3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Ho Pui Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.10 Standard Time: 1:09.25 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure
Ben Thompson picked up his first winner of the new season as he partnered the Caspar Fownes-trained DAILY TROPHY (NZ 5yo g Tarzino – Gin Swing) to victory in the opener. The gelding got away on terms and put himself in a good position for Thompson, landing in the one-out-one-back position. He enjoyed a lovely run through the middle stages, racing in prime position turning off the back, before the Australian hoop began to make his move approaching the home turn. Thompson peeled three-wide swinging into the straight and the gelding was grinding away out wider on the track, eventually taking the lead with around 150m to run. There was a couple of a rivals looming late in the race, but Daily Trophy was too strong as he scored by a neck on the line. VULCANUS was left racing wide and without cover after jumping well from the outside alley. Angus Chung tried to drift back and slot into the running line with cover, but that didn't eventuate, and the local hoop was left facing the breeze throughout the race. Coming to the home turn, Vulcanus did get a nice cart into the event on the back of Daily Trophy who had peeled three-wide to commence his run, giving Chung a back to follow heading for home. In the straight, the race was there for Vulcanus if he was good enough, looming on the outside of Daily Trophy right down the stretch, though he was never able to stick his nose in front and was safely held to the line. HIGH RISE POWER snuck into third spot after getting the nod in a photo finish. He ran on well under Brenton Avdulla down the straight, but never really looked a winning hope.
Race 2 – Hoi Pa Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:35.55 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
CASA LEGEND (NZ 6yo g Tavistock – Sea Venture) proved far too good in the first turf race of the day. After getting away well from barrier two, Matthew Poon had Casa Legend running in the one-out-one-back position early in the race. The field continued to sort their order out approaching the 800m point with the speed just average through the opening half of the event. As the race began to unfold at the 600m point, Casa Legend had been shuffled back to a midfield position, racing between horses as the sprint went on. The gap appeared shortly after straightening and the gelding quickened nicely to loom up to the leaders early in the straight. He strode up ominously under Poon, before taking the lead with 150m to run and drawing clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths in good order. CHARMANDER was made to work a touch in the early stages, sitting three-wide before eventually pushing on to sit on the outside of the leader. He travelled well with the pace not overly strong in the event and he looked to have plenty to offer as they turned into the straight. Zac Purton loomed up to the leader, but he didn't quicken as anticipated when the Australian pushed the button. Casa Legend took over shortly after and ran away with the race, with Charmander finishing a clear second. GO HERO had all the favours up on speed and finished a clear third, 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 3 – Sha Tsui Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.87 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
SUPER LEGENDS (AUS 4yo g Brave Smash – Devil's Harmony) scored his first win in 12 months. Alfred Chan took the four-year-old straight to the front from barrier seven, rolling forward to lead relatively comfortably early in the race. The race favourite stacked up the field around the turn, slowing the tempo and bunching the field with 600m remaining, with the field being five-wide around the home turn. Chan was still smoking the pipe as they turned for home, sitting motionless aboard the gelding as he got a length in front early in the straight, only asking for an effort with 300m remaining. There was only one horse who looked a danger close to home, but even then, Super Legends was well in control, leading all the way to win by 1-1/2 lengths. YEE CHEONG RAIDER was a little slow into stride and settled toward the back of the field for Vincent Ho. When the field packed up around the turn, it allowed Ho to slide forward with cover out wide, getting a nice cart into the race as the local hoop swung wide into the straight. He came between horses at the 400m to make his move, but he was unable to peg back the margin as he finished a clear second. A further 2-3/4 lengths behind the second horse was FUNG who hung on for third up the inside. He raced on the back of the leader in running and remained right along the paint down to the wire.
