Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – The With You. Then. Now. Always. 1600m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.82 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
Keith Yeung and David Hayes combined with YOUTH POWER (ITY 4yo g Blu Constellation – Hidden Agenda) to win the opener in dominant fashion. Yeung used the inside barrier to his advantage in the opening stages, putting the gelding on the speed and settling down on the back of the leader. The first three horses broke away from the rest of the pack around the home turn with Yeung remaining right on the leader's tail swinging into the straight. He was absolutely trucking at the top of the straight as the local hoop pulled him into the clear and he ran to the front with 250m left to run. He shot away midway down the straight and never looked like going under, winning by 2-1/2 lengths eased down. CASA LEGEND ran home strongly from sitting well back in the run for Matthew Poon. The gelding was cruising around at the tail of the field throughout the event and moved into the three-wide trail as the race began to unfold around the turn. Poon was the widest runner in the straight, coming down the middle of the track to make his effort. He was strong to the line, running over the top of his rivals and sustaining the effort to take second place in a photo finish. PAKISTAN FRIEND had given Casa Legend a tow into the race rounding the home turn and kept on well himself, just missing out on second position.
Race 2 – The You Make Good Possible 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.52 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
WIN SPEED (NZ 4yo g Vespa – Leica Glory) secured the first win of his career in good fashion. From barrier twelve, the gelding showed good early speed and Matthew Chadwick rolled forward to sit on the speed through the opening stages. The local hoop would land on the back of the leader once they had sorted their order out, tracking nicely off the back with the speed just even. Again, the field broke apart rounding the home turn in what was almost a carbon copy to the winner in the opening race, with Chadwick sticking to the back of the leader before peeling three-wide on straightening. The four-year-old loomed up early in the straight and took the lead with around 250m remaining, shooting clear of his rivals and winning very comfortably in the run to the line. The margin was 1-1/2 lengths at the post, but the win looked much easier than that. LEGEND ST PAUL'S had landed on the outside of the eventual winner in the run, sitting in the one-out-one-back position on settling down. The gelding was left a little flat-footed around the home turn as the pace ramped up from the 600m point, losing some ground on straightening. It was a terrific effort to peg back that margin though, showing plenty of strength all the way to the wire to bridge the gap to 1-1/2 lengths and finish a clear second. CORLEONE showed some promising signs on debut after settling midfield in the run. He kept on well to the line, showing good strength to run into third as a $29 chance.
Race 3 – The Community Growth 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.95 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
MASTER MASTERMIND (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Khalama) made it back-to-back wins with a very smart display. From a wide alley, Zac Purton snagged the gelding to settle a little worse than midfield, sitting three-wide with cover. The speed was good throughout the event and Purton had a lovely trail into the race as he got himself into the clear at the top of the stretch. The four-year-old let down impressively down the outside to hit the front with a furlong to run, breaking clear under hands and heels and going on to win very comfortably by 1-12 lengths. FIGHT TIME ended up in the second half of the field on settling down with Alex Badel snagging from barrier seven. The gelding didn't have the best of luck entering the straight with a wall of horses in front of him until he finally got into the clear with around 200m left to run. He closed off well once clear to end up a clear second, but the winner had already given him windburn by the time he got out. BALLISTIC WIN moved into the race nicely from a midfield position under Hugh Bowman and stuck on well to finish in third.
Race 4 – The Striding On Together 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.09 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
MAJESTIC EXPRESS (AUS 4yo g I Am Invincible - Unassailed) capitalized on his recent string of good form to secure his maiden victory. Brenton Avdulla snagged the galloper back toward the tail of the field from barrier 12, crossing back to the inside rail early in the race. He was racing comfortably at the back of the pack as Avdulla began to weave his way through the field early in the straight. The four-year-old snuck between runners and mate a late charge at the leader inside the final 100m, getting there right on the post to take the win by a short head. SUPER LEGENDS jumped quickly and put himself right on the speed from barrier five, sitting just off the leader who was running along early. He looked to be travelling well coming to the straight as he set out after the leader who kicked away at the top of the straight. He made his charge late in the race, but just as he got to the front close to the line, Majestic Express came over the top to beat him on the post. SPICY SPANGLE led the field up as a $40 chance and hung in there for a very long way. It was a great ride by Matthew Poon as he was only caught late in the race and was only just a neck on the line.
