3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Racing Goes On 1000m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.22 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Zac Purton got Reunification Raceday off to a good start as he steered home AMAZING FUN (NZ 4yo g Tivaci – Queen Of Pop) on debut for the Dennis Yip barn. The debutant jumped on terms from an outside alley and settled in a midfield position as they travelled down the straight course. They were flying along out in front and Purton was already niggling at the four-year-old as they linked up with the course proper, aiming to pick his way through the passing the 400m point. It was inside the final furlong where the gelding really showed his talent, getting through a small gap between runners and working through his gears quickly to set out after the lead. He quickened impressively to hit the front with 50m to run and Purton made it look very easy at the line, with the gelding scoring by three-quarters of-a-length in an impressive debut victory. COLOURFUL WINNER settled in a midfield position as well in the run, racing closer to the middle of the track than Amazing Fun, though the pair were essentially in a line through the middle stages. Keith Yeung was chopped off a couple of times as he had to be patient waiting for the gap to open, with a runner in front of him racing very green under pressure with 400m remaining. The gap finally opened for Yeung to burst through, with the gelding making steady ground on the leader. Just as he was beginning to loom up, Amazing Fun burst through and knocked them all over, but Colourful Winner was strong to the line, claiming second in a three-way photo finish. CHEVAL VALIANT showed his customary early speed as he got across from the inside alley to sit up on the pace. The speed was quick early on as Lyle Hewitson allowed the gelding to drift across to the outside fence in no real hurry. Passing the 400m point he took the front and was left a couple of lengths in front with 300m remaining. The gelding felt the pinch late and just couldn't hold off the first two across the line.
Race 2 – World-class Leadership 1400m Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.18 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
It was a blow out in race two on the card as the $72 chance HARMONY N HOME (IRE 8yo g Slade Power – Keepers Hill) scored his first victory since March 2021. Matthew Poon spent the first 400m trying to slot into the running line from barrier seven, eventually taking his medicine and sitting in the three-wide trail. It worked out well for Matthew Poon as he ended up in a midfield position through the middle stages, with the pace solid around the turn. Poon was rousing the gelding along as they entered the straight, spotting the leader 4-1/2 lengths on straightening. The gelding was making good ground out wider in the straight, really letting rip inside the final 200m, showing plenty of strength. The gelding took control with 100m to run and had too much gas left in the tank, holding his more fancied rivals at bay to secure his third win by three-quarters of-a-length. PERFECT PEACH was one of the last into stride and settled near the tail of the field under Karis Teetan. The Mauritian hoop had a nice run in transit, racing between runners before moving into the three-wide trail and improving on the back of eventual winner Harmony N Home. He continued his run wider in the straight with Teetan giving his mount every conceivable chance to knock off the winner in the straight. He was coming home strongly, but it was too little, too late as he finished a clear second on the line. SPEEDSTAR weaved through traffic closer to the inside to show some good late strength and get up for third position under Hugh Bowman.
Race 3 – Uncompromising Integrity 1400m Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.42 Standard Time: 1:22.35 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
GANGNAM STAR (NZ 4yo g Telperion – Treat) notched up his maiden victory at start number 12. The four-year-old jumped on terms and immediately took up a midfield position from barrier three. Approaching the 800m point, Alexis Badel moved down to the inside rail and was able to creep a little closer turning off the back straight, pinching some runs up the inside with plenty of galloping room. Everything worked out perfectly for the Frenchman as they turned for home, with Badel able to move off the inside with ease and began urging the gelding along at the top of the straight. He pushed his way into the open with 300m remaining and he let down impressively once he was in the clear, storming down the outside to hit the front inside the final furlong. He drew away once he hit the front, winning impressively in the end and scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in grand style. PRECISION GOAL was quickly into stride under Zac Purton who slammed the gelding into the one-out-one-back position right from the start. The champion jockey remained away from the inside to avoid being hemmed up along the rail with the pace solid through the middle stages. He was looming ominously as they swung into the straight with Purton shifting three-wide and getting stuck into his mount on straightening. He moved up to join the leaders, but he never gained the upper hand as Gangnam Star blew right by him with around 190m left to run. Precision Goal stuck on well to the finish however, finishing in second position. AROMATICA filled the placings after settling on the outside of Gangnam Star and on the back of Precision Goal. He had his chance if he was good enough, but he just ran into a couple better on the day.
Race 4 – The CMA 90th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.02 Standard Time: 56.25 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Lyle Hewitson and Chris So combined to win the fourth race of the day with FLYING HIGH (AUS 6yo g Office Bearer – Belle Laude) capitalising on his good run of form this season. From the outside barrier, Hewitson was able to be in a handy position along the outside rail. The leader eventually came across, giving Hewitson cover through the middle stages with the field stretched right across the track. The South African had to be very patient in the straight, waiting for the gap to appear inside the final 300m as the leader began to fall back in his face. Hewitson navigated a path around the tiring leader, squeezing between runners and letting down strongly to move up and hit the front with 100m left to run. The gelding didn't look back once he hit the front, pulling away from his rivals close to the line for a dominant 1-1/4 length victory. WE ARE HERO had been out of sorts for a while but has put together two good runs in-a-row since dropping in grade. The gelding raced alongside the eventual winner throughout the event and was about a length in front of Flying High with about 300m remaining. That advantage didn't last long as the winner burst through inside the concluding stages, but We Are Hero kept on well to the line also, finishing a clear second. HASTEN DELIGHT stuck on well to finish in third position as a $5.70 chance.
