Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.03 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Britney Wong picked up her fourth win in her debut season in Hong Kong as she steered the Pierre Ng-trained SPICY SPANGLE (AUS 4yo g Headwater – Beechal) to his maiden victory. The local apprentice fired the four-year-old out of the barriers and he took up the running with ease from barrier two. He was left alone in front as they turned off the back, leading comfortably by around two lengths with 600m remaining with Wong still sitting motionless as they turned into the straight. All of Spicy Spangle's rivals were chasing hard, but they weren't making any ground on the leader until inside the final 150m point. It was a great ride by Wong who made every post a winner, scoring by three quarters of-a-length on the line. I AM THE BOSS got away on terms and landed close to the speed for Dylan Mo. The gelding landed in the one-out-one-back position turning off the back, but as the race continued to unfold, he ended up facing the breeze around the home turn. Mo improved his position around the home turn and the gelding stuck on well, lacking a turn of foot in the early part of the straight but made up for that with his strength over the concluding stages. He was no match for the winner but kept on strongly to run into second position inside the final 50m. FLYING DOUBLE chased the leader throughout the race under Zac Purton and was there to strike if good enough. He couldn't reel in the leader and felt the pinch late in the race, being overtaken close to home and finishing 1-1/4 lengths off the winner. The first three gapped the rest with fourth placing crossing the line over three lengths behind Flying Double.
Race 2 – BOCHK SME In One Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.84 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton scored his first win of the day aboard SUPER LOVE DRAGON (AUS 5yo g Real Impact – Yerbabuena) for the Chris So stable. Despite jumping well, Purton elected to go back from the wide barrier with the gelding ending up near the tail of the field early in the race. The Australian hoop was able to cross all the way down to the inside which his rivals had left a gap open, with Purton sliding through beneath his rivals and getting to a midfield position at the 800m point. After extricating off the inside rail through the middle stages, Purton had a wall of horses in front of him as they swung into the straight with the Australian having a lapful of horse. He was spotting the leader a big start with 200m remaining, but when the gelding got into clear air, he let rip with Purton remaining close to the inside as he made his run. He mowed down the leader inside the final 50m to win by a neck on the line after jumping a $16 chance. WIN SPEED was the race favourite and he looked the winner down the straight. After jumping well, Matthew Chadwick planted the gelding on the speed from gate six. Chadwick would burrow through the be second with 600m remaining and continue to build into the race around the home turn, moving up to take the lead at the top of the straight under a strong hold. He kicked strongly when asked for an effort, putting up a few lengths on his rivals, though he was feeling the pinch late in the race. He couldn't fend off the late challenge of Super Love Dragon who sprinted by him to his inside. BALLISTIC WIN was also making plenty of ground to Win Speed's outside, storming home from back in the pack to claim third, beaten just a half-length.
Race 3 – BOC Life Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.94 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
MEOWTH (AUS 4yo g Showtime – Avanti Rose) was a surprise winner on debut, getting the job done very impressively despite his $40 starting price. The gelding was quickly out of the barriers and held a forward position under Luke Ferraris, landing on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. The pace was even throughout the race with Meowth travelling comfortably around the turn, improving beneath his rivals and presenting to make his run at the top of the straight. The son of Showtime ambled up to the leader early in the straight and when Ferraris asked for an effort, the gelding shot away. He took the lead with ease and didn't show any signs of inexperience once he hit the front, keeping his mind on the job to run clear of his rivals in the straight and score by two lengths on the line. COLOURFUL WINNER set the tempo throughout the race as he zoomed across from barrier 11 to take up the running for Keith Yeung. The local hoop tried to hit the brakes with 800m remaining and stack the field up but was taken on by a couple of rivals and was forced to keep the pace even through the middle stages. He turned a length in front of his rivals, but he didn't remain in the lead for much longer as Meowth took over shortly after straightening. Colourful Winner was a commendable run in defeat, sticking on gamely to finish a clear second. MEEP MEEP closed off well from midfield with Brenton Avdulla going underneath all his rivals to sneak up the inside an grab third.
