Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Grassy Hill Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.18 Standard Time: 1:09.55 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King

Derek Leung and Michael Chang combined to win the opening event of the season with YOU'REMYEVERYTHING (IRE 8yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Guilia) who hadn't won since June 2022. The local hoop drifted the eight-year-old back from his wide barrier to settle near the tail of the field in damp conditions at Sha Tin. After cruising around at the back of the pack, Leung made a sustained run around the outside of the field to get to the middle of the track aboard You'remyeverything, being one of the widest runners entering the straight. He continued to eat into the margin with every stride and from the 200m point he never looked like losing. He moved up to take the lead inside the final 50m and saluted by a half-length on the line. SPEEDY SMARTIE just missed out as Brett Crawford's first runner in Hogn Kong. He teamed up with his old friend Karis Teetan who went forward from barrier nine to settle close to the speed. Teetan was unable to slot into the running line however and was cast three-wide and without cover throughout the event, but despite the tough run, the gelding was looming ominously at the top of the straight. He built into the race nicely and sprinted hard to take the lead with 150mm to run. Speedy Smartie couldn't hold off the winner who was just too strong late, but it was a strong effort to begin the season. SONIC BOOM didn't have the best of luck in the home straight but hit the line full of running to steal third position in a photo finish. He should've finished a touch closer as a $23 pop and is worth keeping an eye on for when he steps out next.

Race 2 – Kowloon Peak Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good

Time: 1:34.85 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache

It didn't take long for champion hoop Zac Purton to hit the board, steering home PERFECT PEACH (AUS 7yo g Sebring – Fashion) and bringing up an early double for the Chang stable. Purton came out neutrally aboard the $6.80 chance and settled in a midfield position. Purton couldn't slot into the running line and crept forward as they turned off the back, getting a nice tow into the race and travelling strongly at the 400m point. When the Australian hoop pressed the button, Perfect Peach shot to the front and push the race to bed with 150m to run. There was a couple of horses out wide making ground late, but it was too late as Perfect Peach scored by three-quarters of-a-length. FAMILY FORTUNE ended up in the second half of the field for Vincent Ho, but the local hoop was able to get out and into the clear around the home turn. With a good tempo on offer, the gelding got to the outside and came home well down the centre of the course. He was drifting out just a touch under the riding of Ho, but he was able to stick his nose out on the wire to hold on for second position. MR ALADDIN was right alongside Family Fortune right down the stretch and was unable to stick his nose in front at any stage. He would end up in third position but not beaten far.

Race 3 – The HKAR Chief Executive's Cup (Handicap), HK $3,720,000,

Class 1 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:07.63 Standard Time: 1:08.45 Course/Class record: 1:07.61 Lucky Patch

The World's Best Sprinter KA YING RISING (NZ 5yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) was back and landed an early blow enroute to The Everest, winning the Chief Executive's Cup with ease. The gelding jumped sharply from barrier four in the rain and was taken on for the lead early, with Purton happy to ease back initially, but kicked up as they turned off the back to avoid being crossed. He sat just a half-length off the race leader throughout and was just cruising as they turned for home, with the five-year-old putting the race to bed in a matter of strides. Purton barely touched him as he let rip, with the Australian hop easing him down late in the race. He was only 0.4 seconds outside his track record in a jaw-dropping performance. LUCKY SWEYNESSE looks back in business, however, with a strong effort to finish in second place. He jumped the $29 third elect and settled about midfield for Derek Leung. He finished off strongly down the outside and while he was no match for the winner, future races between him and Helios Express should make for fantastic viewing. DIVANO flew home late in the race to grab third as the $113 outsider of the field. Angus Chung was able to weave his way through the traffic close to the inside and finish 3 lengths off the winner in third.

Race 4 – Lin Fa Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good

Time: 56.09 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand

Zac Purton quickly made it three wins in-a-row as SUPER STRONG KID (AUS 4yo g Brutal – Cappamore) picked up from where he left off from last campaign. The Jamie Richards-trained gelding was quickly out of the barriers and settled close to the speed for Purton after being backed heavily into $1.40. He travelled sweetly down the grandstand rail, keeping the leader within striking distance and eventually asking his mount for an effort with 300m remaining. He got past the leader with ease and despite Rising Phoenix closing off strongly, he never looked like getting by Super Strong Kid who scored by three-quarters of-a-length. RISING PHOENIX settled midfield in the run after getting across to the grandstand rail from gate seven under Brenton Avdulla. He was under pressure a long way from home but continued to find under the Australian hoop and finished off the race very impressively. He looks like a horse who can step up to 1200m in the near future and pick up a maiden win. PARENTS' LOVE set the tempo and stuck on bravely to finish a clear third.

Race 5 – Mount Parker Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good

Time: 1:21.40 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

THE HEIR (AUS 6yo g Impending – Isola Blu) picked up his maiden win in Hong Kong at start 20. The six-year-old ended up near the tail of the field as he raced in the three-wide running line after getting away on terms from barrier eight. The speed was solid and Vincent Ho had a nice tow into the race as they worked around the home turn. The local hoop got the gelding into the clear on straightening and they made their run down the centre of the track. He was getting closer with every stride and eventually took the lead with 100m to run. He looked to be getting tired close to the line, but he had enough in the tank to hold off his nearest challenger and score by a short head. GALE SAGA was positioned just ahead of The Heir in running, landing in the second half of the field on settling down. Karis Teetan moved into the race nicely on the turn as he got into open spaces at the top of the stretch. He was overtaken by The Heir with 150m to run, but didn't go down without a fight, latching on to the eventual winner and running into second position. He was making a late charge as The Heir began to weaken, but he ran out of time to fight back and stick his nose in front. DO YOUR PART stuck on boldly after setting the tempo up front, finishing 1-1/4 lengths away in third.

