SHA TIN
Hong Kong Wrap Up
Yet another exciting days racing in Hong Kong with not one but two Group One races today. The first over the sprint distance of 1200m in Race Seven and it does look to be a ripper of a race with the new and upper coming stars against the ones that do have the runs on the board. Peniaphobia just got up for us last start all be it dropping back to the 1000m from a draw which did not really suit. Back to a much more suitable distance today and will be getting home hard here. Does however look to have a fair few challengers against him today including Aerovelocity.
Gold – Fun is the interesting runner who is going over the sprint distance for the first time today but may very well be suited but will certainly know more after today’s race. Exceptional race with the likes of Smart Volatility and Lucky Nine in the field. It certainly looks like a very special sprint race.
Then we move on to the Hong Kong Classic Cup in race Nine which also looks to be a very special Group Race with a heap of very talented runners involved. Beauty Only is established and looks a very good chance and we also have the new and upper coming runners which include Redkirk Warrior-Giant Treasure and Contentment which do make it to be a very exciting race.
It does look like a great meet to get involved in and certainly have some fun with very good fields and the potential for nice exotics. Enjoy the day and enjoy what Sha Tin has to offer which is always a great day’s racing.
Track and Conditions: Turf – A- Course with the exception of races 3-5-8 which will be on the All Weather Dirt Track. Track will be rated Good to Firm on the turf and Fast on the AWT.
Expected Weather: Mainly cloudy with a top temperature of 17 degrees. Wind will be from the east to northeast gusting up to 30 to 40 Km/h so it will create a head wind down the straight which will favour on paced runners however closers will get their chance as well if making ground down the back straight.
Best Bet: Race 5 No 3 Got Fly
Best Value: Race 10 No 2 Luger
Exotic Races: Race No’s 5-6-7-8-9
Quaddie:-
Race 7: 5-1-2-9-4 Race 8: 4-2-7 Race 9: 1-9-2-10 Race 10: 4-2-12-7
Race 1: — Time: 5.00am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 5
Top Pick: No 4 Follow The Wind
Value Selection: No 5 Colourful Profit
Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Jun Ju and No 3 Cool Pal
Race Overview
Very ordinary class five to begin the day here. Follow The Wind looks to have slightly better form than most and has not been too far away since dropping back to this class this season. Bit of an in between runner who has moved between lower class races with good results previously. May very well be a bit of a chance here once again as he does retain Douglas Whyte in the saddle. Colourful Profit may be a bit of an outside chance here if we get the right odds. His last two runs have not been good but having said that one was on the AWT and the other at Happy Valley . At his first run after dropping back to this class three starts back he ran very well at Sha Tin with Joao Moreira in the saddle. He has Joao back today and comes up with the gun draw in gate 1 and should be given every chance.
Race 2: — Time: 5.30am GMT—Distance: 1800m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 5 Sergeant Titanium
Selection: No 2 Percy Jackson
Exotic Inclusions: No 3 Wealthy Fortune and No 1 Ambassadorship
Another race where we have to go over all runners as the form is a bit all over the place but let’s have a look at Sergeant Titanium who finally bounced into form last start with a nice on paced effort over the 1600m last start. Will most likely be ridden on the pace once again from a nice draw in gate 6 and Joao Moreira stays with him as well. May certainly pay to follow here.Percy Jackson is dropped back to this class for the first time last start and it did appear to make a decent impact. On that occasion he ran a very nice closing race from a mid field position so it does appear that he will handle the extra weight. May be a bit wider today but may play into his hands if there is sufficient pace during the running. Wealthy Fortune has been bouncing up and down between this class and class three recently and may be worth a bit of an each way bet here as he ran well last start at this class over the 1600m. Up a touch in distance today and maybe a bit of value.
Race Overview
Race 3: — Time: 6.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 2 Reborn To Win
Value Selection: No G One Bo Bo
Exotic Inclusions: No 4 Born To Win and No 10 Penny Lane / No 6 Gold Dragon
Reborn To Win was going along ok at class 3 this season without setting the world on fire but has dropped enough in the ratings to get back to class 4 today. Looks a bit of a chance here even with top weight as he should be well placed near the rails during the running. Should improve on latest run and put in a good sight. G-One Bo Bo was expected to improve with the step up in distance last start but did not get much room in the running and pulled up lame which may have been as a result of that running. Only had the three runs in Hong Kong and I am sure Joao would not be sticking with him today id he did not show potential.
Race 4: — Time: 6.30am GMT—Distance: 1650m – AWT—Class 5
Top Pick: No 5 Happy Moments
Value Selection: No 7 Good Fit
Exotic Inclusions: No 1 Expedite and No 2 Imperial Concorde
Race Overview
Happy Moments Has not done much since arriving in Hong Kong other than recently when he went over to the AWT and showed quick improvement with the exception of his second last start. Recorded a nice win last start on the dirt and may very well be worth the follow with Joao Moreira retaining the ride today. Good Fit recorded a nice win at this class last start at his first go on the AWT over the 1800m. Back to the AWT mile today. Is expected to be well positioned in the running here and still looks well weighted. If he has adapted to the AWT as it looks like he has is certainly worth consideration here.
