HONG KONG RACING SUNDAY 3 May 1915
SHA TIN
The Champions Mile
Yet another sensation days racing at Sha Tin with the feature race being The Champions Mile. Certainly void of runners but it has been billed as the best miller in the world at current standings in “Able Friend” who has rose to an amazing ranking this season. Should be the one to beat once again as his form over this distance and up to 2000m is outstanding. However he comes up against the very talented “Luger” who won the Hong Kong Derby in very good fashion so he does have what you would expect to be a good test on his hands today. I do expect both going on the performances today will be racing in the UK when all the Group racing begins so it really is worth getting involved here and at least watching just how this race pans out. The last three races on the card also look very solid class races and will prove to be every entertaining. Have a great day and above all enjoy the card at Sha Tin.
Track and Conditions: Turf A+3 course and the track will be rated as good.
Expected Weather: Sunny Intervals with a few showers and a top temperature of 30 degrees so it will be on the humid side. Wind will be from the south to southwest at around the 20Km/h mark so there will be a slight tailwind down the straight which will only slightly assist closers but it should be a fairly even playing ground just the same.
Best Bet: Race 10 No 11 Lucky Year
Best Value: Race 11 No 4 Dashing Fellow
Best Exotic Races: Race No’s 9-10-11
Quaddie:-
Race 7: 1-3 Race 8: 1-10-3-6 Race 9: 11-1 Race 10: 3-4-5-10
Race 1: — Time: 4.30am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Griffin Race
Top Pick: No 3 Highland Hammers
Value Selection: No 6 Happy Chappy
Exotic Inclusions: No 9 Super Dragon and No 2 Eastern Express
Race Overview
Highland Hammer stuck on well behind Happy Chappy last start over the 1000m.Both have trained on very well since that first start. They meet again today over the extra ground and both have widish gates but it is a small field. He should be improved by that first up run and I expect there should not be too much between the top four here. Happy Chappy recorded a very nice win first up from a draw which was wide so he appears to have a bit of talent. Goes over the extra ground today and comes up with another wide draw in gate 9 but looks to be a nice type and can go well once again in a small field.
Race 2: — Time: 5.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 5
Top Pick: No 9 Jun Hao
Value Selection: No 1 Best Jade Triumph
Exotic Inclusions: No 4 On The Way and No Fantasticlife
Race Overview
Jun Hao certainly looks close to a win going on his current performances this season. He has never been far away and ran a very nice close up 3rd last start over this distance. Always has good hoops in the saddle and today is no exception with Douglas Whyte back in the saddle. Retains the same weight as he has been carrying all season and comes up with the rails draw so he should get a nice trail in the running. Best Jade Triumph always seems to go well at this class and distance and since dropping back in class this time he has gone close on all occasions. No real difference in the weights today. Comes up with a nice draw and should be well placed in the running and he also retains the master of the weave in Brett Prebble in the saddle.
Race 3: — Time: 5.30am GMT—Distance: 1000m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 1 Spitfire
Value Selection: No 10 Never Better
Exotic Inclusions: No 12 Peace Combination and No 8 Distinct Commander
Race Overview
Spitfire has never been far away recently since dropping back to this class and has not been over this distance since class three when he found it a bit much but at his class and from a very nice draw in gate 11 with Douglas Whyte in the saddle he has to come under strong consideration here. Never Better just the two starts in Hong Kong and does appear to be improving. Drops a touch in weight and comes up with a nice draw in gate 12 which is close in over this course. Retains regular hoop and would not have to improve too much to be a bit of a hope here in a fairly open race.
Race 4: — Time: 6.00am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 2 Happy Agility
Value Selection: No 9 Thewisardofoz
Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Regency Darling and No 11 Fun Tapestry / No 13 Bernard’s Choice
Race Overview
Happy Agility just the one start in Hong Kong and won well on that occasion with a very nice on paced performance over this distance at this class an d as a result goes up in the weights but does still look ok as he carries 127Lbs first up and has to be a consideration today going on his last start. Drawn wide today but has the speed to offset that. Retains Zac Purton in the saddle and goes in as another good chance today. Thewizardofoz is currently at just on or around each way but by start time may be favourite with Joao Moreira in the saddle despite drawing gate 14. His trials have been excellent and if drawn in closer he would certainly be hard to beat on those results. However he has good natural speed and should be able to cross into a forward position just the same. On trial form he looks a very nice type.
Race 5: — Time: 6.30am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 5 Joyful Moments
Value Selection: No 4 Young Ranger
Exotic Inclusions: No 12 Sparkling Sword and No 2 Asia Rising
Race Overview
Open affair here if you take out Joyful Moments who does look the form way to go here. Just the three starts in Hong Kong but all have been good being placed 2nd at his last two starts and his last run was over this distance at Sha Tin from a similar draw. He gets Joao Moreira in the saddle today which will most likely keep his odds under’s so if you fancy him I would be getting in early. Young Ranger dropped back to this class recently and ran a nice race last start over the 1400m when he went to the line well in running 3rd only 1/2 of a length from the winner. Has trained on well and looks a bit of a chance with Zac Purton in the saddle. Only query is the wide gate and the slow pace but Zac will most likely look to get across early and he does look to have the pace to do just that. Sparkling Sword has not been very far away since going up to this class recently and with what is expected to be a slow paced race should lead and may very well run a cheeky race at nice odds here.
