3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Swimming 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.43 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
It was a blanket finish to the opener, but it was Manfred Man's charge PATCH OF COSMO (NZ 3yo g Super Seth – Thee) who got favourite backers off to a winning start. The gelding was a touch slow into stride and ended up settled in the second half of the field under Luke Ferraris. He travelled well through the middle stages with a solid tempo being set, though he did have plenty of traffic ahead of him as he turned into the straight. The South African jockey tried to force his way into the clear on straightening but remained in a pocket up until the 200m point. He was finally able to burst through between runners late in the race, storming home right over the top to stick his nose in front on the line. He secured the victory in a blanket finish, with the first five across the line all separated by a neck. JUNEAU PRIDE was able to slide across from barrier 12 early in the race to get into a midfield position, racing three-wide with cover as they turned off the back. He was able to move into the race nicely under Brenton Avdulla, sliding forward to be just off the speed as they swung into the bend. The Australian peeled off heels and the gelding began to run on down the outside. He was just coming at the leader late in the race and looked a winning hope before Patch Of Cosmo sprouted wings over the concluding stages. CIRCUIT JOLLY rolled forward from barrier five to take up the running for Zac Purton. The tempo was solid through the middle stages, though he kicked strongly in the straight to break away from the chasing pack. He just began to feel the pinch late under Purton, but he was only caught in the closing stages to hold on for third.
Race 2 – Athletics And Judo 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.58 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
SAVVY BRILLIANT (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Liberty Made) shed his Hong Kong maiden tag with a solid victory for Zac Purton and Frankie Lor. Purton ended up in the second half of the field after being slowly into stride, with a strong tempo being set by the front runner in the early stages of the race. The Australian hoop had plenty of galloping room and was able to sneak up the inside of horses who swung wide on the home turn in a race that worked out perfectly for him. He relished the step up in trip as he surged through to hit the front with 150m remaining. He was too strong to the line, fending off his rivals for a comfortably victory. CAPTAIN WIN jumped on terms but drifted back shortly after the start, settling down just behind Savvy Brilliant in the run. He was second-last in the running and while Purton stuck to the inside, Vincent Ho swung wide on the course and came down the centre of the track. It took the gelding a little while to wind up, but he closed off well inside the final 150m to finish a clear second. ENTERPRISE ATTACK showed the first signs of life since arriving in Hong Kong, sticking on well from his midfield position to finish in third.
Race 3 – The Hong Kong, China's Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Cup (Handicap), HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:01.44 Standard Time: 2:02.00 Course/Class record: 2:00.37 Champagne Supreme
WINNING DRAGON (CHI 7yo g Ivan Denisovich – Perdoname) turned his form right around second-up, staying on gamely to salute for Brenton Avdulla and Tony Cruz. The Australian jockey sent the gelding forward after jumping well from an inside barrier, leading the field into the first turn before the runners drawn wider out came across to join in. Avdulla didn't make them work too hard around the first turn, eventually sitting on the back of the leader as they travelled through the middle stages. The pace remained even as they turned off the back with Avdulla being shuffled back along the inside and needing some clear air as they entered the straight. He persisted with a run along the inside which eventually came with 250m remaining and Winning Dragon shot through between horses. He had the final crack at the leader, and he packed enough punches to stick his nose down on the wire and score in a tight three-way go. EIGHTEEN CARAT had been racing on the back of the eventual winner through the opening and middle stages before popping off the rail with 800m to run. Alex Badel was hard at work aboard the gelding as they turned for home, but he continued to find under the Frenchman's urgings. He loomed as a winning hope with 150m to run and was right there as they came to the line, but Winning Dragon got him in the final couple of strides. AWEOSME FLUKE was forced to roll forward to avoid being caught wide under Andrea Atzeni and he set the tempo throughout the event. He proved very tough to catch in the straight and was only beaten a short head in third.
