3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Hong Tung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.70 Standard Time: 1:34.95 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Caspar Fownes scored his first win of the season in the opening event of the card, combining with Hugh Bowman to salute with FAMILY JEWEL (NZ 4yo g Time Test – Awesome). The four-year-old was slowly away from barrier four and settled near the tail of the field with a solid tempo being set up front. Bowman got off the inside rail as the passed the 800m point and tracked into the race strongly as they swung into the straight. The Australian got to the outside early in the straight and began to run on strongly near the middle of the track, lengthening well and making plenty of ground late in the race. He ate into the margin, sticking his nose in front with 50m to run and inching away to win by a neck in course and class record time. SIMPLE HEDGE landed in a position a little worse than midfield on jumping for Lyle Hewitson. He got into a nice spot as they began to work into the race, racing with cover one off the rail before peeling wider at the top of the stretch. The gelding stuck his nose in front with 200m remaining but was gunned down with 50m remaining. He held on for second, breaking the previous course and class record in the process as well. SPECIAL BRONCO rolled forward from barrier 3 to settle on the back of the leader in the run. With a good pace on offer, Matthew Poon was able to stalk the speed before peeling into the clear on straightening to mount his challenge. He was claimed by Simple Hedge with 200m to run, but he didn't go down without a fight, hanging in there right to the wire to finish just a half-length off the winner.
Race 2 – Wah Fu Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.92 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
GALE SAGA (AUS 4yo g So You Think – Secret Copy) continued Matthew Poon's hot start to the year, with the four-year-old breaking his maiden at start number six. The gelding jumped well ad rolled forward from the draw to settle in the one-out-one-back position. It was a good piece of riding by Poon to settle in a handy position with the pace just fair through the middle stages of the race. The gelding was under some pressure as they swung for home but picked up nicely under the local hoop as he ended up near the middle of the track. Gale Saga took the lead with 150m remaining and drew away under the top weight, beating the odds-on favourite by 1-1/4 lengths. HO HO STAR was the odds-on pop for Zac Purton and Dennis Yip, settling in the second half of the field. He was racing away from the rail, but did have cover as he travelled well in the run before beginning to make his move around the home turn. The gelding got a bit unbalanced when Purton asked for an effort, wobbling about under the urgings, though he did stride out well inside the final 150m. He was taking some ground off the leader late in the race, but it wasn't enough as he settled for second. DRAGON DELIGHT rallied late in the race to finish third after settling to the inside of Gale Saga in the run. He did his best work inside the final 100m, picking off a couple late to land the final step on the podium.
Race 3 – Kwong Fuk Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.15 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Zac Purton picked up his first win of the day in race three, as he partnered the Mark Newnham-trained SUPER INFINITY (AUS 4yo g Star Witness – Annonay) to his first win. The gelding got away on terms from a middle barrier and Purton looked to roll forward early in the race, niggling the gelding along to land between horses on the speed. He was sitting on the leader's hindquarters in the run, holding that distance around the home turn with Purton remaining patient aboard the four-year-old. The leader looked to get away just a touch early in the straight, though Super Infinity sprinted strongly when Purton asked for an effort, taking the lead with 200m to run. He looked to still be learning his trade, but once he got straightened up inside the final 100m he shot away from the chasing pack to win by 1-1/4 lengths. KING OBERON ended up in the second half of the field on settling down, sitting between horses one off the fence as they raced in a bunched field. Lyle Hewitson was able to track wider on the course as they worked into the straight, finding clear air with 400m to run down the middle of the track. He was making good headway, but he had plenty of ground to make up and he wasn't doing it quick enough. He was strong to the line, but he was unable to catch the winner, finishing 1-1/4 lengths away. JUBILANT WINNER raced in second-last position in the run, sitting three-wide with cover under Ben Thompson. As they swung for home, he was the widest runner in the straight and make his run alongside King Oberon. He peaked on the effort late but finished a clear third as a $57 chance.