Race 5 – Serving The Community 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.25 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Lyle Hewitson made it a race-to-race double for him and Chris So, leading all of the way aboard PARTERRE (SAF 7yo g Flower Alley – Square Dance). The gelding showed a clean pair of heels from barrier 10 and cut straight across to take up the running. Despite finding the front relatively easily, Hewitson didn't stack the field up and dictate proceedings, instead running them along at quick fractions through the middle stages. Despite setting a good tempo, Hewitson still had a strong grip of the gelding as they swung into the straight and he kicked strongly when the South African hoop pressed the button. He got a length in front early in the straight, but his nearest rival was beginning to bare down on him with 200m to run. Although he was there to be beaten, Parterre didn't let up, keeping all of his rivals at bay to score by a half-length on the line in a very strong victory. GIANT LEAP also jumped from a wide draw and was able to roll across under Antoine Hamelin, settling on the outside of the leader. He was travelling well throughout the race, sitting on the outside of the eventual winner Parterre. Turning for home, the gelding was unable to match the turn-of-foot shown by the leader, but he was digging deep under pressure midway down the straight. He was making some ground inside the final 150m, but it wasn't enough as he remained in second position. HAROLD WIN landed in a perfect position on the back of the leader in running and probably had his chance to win if he was good enough. He wasn't in the end, with the gelding crossing the line in third, with the first three in running the first three across the line.
Race 6 – The Hong Kong Reunification Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:20.71 Standard Time: 1:21.55 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
CHIU CHOW SPIRIT (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Pearl Star) snuck up the inside to secure a narrow victory in the feature event of the day, the Hong Kong Reunification Cup. On jumping, the gelding was snagged back to the tail of the field despite jumping on terms from the wide alley. They ran along at a good tempo, with Alexis Badel still just waiting at the rear of the field, including when the runs began to be made swinging into the straight. Badel remained close to the inside turning for home and the whole field moved off the inside, allowing the four-year-old to sneak through beneath his rivals. He continued to make ground along the rail, getting into second position with 150m to run, with the saloon passage still wide open with the race leader wobbling about under pressure. It was a brave ride by Badel, scraping the paint as he gunned down the leader in the shadows of the post, securing a narrow victory with the judge having to split the pair in a photo finish. TOMODACHI KOKOROE was out to 1400m for the first time and nearly got the job done as the $68 outsider of the event. As per his usual racing patter, the gelding showed good speed to take up the running and continued to set a solid pace through the middle stages. Just when people assumed he would fall back into the clutches of his rivals, he kicked strongly and still led by over a length with a furlong to run. It took a brave and somewhat lucky ride to reel him in, with Chiu Chow Spirit squeezing underneath Tomodachi Kokoroe to stick his nose in front where it mattered most. SUPERB BOY jumped the equal favourite of the race and loomed as though he was going to win midway down the straight. He peaked on the effort late in proceedings and ended up two lengths off the winner in just a sound effort.
Race 7 – The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.23 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
SUPER BONUS (IRE 4yo g Bungle Inthejungle – Rohesia) secured his first win of the season by the skin of his teeth as he held off a late challenge to score by a half-length. Andrea Atzeni got his mount out of the barriers cleanly, with the Sicilian aiming to slot into the running line just off the speed. The duo had no luck slotting in though, being forced to race three-wide and without cover as Atzeni crept closer to the lead turning off the back. Despite sitting wide throughout, Atzeni still had a strong hold of his mount turning for home and to the four-year-old's credit, he really fought on when Atzeni asked for an effort. He showed plenty of strength inside the final 200m to not only fend off challengers coming at him, but take ground off the leader as well, eventually taking the lead inside the final 100m. His strength shone through late, inching away once he took the lead to win by a half-length in a very gusty performance. NEW FUTURE FOLKS setting near the rear of the field under Ben Thompson after snagging to the back of the field from a wide draw. Instead of going around the field, Thompson made the decision to drift back to the inside with around 700m remaining and ride for luck along the inside rail as they turned for home. Luck is what the pair got, with the rail opening right up and allowing New Future Folks to burst up the inside late in the race. He was coming home strongly along the inside rail, and he was difficult to see until very late in the race, but he poked his nose through to finish in second position after jumping a $50 chance. TAIHANG SCENERY had his chance if he was good enough with Hugh Bowman getting onto the back of the eventual winner rounding the home turn. The Australian hoop peeled into the clear and asked the gelding for an effort and while he did look like he would take the lead and run away with the race with a furlong remaining, he was very plain late in the race. He peaked on the run but managed to hold on for third position in a photo finish.
