3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Chevalier E&M Engineering Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.36 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Derek Leung and Cody Mo combined to win the opener with SUPER WISE DRAGON (AUS 6yo g Snitzel – Houston Benefactor) who was far too strong dropping back in distance. The gelding got away on terms from an inside barrier with Leung holding a midfield position as they sorted their order out, niggling at his mount to hold his position through the early stages. The tempo was even, and Super Wise Dragon was ticking along comfortably under Leung, who began to shift away from the rail passing the 600m point. Leung was able to get into clear air as they swung the bend, building into the race nicely on straightening and taking the lead with around 250m to run. He hit the front and never looked like being run down, inching away from his rivals with every stride and going home to win comfortably by 1-3/4 lengths. FIRE BALL jumped from the outside barrier and rolled forward out of the barriers, with Karis Teetan able to slide across into the one-out-one-back position on settling down. He enjoyed the run of the race through the middle stages and waited until the point of the corner before peeling out, attempting to keep his opponent in a pocket on straightening. He ground away down the straight, sticking on gamely along the inside to fight back into second position, getting past rivals who had overtaken him earlier in the straight. SO AWESOME had raced to the outside of Super Wise Dragon in the run and was there to strike if good enough. He hung in there for a long way but may have knocked up late in the race, ending up in third position.
Race 2 – Chevalier Enterprise Digital Solutions Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.82 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Leung and Mo quickly made it a race-to-race double as they teamed up once again with ALLURING LAOS (AUS 4yo g Flying Artie – Stevenson) getting the job done on debut. The four-year-old showed good speed from the outside barrier and sat up on the pace throughout, racing along the grandstand rail after jumping from a wide barrier. He was over a length off the leader as they passed the 400m point with the local jockey beginning to urge Alluring Laos along to chase down the leader who looked to be travelling well. Leung switched back to the inside early in the straight to make his run, eating into the margin with every stride before taking the lead with 50m remaining. The gelding was too strong late in the race, inching away to score by a half-length on the line. KA YING RESILIENCE jumped quickly and went straight to the front under Zac Purton. He led rather comfortably in the end with the Australian jockey sliding across to be close to the grandstand rail on settling. He looked to have plenty to offer in the straight as Purton hadn't moved on the gelding inside the 400m marker. He stuck on well when asked for an effort, but he didn't quicken as anticipated, with Alluring Laos reeling him in with around 50m left to run. FLYING DRAGON was always in third position and finished a length off the winner in a sound effort.
Race 3 – Chevalier Environmental Engineering Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.33 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
There was an upset in race three with $43 outsider HONG LOK GOLF (AUS 4yo g Grunt – Sky Island) scored on debut. He wasn't the quickest into stride off the inside barrier but was able to muster through and end up in a position just off the speed for Harry Bentley. The field split in two around the turn, with the first four in running getting away from the rest of the pack, headed by Hong Lok Golf with Bentley already beginning to feel for the gelding with around 600m remaining. The gelding responded though, quickly narrowing the gap to the leading division around the home turn and being there to strike at the top of the straight. As he was getting to the front, a horse zoomed up on his outside to make a race of it and to the gelding's credit, he showed plenty of fight to fend off that challenge. He found another gear late, extending the margin close to home to get the job done by a half-length. SKY JOY jumped from barrier three and was caught racing wide in the early stages before getting across into the running line approaching the first turn. The gelding would end up on the outside of Hong Lok Golf as they worked around the turn, with Jerry Chau swinging wide in the straight to keep his momentum up. He loomed strongly on the outside of the eventual winner, but he couldn't stick his nose in front in the dying stages, eventually going under by a half-length in a very commendable effort. NEW FUTURE FOLKS stuck on gamely after being part of the leading division, getting off heels and into the clear at the top of the straight and taking the lead with 200m to run. He was tiring late in the race and couldn't go with the first two, but he held on for third in a very strong effort.
