Brett Davis provides exclusive preview of Sha Tin races.
Rail - B Course
Race 1
#9 ARTHUR'S KINGDOM arrived in Hong Kong with strong European form, having finished second in a group one in France as a two year old before going on to run well behind Pyledriver at Royal Ascot as a three year old. He hasn't got anywhere near those heights in Hong Kong, however, he won well at Happy Valley last time out over 2200m. On that occasion, he had to work to get across and lead, but once he got there, he travelled well and fought off the challengers at the top of the straight to prevail. He's only got four pounds extra to carry this time as a consequence of that win, and from gate two, he won't have to do any work from the tricky 2000m starting point to get to the lead. He looks well placed here to make it back to back wins.
#7 HAPPY HERO is knocking on the door for a win, as he hasn't been far away at his last two outings behind Nice Birdie and Arthur's Kingdom. He now switches from Happy Valley to Sha Tin, where he boasts a course and distance victory from his only previous outing over 2000m at the bigger track. From barrier one, he maps to get the run of the race and a competitive showing is expected once again.
#6 GO GO GO has gone close at his last two starts, as he was beaten a nose two starts ago by Amazing Boy and then finished second to Arthur's Kingdom at Happy Valley last time out. While I thought he had every opportunity to get past Arthur's Kingdom on that occasion, he does meet him better off at the weights this time around and is drawn to get an economical run in transit. He's also one of the contenders in this contest.
#2 TURTLE AGAIN gets the crucial class drop here, and he boasts a very good record in class five. He was only beaten a short head when he was last in this grade back in January, and then hasn't disgraced himself in his four runs at class four since then. Another boost to his chances is the booking of outstanding jockey, Hugh Bowman. My main concern is where he'll get to in the run though from barrier thirteen, particularly from the challenging 2000m starting point.
#1 KINGLY DEAMEANOR ran an improved race in class four last time out and now drops into class five for the first time. Although he's been assigned the top weight in this field, trainer Tony Cruz has elected to offset that somewhat by booking his in form apprentice Angus Chung for the ride. He's likely to aim for a handy position in the run, but how much work he'll have to do to obtain that from his wide draw will be the issue.
Selections - 9,7,6,2,1
R2 - 2,3,1,5,4
R3 - 3,2,1,12,13
R4 - 1,5,14,7,13
R5 - 1,9,11,7,13
R6 - 4,2,1,6,7
R7 - 5,1,11,6,3
Race 8
LION ROCK TROPHY (Gp3 - 1600m - Hcp)
#8 CHANCHENG GLORY has enjoyed an outstanding season so far and is showing no signs of slowing down. He recorded a comprehensive victory last time out, coming away to win decisively over this same course and distance, while prior to that, he'd performed well throughout the three legs of the Four Year Old Classic Series. He's tactically versatile, he can lead or like last time, he can settle midfield, and still finish off the race strongly. Lyle Hewitson will have a number of options up his sleeve from barrier three, while he's also got the significant advantage of having the lightweight to carry. He's a progressive horse with rating points in hand still and is the one to beat for mine.
#4 GALAXY PATCH is one of the class runners in this field, thanks to his runner up performances in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and then in the Hong Kong Derby. He still got to the line well in the Champions Mile last time out, where the winner Beauty Eternal controlled the race from the front and on a day where it was difficult to make up ground. For mine, he's a horse still on the rise, he's still fairly well weighted, is drawn well and if there's enough pace on, look for him to be coming home strongly.
#1 BEAUTY JOY is another classy runner in the field, having won three times at group level in Hong Kong, the most recent of those victories coming two starts ago when he took out the G2 Chairman's Trophy. Like Galaxy Patch, he wasn't suited by the way the race was run in the Champions Mile at his last start and the more favourable track conditions, a quicker tempo and a weaker line up means that he should finish closer in this contest. The concern is the topweight of 135 pounds, as he's conceding weight to some up and coming types.
#7 ATULLIBIGEAL isn't a prolific winner but he's a very honest campaigner who rarely runs a bad race. He's got a light weight, a good barrier draw and a decent record at this trip, while he meets Taj Dragon significantly better off at the weights following a narrow defeat to him last time out. Look for him to get back and be running on into the top four late.
#3 TAJ DRAGON got up to win narrowly last time out and wasn't far behind the likes of Galaxy Patch and Beauty Joy in the Champions Mile two starts ago. He's not that well in at the weights due to that last start win, but nevertheless, he's recent form means that he's still entitled to be around the mark here.
Selections - 8,4,1,7,3
Race 9
SHA TIN VASE (Gp3 - 1200m - Hcp)
#7 MUGEN put in a huge performance to finish third in the Chairman's Sprint Prize last time out, getting back and finishing off very strongly on a day where it wasn't easy to make up ground. After trying him over 1600m before, his trainer Pierre Ng has realised that he's a get back, run on sprinter and has publicly declared that he has further group one goals with this horse. He's a consistent horse who's well weighted and progressive. If he gets a suitable tempo, he's the one to beat.
#9 KA YING RISING finds himself out of the handicap but he's a talented three year old that's working his way up the grades in impressive fashion. He's latest victory was particularly taking, as he sat outside the leader and put his rivals away without ever really being let off the bridle. He's got the minimum weight to carry, he'll make his own luck close to the speed and if he's going to be a Hong Kong sprint candidate later in the year, then he should be going close in a race like this.
#2 INVINCIBLE SAGE is in career best form, having won the Chairman's Sprint Prize at group one level last time out. He got a perfect ride from Hugh Bowman on Champions Day to win that race, and Bowman is sticking with him here. He's had a recent barrier trial at Conghua that showed he's still in good order, and from barrier two, he'll get every chance in the run once again. Any rain on the day would also help him and while he's not favoured by the handicap conditions, he still might have a few more rating points in hand as a young sprinter and he's certainly got the class to win this.
#1 VICTOR THE WINNER has also enjoyed a superb season, winning the Chief Executive's Cup on the opening day of the season, before going on to win at the highest level in the Centenary Sprint Cup and perform well on the international arena in Japan. The fast tempo of the Chairman's Sprint Prize where he was taken on by California Spangle and Mad Cool didn't suit him last time, and while he's got the topweight of 135 pounds to shoulder here, if he's left alone out in front, then he could prove very hard to rundown.
#5 FLYING ACE is an incredibly honest campaigner who's put in two terrific performances at his last two starts in the Sprint Cup and Chairman's Sprint Prize. Like Mugen, he made up good ground against the pattern in the group one sprint last time and is favoured by the handicap conditions of this event. Given his age as a six year old and his overall body of work, he just might lack the necessary class to win a race like this but he's definitely a strong place hope.
Selections - 7,9,2,1,5
R10 - 3,8,7,1,2
R11 - 6,2,10,9,7
