Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Shenyang Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.08 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Hugh Bowman and Caspar Fownes continued their hot start to the season as THE KHAN (IRE 4yo g Acclamation – Above The Mark) scored his maiden victory in the opener on National Day. After being one of the last to jump, The Khan ended up in the second half of the field for Bowman, travelling strongly with 1000m left to run. There wasn't a whole lot of pace up front, but the gelding settled better as they worked off the back straight with the Australian hoop pinching runs along the inside rail. Swinging for home, the gaps opened for The Khan as he weaved through traffic, quickening nicely when Bowman asked for an effort, getting into the clear with 250m left to run. He came out after the leader, looming up with 150m to run before taking the lead and inching clear inside the final 100m to win by a half-length. JOYFUL LIFE was quickly out of the barriers and raced on the speed early on from barrier two. Heading towards the 800m point, Derek Leung eased out of the speed battle to take a sit behind the leading pair, travelling sweetly through the middle stages. Leung was right there to pounce as they turned for home, peeling three-wide and letting rip early in the straight. The leader kicked strongly at the top of the stretch, though Joyful Life knuckled down to hit the front with 200m remaining. He was unable to hold the winner at bay, though he did prove very tough to get past and he didn't go down without a fight. MEDIC ELITE was running on strongly from a midfield position to claim third, one length off the winner.
Race 2 – Nanning Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.65 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King
COMMANDING MISSILE (AUS 7yo g Smart Missile – Ocean Tempest) saluted for his first win in over 12 months, running away with a dominant victory in the end. The seven-year-old was quickly out of the barriers and eased across to park himself in the one-out-one-back position for Jerry Chau. After having the run of the race with an even tempo being set, Chau peeled three-wide on straightening and ambled up to the leaders ominously midway down the straight. He never looked like getting beaten as he ran away with the race inside the final 100m, putting a big gap on his rivals and scoring by 2-1/4 lengths. BEAT HOLLOW was able to slide across from barrier seven to take up the running for Angus Chung. The gelding kept the pace even through the middle stages before slipping away at the top of the straight when Chung asked for an effort. He was over a length in front at the 200m mark, but Commanding Missile was bearing down on him, and he was eventually gobbled up by the winner. He stuck on well for second after setting the tempo. CHILLI BABA ended up near the tail of the field for Andrea Atzeni and needed some luck from the inside rail as they turned for home. He didn't have the best of luck, but he made a late charge between horses late to finish in third, getting the nod in a photo finish.
Race 3 – Chongqing Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.08 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Matthew Poon and Dennis Yip joined forces with race favourite GREAT SPIRIT (AUS 4yo g American Pharoah – Hermosa Beach) shedding the maiden tag. From barrier two, Poon was neutral aboard the gelding as he ended up in a midfield position on the inside of the early favourite. He raced along the inside rail through the middle stages and the local jockey began to edge his way off the fence with 500m remaining. Swinging for home, Poon got into the clear and the gelding let down strongly, moving up to take the lead with 150m to run. The second horse didn't go down without a fight, but Great Spirit packed too many punches as he went on to win by a neck. NEW FUTURE FOLKS drifted late in betting after opening as the favourite on race morning. He wasn't the best into stride from his wide stall, though he was able to roll forward from the gate and slot into a midfield position under Ben Thompson. After a good piece of riding to get him into the running line, the gelding had a nice cart into the race as the Australian hoop came off heels to make his challenge at the top of the straight. He let down well to take the lead approaching the 200m pole, though it was short lived as Great Spirit gained the upper hand shortly after. New Future Folks fought on strongly to the line, but he couldn't peg back the margin. It was a touch watch for backers of TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR who was held up for a run down the straight. Derek Leung was boxed in between horses for much of the straight, only getting out with 100m remaining and flashing home to finish third, beaten by half-a-length.
Race 4 – Chongqing Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.33 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Today was finally the day for GENEVA (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Sebrina) after placing in his first five starts, he finally claimed his maiden victory, giving Hugh Bowman a winning double. Bowman snagged the gelding back to the tail of the field early in the race after jumping from a wide alley, crossing to the rail early in the event. The Australian was able to sneak his way through traffic in the middle stages and had plenty of galloping room in the straight as he asked his mount for an effort turning for home. Geneva went through a gap between horses to burst through and join the leaders with 100m to run, before eventually taking the lead at the 50m point and inching clear to win by a neck. PATCH OF TIME landed in the one-out-one-back for Karis Teetan after a swift getaway. The first four in the run broke away from the chasing pack passing the 600m and Teetan was right there poised to strike as they turned for home. He moved up to take the lead with a furlong to run, but the $1.60 favourite was bearing down on him. He held the lead to the 50m point, where Geneva's class took over, with Patch Of Time finishing a clear second. CIRCUIT VICTORY stuck on well from a midfield position to finish 2 lengths off the winner in third spot, just peaking on the run late in the race.
Race 5 – Chengdu Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.96 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Dennis Yip made it a winning double as Zac Purton guided home VIEW OF THE WORLD (NZ 4yo g Derryn – Gossiping) to his first win. Jumping from barrier 11, Purton was left wide and without cover through the opening stages as he slid back trying to slot into the running line. He was left racing wide turning off the back, though he did have cover in the run and he peeled into the clear at the top of the straight with plenty to offer. He came right down the outside to join the leaders with 200m remaining and took the lead shortly after, getting to the front and winning comfortably on the line, scoring by half-a-length. JUMBO FORTUNE settled in a midfield position after getting away on terms from the inside draw. He needed a touch of luck around the turn as Karis Teetan bullied his way into the clear midway down the straight. He had to shift off heels again with 100m remaining, lengthening again nicely down to the wire to only be beaten a half-length, with plenty of positives to come out of it. YUEN LONG ELITE stormed home late in the race to grab third, beaten three-quarters of-a-length in eye-catching fashion.
