3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Panashop Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.81 Standard Time: 1:39.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.30 Apolar Warrior
Britney Wong continued the good start to her apprenticeship in Hong Kong, notching up her fourth winner of the season aboard SPANGLE FORTUNE (IRE 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Hope So) for the Manfred Man stable. The gelding was quickly out of the barriers and Wong rolled forward from the favourable alley, looking to hold their position along the inside. As they worked around the first turn, a couple of rivals moved around Spangle Fortune, but Wong was keen to hold the front and kicked up beneath her rivals through the middle stages to hold the front. Coming around the home turn, the gelding still had plenty to offer, and he broke a length in front when Wong finally asked for an effort. He was a clear leader with a furlong to run and while he was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, Spangle Fortune was just too good on the day, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. PRECISION GOAL pressed on around the outside for Zac Purton aftr jumping from the widest gate and went looking for the lead with around 1200m remaining. He led early in the back straight for Purton but was kept off the inside by Spangle Fortune who booted through to keep him out. The Australian hoop was happy to sit on the outside of the leader around the turn and the gelding loomed large at the top of the straight when Purton asked for an effort. The gelding was there to strike if he was good enough, but he couldn't sprint with the winner when asked in the straight. He kept on well to the line under Purton, but he never really looked likely over the closing stages. JOYFUL CHAMPION was well back as they turned off the back straight, wit the flashy grey sustaining a long run around the outside of the field from the 600m point. He was the widest runner on straightening and kept coming under pressure in the middle of the track. It was a bold effort, but he just had too much ground to make up, finishing 2-1/2 lengths off the winner in third.
Race 2 – Panasonic Smaller Multi-Split Air Conditioner Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.71 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight:
After showing glimpses of talent on debut, KA YING ATTACK (NZ 3yo g Too Darn Hot – Refreshing) won narrowly in the second race of the day. The three-year-old jumped well from gate seven and rolled forward in the early stages with not a whole lot of speed in the early stages. The gelding was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race, but it wasn't a bad place to be with just a moderate tempo being set, with the gelding being left flat footed when the sprint went on at the top of the straight. It wasn't until the final 150m where he really got into his work, rallying back after giving away a few lengths head start to come over the top and nail the leader right on the wire, scoring by a short head. JUNEAU PRIDE jumped well from gate two and sat on the speed through the opening stages. As the race continued to unfold, the gelding landed on the back of the leader turning off the back straight and was right on the leader's tail as they swung into the straight. Brenton Avdulla had to force his way into the clear with 300m remaining, setting out after the leader and assuming control with 150m remaining. Avdulla was throwing everything he had at the gelding with Ka Ying Attack bearing down on him late, but it wasn't enough. ETALON OR stormed home from the back of the pack in a very good effort, weaving his way through traffic to finish just a neck away at the finish.
Race 3 – Panasonic Mini LED TV Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.54 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
PATCH OF TIME (AUS 5yo g Written Tycoon – Lady Gracious) made it back-to-back wins in race three. The five-year-old showed good speed early in the race after jumping from a wide barrier. Karis Teetan tried to slot into the running line through the first part of the race but was forced to take his medicine and sit three-wide facing the breeze as they turned off the back straight. The tempo was even through the middle stages and the gelding was travelling well coming to the turn with Teetan sitting patiently as they swung into the straight. Patch Of Time let down strongly when asked for an effort, going up to hit the front with a furlong to run and broke away from the chasing pack, with runners wider out making some headway. It wasn't enough though, with Patch Of Time getting the job done by a half-length. MASTER PHOENIX ended up near the tail of the field from a wide barrier despite being ridden along in the early stages to try and hold a position. Vincent Ho seemed to be urging the gelding along throughout the race as he turned into the straight spotting the leader a whopping 6-1/2 lengths. He was the widest runner in the straight as he ended up beyond the middle of the track, responding to the urgings of Ho as he kept plugging away out wide. He hit the line full of running to grab second position on debut, with a rise in trip looking to suit this gelding. ROMAN CROWN had the back of the eventual winner in the run and was there to strike if good enough. He got to the line fairly, ending up three quarters of-a-length away in third.