Race 6: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 10 Bear Pop
Value Selection: No 4 Winner St Paul
Exotic Inclusions: No 11 Master Viking and No 3 Jolly Spring / No 8 Unique Awesome.
Race Overview
Bear Pop was getting home well last start until being held up in the straight and gives the impression that he may be ready to put in a good race looking at that effort as he was only 1 3/4 of a length away in the wash up. Should be at nice each way odds and can run well against this field despite the wide gate. Winner St Paul just the five starts in Hong Kong and he has been consistent and continues to improve. Comes up with a nice gate today and Zac Purton jumps back on board for the first time since his first start which was a failure at Happy Valley when he ran all over the place. But has shown good form since which has all been at Sha Tin. Looks close to breaking through.
Race 7: — Time: 7.35am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 3
Top Pick: No 9 Charity Kingdom
Value Selection: No 3 Horse Of Fortune
Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Red Dancer and No 7 Cheeky Too / No 1 Good Choice.
Race Overview
Charity Kingdom has been very consistent over the 1400m at his last three starts at this class and has been closing well on all those occasions. Goes up to the 1600m today and certainly looks like he will appreciate the extra ground today. Retains Zac Purton in the saddle and stays at a nice weight which will certainly help. Solid chance. Horse Of Fortune just the four starts in Hong Kong and the last two were over the Happy Valley mile where he put in decent efforts on both occasions. Comes up with a nice draw today and should once again enjoy a nice run just behind the speed near the rails. Does come across as a decent each way chance today.
Race 8: — Time: 8.05am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Group One
Top Pick: No 1 Able Friend
Value Selection: No 3 Luger
Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Dan Excel and No 4 Rewarding Hero
Race Overview
Only a six horse field but it is all class. Able Friend is certainly the star performer of the season in Hong Kong but I wasn’t completely taken by his last start performance even though he won well but it may have been due to the transition up and down to the 1400m then back to the mile. Did not seem to possess the same very quick turn of foot as he has shown previously but he is without doubt a class act and will be hard to keep out here. Is at the peak of his career and is without doubt a sensational race horse that deserves to have a crack at richer races in the UK. But he will not have it all his own way as Luger has gone from strength to strength since a few set backs earlier this season and has really shown his class. If all had gone well early this season I really did expect he would have gone to Dubai. He should be somewhere near the lead running into the straight and should be the one to run down however Dan Excel who has taken a bit of time to get going in his preparations looks to have been set for this as well and ran a very nice on paced 4th last start over this distance at HKG2 and may very well ensure a decent pace which will play into the hands of the other runners who like to finish hard with the exception of Secret Sham who may try to pinch the race if it is a slower pace than expected. Great race despite the small field and tactics will play a big part.
Race 9: — Time: 8.40pm GMT—Distance: 1000m—Class 2
Top Pick: 1 Not Listenin’ Tome
Value Selection: No 10 Dane Patrol
Exotic Inclusions: No 3 Looks Like A Cat and No 6 Jet wings
Race Overview
Good quality class two sprint here. Not Listenin’ Tome just the one start in Hong Kong and that was over this distance at HKG3 when he ran a very nice on paced race from a draw which was no help what so ever. Gomes up with a much better draw today in gate 11 which is much closer to the grandstand rail. Gets a big hit up in the weights today but he also has a senior hoop in the saddle in Douglas Whyte. Would like to see him over a bit more ground but just the same may have the class to go close here. Dane Patrol is a very under rated runner and has proven that this season with a very honest score card after winning on two occasions and placed in another two and never far away in his other starts. Has very good gate speed and will be in this for a long way.
Race 10: — Time: 9.15pm GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 3
Top Pick: No: 11 Lucky Year
Value Selection: No 1 Strathmore
Exotic Inclusions: No 7 Spicy Sure and No 8 Lucky Day / No 2 Righteous
Race Overview
Now this is a very solid Class Three and it is very very competitive but the way Lucky Year won at his first start in Hong Kong he certainly has to be the one to run down here. Up in class today but will trot around with just 115lbs on his back in retaining his last start hoop and a small claim. Comes up with another great draw in gate 2 and should get a very nice run in transit once again. Strathmore won well last start and going on his lead up form prior to that win he has to go in with another very good chance once again today. Certainly been hit hard with the weights but if he carries it he has to go close from a gun gate and Tommy Berry in the saddle. Weight the only issue here. Spicy Sure only the one run in Hong Kong but it was a very pleasing effort running second to Strathmore on that occasion and even though he was well beaten in the wash up there was a lot to like about that run. Comes up with another nice draw today in gate five and should be well placed in the running as a result of that. Overseas form indicates that he should go well at this class.
Race 11: — Time: 9.50pm GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 3
Top Pick: No: 3 Sky Hero
Value Selection: No 4 Dashing Fellow
Exotic Inclusions: No 5 Secret Command and No 10 Forever Accurate
Race Overview
Sky Hero only the four races in Hong Kong and all have been very good. Went up to this class and gave them a canning all be it with a light weight. Been hit up in the weights as a result of that run but does appear to have talent and should progress beyond this class if he continues to improve as he has been. Dashing Fellow has been on song all season as well and won well last start at this class and even though up in the weights as a result of that win he has to come under consideration on form alone.