Race 4 – Chevalier Healthcare Investment Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.33 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
OFFROAD MASTER (NZ 4yo g Time Test – Freight Train Jane) made it a winning treble for trainer Cody Mo through the first four races, getting the job done at start two. He wasn't the fastest away from his inside barrier, but Matthew Chadwick urged the gelding along to improve his early position, getting into second place and making the leader work sitting one off the fence. Chadwick made sure the four-year-old kept his head in the space around the turn, not allowing the leader to cross through the middle stages and then burrowing through approaching the 400m point. He took the lead shortly after straightening but there were plenty of horses right there to strike. He was in a ding-dong battle down the straight, but he showed plenty of strength to find off that more fancied runner, pulling away in the final stages to win by three quarters of-a-length. SHANGHAI STYLE jumped well from barrier three and landed on the back of the leader in running, sitting one off the fence. After a lovely run through the middle stages, Hugh Bowman moved into the clear around the turn and moved up to the leaders to lay down the gauntlet at the top of the straight. The leader weakened out of contention, leaving Offroad Master and Shanghai Style to fight it out over the closing stages. It was a tight tussle, but Shanghai Style just looked to feel the pinch late in the race, with Offroad Master coming out on top. GOLDEN LONG was there to strike on straightening as Derek Leung moved off the inside and into the clear. He stuck on well just off the leading battle, ending up two lengths off the winner in third position in a solid effort.
Race 5 – Chevalier Insurance Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.12 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
James McDonald picked up his first win of the afternoon, teaming up with Manfred Man to score aboard SELF IMPROVEMENT (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Jerry's Witness). After getting away on terms, the gelding showed good early speed to settle just off the leaders approaching the first turn. McDonald remained away from the inside rail and began to make a move around the field with 600m remaining, peeling wider on the course and building his momentum around the home turn. It didn't take long before he hit the front and he drew away from the chasers, leading comfortably all the way down the straight to score by 1-3/4 lengths in good fashion. MUST GOJ was chasing from a long way out under Brenton Avdulla but could only manage second place. From barrier six, Avdulla was able to cross down early and get into a handy position in midfield. Coming up to the turn, he was just over a length off the eventual winner, but the gelding was unable to match the turn-of-foot Self Improvement possessed. He kept on gamely to the line though, fending off a challenger to take second position. SUPER WIN DRAGON did battle with Must Go right down the straight and was only two lengths off the winner when crossing the line in third, with a big gap back to the rest of the field.
Race 6 – Chevalier Lifts & Escalators Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.15 Standard Time: 1:34.95 Course/Class record: 1:33.70 Family Jewel
MATSU VICTOR (NZ 4yo g U S Navy Flag – Lazaan) scored his second win of the season in narrow style with Keith Yeung in the saddle for Francis Lui. The four-year-old was slowly away from barrier three but mustered well under Yeung to land just off the speed and along the inside rail in a good piece of riding. He wasn't too far off the speed as they turned off the back and he was travelling sweetly around the home turn. Yeung began to inch his way off the inside with 500m to run, getting into clear air on straightening and setting out after the leader. He let down well to hit the front with 300m to run, but he had a fight on his hands. He and Flying Luck paired off to fight it out down to the wire, but Matsu Victor packed too many punches, holding on to the lead and winning by a short head on the line, despite jumping a $45 chance. FLYING LUCK drifted back early on and landed in a midfield position one off the fence for Hugh Bowman. After a cosy run in transit, Bowman elected to work through the traffic along the inside and copped a couple of bumps in the process. The gaps appeared and he sprinted through to join Matsu Victor in front inside the final furlong. The race was there to win if he was good enough, but he couldn't get his nose in front and was forced to settle for second place. JUMBO FORTUNE stormed home late in the race to finish in third, weaving his way through the traffic under James McDonald.
Race 7 – The Chevalier Cup (Handicap), HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.34 Standard Time: 1:34.45 Course/Class record: 1:32.96 Not Usual Talent
Francis Lui picked up a winning double and Derek Leung a winning treble in the feature event of the day, with PATCH OF THETA (AUS 5yo g Zoustar – Fortune Of War) winning comfortably. He was interfered with coming out of the barriers, but he was still able to hold a forward position on settling down, landing on the back of the leader. The pace was even through the opening and middle stages of the race with Patch Of Theta right there to strike as they swung into the bend. The gap appeared for Derek Leung and he ambled through the space with the gelding letting rip once finally asked for an effort, he took the lead approaching the 200m point and shot away inside the final furlong, putting his rivals to the sword and winning by 2-1/4 lengths. VOYAGE SAMURAI bounced well and went straight to the front under Keith Yeung, setting the tempo throughout the event. He ran along at even fractions and looked to have plenty to offer as they turned for home. He kicked well on straightening, but the winner came off his back and was far too strong. He stuck on well to hold on for second position, but it was all about the winner. SUNLIGHT POWER finished off strongly late in the race to finish in third place.