Race 4 – Panasonic Smart Lock Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:01.86 Standard Time: 2:02.45 Course/Class record: 2:00.67 Full Power
Zac Purton picked up his first win of the day with the Danny Shum-trained JOYFUL PROSPERITY (JPN 4yo g Daiwa Majore – Sweet Lady) bringing up back-to-back wins. From barrier eight, Zac Purton was able to slide across and land in a midfield position, racing along the inside rail. Purton was able to slide a little closer through the middle stages as he crept up the inside rail. Coming to the 1000m point, the field bunched up with the leader slowing the tempo before beginning to ramp it up again from the 800m point. Purton was boxed in around the home turn with the Australian having nowhere to go along the fence, riding for luck with the field tightly bunched at the top of the straight. The gelding had something to offer early in the straight, he just couldn't get enough galloping room to let rip with Purton trying to nurse him into the clear coming to the 300m point. The grey gelding finally got off heels with around 200m remaining and setting out after the leader. He was grinding away on the outside, inching closer and closer with every stride to stick his nose in front close to home and stealing the win by a short head. JUBILATION used his inside barrier to his advantage with Keith Yeung punching up along the inside to land on the back of the leader in the run. He was positioned just in front of Joyful Prosperity in the run, but he had a much cleaner passage into the straight with Yeung able to get into the clear with ease at the top of the straight. He ambled up to the leader shortly after straightening and quickly took control inside the 300m point. He was still three quarters of-a-length in front with 100m to run, but Joyful Prosperity was looming large on his outside. He put up a good fight, but it wasn't enough as he was caught in the shadows of the post. The first two across the line broke away, with CHARITY GAIN finishing third, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
Race 5 – Panasonic Ih Warm Jar Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.37 Standard Time: 1:39.00 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
EXCEL WONGCHOY (IRE 4yo g Exceed And Excel – Dream Play) scored his maiden victory in race five. The four-year-old jumped well and was racing up on the speed with a good battle for the lead heading into the first turn. He was racing three-wide around the first turn and into the back straight, but he did have cover out deep with the leaders stretched right across the track. As the race continued to unfold, he was left racing without cover with around 600m remaining, with Ho beginning to roll forward as they turned off the back straight. Excel Wongchoy rolled around the outside of his rivals to hit the front at the top f the straight and he sprinted strongly at the top of the straight. He put the race away in a matter of strides, extending his margin coming to the 200m point and putting his rivals to the sword by 2 lengths. JUMBO FORTUNE ended up in a midfield position under Karis Teetan after being only fairly into stride from barrier five. He was shuffled back a touch through the middle stages with a runner in front of him tiring, forcing Teetan to take evasive action and go back and around that rival as they turned off the back stretch. He needed some luck swinging into the straight with a wall of horses in front of him and by the time he saw clear air the winner was off and gone. He closed off well to grab second, but he never looked a winning hope. NEVER PETER OUT just peaked on the run late in the race after making a good run at the top of the stretch.
Race 6 – Panasonic Japan Made System Kitchen Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.36 Standard Time: 56.05 Course/Class record: 54.68 Valiant Dream
In what felt like the feature event of the day, MAGIC CONTROL (AUS 4yo g Sioux Nation – Jackpot Queen) bounced back to winning ways in a very impressive performance. The gelding jumped well from barrier five and sat on the speed from the outset. There was a line of three leaders passing the 600m, with Magic Control showing good speed to hit the front as they linked up with the course proper. He had plenty to offer with 400m remaining and he was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough. The race favourite was there to strike close to home, but Magic Control hung on to win by a short head right on the line. WUNDERBAR was backed into $1.40 at the jump and put himself on the speed for Zac Purton. He and Magic Control broke away from the rest of the pack as they ran onto the course proper, with Purton right there to strike with 400m to run. He wasn't really making any ground on the leader until the last 100m of the race where he began to eat into the margin. He closed off strongly, but not well enough as he just missed out on victory in a photo finish. I GIVE couldn't match it with the first two across the line after leading the field through the early stages of the race. He held on to run a clear third, but the first two were a class above.
Race 7 – The Panasonic Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:20.34 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
The feature event of the day went to the Ricky Yiu-trained GREEN N WHITE (AUS 5yo g Smart Missile – Twin Star Rocket) who made it two-from-two this season. Matthew Poon urged his mount along to hold a midfield position from a good draw with the pace good in the early stages. He raced comfortably through the middle stages and had some room to move around the home turn as Poon remained to the inside at the top of the straight. The gelding quickened well and while he was still spotting the leader a few lengths with 300m to run, he was picking up strongly in the straight. He got off heels and into the clear with 150m to run and he let rip, storming down the outside to take the lead and break away from his rivals to win comfortably on the line by 1-1/4 lengths. PACKING HERMOD tasted defeat for the first time in his career, but he lost no admirers in the effort. Lyle Hewitson rolled forward from barrier nine and landed in the one-out-one-back position as they sorted their order out. He enjoyed a lovely run in transit but was left a little flat footed when the sprint went on turning for home. He picked up well inside the final 200m, but he never really looked a winning hope as Green N White burst through underneath him. He kept on well to the line to grab second in a strong effort. DROMBEG BANNER was able to catch a mid-race breather around the turn before kicking strongly at the top of the straight. He was very hard to run down, putting up another strong effort to finish third in a three-way finish for the minor placings.
