3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Celebrating Timeless Tradition Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.70 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents

TSUEN WAN GLORY (NZ 7yo g Smart Missile – Anne Of Cleves) got the day off to a winning start for Manfred Man and Britney Wong. The apprentice hoop urged her mount along to roll across from barrier eight, taking a sit on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. The speed was even through the opening stages and Tsuen Wan Glory was travelling well up to the 600m point, and that's where Wong began to apply the pressure. She moved up on the outside of the leader around the home turn and took the lead on straightening, turning in a blistering 400-200m sectional of 11.03 to break the race open. She was well in front with 150m to run and wouldn't be caught as she streaked her rivals, winning by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. CASHISCASH jumped well from gate four and held his position under Lyle Hewitson in the early stages of the race, landing on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. Hewitson remained along the fence around the turn before getting off the fence and onto the back of the eventual winner at the top of the straight. The South African hoop was there to strike if good enough, but the gap always remained the same down to the finish. Cashiscash finished a clear second, with the third horse a whopping 4-1/4 lengths back. FAIRY HORSE jumped the $3.8 favourite and snuck up the inside late in the race to grab third. He was miles off the winner though who was very impressive in the opener.

Race 2 – Ownership Pride 1200m Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.35 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King

Britney Wong made it a race-to-race double to begin the card, teaming up with Manfred Man once again as PATCH OF WATCH (AUS 5yo g I Am Invincible – Solar Moon) returned to winning form. The gelding got away on terms and the local apprentice had to nudge him along to roll forward from out wide, eventually getting across to lead outright as they headed toward the first turn. She kept the field running around the bend and had her rivals off the bit and chasing with 400m to run, though the five-year-old still had plenty in the tank and he kicked away from his rivals. The margin continued to extend down the home straight and while he did get tired close to home, he still won by two lengths on the line after jumping the $2.8 favourite. HINOKAMI KAGURA needed to be urged along after the start to make use of his barrier draw, as he ended up in the one-out-one-back position on settling down. Matthew Chadwick was still niggling at the gelding turning off the back and was earning his riding fee around the home turn. To the gelding's credit, he didn't lay down and kept fighting all the way to the post, showing plenty of strength in the closing stages of the race. He took some ground off the winner late, but it wasn't enough. DOUBLE BINGO finished third in a blanker finish as he sliced his way through the traffic late in the race, claiming the final placing as a $35 chance.

Race 3 – Racing Heritage 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.13 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends

Zac Purton picked up his first winner of the day with FUN N FUN TOGETHER (NZ 4yo g Charm Spirit – Musigny) scoring a debut victory. Purton fired the gelding out of the barriers, and he showed plenty of speed to get across after the jump and lead the field on settling down. The speed was quick early on, and the favourite joined Purton up front, but Purton kicked away again at the 600m point to lead by over a length heading into the straight. He waited patiently aboard the four-year-old before pressing the button, with the margin that he'd built proving to be a winning margin in the end. While he was getting tired late in the race, he would score by a length on the line, upsetting the $1.3 favourite. RISING FORCE was able to work across from out wide and sit on the outside of the leader as they turned off the back but was left behind with 600m to run as the leader kicked away. Derek Leung had to pick the gelding up around the home turn as he was a clear third at the top of the straight, but he rallied back under the urgings. He was closing off nicely down the outside, though he could only manage to finish in second position. ROBOT KNIGHT flew home from a midfield position to take third spot, just missing out on second in a photo finish.