Race 8 – Continuous Development 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.85 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
SMILING COLLECTOR (NZ 5yo g Turn Me Loose – Comme Tu Veux) brought up his first win since March 2022, prevailing in a ding-dong battle to the line. Harry Bentley urged the gelding along out of the barriers to hold a midfield position in the run, getting into the running line with a solid tempo being set out in front. He enjoyed a cosy run in the race with Bentley just beginning to peel out with 500m remaining, making sure he didn't get boxed away between horses as the moves began to be made from the back. He was spotting the leader three lengths as they turned for home, but he was making ground as soon as Bentley began to rouse him along. The Englishman moved up to take the lead with 200m remaining and was drawing away from the majority of his rivals, with the race favourite coming out to challenge inside the final 100m It was a ding-dong battle right to the wire, with Bentley and Smiling Collector holding on by a nose, with the judge taking plenty of time to confirm the results. FORERUNNER settled to the inside of Smiling Collector in the run, racing midfield and along the inside rail. When the eventual winner made his move around the turn, Hugh Bowman attempted to make the move with him, but he was held up between runners and was racing in restricted room around the turn and early in the straight. The Australian hoop had to be patient, being forced to go back and around his rivals as he finally got the race favourite into the clear inside the final furlong. The pair made a late challenge on the leader, but it was not enough as the went under in a very tight photo finish. The first two across the line put a big space no GRAND BOSS who stuck on well down the stretch.
Race 9 – Riding High Together 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.00 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was another long shot saluting in race nine with MIGHTY STRENGTH (NZ 3yo g Time Test – L'Accord) shedding his maiden tag as a $49 chance under Antoine Hamelin. From a favourable alley, the gelding settled in a midfield position under the French hoop, sitting off an even tempo up front. There was no change to the order through the middle stages, with Hamelin beginning to bump his way into the clear on the point of the home turn. There was plenty of traffic in front of him at the top of the straight, but the gaps continued to open up for Hamelin who finally saw daylight approaching the 200m point. He was coming home strongly between runners, letting rip down the outside to stick his nose in front close to home and take the victory by a short head. CIRCUIT MIGHTY had been racing to the outside of Mighty Strength in the run, sitting in a midfield position under Derek Leung. The local hoop elected to swing wide around the home turn with the gelding making a strong run out near the centre of the course. There was a line of four out in front with around 100m remaining, with Circuit Mighty and Mighty Strength coming down the outside. He was there to win if good enough, but he bumped into one just a little better on the night. RUN RUN TIMING kept on strongly from up on the speed and was only beaten a neck at the line in a very commendable run.
Race 10 – Sportsmanship 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.26 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Progressive gelding BOTTOMUPTOGETHER (AUS 3yo g Shamus Award – Miss Ethics) remained unbeaten with an impressive victory, smashing the clock to push Group One winner Victor The Winner's course and class record. Zac Purton took the gelding straight to the lead, running along at a good clip as they sorted their order out. Purton was able to hold the advantage with the aid of an inside alley and the gelding travelled so sweetly in the run. The field fanned across the track turning for home as they began to launch their attacks, but Purton was still sitting pretty aboard the $1.80 favourite at the top of the straight. When the Australian pushed the button, the gelding shot away and put the race to bed in a matter of strides. It was an impressive performance by Bottomuptogether, with the gelding remaining undefeated by 2-3/4 lengths and running very fast time in the process. He's sure to be a contender coming up to HKIR next season. DIVANO was another progressive horse entered into the event and he lost no admirers running second. Hugh Bowman was able to sneak through the inside turning for home and had his chance to reel in the winner if he was good enough. He ran out of his skin for second, but the winner is just different gravy. SOLID IMPACT made an eye-catching run up the fence late in the race to grab third, but this race was all about the winner.
Race 11 – Better Future 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
Lyle Hewitson capped off a fantastic night in the saddle by bringing up a winning treble aboard CHING (NZ 5yo g Frosted – Darci Dancer) for the Michael Chang barn. The big chestnut was away on terms with Hewitson attempting to drop into the running line in a midfield spot early in the race. The gelding was left racing out wide and without cover though, with the South African hoop then beginning to roll forward approaching the 800m point. Hewitson went around the field to get outside the leader as they turned off the back straight, a move that would prove a masterstroke late in the race. Hewitson was already getting stuck into the five-year-old turning for home, but he was still poised to strike on the outside of the leader at the top of the stretch, digging in gamely to hit the front with 250m remaining. He had to fight for the win, with a rival joining him out in front with about 150m left to run and those two pairing off to fight it out to the wire. In a night of close finishes, this was no different with Ching having to pack plenty of punches late in the race and holding on to win by a neck on the line. PRAY FOR MIR had settled on the back of the leader for Zac Purton in the run with the Australian hoop travelling comfortably in the run. Purton had plenty of room to move turning for home and he got into the clear with plenty of time to mow down the leader if he was good enough. The Australian threw everything he had at Pray For Mir as they were neck-and-neck with Ching right to the line, but he couldn't stick his nose in front over the closing stages. BRIGHT INHERITANCE made a late charge under Harry Bentley to round out the placings in a very eye-catching performance.
