner BEAUTY ETERNAL bounced back to form, turning in his best run of the season. He stuck on well from midfield under James Orman to finish in third position as an $18 chance, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
Race 7 – Tai Wai Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.18 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE (GB 4yo g Havana Gold – Gladiatrix) made it back-to-back wins as he continues to work his way through the grades. He was away on terms from his inside barrier and ended up in a midfield position along the inside rail. The speed was solid throughout and Zac Purton was able to sneak through along the inside to make some ground prior to the home turn. The four-year-old had plenty to offer on straightening, he just needed some room to move as Purton worked his way through the traffic, going back to the inside to find the clear air early in the straight. He was coming strongly back to the inside and he got his nose down where it mattered most, getting his nose down on the line and scoring in a photo finish. INFINITE RESOLVE raced as Deconstruction for Ciaron Maher in Australia and was making his Hong Kong debut for Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris. He showed good speed early on to be on the outside of the leader early on. He obtained some cover as they turned off the back, getting a lovely run in the race and peeling three-wide at the top of the straight to make his challenge. He was hanging in under pressure, but he took the lead and was still in front with 100m to run. He fought gamely right to the line but just couldn't hold on to the lead, going under by the barest of margins. RIGHTEOUS ARION rolled across to find the front turning off the back and held the lead into the home straight. He couldn't go with the first two late in the race, but showed enough to finish in third position, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
Race 8 – The Sha TIN Vase (Handicap), HK $4,200,000,
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.14 Standard Time: 1:08.35 Course/Class record: 1:07.20 Ka Ying Rising
With the World's Best Sprinter out of the way, it was time for HELIOS EXPRESS (AUS 5yo g Toronado – Paris Texas) to get back to winning ways, securing his first victory since the 4YO Classic Cup over a year ago. From the wide barrier, Hugh Bowman took the gelding back from the draw with a strong tempo being set up front early on. He moved closer to the body of the field turning off the back and tracked wide on the turn, getting a nice tow into the race but was still 4-1/4 lengths off the lead at the top of the stretch. Bowman got him to the middle of the track in the straight and he let down strongly out wide with a wall of horses joining in at the furlong pole. He was motoring home late in the race and made a final dive at the leader, scoring by a short head on the line in a very tight finish. INVINCIBLE SAGE landed in a midfield position under Ben Thompson and travelled well to the turn, though he was boxed in between horses around the home turn. The gap appeared shortly after entering the straight and the Group 1 winner shot trough to take the lead coming to the 200m point. He shot away to open a margin on his rivals, though Helios Express was flying home late in the race. They went to the line locked together, but he went under narrowly with a photo finish being needed to decide the result. PATCH OF THETA didn't have the best of luck as he was caught behind the wall of horses after settling back in the run under Keagan De Melo. He just had to wait for others to make their run before he got his opportunity, costing him in the finish as he ended up a clear third, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
Race 9 – Fo Tan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.07 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
KA YING ATTACK (NZ 3yo g Too Darn Hot – Refreshing) bounced back to winning ways in fine style, with Matthew Poon leading all the way aboard the three-year-old. From barrier five, Poon pushed on to find the front, eventually crossing down to the rail with 1000m remaining. He led by over a length off the back and was cruising along comfortably under the local hoop. As the moved came on the turn, Poon clicked up the three-year-old and he found another gear, dropping off his rivals as he got two lengths in front at the 300m marker and extending that lead down the straight. They were getting closer to him at the finish, but the official margin was still two lengths at the post. EVERYONE'S STAR drifted back early in the race to end up in the second half of the field. The tempo was good but Zac Purton was still well back coming to the home turn, however the gelding was travelling strongly, and the Australian hoop got the flashy grey to the outside. He made a strong run right down the outside, but he never really looked a winning hope, finishing in second position. YUEN LONG ELITE stuck on well in the straight to finish in third position, beaten 2-1/2 lengths.
Race 10 – Penfold Park Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.12 Standard Time: 1:38.40 Course/Class record: 1:36.15 Hongkong Great
Lyle Hewitson made it a winning double on the day as TALENTS AMBITION (AUS 4yo g Into Mischief – Spirit Of Ecstasy) motored home on the All Weather surface to pick up his second win of the season. The grey fellow ended up in the second half of the field on settling down with Hewitson allowed the speed to press on heading into the first turn. It was a bunched field down the back straight with not a whole lot of speed on offer, but that changed at the 900m point with a few rivals pressing on down the back straight. Talents Ambition travelled well through the middle stages between horses and came under pressure approaching the home turn, with the South African hoop just needing an out at the top of the straight. The gap came and the four-year-old built through his gears with plenty of ground to make up in the straight. The leaders began to feel the pinch close to home and that's where Talents Ambition pounced, shooting through late to get over the top and score by a neck on the line. SOLIEL FIGHTER was sitting on the speed throughout the event, initially sitting on the outside of the leader before ending up one-out-one-back under Zac Purton. He travelled strongly to the turn and Purton produced him at the top of the straight to make his challenge on straightening. The gelding was coming home late in the race, but he couldn't fend off the big grey, grabbing second position in a photo finish. TELECOM FIGHTERS was able to dictate the speed through the first half of the race before being forced to ramp things up from the halfway point. He stuck on well down the straight and was only beaten close to home, finishing a neck away in third.
Race 11 – Ma Liu Shui Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.67 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
TOURBILLON PRINCE (AUS 6yo g Rommel – Colleges) handed Luke Ferraris a winning double on the card as he proved far too good in the final race of the day. The gelding jumped well from barrier eight and rolled across to sit close to the speed, landing in the one-out-one-back position early on before being left to face the breeze with 1000m remaining. As the speed came out of the race turning off the back, Ferraris moved up to be on the outside of the leader and he was travelling strongly around the turn. He began to lay down the gauntlet at the top of the stretch and as Ferraris worked through the gelding's gears, he began to get away. He broke away from the rest of the field. He was well in front with 150m to run and the race was over from that point, getting the job done by 2-1/4 lengths. GENTLEMEN LEGACY settled in a midfield position under Alex Badel, sitting three-wide with cover throughout. He continued to improve his position through the middle stages but was left flat footed when the sprint went on around the turn and was almost swallowed up by his rivals at the top of the straight. The French hoop was able to find some clear air and the gelding showed good strength late in the race, getting home strongly to grab second position in a photo finish. PRESTIGE RICKY came with his run alongside Gentlemen Legacy and those two hit the line locked together, with Prestige Ricky finishing in third position.