Race 4 – Tai Ho Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.22 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
JOLLY COMPANION (AUS 5yo g All Too Hard – Nubian) scored his maiden victory at start 14 and gave Britney Wong her second career victory in Hong Kong. There was plenty of pace early on, including Jolly Companion as Wong urged her mount to be up front in the early stages. The local apprentice was happy to sit on the outside of the leader turning off the back but passing the 600m point Wong took the bull by the horns and took the lead. Around the turn, Wong ended up out near the middle of the course, giving her rivals a sniff at the top of the straight. It was only a sniff though, as Jolly Companion got the job done by a length on the line. BOWSER settled in the second half of the field after jumping from barrier 12. Brenton Avdulla began to make his move with 500m to run, coming out wide in the straight after getting a nice cart in. It took him a little while to wind up, but his best work came in the last furlong as he ran home strongly late in the race to grab second, though he never really looked a winning chance. COSMO NAVIGATOR was good back in third position after sitting close to the speed three-wide and without cover. He kept on well to the line and is worth following.
Race 5 – Tak Wah Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.81 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton and Pierre Ng combined for their first win of the day with $2.60 favourite FIGHTING MACHINE (NZ 5yo g War Decree – Udiditagain). From a middle alley, Purton came out neutral and let the race unfold early on before being able to slot into the running line approaching the first turn. The race unfolded nicely in front of Purton as the runs began to come with approaching the home turn, this allowed Purton to find a back to follow into the race. He had plenty to offer turning for home did Fighting Machine, though Purton was boxed in between horses at the top of the straight. He had some ground to make up when he finally pushed his way into the clear with 300m remaining, but Purton got to work, and he put in his best work close to home. He gobbled up the leader with 50m to run and went on to win comfortably by a length on the line. AFFIRM was brace from the front with a light weight for Matthew Poon. The local hoop rolled forward from a wide draw and had to do a bit of work to get there. He led comfortably turning off the back, over a length in front and he was able to do as he pleased around the turn. He kicked strongly at the top of the straight when Poon asked for an effort, and he proved tough to run down. He was still a length in front with 100m remaining, but the winner was just a class above as he was mowed down late. MR ENERGIA made his run alongside Fighting Machine in the straight after settling near the back of the field for Harry Bentley. He just felt the pinch late in the race and could only manage third.
Race 6 – Tak Wah Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.66 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was a bunched finish in race six, but it was DEAL COMPLETED (AUS 4yo g Exceed And Excel – Rockzel) who scored his maiden victory for Harry Bentley and Jimmy Ting. The four-year-old was away on terms but mustered good speed to cross from barrier eight and lead the field early on. He was kept off the rail down the back straight before eventually getting across to the rail approaching the first turn. He didn't slow the tempo once he had the outright lead, with Bentley keeping the field running around the home turn and into the straight. He kicked well when asked for an effort at the top of the straight and fought off his first challenger coming down to the 250m mark. The chasing pack was right across the track, but Deal Completed still led by over a length with 100m left to run and he couldn't be run down, winning by a neck on the line. FORERUNNER was taken back to the tail of the field on jumping after getting away on terms from the outside alley. Angus Chung was happy to let the race unfold through the middle stages and was still a clear last with 400m remaining. The local hoop shifted his mount into the clear, being the widest runner in the straight as he began to make his run down the middle of the track. He closed off strongly from a mile back but couldn't catch the winner who was too strong from the front. He got the nod for second in a photo finish, just edging out JUMBO LEGEND who was bursting through between runners late in the race for Luke Ferraris.
Race 7 – The Yan Chai Trophy (Handicap), HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.00 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
The odds-on favourite was turned over in race seven by the David Hayes-trained RUBYLOT (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Emirates Comfort) who notched up his second win in-a-row, and his third victory from his last four starts. The gelding got away on terms but didn't show as much pace as his rivals, settling worse than midfield for Brenton Avdulla. The pace remained good through the middle stages with Avdulla beginning to urge the gelding along as they swung into the straight. The Australian got into the clear at the top of the straight, but he had a mile to make up as he was wobbling about when placed under pressure on straightening. Once he was balanced, he let rip inside the final furlong, mowing down the $1.50 favourite to win by a half-length on the line from a mile back. BOTTOMUPTOGETHER was well supported and jumped quickly to roll forward in the opening stages. Zac Purton had the gelding settling on the outside of the leader in running with a solid tempo being set through the middle stages. The lightly raced galloper didn't make the corner too well, but he looked to have plenty to offer under Purton as they swung into the straight. He loomed ominously under a hold and ran to the front, quickly putting a length on his rivals close to home. He was still a length in front with 50m to run, but he was tiring close to the line, and he was swallowed by Rubylot. GREAT STATE stuck on well to finish third at a huge price.