Race 4 – Badminton And Cycling 1400m Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.09 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Zac Purton made it an early double on the card as he steered home CHARMANDER (NZ 6yo g Shooting To Win – Moment Of Choice) to the gelding's second win of the season. The gelding was only fairly away from an inside alley and settled in the second half of the field for Purton. Again, the pace was strong early and the Australian hoop found himself along the inside rail with plenty of horses in front of him through the middle stages. The pace slackened approaching the 1600m point, where Purton was able to move away from the inside and begin looking for gaps. The field fanned right across the track with gave Charmander plenty of galloping room in the straight, allowing Purton to pick a gap with 250m to run and burst through late in the race. It looked as though he may run out of time as he sliced through between horses, but Purton timed it perfectly as he got his nose down on the wire to score by a short head. YODA'S CHOICE rolled forward from barrier 14 to try and slot into the running line for Matthew Poon, but the grey gelding was left racing wide and without cover throughout the event. He was racing up close to the speed turning off the back and continued to roll forward through the middle stages to make a line of three leaders as they entered the straight. He looked to be travelling strongly under Poon and he let down well when asked for an effort, hitting the front with 150m to run. He was very tough to run down, with only Charmander getting to the gelding in the final couple of strides. SUPER WISE DRAGON made his run down the middle of the track for Derek Leung after racing in a good position in midfield. He closed off well to finish in third, only beaten a neck in another close finish.
Race 5 – Fencing 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.89 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Britney Wong secured her third win of her apprenticeship aboard the David Hayes-trained AWESOME TREASURE (NZ 7yo g Charm Spirit – Bizz) in race five. The seven-year-old burst out of the gates and went straight to the front under Wong, taking the early lead. There were a couple that came out of the pack to challenge heading into the first turn, but Wong burrowed through along the rail to hold the front as they worked int the straight. There were plenty of challengers looming in the straight, but Awesome Treasure kicked strongly in front and put up two lengths on the chasing pack. At the 200m point he was even further in front, and nothing was eating into the margin. He went on to win by 2-1/4 lengths in impressive fashion. MASTER OF ALL had settled on the back of the leader right from the outset and stalked Awesome Treasure throughout the event. Keith Yeung was right there to strike if good enough turning for home, but he was unable to match the winner's turn-of-foot at the top of the straight. He kept on well to the line to finish over a length clear in second, but he was no match for the winner. THIRIVING BROTHERS worked into the race nicely turning for home but couldn't make any ground on the leader in the straight, holding his position to the line as he finished in third.
Race 6 – Sailing 1600m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.27 Standard Time: 1:34.95 Course/Class record: 1:33.70 Family Jewel
Hugh Bowman and Caspar Fownes combined to win race six with FAMILY JEWEL (NZ 4yo g Time Test – Awesome) who made it back-to-back wins. After getting away on terms, Hugh Bowman took the gelding toward the back of the pack as the field split in two down the back straight. Passing the 800m point, Bowman found himself 6-1/2 lengths off the lead. The pace slowed approaching the 600m point and the field bunched coming to the home turn, with Bowman tracking wide on the course with cover as they entered the straight. He didn't have much room to move early in the stretch, but Bowman was able to slide back to the inside where a big hole appeared, and he shot through beneath his rivals. He hit the front with 100m to run and drew away close to home, winning by three quarters of a length. CHATER GOLD raced in a midfield position, sitting wide with cover through the early stages. He raced comfortably wide and with cover through the middle stages and worked into the race nicely as Harry Bentley began to work into the race around the turn. The gelding ended up down the middle of the track, hitting the front with 200m to run and seemingly holding his rivals at bay. That was until Family Jewel rallied through along the inside to hit the front, but Chater Gold kept on strongly to finish a clear second. CALIFORNIATOTALITY stuck on well from his midfield position under Brenton Avdulla to finish third.
