Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.
Rail - A+3 Course
Awt - 1,5
Race 1
# 1 FAIRY HORSE is worth a second chance as our on top selection after he had excuses on Wednesday night, where he missed the start and then didn't get the clearest of runs in the home straight, but closed off well. That was just his first run in this grade, the blinkers have only recently gone on and the way that he finished off the race suggested that a rise in distance shouldn't be an issue. Caspar Fownes has a terrific record with backing up his horses, so the quick turnaround is no concern and there will be enough speed on here for him to drift back from the wide gate and come home strongly. He looks on the verge of his first win in Hong Kong.
#5 COLOURFUL BARON has been in good form since joining Douglas Whyte's stable and was a tough winner last time out on this surface. He was forced to sit wide but was still strong to the line over 1800m. He's drawn a better barrier this time around, so he should enjoy a much more economical run in transit, he's proven on the surface and if it is a genuinely run 1650m, you know he'll be strong late.
#7 VULCANUS is also backing up from the same race that FAIRY HORSE came through on Wednesday night and was also coming home well, finishing second, just a short head off the winner, so those form lines have to be respected. He's been thereabouts in all three runs this season and has performed well on this surface before. Barrier ten looks a little awkward for him but if he can get some luck in running, he should be around the mark once again here.
#3 NOT A FEW is an interesting runner. He's only recently joined David Eustace's stable and made up ground to finish fifth at his first run for the season, which he's likely to have taken improvement from. Pacifiers go on for the first time, he's a recent class dropper, while the fact that Hugh Bowman is in the saddle once again is significant. The unknown factor is the all weather track; he was unplaced at his only race start on it at Dundalk in Ireland and just had a quiet trial on it at Sha Tin. If he can handle the surface than expect him to put in a competitive showing.
#9 PRECISION GOAL gets the services of Zac Purton and has a reasonable record over this distance. He's also likely to go forward on a surface that can favour the on pacers. The key question is how much work will he have to do from gate 12 to be up on the speed, given the short run to the first turn.
Selections - 1,5,7,3,9
R2 - 1,3,7,10,8
R3 - 1,7,11,8,12
R4 - 9,5,8,1,14
R5 - 8,5,3,12,11
Race 6
#3 WUNDERBAR is a rising star of the sprinting ranks and has only tasted defeat once from seven career starts. He's won both of his starts this season and beat another highly promising horse last time out in Bottomuptogether. Coming back to 1000m after two runs at 1200m is a slight query but he has won twice down the straight before and is trained by an outstanding horseman in John Size. He's likely to line up as the favourite for this event, he looks destined for bigger things to come and should be hard to beat here.
#6 MAGIC CONTROL has been in really good form since joining Cody Mo's stable. Formerly known as Archo Nacho when he raced in Australia, Magic Control won well at his first up run this season and was brave in defeat second up over this course and distance in the National Day Cup. He's a horse that's still on the up, he's very speedy and will be prominent in the run. He looks the main danger to Wunderbar.
#1 WHIZZ KID is one of the proven class runners in the race, having won the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at group level on the straight course earlier this year. He's only had the one run this season, where he ran third behind Beauty Waves and Magic Control in the National Day Cup, and will have taken improvement for that outing. He has got the top weight to carry and is conceding weight to promising horses like Wunderbar and Magic Control, but he should still be up on the speed and in the contest for a long way.
#2 PACKING TREADMILL hasn't won for a long time and probably needs a bit further distance wise, but he's been competing at group level for the last twelve months, he's a fit horse and in a race that falls away outside of the top three, he's capable of filling the minor end of a top four spot.
#9 I GIVE has been racing well albeit in easier company. This is a step up in grade and his best form is over 1200m, but off his current form and with the light weight, he might be one to consider from an exotics point of view.
Selections - 3,6,1,2,9
Race 7
#11 PACKING HERMOD can remain unbeaten here in what is an excellent renewal of the Panasonic Cup. Francis Lui's galloper has won all three starts to date and looks like a horse on the rise heading into the Four Year Old Series for this season. He's only had one start this season, which was a soft win that had more authority to it than the official margin would suggest, while his racing style gives the indication that he won't have any worries stepping up in distance to 1400m. He maps to get an ideal run off the pace behind two noted front runners in Drombeg Banner and Bottomuptogether, he's got an ultra light weight to carry, is still improving and looks well placed, albeit in a very competitive race.
#12 RUBYLOT was put away by David Hayes after his impressive first up win, where he displayed an explosive turn of foot to run down Bottomuptogether. He's had a quiet barrier trial leading into this, he's drawn well, has a light weight, a good draw and is proven over this distance. Look for him to be coming home hard, especially if the leaders overdo it out in front.
#6 BOTTOMUPTOGETHER won his first three starts in smart fashion but has been beaten twice since then. In saying that, he may have been vulnerable first up while second up, he gave smart sprinter Wunderbar a real race and lost no admirers in defeat. The step up to 1400m is an unknown factor, while it will be interesting to see how Matthew Chadwick rides him, given he's got a noted leader in Drombeg Banner drawn inside of him. If they don't go too hard in front, he's got the necessary talent to be in this race for a long time.
#8 GREEN N WHITE returned with a terrific first up win, quickening up stylishly to salute. He now steps up in class, has a lightweight, is drawn well, has an outstanding record over 1400m, and has the services of the in form Matthew Poon. A repeat of his latest performance would give him an each way chance.
#5 YOUNG CHAMPION looked very promising last season and his best form is over this distance. He pulled up with blood in the trachea last time out and is drawn wide here, but with luck in running and off his form last season, he warrants consideration.
Selections - 11,12,6,8,5
R8 - 14,7,5,6,1
R9 - 4,12,2,6,14
R10 - 3,5,9,8,10