Race 4 – Members' Care@HKJC 1800m Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:47.08 Standard Time: 1:48.10 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue

ORIENTAL SMOKE (AUS 7yo g Artie Schiller – I'm Mary Too) made it a race-to-race double for Zac Purton, holding on for his first victory in over a year. After jumping well from barrier five, the gelding ended up on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. The speed was good throughout and Purton began to make his move approaching the 600m point, pushing his way off the fence and into the three-wide line with cover as they came to the home turn. He travelled sweetly into the straight with Purton motionless aboard the gelding as he went to the lead under his own steam. He let rip when asked for an effort, quickly putting a couple of lengths on his rivals and kicked away to be well clear inside the final 100m. Purton eased the gelding down over the final 100m and while the gap narrowed, the win was never in doubt as the official margin was a neck. DOUBLE WIN was slowly away from an outside barrier and got back to settle near the tail of the field on settling down. After remaining well back in the run, Matthew Chadwick began to make his move with 600m remaining, moving into the three-wide line and getting a nice town into the race. He ended up being one of the widest in the straight, coming down the middle of the track with a strong effort. He never really looked like winning, but he cut the margin back to a neck on the line as the leader slowed up. KASA PAPA stuck on well to finish in third position after trailing Oriental Smoke into the straight.

Race 5 – The Beijing Clubhouse Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 55.57 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand

Hugh Bowman and Caspar Fownes combined with debutant DANCING CLASSICS (AUS 4yo g Press Statement – Touchy Greeley) to win the fifth race on the day. From an outside barrier, the four-year-old showed good speed and settled on the pace along the grandstand rail. He was travelling well as they joined the course proper and took control inside the final 400m while still under a strong hold. Bowman only pushed the button approaching the final furlong and the gelding inched away over the concluding stages. He was just too good on the day, scoring by a length in relatively easy fashion. FUN ELITE was another who jumped well and worked across to sit to the inside of Dancing Classics down the straight, just keeping his nose in front through the middle stages. The pair went to the 300m locked together and Zac Purton's mount stuck with the race favourite when the pressure went on. Fun Elite couldn't go with the debutant inside the final 50m though, finishing a clear second as the $3.3 second pick. HEROIC MASTER stuck on well closer to the crown of the track, finishing in third position.

Race 6 – The Hilltop In The Valley 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:09.01 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

BLAZING WUKONG (AUS 3yo g Toronado – Lotta Sugar) secured a handy debut victory, winning in impressive fashion for Andrea Atzeni and trainer Ricky Yiu. The debutant jumped on terms from out wide but was taken back in the early stages by Atzeni to settle near the tail of the field. He was racing between horses at the 600m point and came off the bit around the home turn. He needed plenty of luck did Atzeni and the gelding showed maturity and experience beyond his years. After squeezing through a narrow gap, the three-year-old ran gun barrel straight, getting over the top of his rivals to win by a half-length on the line in a very sharp performance. WONDERSTAR jumped well off the inside barrier and would settle on the back of the leader under James Orman. The Australian hoop got off the inside as the leader crossed him, ensuring he remained with clear air off the back straight as he raced behind the leading pair. He moved into the race nicely around the turn and took the lead with 250m remaining. It was only inside the final 50m where he looked vulnerable, and Blazing Wukong was able to grab him close to the post. RAINBOW SEVEN snuck up the inside to finish in third position after being a mile back and last on the home turn. Derek Leung scraped the paint, and the gelding ran on strongly into a minor placing.

Race 7 – The Members Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:08.11 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love

Trainer David Hayes picked up a winning double on the day as SOLID SHALAA (AUS 5yo g Shalaa – Lady Sioux) made it back-to-back wins with apprentice Ellis Wong partnering once again. The gelding wasn't the fastest into stride and had to pick up in the early stages as Wong ended up near the tail of the field. They were running along up front and Wong was positioned back to the inside fence, however with rivals getting off the rail around the home turn, this along the local apprentice to pick up some positions back to the inside. He sprinted quickly to run to second position with a furlong to run and set out after the breakaway leader. He mowed him down in the shadows of the post to pick up a narrow victory, scoring by a neck on the line in a strong win. PACKING BOLE jumped quickly from barrier seven and rolled forward early on, eventually taking up the running as they turned off the back straight. Jerry Chau kicked through underneath his rival to lead approaching the home turn and he kicked away impressively on straightening, opening up a five-length margin with a furlong to run. He was miles in front, but his stride was getting shorter close to home as Solid Shalaa was coming at him. He couldn't hold on for the victory, being caught in the shadows of the post. MR ENERGIA ran on strongly from midfield to finish in third position after not having much room to move early in the straight.

