HONG KONG RACING SUNDAY 1 MARCH 2015
SHA TIN
Hong Kong Wrap Up
The racing just keeps getting better at Sha Tin and once again today we have an outstanding group one race in the CitiBank Gold Cup. Small field but packed full of talent. Looks to be a very exciting race with the likes of Designs On Rome and Military Attack in the field. It does look to be a sensational race with those runners involved. To add to that we have Blazing Speed and California Memory just breathing down their necks along with Harbour Master who certainly has shown potential. Yet another great days racing in Hong Kong and we certainly found some winners there last week. On top selections and value selections as well as six exactas. Get amongst it and enjoy the day.
Track and Conditions: Turf B+2 Course with the exception of Races 2-5 which will be on the All Weather Dirt Track.
Expected Weather: Mainly cloudy with one or two rain patches and a top temperature of 20 degrees. Wind will be from the northeast up to 30 Km/h and on occasions up to 40 Km/h. This will create a direct head wind down the straight which will aid on paced runners.
Best Bet: Race 3 No 7 Pop-Bear
Best Value: Race 8 No 1 Celestial Smile
Exotic Races: Race No’s 7-8-9-10
Quaddie: – Race 7: 1-2 Race 8: 9-1-13-7-5 Race 9: 4-1 Race 10: 2-11-9-1-6
Race 1: — Time: 5.00am GMT—Distance: 2000m—Class 5
Top Pick: No 1 Enjoy The Game
Value Selection: No 10 Win Chance
Exotic Inclusions: No 12 Glamorous Ryder and No 4 Super Strike
Race Overiew
Not the sort of race you want to get too involved in first up today. Looks a bit of a minefield over this distance at this class. But there may be a bit of value just the same if keeping your stakes small. Enjoy The Game went well recently when going up to class four and certainly enjoyed the weight drop. Back to top weight today with the class rise but his previous form was very good at this class so if he can carry the weight he has to be a bit of a chance here. Win Chance has never looked like making it at lesser distances and performed as such. However after stepping up in distance has shown a fair bit of improvement. Both his last starts all be it have been at Happy Valley and he did close off exceptionally well last start over the 2200m. Looks suited today over the 2000m Has a senior hoop in Brett Prebble in the saddle and you would have to expect he should be value as well.
Race 2: — Time: 5.30am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 4 – AWT
Top Pick: No 4 Kingston Jumbo
Value Selection: No 10 Horse Supremo
Exotic Inclusions: No 9 Modern Fortune – No 7 Lovely Naughty – Hello Kimberly
Race Overview
Kingston Jumbo Is an Australian breed four year old who appears to have matured very well this season. Improved a fair bit since going to the All Weather Track and has won both his last two starts at this class on that surface. Up a bit in the weights as a result of that but still looks ok and has to be another strong chance with Joao Moreira retaining the ride today. Horse Supremo has mixed his form this season at Happy Valley and the AWT at Sha Tin and looks to prefer this surface going on his last two starts. They are both tight tracks and the draws are important. Just gets in with gate eight today and is well weighted. Only has to repeat his last two starts to be a good chance once again today. Hello Kimberley normally when he drops back in class he performs very well but had a few issues last start and coped a few knocks early so may pay to forgive that effort. Not drawn well in gate 10 but does get a 2 Lb claim here and this is certainly not a strong class four and may very well pay to follow here. Goes in as my BOLTER of the day.
Race 3: — Time: 6.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 4
Top Pick: No 4 Bear Rapper
Value Selection: No 5 Thor The Greatest
Exotic Inclusions: No 1 Fun Tapestry and No 2 How Speedy
Bear Rapper has never been very far away in all his races since arriving in Hong Kong and closed off very well from a wide gate last start and was not very far away in the wash up at all. Comes up with a nice draw today in gate four and I expect this will certainly help. Interesting to see a bit of hoop swapping going on here with Joao Moreira off Thor The Greatest and onto Bear Rapper and Brett Prebble off Bear Rapper and onto Thor The Greatest as they both certainly have appeal here although. Thor The Greatest has drawn wide but he has been very consistent this season. He will most likely try to cross early and if he gets in with cover he certainly has to come under consideration as well.
Race 4: — Time: 6.30am GMT—Distance: 1200 —Class 4
Top Pick: No 13 Winner St Paul’s
Value Selection: No 4 Forever Accurate
Exotic Inclusions: No 3 Telecom Boss and No 1 Kokoda
Race Overview
Very open affair here and it does look like it will be each way the field. Winner St Paul’s just the three starts in Hong Kong and is improving with racing. Went to the line well last start and was only 1 1/4 lengths of the winner on that occasion. Comes up with a nice draw in gate 2 and always has a good hoop in the saddle and nothing has changed today with the master of the weave in Brett Prebble taking the over. Forever Accurate is much better than last run would suggest as he lost a plate in the running on that occasion and it did appear to affect his chances. Previous runs leading into that start were very good and is expected to do much better today. each way chance here. Telecom Boss Dropped back to this class last start and although he did not get into a place he did get much closer in the wash up only 1 3/4 lengths from the winner. That was his first go with the extra weight with the class drop and would not have to improve very much to be a good chance here.