Race 7 – The Sha Tin Trophy (Handicap), HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.49 Standard Time: 1:33.95 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
The feature of the day and promising galloper GALAXY PATCH (AUS 5yo g Wandjina – Voltara) returned in winning form, making it three wins in-a-row. Despite drawing a nice barrier, the gelding was a little slow into stride and ended up near the tail of the field as they sorted their order out. After just a moderate tempo early, eventually the pace increased through the middle stages with Ho staying off the inside rail. Coming to the 800m point, Ho was able to improve three-wide with cover, getting a nice tow into the race and continuing his run to the outside as they entered the stretch. He was one of the widest in the run and the five-year-old let down strongly to hit the front with 150m to run. He sprinted clear inside the closing stages to win very impressively on resumption, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths and landing an early blow in the lead up to HKIR in December. It was a very gutsy performance from VOYAGE BUBBLE who showed plenty of strength first-up to finish in second position under the top weight. He was left racing wide and without cover in a midfield position for Andrea Atzeni and moved into the race nicely as they swung into the straight. Atzeni had given the eventual winner a nice cart into the race and Voyage Bubble looked to be fading after a tough run first-up. To the gelding's credit though, he dug deep over the final 100m to rally back and take second position in a close photo finish. He looks right on song. CHANCHENG GLORY stuck on well from the front under his light weight to hold on for third in a close finish for the minor placings.
Race 8 – Rowing And Table Tennis 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.62 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
STELLAR SWIFT (AUS 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Hera) made it a winning double on the day for David Hayes and Hugh Bowman as he ran over the top to salute as favourite. The gelding jumped well from barrier five but Bowman was happy to slide back and settled in the second half of the field to slot into the running line. A good pace gave everyone their chance as they swung into the straight with the Australian hoop looking for a way clear. The gap appeared with 300m remaining as Bowman got the big fellow into the clear and set out after the leader. He stuck his nose in front with 50m remaining and was far too strong late in the race and while the margin only says a length, it was very comfortable on the line. JUBILANT WINNER lobbed into a nice position midfield and between horses in the running. He travelled sweetly under Zac Purton and moved into the race ominously at the top of the straight with the gelding ambling up to join the leaders. He quickened impressively when Purton pressed the button to hit the front with a furlong remaining and he looked to be putting the race away before Stellar Swift came onto the scene. Purton was unable to hold off the winner who had plenty of momentum built up down the outside. DRAGON FOUR SEAS set the tempo and hung on gamely to run a clear third in a good display.
Race 9 – Taekwondo 1400m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.71 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
LUCY IN THE SKY (AUS 4yo g No Nay Never – Spiced) continued to build on his impressive record with a victory at his first try over 1400m. The gelding jumped swiftly and rolled to the front for Karis Teetan, eventually settling on the outside of the leader who rallied through early in the event. As they turned off the back, Teetan found himself in the one-out-one-back position and travelling comfortably. As they passed the 600m point, Teetan moved three-wide to avoid being pocketed on the home turn, working into the race beautifully and sprinting impressively when asked for an effort. He quickly ran to the front in the straight, but he was unable to break away from the chasing pack as the started to peg back the margin close to home. While they were taking ground off him late, it wasn't enough as he went on to score by a half-length in front of a wall of horses. PRINCE OF PORTY was left racing wide and without cover throughout from barrier six but positioned himself on the speed for Harry Bentley. He was there to strike as they turned for home and he didn't go down without a fight, sticking on gamely after his tough run and taking some ground off the leader late to finish just a half-length away. GRACIOUS EXPRESS closed off well after tracking Prince Of Porty into the race to finish third.
Race 10 – Artistic Gymnastics And Triathlon 1200m Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.29 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
Zac Purton made it a treble on the day as he partnered the very exciting WUNDERBAR (AUS 4yo g Rich Enuff – Could Be Something) to another victory, making it six wins from seven outings. Zac Purton sent Wunderbar forward from the jump with the aid of an inside alley but allowed a rival to press on and lead as they approached the first turn. The pace was strong, and Purton was happy to stalk the speed, eventually moving up on the leader's outside as they swung into the straight. He ambled up to the leader under a strong hold and stuck his nose in front as soon as Purton pressed the button with 200m to run. The leader wouldn't go down without a fight, but the win was easy enough in the end as Wunderbar scored by a neck on the line, putting a big space through the rest of the field. BOTTOMUPTOGETHER surged forward from the wide draw to take the lead heading into the first turn, before slowing the tempo and attempting to stack the field up around the turn. He kicked strongly in the straight, but he couldn't shake Wunderbar who was right there with him the whole way. He wouldn't go away as the more fancied opponent took the lead, fighting right down to the wire to finish just a neck away, but there's plenty to like despite going under. GORGEOUS WIN came out of the pack to finish in third position after settling midfield in the run.