Race 5 – The HKJC 140th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:33.76 Standard Time: 1:34.45 Course/Class record: 1:32.96 Not Usual Talent
KARMA (AUS 6yo g Turn Me Loose – Lovingthelimelight) returned to winning ways as he continued to build on his impressive record. The big chestnut ended up settling near the tail of the field after jumping from barrier nine with Vincent Ho snagging the galloper back right after the jump. The pace was good up front and Ho was able to slide into the three-wide trail as they turned off the back. He was under the pump as they swung into the straight, but he built up the revs nicely turning into the straight and was the widest runner in the straight. Coming down the middle of the track, the big fellow came with a strong run to hit the front with a furlong to run and inch away with every stride to the line. He showed plenty of strength late in the race to end up winning by 1-1/2 lengths in great fashion. It was a close finish for the minor placings with HELENE FEELING getting back to form. After sitting midfield in the run for Brenton Avdulla, it took a while for the gelding to wind up as they swung around the turn. He ducked back to the inside of the leader early in the straight with the field bunching close to home. He was strong to the line to get the bob in and take second position in a four-way photo finish. PATCH OF THETA loomed as a winning hope early in the straight but just failed to see out the mile on his first attempt. Dropping back to the 1400m journey can see him return to the winner's stall.
Race 6 – The Inspiring Community 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.18 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
PATCH OF TIME (AUS 5yo g Written Tycoon – Lady Gracious) broke his maiden with a solid win for Cody Mo and Karis Teetan. The gelding jumped well from the barrier and showed enough early speed to be prominent in the run. He ended up settling about midfield in the run with the two leaders charging away from the chasing pack in the middle stages. As they swung into the straight, the Mauritian hoop stuck to the inside rail where a gap appeared early in the straight, with the gelding quickening smartly to be within striking distance with a furlong to run. He kept coming under the urgings of Teetan, sticking his nose in front inside the final 50m of the race3 and getting the job done by a neck. BLAZING WIND got the nod for second in a tight photo finish. After jumping from the inside barrier Vincent Ho found himself on the bac of the eventual winner though the middle stages of the race, tracking him into the race as they turned for home. Instead of remaining to the inside, Ho switched to the outside and made his run out near the middle of the track. He was doing his best work over the closing stages, but it wasn't enough to peg back the margin as he finished in second position. HAROLD WIN was just edged out on the line, but he clung on for third in a tight photo finish after launching a strong attack from midfield.
Race 7 – The Premier Bowl (Handicap), HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:07.57 Standard Time: 1:08.35 Course/Class record: 1:07.50 Sacred Kingdom
Up-and-coming star KA YING RISING (NZ 4yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) continued his winning ways with a dominant display, making it six wins in-a-row. Despite the sticky barrier, the gelding showed good speed out wide and while a few rivals kicked up underneath him, it allowed Zac Purton to slide into the one-out-one-back position. The speed slackened through the middle stages, but the gelding was full of running as they entered the straight and ambled up ominously under a strong Purton hold. As soon as the button was pushed, the gelding shot away, quickly putting up three or four lengths before being eased down over the closing stages. Purton was very kind on him late and the margin was narrowed back to 1-1/2 lengths on the line, but the result was never in doubt. HELIOS EXPRESS returned to sprinting in good fashion, storming home late in the race to grab second position. Alex Badel dropped the gelding back to last place early on in the event with a strong tempo being set throughout the race. Racing along the inside rail, Badel needed some luck as they swung into the straight, sticking to the inside around the hom turn and improving along the fence. He was able to weave his way through the traffic as the gaps appeared and he rattled home strongly late in the race to grab an eye-catching second. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE may have felt the effects of being first-up today as he was ridden along to lead the field early in the race. He blew up late in the race, tiring to finish third by the skin of his teeth in a three-way photo finish.