Race 4 – BOCHK "Banking Trendytoo" Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.63 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
MARKWIN (AUS 4yo g I Am Invincible – Mark Two) shed the maiden tag in fine style for Derek Leung and Cody Mo, with the gelding making the most of a good barrier. The gelding showed good early speed from barrier two as he positioned himself close to the speed without any urgency through the opening stages, before eventually settling just off the pace once the field has sorted their order out. The four-year-old travelled sweetly in the run and got a lovely cart into the race as they turned the bend, being three-wide with cover before peeling wider again to get into the clear at the top of the straight. He moved into the race ominously and quickened powerfully when Leung shook the reigns. He hit the front inside the final furlong and showed plenty of strength to get away from his rivals, winning easily on the line by two lengths. HAPPY PARK worked across from barrier nine to take up the running for Andrea Atzeni. The Sicilian was able to take up the running comfortably from out wide and do as he pleased out in front and he travelled strongly into the straight under a hold. He kicked well when Atzeni pressed the button, and it took a smart one to run him down in the straight, with the gelding showing good fight to hold on to second position. AMAZING RUN gave the winner a nice cart into the race and kept on well to the line, crossing the line in third, beaten 2-1/2 lengths.
Race 5 – BOCHK Wealth Management Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.83 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
Zac Purton secured a winning double on the card with FAST NETWORK (NZ 4yo g Wrote – Alberta) building on his impressive record with a dominant win. After drawing favourably for the straight course, Purton was only fairly out of the barriers and sat just off the speed which was strong through the opening stages. He was able to scoot down the grandstand rail in the run, getting onto the back of the leaders as they linked up with the course proper and looked to have plenty to offer as they passed the 400m point. He moved up to take the lead under a hold and the race was over in a matter of strides. Purton asked for an effort, he put a big gap on his rivals and Purton eased him down over the final 75m, still winning by 4-1/2 lengths in a fantastic performance. HEROIC MASTER settled well back in the run for Andrea Atzeni and remained down the middle of the course throughout the run after jumping from barrier two. He had plenty of cover in front of him with 400m remaining and shifted into the clear with around 250m to run as he began to make his effort. The race was over by that point, but he closed off well to take second position. SUPER FORTUNE put up a good fight down the stretch as Heroic Master loomed up on his outside, finishing in third position, five lengths off the winner.
Race 6 – BOC Credit Card Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:01.46 Standard Time: 2:02.00 Course/Class record: 2:00.37 Champion Supreme
BRAVEHEARTS (ARG 5yo g Cityscape – O K Angie) made it back-to-back wins for Matthew Poon. After being away just fairly, the gelding nded up in the second half of the field on settling down, getting into the running line with ease from barrier nine. The pace was good through the opening stages with the leaders running along at a good clip down the back straight. The gelding travelled comfortably throughout the run with no chance to the order as they turned off the back with 800m remaining. The moves came at the 600m point and Poon was able to work into the race nicely with cover, shoving his way into the clear at the top of the straight out in the middle of the track. He was grinding away down the straight, inching closer and closer with every stride, but it wasn't until the 150m point where he really looked like the winner. He took control inside the final 100m and saw off a late challenge close to home, winning by a neck on the line. FAMILY JEWEL jumped the $3.80 favourite and flopped out of the barriers to settle near the tail of the field. He remained towards the back of the pack under James McDonald throughout the race and got onto the back of Bravehearts as they swung around the turn. McDonald followed that galloper through a gap but had to wait a few strides to push the button, which proved costly at the end of the race. He finished off strongly over the concluding stages but wasn't able to reel in Bravehearts close to home. SUNSTRIDER had raced on the back of the leader in running and got into the clear at the top of the straight, moving up to hit the lead coming to the 300m point. He got over a length in front with 150m to run but couldn't sustain the effort as he was run down over the final stages.
Race 7 – The BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint, HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:07.43 Standard Time: 1:08.35 Course/Class record: 1:07.50 Sacred Kingdom
KA YING RISING (NZ 4yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) announced himself as the World's Best Sprinter with a dominant display, breaking a 17-year track record in the process. The gelding bounced quickly from barrier 10 and was able to slide across under Purton to land in third position, just off the leaders. The pace was good, and Purton was right there stalking, looming ominously before peeling three-wide and into the clear at the top of the straight. The four-year-old moved up to the leaders under a strong hold at the top of the stretch before putting the race away in a matter of strides when Purton asked for an effort. He shot to the front under hands and heels and was eased down over the final 100m, still breaking the track record in the process and putting the world on notice. HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE closed off strongly along the inside to steal second position close to home. After sitting toward the rear of the field, James McDonald ducked back to the inside in the straight and made his run up the fence. He closed off strongly to take second position in a photo finish, just edging out HELIOS EXPRESS who made a strong run out wide to finish third.