Race 8 – Sha Tin Clubhouse 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:22.07 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair

WORLD HERO (AUS 3yo g Written Tycoon – Shaaheq) handed David Hayes a winning treble on the day as he returned to winning form in good style. The gelding jumped well from barrier five and pressed forward to lead the field in the early stages, with Alexis Badel eventually getting over to the rail and settling down in the lead. The Frenchman was able to dictate the speed, clicking up the tempo from the 600m point and having his rivals chasing on the turn. He quickened impressively on straightening to get away from the chasing group under his own steam was still a length in front with 100m to run. The gelding had enough in the tank to hold his rivals at bay, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length on the line. SUGAR BALL jumped quickly from gate four and settled close to the speed under Derek Leung, ending up in the one-out-one-back position on settling down. He travelled well through the middle stages and popped into the clear at the top of the straight to make his challenge. He was there to strike if good enough, taking ground off the winner inside the final 100m, but he ran out of time to stick his nose in front. BULL ATTITUDE had the back of the leader and eventual winner in the run and held on for third position in a tight photo finish, beaten 3-1/4 lengths.

Race 9 – Beas River Country Club 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:08.74 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

MODULECONSTRUCTION (AUS 5yo g Overshare – Sprint Burst) made it back-to-back wins with a gutsy performance under Lyle Hewitson. The five-year-old got away well from out wide and rolled across under the South African jockey to sit on the outside of the leader. He travelled strongly through the middle stages and loomed large on the outside of the leader at the top of the straight, eventually sticking his nose in front with around 200m remaining. He fought off the leader close to home and while there were a few horses charging at him late, he was too strong and scored by a half-length. MAJESTIC EXPRESS got away well from barrier four and landed in a midfield position, sitting one off the fence. He didn't look to be travelling comfortably between horses through the middle stages, throwing his head up, but he was more tractable as they swung around the home turn. Atzeni didn't have the best of luck on straightening and had to be patient for the gap to appear, only getting out late and flashing home. He ran into second position but may have challenged for the victory with more room at the top of the straight. BLAZING WIND raced on the back of the leader and had his chance if he was good enough in the straight. He stuck on well to finish in third position, beaten a length, but was probably inclined to finish closer.

Race 10 – Shenzhen Centre 1600m Handicap, HK $2,050,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good

Time: 1:34.98 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit

WINNING GOLD (AUS 4yo g Brazen Beau – Shimada) scored his third win of the season, bringing up Orman's seventh winner of the season after flying into Hong Kong in February. After jumping from barrier 10, the Australian jockey was left racing wide through the early stages and was forced to put the foot down, rolling forward and getting across to sit on the outside of the leader. As they travelled off the back, Winning Gold was racing comfortably with the speed coming right out of the race. Orman strode forward around the home turn and quickly took the leader shortly after straightening with Winning Hold sprinting impressively at the top of the straight. He was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, but the four-year-old had too much gas in the tank, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. MORGAN SUCCESS was unable to slot in from barrier six and raced in the three-wide running line through the early and middle stages. This didn't hurt his chances though as he was able to creep forward around the home turn and find himself within striking distance of the leaders, while remaining with cover. Lyle Hewitson got into the clear on straightening and the gelding sprinted quickly, looming as a winning chance early in the straight. The race was there for him to win if he was good enough, but he couldn't peg back the margin on Winning Gold and was forced to settle for second position. HUGE WAVE came from a long way back to charge home into third position down the middle of the track. He too loomed as a danger to winning gold midway down the stretch, but may have peaked on his run close to home.