Race 8 – The Shared Prosperity 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.09 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Zac Purton quickly made it a race-to-race double with another up-and-comer, Francis Lui's PACKING HERMOD (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Black Tulip) as he made it three-for-three to begin his career. After drawing wide, Purton took luck out of the equation by rolling forward and slotting the gelding into the running line close to the speed. He would sit in second spot and as they turned off the back, sliding to sit just off the leader as they worked around the home turn. It didn't take long for the four-year-old to hit the front, cruising up to hit the front with 250m left to run. At the 150m point his strength began to shine through, getting away from his rivals and going on to win very easily by 1-1/4 lengths. SUPER INFINITY jumped well from the inside barrier and landed just off the speed for Harry Bentley, racing along the inside rail. At the 600m point, Bentley began to try and ease off the fence, nudging his way into the clear at the top of the straight to set out after the leaders. He had his chance to win if he was good enough, but the winner was just a cut above. He closed off well late in the race to take second position. ARMOUR WAR EAGLE was midfield in the run and remained to the inside rail at the top of the straight. He stuck on well up the fence to steal third position right on the post.
Race 9 – The Creative Spirit 1600m Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.68 Standard Time: 1:34.75 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
Matthew Poon and Mark Newnham combined to win the penultimate event on the card with $13 chance BRAVEHEARTS (ARG 5yo g Cityscape – O K Angie) saluting in his debut run for the stable. The five-year-old lobbed into a midfield position early on in the race from his favourable alley before being shuffled back approaching the first turn and ending up in the second half of the field. Poon was happy to just float around out the back around the turn before moving wider on the course, getting onto the back of some improving gallopers as they swung into the straight. Poon got into the clear shortly after straightening, coming down the middle of the track with his run. He was still well off them with 150m to run but he sprouted wings late in the race, mowing down his rivals to hit the front with 50m to run and score by a length on the line in a very eye-catching performance. There was a dead-heat for second with FALLON and STAR MAC hitting the line locked together. After both raced toward the back of the field throughout the event, they went their separate ways at the top of the stretch. Angus Chung and Fallon went wide as they entered the straight, tracking the eventual winner into the race. He would storm down the outside to hit the line locked together with Star Mac who weaved his way through the traffic down the stretch. Karis Teetan was able to find the gaps up the running to come through between horses late in the race and finish tied for second.
Race 10 – The Love Racing 1400m Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.48 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
It was a strong return for the Ricky Yiu-trained GREEN N WHITE (AUS 5yo g Smart Missile – Twin Star Rocket) after being scratched on vets' advice a month ago. After jumping quickly from barrier eight, Hugh Bowman let the speed go as they sorted their order out, landing in the second half of the field. He would rave comfortably through the middle stages with the field bunching up around the home turn as the leader's slammed on the brakes, prompting the field to fan across the track as they swung for home. Bowman was able to get onto the back of a couple who towed him into the race nicely with the five-year-old looking to have plenty to offer at the top of the stretch. He sprinted quickly out wider on the course to hit the front with 150m to run and he sprinted clear of his rivals to win impressively on resumption, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths. SKY TRUST ended up racing on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out, with Luke Ferraris holding his spot with the aid of an inside barrier. The gelding travelled well as he was right on the leader's tail in the run, with the South African hoop remaining along the inside looking for a saloon passage. The run finally came with around 200m remaining and he snuck up along the inside, but by the time he got out the race was over. He closed off well to take second position, but he was no match for the winner. PRESTIGE ALWAYS was right there to strike under Zac Purton as they swung into the straight and he took the lead with 300m to run. He just couldn't sustain the effort to fend off the first couple, but he was solid enough as he finished in third.