Race 8 – The BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile, HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:32.82 Standard Time: 1:33.95 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation
VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS 6yo g Deep Field – Raheights) bounced back to winning ways with a strong effort from the front. James McDonald pressed on from the outside draw to sit on the outside of the leader with just a moderate tempo being set through the early and middle stages of the race. The leader was doing as he pleased in front, but McDonald was only a half-length away throughout the run with the gelding tracking into the race nicely on straightening. He sprinted quickly when asked for an effort and broke two lengths clear midway down the straight. He was there to be beaten if they were good enough, but they couldn't run him down despite the weight difference, scoring by three quarters of-a-length on the line. CHANCHENG GLORY got up to run second with Karis Teetan in the saddle. After getting away well from barrier two, Chancheng Glory stalked the leader as he settled along the inside rail. He was within striking distance on the turn, getting away from the inside to get around the tiring leader and setting out after Voyage Bubble. He closed off nicely closer to the inside to finish in second position, but the winner was just too good. GALAXY PATCH jumped the $1.70 favourite and was slowly away, sitting near the back of the pack early on. He moved into the race three-wide with cover but was then pushed four-wide and facing the breeze out wide around the turn. He loomed into the race as though he would go close to winning but seemed to be paddling midway down the straight and not making any ground on Voyage Bubble. He was claimed late by Chancheng Glory and had to settle for third, beaten two lengths.
Race 9 – The BOCHK Jockey Club Cup, HK $5,350,000
Group Two – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:59.70 Standard Time: 2:00.65 Course/Class record: 1:59.23 Romantic Warrior
ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE 6yo g Acclamation – Folk Melody) returned to racing in outstanding fashion, absolutely bolting in to prove he's on song for HKIR in a few weeks' time. From the inside barrier, the gelding bounced well and held his position heading into the first turn. As the race unfolded early, James McDonald found himself in a more midfield position with the pace good down the back straight. The field were a bit strung out coming to the 800m point, but that allowed McDonald to begin improving around the home turn, getting off the inside approaching the straight and being in the clear as they entered the stretch. Romantic Warrior asserted his dominance, taking the lead on straightening and blowing his rivals out of the water. He didn't look like losing, with McDonald able to pose for the photo as he won by a whopping 4-1/4 lengths. KA YING GENERATION was back in form, sitting up on the speed throughout the race and keeping on well to the line. He was beaten a long way as a $33 chance, but he can win something a little easier. NIMBLE NIMBUS closed off well to finish in third place.
Race 10 – BOCHK BOC Pay Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.66 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
SILVERY BREEZE (AUS 4yo g Dundeel – Ain'tnofallenstar) made a winning start to his career in Hong Kong, scoring as a $70 outsider for Karis Teetan and David Eustace. The Mauritian hoop urged the gelding out of the barriers to hold his position along the inside, landing on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He travelled comfortably despite the tempo slowing through the middle stages of the race, with horses whipping up around his outside on the turn. The leader got away from the inside rail on straightening which gave Teetan a saloon passage up the inside, with Silvery Breeze taking a while to wind up early in the straight. Once he hit top gear, he was very strong late in the race, doing his best work over the final 150m to hit the front and score by a half-length on the line. BEAUTY CRESCENT was racing just off the speed on settling down but was over racing when the tempo came out of the race. This prompted Brenton Avdulla to roll forward and sit three-wide facing the breeze up with the leading division, moving into the race strongly around the turn. He hit the front shortly after straightening in a three-way battle for the lead and despite a solid run to the line, Silvery Breeze snuck up the inside to beat him after a much kinder run in transit. JOHANNES BRAHMS stuck on well after sitting on the outside of the leader to finish third in his Hong Kong debut.
Race 11 – BOCHK Asset Management Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.81 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
YOUNG SUPERSTAR (AUS 4yo Press Statement – Rich Pickings) got back to winning ways with an all-the-way victory to end the night. The gelding bounced straight to the front under Angus Chung, leading the field at a solid tempo as they turned off the back. The field was strung out through the middle stages, though the gelding was still travelling comfortably out in front and he put in a strong kick when asked for an effort in the straight. He kicked away from the chasing pack, leading by two lengths with 200m to run and still holding a clear advantage with 100m remaining. He was getting tired close to home, but he'd built a big enough margin to keep his rivals at bay, winning by a half-length on the line. VICTORY SKY held his spot along the inside from barrier one and settled on the back of the leader in running. He had plenty to offer as they turned for home with Derek Leung opting to stay to the inside on straightening. He quickened well once he got clear, chasing after the leader but not making a whole lot of ground until late in the race. He held on for second place in a photo finish, with the winner just too good on the night. LIFELINE EXPRESS was rattling home from the back of the pack for Alex Badel, just missing out on second in a photo finish in a very eye-catching performance.