Race 4 – Wah Fu Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.41 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Purton quickly made it a double on the day, winning race four with the David Hall-trained CHARMANDER (NZ 5yo g Shooting To Win – Moment Of Choice). The long-standing maiden drifted back towards the tail of the field on settling down after jumping from barrier 12. The gelding raced in a three-wide position throughout, but did have cover for Purton as the leader broke away around the turn. Purton began to work into the race from the 600m point with horses in front of him dragging him into the race, with Charmander ending up down the middle of the track when he came with his run. The field was stretched right across the track, with Charmander thundering down the outside to stick his nose in front with 100m to run. He was peaking on the run late as his main market danger was coming back at him late, but to the 23-start maiden's credit, he fought on gamely and held on to win by a head on the line. PERFECT PEACH didn't go down without a fight for Lyle Hewitson, who had now ridden three second placings in the first four races of the day. Sitting in a midfield position early in the run, he was shuffled back a touch through the middle stages with the horse in front of him falling back in his face. Swinging around the bend, the seas parted for Hewitson and he was into the clear with plenty of time remaining, setting out after the breakaway leader. He quickened well for Hewitson but never took the lead as Charmander came past him with 150m to run. Charmander and Perfect Peach squared off to fight out the finish late in the race with the two breaking away from the rest of the field. Perfect Peach didn't go down without a fight, though it wasn't enough to take the victory. ISLAND GOLDEN stuck on well from up on the speed to finish in third position, 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 5 – Mei Tung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.65 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Angus Chung and Pierre Ng combined to cause an upset in race five, with $41 chance TEAM HAPPY (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Alberton Park) scoring in fine style. The gelding was caught wide early in the race, sitting four deep and without cover throughout the opening stages. Angus Chung had to take his medicine as he was unable to slot into the running line, rolling forward and letting the four-year-old do as he pleased out wide. Swinging for home, Team Happy was poised to strike with Chung sitting patiently aboard the four-year-old as he ambled up to join the leader. It looked like the field was getting to him midway down the stretch, but when the local hoop pulled the whip through, the gelding found again, kicking away with a furlong remaining. He broke clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths close to the line, winning comfortably. MIGHTY STRENGTH settled in the back half of the field for Antoine Hamelin after jumping from a wide barrier. After getting into the running line, Hamelin had plenty of backs to follow swinging around the bend, getting four-wide around the turn and into the clear shortly after straightening. The gelding stuck on well out wider on the course, plugging away to the line to finish in second place. ENJOY GOLF loomed like a winning hope midway down the straight before peaking on the run close to home. He was passed close to the line by Mighty Strength to finish third, 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 6 – Hing Wah Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.95 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
David Hall secured a winning do0uble on the day as MR ENERGIA (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Jolie Blonde) got the job done in the first All Weather race of the season. From an outside draw, Harry Bentley snagged the gelding back through the field, taking the four-year-old back to slot into the three-wide line on settling down. He was able to creep forward around the outside of runners with a rival dragging him through the field, but with a fast tempo set up front he was under pressure a long way from home. He didn't swing wide in the straight as a gap opened in front of him, allowing a straight run to the finish under the English rider. Passing the 200m point, he was making up plenty of ground and it didn't take long for the son of Swiss Ace to capture the lead. He took over and drew away with ease late in the race, showing plenty of strength to win by 1-1/4 lengths eased down. CRAZY THE TREASURE had stalked the hot speed in the run, sitting fourth around the turn before getting off heels and into the clear turning for home. Matthew Chadwick's mount moved up to hit the front with around 150m to run, but the time in the lead was short lived as Mr Energia blew right by him under a hold. He didn't fade away though close to the line, finishing a clear second. REGENT GLORY was third in the run, sitting close to the hot speed but he kept on strongly to the post to finish third, beaten 3 lengths.