Race 8 – Chevalier Property Development Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.37 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
CHARMING LEGEND (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Spellbinder) got the job done on debut, remaining unbeaten after winning both starts in Australia under the same moniker. From barrier seven, Zac Purton landed in a beautiful position, getting across to sit on the speed in the one-out-one-back position. He enjoyed the run of the race under Purton, who waited patiently before peeling into the clear on straightening with the four-year-old beginning to work through his gears. He was looming ominously early in the straight with Purton not yet pushing the button. He let down strongly once finally asked for an effort, hitting the front with 150m left to run and drawing away from the rest of the pack. He won easily in the end, handing Zac Purton his first winner of the afternoon. GLORIOUS SUCCESS raced in a midfield position under Andrea Atzeni, sneaking along the inside after jumping from the inside barrier. He was travelling well through the middle stages and worked into the race nicely as he got onto the back of the eventual winner swinging for home. He was making good ground down the outside late in the race, but he was no match for the winner. KA YING SUPERB had made the pace through the middle stages of the event and hung on well out inn front to finish in third position.
Race 9 – Chevalier Property Management Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.45 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
James McDonald secured a winning double as he guided home the David Eustace-trained SWIFT ASCEND (AUS 5yo g Lord Kanaloa – Believe Yourself). The gelding landed in a midfield position from barrier five, with McDonald able to get across very early in the race. The tempo was strong early on with the field strung out turning off the back, but this allowed Swift Ascend to race in clear galloping room and truck into the race three-wide with cover. He moved into the race powerfully down the outside and sprinted right by his rivals early in the straight when McDonald asked for an effort, taking the lead with 200m to run. Once he got to the front the race was over, with McDonald and Swift Ascend breaking away from the rest of the field and getting the job done by 2-1/4 lengths. SAVVY BRILLIANT settled in the back half of the field for Zac Purton, racing along the inside rail after not having the best of luck at the jump. The gelding got into the clear with 300m remaining after some good riding by Purton, with being only a length or so off Swift Ascend, but he couldn't match it over the concluding stages, finishing a clear second. FULL CREDIT held on for third position in a photo finish after setting the tempo up front.
Race 10 – Chevalier Aluminium Engineering Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.43 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
SKY TRUST (AUS 4yo g So You Think – Humble) got the job done in the final event of the night for Lyle Hewitson and Caspar Fownes, pushing Fownes into second place early on in the Trainers' Title race. From the outside barrier, Sky Trust showed good early speed, and Hewitson allowed the gelding to slide across and land on the outside of the leader early in the race. The tempo was even throughout, with the South African hoop sitting just off the leader and stalking him throughout the middle stages with no change to the order. As they swung for home, Hewitson got to work aboard the four-year-old and he ran to the front with 300m left to run, taking the lead and getting away from most of his rivals. It was his first try over the mile and the gelding looked to be feeling the pinch late in the race, with Hewitson throwing everything he had at his mount. He essentially picked him up and threw Sky Trust over the line, with the $6.40 chance holding on to win by a head on the line. AMAZING VICTORY worked across to sit on the back of Sky Trust in the run after also jumping from a wide barrier. Vincent Ho remained on the back of Sky Trust right throughout the race and was still right there with 300m to run when Sky Trust got to the front. He couldn't match the turn-of-foot of Sky Trust, though he showed his strength late in the race when rallying back over the final 100m. He was charging late but just missed out on the win by a head on the line. GOLDEN ARTIE was on the leader's back turning for home and was held up at a crucial stage as he went for a run up the inside. He stuck on well to finish in third, only a neck off the winner, with the run having plenty of merit.