Race 6 – Jinan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:47.74 Standard Time: 1:48.10 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue
HAPPY HERO (AUS 6yo g Pierro – Forty Winks) was urged out of the barriers by Lyle Hewitson and landed just off the speed. As the field sorted their order out, Hewitson found himself three pairs back and along the fence, tracking along nicely through the middle stages. The field fanned across the straight as they swung for home, allowing Hewitson to pop into the clear at the top of the straight and set out after the leader. He ground away out wider on the course, digging in to hit the front with 150m left to run and was strong to the line, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. SHARPEN BRIGHT was able to slide across and slot into the running line for Karis Teetan after a good bit of riding early in the race. The gelding rolled around in the one-out-one-back position for the Mauritian hoop with the speed slowing through the middle stages, before ramping up again from the 600m point. Sharpen Bright got on the wrong leg around the turn which pushed his rivals wider on the track, but he began to make good ground once he balanced up. The winner got away from him early in the straight, though he was taking ground off him late to finish a clear second. JUBILATION scored third in a photo finish, slicing between runners from back in the field to get his nose down in a photo finish.
Race 7 – The National Day Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group Three – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 55.72 Standard Time: 55.90 Course/Class record: 54.96 Super Wealthy
The feature of the day went to Alex Badel and Pierre Ng as they combined with BEAUTY WAVES (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Litle Sweetheart) to win The National Day Cup. Jumping from gate four, Badel was happy to take a sit just off the speed which was very strong through the opening stages of the race. Remaining well off the grandstand rail, the Frenchman had plenty of room to move and kicked well when Badel asked for an effort. Beauty Waves claimed the lead with around 150m remaining and eased away from the chasers to win in comfortable fashion, scoring by a half-length. MAGIC CONTROL settled on the speed for Matthew Chadwick with no weight on his back. The gelding eye-balled the leader in running, getting across to the outside rail after taking the lead approaching the 400m marker. He was a sitting duck late, with the winner getting him close to the wire while the leader fell out to finish well back. He was beaten on this occasion, but he lost no admirers. WHIZZ KID stalked the speed through the early and middle stages and while he didn't make any ground, he never lost ground either, holding his position to finish third as a $24 chance.
Race 8 – Beijing Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.41 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
DROMBEG BANNER (IRE 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Drombeg Dawn) scored on his season return, just like in 2023, with an all-the-way victory in race eight. Andrea Atzeni had to do a little bit of work to find the front with a rival kicking up underneath him early in the race, though with around 900m remaining, the gelding was able to cross down to the inside and lead comfortably. As soon as he took a clear lead, Atzeni slowed the tempo, stacking the field up around the home turn before quickening again early in the straight. He kicked over a length in front under a strong hold by Atzeni and when horses loomed up to him, he kicked again. He was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, but Drombeg Banner was too strong in the run to the line, keeping his nose in front and winning by a head at the post. PATCH OF THETA raced in a midfield position for Vincent Ho, sitting one off the rail. He tracked nicely through the middle stages, including when the speed came out of the race. This allowed him to move into the event three-wide with cover and get a nice trail into the race, swinging wider again turning for home. He quickened well on straightening and loomed up to Drombeg Banner at the furlong pole with Ho throwing everything he had at the gelding. He was inching closer and closer as the post approached, though he could never stick his nose in front, going under by a head. Back in third was race favourite SUNLIGHT POWER who stuck on well to finish 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 9 – Shanghai Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.44 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Zac Purton made it a winning double on the card as he guided home PACKING POWER (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Chloe Anna) for his third win in-a-row. From an outside barrier, the gelding jumped quickly and was able to track a rival across to sit on his outside in the run. The two leaders were able to slow the tempo through the middle stages, stacking the field up before kicking clear as they swung into the straight. Purton's mount had plenty to offer as he ambled up on the outside of the leader, before putting his nose in front with around 250m remaining. Once he hit top gear it was all over, he ran away to win comfortably on the line. While the margin was only a length, the win was very convincing. GLORY ELITE was strong in his own right too. After jumping quickly from barrier nine, he tracked across to take up the running for Derek Leung. Once he got to the front, he was able to slow the tempo with little pressure being applied through the middle stages. Swinging around the bend, Leung upped the tempo to try and break away from his rivals, though the race favourite was still right there breathing down his neck. He and Packing Power got away from the chasers as they battled it out midway down the straight. He didn't have the class to go with Packing Power, though he stuck on impressively to finish in second position. MY WISH closed off well from the second half of the field to finish in third position for Lyle Hewitson.
Race 10 – Tianjin Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.95 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
WINNING GOLD (AUS 5yo g Brazen Beau – Shimada) brought up a hat-trick of wins as he stormed over the top to build on his handy record. From an outside alley, Keagan De Melo snicked the gelding back to be near the tail of the field on settling down. The pace came out of the race passing the 800m point, but Winning Gold was able to get a nice cart into the race three-wide when the sprint went on again. De Melo ended up extremely wide as they swung into the straight, but he was ambling up impressively beyond the middle of the track. He let down strongly to storm over the top of his rivals, winning by a half-length on the line to continue his winning streak. TOP GUN slotted into a perfect position for Zac Purton as he stalked the speed right from the outset. The Australian hoop shifted three-wide with cover around the home turn and the top weight quickened well to move up and hit the front inside the final furlong. He stuck on gamely under the big weight, though the winner was just too good steaming down the outside. LO PAN SPIRIT kept on well after sitting up on the speed, finishing just a length off the winner.