Race 6 – Ma On Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:08.67 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

SPICY STANDARD (AUS 4yo g Pierata – Queen Caesar) scored his maiden win at start three, getting the job done impressively despite jumping a $34 chance. Brenton Avdulla got the gelding out of the barriers and rolled forward in the early stages, eventually settling in the one-out-one-back position as sorted their order out. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, Avdulla nursed him into the straight and he looked to have plenty of horse underneath him. He ambled up to the leaders and when the Australian asked for maximum effort, he shot away from the chasing group. He went on to score by two lengths in a great win, and there looks to be more in store. AURORA PATCH got into the three-wide line in the run and had plenty of time and space to make his move in the straight. Hugh Bowman was hard at work aboard the gelding and just as he loomed up to Spicy Standard, the winner kicked clear once again. Aurora Patch would hold on for second position in a tight three-way photo finish, beating home the race favourite INVINCIBLE IBIS by a nostril. Invincible Ibis tracked the eventual winner into the race but couldn't go with him in the straight. He closed off nicely back to the inside, finishing in third position in a solid return.

Race 7 – Ma On Shan Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding

Time: 1:09.52 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

GROOVY FEELING (AUS 5yo g Cable Bay – Cooper's Girl) made it four wins on the day for Purton, beginning the new season with a maiden victory with the track being downgraded to Good to Yielding. After coming out well from barrier 12, Purton eased back the five-year-old to settled in a midfield position. The field was very bunched turning off the back and Purton was shuffled back to be near last with 600m to run, but the Australian hoop was able to slice through the traffic and get into the clear at the top of the straight. He spotted the leader 3-3/4 lengths on straightening and was still a few lengths off them with a furlong to run, but he was making up plenty of ground out wider. He took the lead with 50m to run and got the job done by a neck. VICTORY CHAMPION was a clear last out of the barriers and remained there throughout the race. He was racing along the inside until the home turn where Derek Leung got him right to the outside in the straight and he stormed home from a mile back to finish in second after jumping an $87 chance. NOBLE FANS stuck on well to finish in third position, only a length off the leader and closed off nicely late in the race.

Race 8 – Tai Mo Shan Handicap, HK $2,840,000

Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Yielding

Time: 1:21.17 Standard Time: 1:21.45 Course/Class record: 1:19.92 Packing Hermod

MARKWIN (AUS 5yo g I Am Invincible) returned to winning ways after tackling the 4YO Series last season. He wasn't the fastest into stride, but Harry Bentley was able to slot him into a midfield position on settling down, getting into the running line. There was no change to the order in the run, and the speed was even, with Bentley looking to peel wide around the home turn. He made his move down the outside early in the straight, moving up to join the leaders with 150m to run. He eventually took control inside the final 100m of the race and was too strong late, scoring by a half-length on the line. CHIU CHOW SPIRIT ended up last in the run despite jumping from an inside barrier for Alexis Badel. He remained at the back around the home turn and instead of swinging wide to make his run, the Frenchman rode for luck up the inside. He needed to make up 4 lengths in the straight and after initially going up the inside, Badel switched to the outside and worked through traffic to charge hard late in the race. He ran out of time to reel in the leader though, finishing in second position. PRAY FOR MIR stuck on well from on the pace to finish in third and he should be better suited over further.

Race 9 – Lantau Peak Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:08.38 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

Zac Purton picked up his fifth win of the card with another heavily backed commodity in BULB GENERAL (NZ 4yo g Embellish – Stylish Achiever), who was backed into an odds-on favourite. The gelding jumped well, and Purton put him into a handy position on settling, sitting just off the speed which was good through the opening stages of the race. He ended up in a more midfield position through the middle stages but was racing alone in fifth position with Purton getting to the outside and building into the race impressively. The gelding ran to the front under a hold and sprinted clear of his rivals in very fine style, with Purton easing the gelding down over the final 50m. The final margin was only 1-1/2 lengths, but it would've been much bigger had Purton punched the gelding out. Probably the second-best win of the day behind Ka Ying Rising. AKASHVANI jumped on terms from barrier five and tracked Bulb General throughout the race. He was under pressure on straightening and got into clear air, but he couldn't match the sprint of the eventual winner. He smashed everyone else bar Bulb General and his late work was very impressive, finishing 2-1/4 lengths ahead of his nearest rival. RISING FROM ASHES was another who closed off well from a mile back, sneaking into the placings as a $54 hope, getting the nod in a photo finish for third.

Race 10 – Sunset Peak Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good

Time: 1:21.56 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

BEAUTY CRESCENT (IRE 5yo g Acclamation – Up In Time) made every post a winner, bringing up back-to-back wins to begin the new season. From barrier 12, Angus Chung rolled across to take the lead early in the race and was unopposed up front as they turned off the back. Chung was able to put the brakes on through the middle stages and stack the field up before kicking strongly at the top of the straight to break away from the chasing pack. He was taken on by Patch Of Stars at the top of the straight, but the gelding didn't lay down and fought back along the inside to regain the lead with 200m to run. He had a wall of horses chasing him close to home, but they couldn't catch him. Beauty Crescent was too good in the end, winning by a half-length on the line. KA YING SUPERB landed in a midfield position for Matthew Poon and was in heavy traffic around the home turn. He had a gap to improve through early in the straight, but it wasn't until the last 100m where he really got motoring. He finished off strongly to take second position and would no doubt benefit from a more genuinely run race. SPIRIT OF PEACE stuck on well to finish in third position but did look to have his chance in the straight.