Race 5: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 2000m—Class 2
Top Pick: No 3 Got Fly
Value Selection: No 2 Wayfoong Express
Exotic Inclusions: No 5 Ashkiyr and No 10 Tableaux
Race Overview
Got Fly has really got going all be it with just the three starts in Kong Kong and does look to have plenty of potential. Worked into the race well last start and recorded a nice win. Looks to be in the same position today and should have a very nice trial in the running after coming up with gate 5. Has won over this distance in France prior to arriving in Hong Kong and does look to have talent and suited over this distance today. Wayfoong Express goes around at class two for the first time today. Lightly raced this season as was found to be lame two starts back but did put in a very nice effort last start at HKG3 over the 1800m. Was closing well on that occasion and does not look to bad at the weights with 128Lbs and is certainly in this today.
Race 6: — Time: 7.30am GMT—Distance: 1650m – AWT—Class 3
Top Pick: No 5 Goldland Dancer
Value Selection: No 3 Horse Aplenty
Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Scimitar and No 10 Axiom
Race Overview
Goldland Dancer does prefer this surface and ran a very nice 4th last start over this distance on this surface. Did not get away well on that occasion and made up a lot of ground in the running even though he was wide on most occasions from a wide gate. Comes up with a much better draw today in gate four and if he jumps on terms he should be well placed in the running and is expected to be in the finish here. Horse Aplenty has shown that he is much better suited on this surface this season and the distance does look to suite. Fairly even on paced effort last start and should take a similar approach today after coming up with a nice draw in gate 5. Look for improvement here.
Race 7: — Time: 8.00am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class- Hong Kong Group One
Top Pick: No 5 Peniaphobia
Value Selection: No 1 Gold – Fun
Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Aerovelocity and No 9 Smart Volatility / No 4 Lucky Nine
Race Overview
Peniaphobia is certainly the new kid on the block and came hard to get up last start from an unsuitable gate over the 1000m. Looks even better suited over the 1200m and has came up with a nice draw in gate three. Will be powering home over the concluding stages. Gold – Fun has not been over this distance even prior to arrival in Hong Kong but what he does possess is good gate speed and good early speed. Has found things a bit out of place over the mile recently but that has also been at the hands of Able Friend but not just that as he has certainly found it hard to go with them lately and may very well be worth a go over this distance as it would appear that they have him ready to go here. Appeals as value. Aerovelocity Has certainly been firing lately and for a fair while now with the exception of his 2nd last start when he had excused after being bumped from pillar to post. Comes up with another great draw in gate 5 today and at set weights and Zac Purton as the pilot certainly appeals as another good chance today in a very good field.
Race 8: — Time: 8.35am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 3
Top Pick: No 4 Radiant Bunny
Value Selection: No 2 Charter Legend
Exotic Inclusions: No 7 Travel Renyi and No 1 Berlini / No 13 Ultimate Glory
Race Overview
Radiant Bunny had good form in Queensland before coming to Hong Kong and his last two runs here suggests that he will not be far away from a win at this class. Went to the line very solid last start over this distance and is only up 1Lb on that effort and gets Zac Puton in the saddle for the first time. You would expect he really should be in the finish here. Chater Legend Only the two runs in Hong Kong and did go really well last start over this distance. Carrys a similar weight today and should be fitter for recent racing. Would not have to improve too much to be an each way chance here. Travel Renyi goes up in distance today but certainly gived the impression that he is looking for this trip as he has been closing very well over the 1200m. Comes up with a nice draw in gate three and has Joao Moreira in the saddle. Interesting to see that his last start hoop in Douglas Whyte in off him today and onto Berlini a bit of a chance even though he has drawn wide.
Race 9: — Time: 9.10pm GMT—Distance: 1800m—Class – Hong Kong Group One
Top Pick: No 1 Beauty Only
Value Selection: No 9 Redkirk Warrior
Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Giant Treasure and No 10 Contentment
Race Overview
At set weights over the mile Beauty Only gobbled them up last start. Has the same weight today but is going over the extra 200m in ground for the first time but the way he won last start may very well take to this distance as well. Drawn well and should get a nice trail in the running. Retains his usual hoop in Neil Callan and only has to be somewhere near his last start to give this a big shake. Redkirk Warrior Can stay and has won over the 2000m prior to arrival in Hong Kong and should get further as his career progresses. Very nice win over the Sha Tin mile last start. Sat handy and finished off very well. Drawn wide today but should be able to work into it with the extra 200m today. Retains Joao Moreira in the saddle and should go close here with natural progression.
Race 10: — Time: 9.45pm GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 2
Top Pick: No 4 Appinati
Value Selection: No 2 Luger
Exotic Inclusions: No 12 High and Mighty and No 7 Romantic Touch and if going after the trifecta or a 1st 4 I would be adding No’3 What You Dream and No 5 Full Talent.
Race Overview
Appinati has only had the four starts in Hong Kong and already started at HKG1 last start and ran a very nice race finishing 4th in the wash up. Should be well placed in the running today and even drops 1 Lb in the weights which is a bit out of place as he is back to class two today after such a nice run last start. However this is a very good field and he will have to make his chances. Tommy Berry is back in town and has the mount today which is a very nice positive as well. Luger looked like he was going on to bigger and better things before this season where he has hit a couple of issues which can happen to high performance race horses. Was found to have an irregular heart beat 2 starts back and was found to have a temperature before running last start and as a result was scratched. Trialled well since and if ready to go which trials indicate he is does appear as a good chance here. Drawn well in gate three and if he gets a good trail as expected will certainly be in the frame here.