Race 8 – Sha Tsui Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.43 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
HAROLD WIN (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Musically) shed the maiden tag in race eight as he held on for a narrow victory. There was plenty of speed from the get-go as Andrea Atzeni rolled forward aboard the gelding, but he was caught deep heading into the first turn. Atzeni tried to slot into the running line around the turn as he sat just off the speed and while he was still facing the breeze, he was only one off the rail now scooting around the home turn. He came into the straight with plenty to offer and he went to the front inside the 300m when asked for an effort. He was racing all over the shop under pressure, bumping his nearest rival a couple of times in the straight, though he did begin to draw clear of that rival close to the line. There was a rival charging home very late in the race, but Harold Win had enough gas left in the tank to get the job done. BLAZING WIND was slowly away and settled at the tail of the field for Vincent Ho. He was under pressure a long way from home, but he got a nice trail into the race and swung widest to make his run. Ho came down the middle of the track where his final furlong was clearly his best. He stormed home late in the race, but he just ran out of time to reel in the winner. AWESOME TREASURE was strong from the front with a good tempo being set. He fought hard in the straight with Harold Win laying in on him, though he just peaked on the run late in the race.
Race 9 – Tsuen Lok Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.28 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
PRAY FOR MIR (AUS 4yo g Justify – Formality) turned his form right around as he stepped out to the mile again. Matthew Chadwick took the gelding to the front of the field from barrier five and the first trio broke away from the rest of the field early in the race. Chadwick eased out of the speed battle coming to the 800m point, with the leaders getting away from the $14 chance around the turn. The leaders began to come back to the chasing pack as they swung for home with Chadwick angling towards the middle of the track on straightening. Pray For Mir dug deep out wider, coming down the middle to hit the front with 200m left to run. He didn't run away with the race once he got to the front, but he did it very strongly to hold on by a neck. VOYAGE SAMURAI was put on the speed by Derek Leung right at the start and was part of the duo that raced away in a battle for supremacy through the middle of the race. Voyage Samurai tracked the leader into the straight, but he was still going sweetly as they turn for home with Frankie Lor's charge hitting the front momentarily. Pray For Mir took the lead with a furlong to go, but Voyage Samurai didn't lay down, making a race of it right down to the wire and only going under by a neck. FORTUNATE SON had been racing alongside Pray For Mir as they swung into the straight and stuck on well for third.
Race 10 – Yeung Uk Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.03 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton and Pierre Ng combined once again in the final event of the day, winning in a tight finish aboard PRESTIGE ALWAYS (IRE 3yo g Starspangledbanner – Rely On Me). Jumping from the outside barrier, Purton was left very wide through the opening stages with a few horses vying for the lead. Coming to the 800m point, Purton was able to slide across and sit on the outside of the leader with an even tempo being set through the middle stages. Purton eyeballed the leader turning for home and shortly after straightening he hit the front. Purton pressed the button with 300m to run and while he didn't shoot away from his rivals, he was finding enough to hold them at bay. There was a wall chasing him at the line, but Prestige Always kept his nose in front as he came out on top by a neck. LESLIE settled in the back half of the field for Derek Leung and was hemmed up along the rail through the middle stages. The local jockey remained to the inside of the track on straightening as he tried to weave his way through traffic, eventually seeing some daylight at the 200m point. He surged through late in the race to make a late challenge, but it wasn't enough as he finished in second position with photo finishes everywhere. NOT USUAL STAR was very unlucky in the run for Lyle Hewitson. He was held up along the inside and was climbing over heels through the first half of the straight and only got out inside the final 100m. Once he was out, he stormed home but he just never got a fair crack at them.