Race 8 – Panasonic Ziaino Air Treatment Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.43 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
STRATHPEFFER (AUS 5yo g Dundeel – Quizzed) picked up his first win of the season, getting the job done in a very tight photo finish. After jumping well from an inside alley, Hewitson was able to hold a handy position to land in the one-out-one-back position on settling down. The speed was good early, and Hewitson looked to be niggling at Strathpeffer to keep him in that handy position with 800m to run. Approaching the 600m point, Hewitson moved three-wide and commenced his run, being close to the lead as they turned into the straight, albeit under plenty of pressure. He quickened nicely though, moving up to hit the front at the 200m mark and getting into a terrific stoush with the race favourite over the concluding stages. They were neck-and-neck over the final furlong as they got away from the rest of the field, hitting the line locked together, with only a photo finish able to split the two on the line. LEGEND ST PAUL'S was on the wrong side of that photo finish in after jumping the $3.20 favourite. He jumped well from barrier one and put himself on the speed, racing on the back of the leader and to the inside of the eventual winner in the run. The two raced in tandem right down to the wire in an exciting finish, with Strathpeffer coming out on top in a photo finish. FASHION LEGEND had his chance if he was good enough after getting into the clear midway down the straight, though he was unable to mow down the first two in the straight and he had to settle for third.
Race 9 – Panasonic 2-In-1 Washer Dryer Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.55 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
SAVVY BRILLIANT (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Liberty Made) made it a double on the day for Zac Purton as he scored back-to-back victories. He jumped awkwardly from barrier seven and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down. There was a solid tempo being set up front, with Purton 9-1/4 lengths off the lead passing the 800m point. He was racing in isolation around the turn, but that allowed Purton to move into the three-wide trail around the turn and make sure he had an unimpeded run into the straight. He was one of the widest runners on straightening, still spotting the leader 7-3/4 lengths at the top of the straight, though Purton hadn't panicked. Once he pressed the button, the gelding let rip, picking off his rivals impressively down the middle of the track to hit the front with 100m to run and win rather comfortably by a neck. SUPER INFINITY was a little slow into stride also but was ridden along by Harry Bentley to land just a little worse than midfield. He was racing along the inside rail and as they worked around the corner, the Englishman was able to pick off a few positions as he slid along the paint. Bentley had some room to move early in the straight, getting off the inside and pushing his way into the clear with 300m remaining. He didn't really have to change direction in the straight with the gaps opening in front of him and the gelding making a late charge late in the race. He was good late, but not good enough as he had to settle for second position. STORM RIDER never really took the lead as Savvy Brilliant stormed down the outside when he loomed up in the straight, but he stuck on well from being just off the speed to finish in third.
Race 10 – Panasonic Thermo Ventilator Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.89 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
VOYAGE SAMURAI (AUS 5yo g Dissident – Love Commands) continued the hot start to his career, picking up his fourth win in just 7 starts in the final event on Panasonic Raceday. The gelding jumped quickly and put himself straight on the speed from barrier four, taking a sit just off the leader who cleared out down the back straight. Derek Leung was happy to stalk the leader throughout the middle stages, only beginning to creep closer approaching the 600m point with the field beginning to bunch up. Leung had plenty to offer as they turned for home and he grabbed the lead in a matter of strides when he pressed the button. The field was stretched right across the track, but he was over a length clear with 100m to run and they couldn't get to him late in the race, getting the job done by three quarters of-a-length on the line. SILO raced in a midfield position for Luke Ferraris, racing between horses through the middle stages. The race worked out well for him turning for home, popping into the clear with ease at the top of the straight and having an unobstructed run right to the wire. He was there to win if he was good enough, but he couldn't reel in a smart one late in the race. It was a bunched finish for the minor placings, but Silo got the nod in a photo for second position, with STAR MAC making a late challenge up the inside finishing in third.