Race 5: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 1 – AWT
Top Pick: No 9 Master Kochanwong
Value Selection: No 4 Access Years
Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Super Jockey and No 7 Lord Sinclair / No 1 Sterling City
Race Overview
Interesting Class 1 race here with some good runners engaged. But when looking at the AWT form it is hard to go past Master Kochanwong who does look the best weighted runner in this race as he handled the class rise last start and recorded a nice win with 122Lbs on his back. Drops to 119 Lbs today and comes up with a great draw in gate 2. Retains Douglas Whyte in the saddle and certainly has to come under consideration here. Access Years as a few of these are untried over this surface. Make no bones about it this is a very classy race but he has been a very consistent type since arriving in Hong Kong and certainly deserves to be in this company. Drops 7 Lbs on his last start 2nd at this class and should be very competitive here. I currently at each way odds which does make him value here.
Race 6: — Time: 7.30am GMT—Distance: 1400m —Class 3
Top Pick: No 12 Bossie
Value Selection: No 5 Da Vinci
Exotic Inclusions: No 4 Cheeky Too and No 1 Noble Alpha
Race Overview
Bossie Only the four starts in Hong Kong and does look like a nice type. Went up to this class last start and ran a very nice 2nd. Looks extremely well weighted and should get a very nice trail in the running from gate 2 and retains Joao Moreira in the saddle. Should go close here. Da Vinci does look like a very nice type and will certainly get away with a win or two at this class before too much longer. Well beaten last start but looking at the margins he was not very far away at all , only 1 1/2 lengths in the wash up and does look a bit of a hope today as he goes around with the same weight as last start.
Race 7: — Time: 8.00am GMT—Distance: 2000m—Class- Group One
Top Pick: No 1 Designs On Rome
Value Selection: No 2 Military Attack
Exotic Inclusions: No 3 Blazing Speed and No 4 California Memory
Race Overview
At set weights this should be a great race. Let’s put it under the microscope 🙂 Well looking at Designs On Rome and Military Attack there is never much between them and only the Jockey has managed to time their runs to perfection. Designs On Rome has managed to come out in front on most occasions and did so the last time these two met over this distance all be it by a short head. On that occasion it was at set weights so if their form is up to par it is a bit of a toss up today. Military Attack has a huge heart and will never stop trying so if any hiccups he will certainly take advantage of it. On the other side of the coin we also must look at California Memory. He has been a bit out of sorts since his early career wins at very good class races.. What I did notice was the way he finished off his last start. He did on that occasion have a very light weight but gets into this race today with a nice weight as well. He finished 7th at his last start which was won by Designs On Rome over the 1800m but what you can read into it is that he was only 1 1/2 lengths from the winner on that occasion and was closing off very well. Gives you the impression he has been set for this and the extra distance will be right up his ally. Should certainly be a bit of value here. Blazing Speed and Harbour Master can also figure on recent form. Interesting Race just the same.
Race 8: — Time: 8.35am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 3
Top Pick: No 9 Colossus
Value Selection: No 1 Celestial Smile
Exotic Inclusions: No 13 So Café and No 7 Renaissance / No 5 Jun Huo
Race Overview
Colossus has only had the one start in Hong Kong but it was for a very nice third over the 1400m. Closed off very well on that occasion indicating that the extra distance up to the Sha Tin mile may very well be his go. Does look like Tommy Berry’s better chances today. Celestial Smile is far too consistent to leave out here even with top weight. Only needs a sniff over the concluding stages and will be hard to hold out at this class.
Race 9: — Time: 9.10am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class – 3
Top Pick: No 4 Why Why
Value Selection: No 1 Eroico
Exotic Inclusions: No Mutimax and No 14 Blizzard / No 7 Happy Meteor
Race Overview
Why Why has been in sensational form of late and does appeal as another very good chance once again today. Won at his first go at this class last start and still looks well treated at the weights today. Drawn well and retains his regular hoop. May very well pay to follow here. Eroico will be the one they will be wanting to be on here with Joao Moreira retaining the ride. Went a bit a miss over the concluding stages last start but can improve on that effort. May have been the weight but will certainly see today if that was the case. However not a strong class three and if on song can get away with this.
Race 10: — Time: 9.45pm GMT—Distance: 1800m—Class 2
Top Pick: No 2 Packing Llaregyb
Value Selection: No 11 Contentment
Exotic Inclusions: No 9 Obliterator and No 1 Flame Hero / No 6 Mr Gnocchi
Very nice class two here. I do like Packing Llaregyb in a race of this type. Certainly showed that he is very well up to Group racing with his effort last start in finishing a very close up 2nd over this distance at G3. He had on that occasion a very light weight and closed off extremely well. Gets a big weight rise today but on the same token this is a good class drop as well. I must say some of the lower weighted runners certainly have very good chances as well. Great Race. Without doubt Contentment does look extremely well weighted today with just 114Lbs on his back. Drawn well and has Joeo Moreira in the saddle and has to be respected at the weights as well as he was only 3 Lengths away last start at HKG1.