Race 7 – The Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (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
Zac Purton made it a winning treble on the day with DEVAS TWELVE (AUS 5yo g Headwater – Phar Too Fast) securing the second win of his career. The Chris So-trained galloper rolled forward early in the race but was left racing three-wide through the opening stanza as Purton had to urge the gelding along to get one off the rail. He didn't stop there though, continuing to roll forward and get to a clear second around the home turn, trucking up to the leader ominously as they turned into the straight. The Australian hoop was sitting
patiently aboard his mount while his rivals were all hard at work, With Devas Twelve eventually taking the lead with 200m remaining. He was made to fight for the win though with Dragon Four Seas right there with him over the final 150m, but Devas Twelve packed too many punches, getting the job done by a head on the line. DRAGON FOUR SEAS drifted back shortly after the start to sit in the three-wide trail early on, racing on the back of the eventual winner early in the race. As they sorted their order out turning off the back, Derek Leung was left racing wide and without cover, but he allowed his mount to stride freely around the outside to be within striking distance on straightening. He and Devas Twelve made their runs together, racing neck-and-neck from the 200m point and fighting out the win between them over the final 100m. Leung threw everything he had at the gelding, but it wasn't enough as he went down by a head. SATRIICAL GLORY made some late ground down along the inside to finish in third spot, beaten a half-length.
Race 8 – Oi Tung Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.74 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Chris So and Zac Purton combined again in race eight with SUPER WIN DRAGON (AUS 7yo g Better Than Ready – Vital Page), bringing up a double for So and a four-timer for Purton. From gate four, Purton drove Super Win Dragon out of the gates to sit on the speed, eventually slotting in to sit on the back of the leader on settling down. After enjoying a cosy run throughout, Purton peeled into the clear on straightening with a few lengths to make up on the leader. The response from the seven-year-old was immediate, with Super Win Dragon letting rip to his the front 100m from home. He had a couple of rivals bearing down on him close to home, but he was too strong late, holding them at bay and winning by a neck. CAPITAL DELIGHT had raced three-wide with cover from a midfield position for Vincent Ho. He sat off a strong tempo in the run and lengthened nicely when asked for an effort on straightening. He was right alongside the eventual winner with 100m to run, but he just may have felt the pinch late in the race, finishing a neck away. TALENTS AMBITION stormed home from a long way back, finishing a half-length off the winner with the first three across the line, putting a space in the rest of the field.
Race 9 – Lok Wah Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.74 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
MAGIC CONTROL (AUS 4yo g Sioux Nation – Jackpot Queen) secured his first victory in Hong Kong, leading down the straight to get the job done for Matthew Chadwick and Cody Mo. He wasn't the fastest away, but he mustered good speed to roll forward from a favourable outside alley to eventually take the lead with around 600m remaining. Chadwick had a good grip on the galloper as they passed the 300m point, with a number of his rivals under heavy pressure. Not a whole lot changed down to the line, with Magic Control able to lead to the post for an easy win, scoring by a length on the line. STELLAR EXPRESS surged out of the barriers to be the clear leader early doors, but eventually handed up to Magic Control with around 600m remaining. He raced along in second position pressed up against the grandstand rail and came under pressure as they went past the 400m point. The gelding didn't give in though, responding to the urgings of Brenton Avdulla to hold on for second place and not let the leader get away. CELESTIAL COLOURS raced in third position throughout the event and was able to hold that position down to the line.
Race 10 – Yiu Tung Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.17 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
SUNLIGHT POWER (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Emirates Comfort) made an impression on his seasonal return. After jumping on terms, Jerry Chau found himself in the second half of the field and looking to slot in from barrier 9. Chau moved into a midfield position to try and find a back to follow, but in the end, he was forced to face the breeze. He was pushed extremely wide on the turn, but despite all of that, he was travelling strongly under a hold and was within striking distance if good enough. He lengthened like a nice horse down the outside, eating up the ground to hit the front with 150m remaining. He was far too good late in the race, pointing to him being ready to take the next step this campaign, pulling away from his rivals to win comfortably by 2 lengths. FORTUNATE SON was closing off well from the back of the pack to finish second. After being near last in the run and hemmed dup along the inside rail, Brenton Avdulla was able to work his way right to the outside in the straight and make some late ground. He looks as though he'll be winning a race soon with a little more luck in running. MIGHTY STEED was another who closed off strongly from the rear at a $66 starting quote. Keith Yeung weaved back towards the inside to steal third position in a photo finish.