Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Kowloon Tsai Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Yielding

Time: 1:50.32 Standard Time: 1:48.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.37 Incredible

HAKKA RADIANCE (GB 5yo g Massaat – Kalia Asha) scored his maiden win at start 25, kicking the day off on a bright note for Danny Shum and Hugh Bowman. In terrible conditions, Bowman pressed on from a wide barrier to roll across in the opening stages and slot into the running line. However, when unable to find cover down the back, the Australian hoop rolled forward to sit on the outside of the leader with just a moderate tempo being set up front. Bowman still had a stranglehold of the gelding around the home turn in what turned into a sprint to the finish. The five-year-old moved up to take the lead whilst still under a hold at the top of the straight and although there as a runner breathing down his neck in the concluding stages, he was too strong. He went on to score by a half-length on the line, holding out $27 chance YEABOI who enjoyed a lovely run on the back of the leader in transit. Matthew Poon gave his mount every possible chance, sitting on the leader's tail throughout the race and getting into clear air on straightening when the sprint went on. He was there to pounce if good enough but couldn't reel in the winner who was just better on the day. SMASHING EXPRESS was doing his best work late in the race, closing off strongly to steal third position in a photo finish as a $16 chance.

Race 2 – Sam Shing Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 (restricted) – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Yielding

Time: 1:10.06 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

MOTOR (IRE 3yo g Fastnet Rock – Orangey Red) landed his maiden victory first-up for the new season, building on a solid debut season in Griffin races. Motor was one of the first out of the barriers and landed on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He travelled strongly off the back and was poised to strike as they worked past the 600m, with the gap opening up shortly after straightening. He moved up to take the lead with a furlong to run and inched away from his rivals, going on to win comfortably on the line by 1-1/2 lengths. WINNING CHAMPION landed in the one-out-one-back position from barrier six and was right on the back of the leading pair as the field broke in two with 600m to run. Matthew Poon moved into the clear on the home turn and the local hoop gave his mount every possible in the straight. He stuck on well out wide to run second, though he never really challenged the winner. MAZING GRACE got through late to finish in third position as a $70 chance, getting his nose down on the line.

Race 3 – Yi O Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Yielding

Time: 1:10.09 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

EMBLAZON (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Princess Of Queens) got the job done for Cody Mo and Jerry Chau, handling the soggy conditions with ease. From out wide, Emblazon was unable to slot into the running line and was caught three-wide facing the breeze. Jerry Chau didn't panic however, settling in a midfield position through the middle stages before working into the race around the home turn. He travelled strongly into the straight as he joined the leaders with 400m remaining. Emblazon eventually got his nose in front with a furlong to run and shot away from his rivals in the concluding stages, showing a clean set of heels to run away and score by 1-1/4 lengths. BRIGHT DAY settled near the tail of the field on settling and made a sustained run down the outside under James Orman. The Australian hoop got into the running line down the side of the course and got to the middle of the track on straightening as he came with his run. He finished off nicely to take second place and is worth following. PROUD BOX was alongside Bright Day in the run and Hugh Bowman, and the pair made their runs together. He finished off well to take third position, but he was no match for the first two across the line.

Race 4 – Ting Kau Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow

Time: 1:39.50 Standard Time: 1:39.05 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo

Luke Ferraris and David Hayes made every post a winner with PRECISION GOAL (NZ 7yo g Tavistock – Miraculous Miss) getting the job done on the All Weather. The seven-year-old was strong out of the gates and ran straight to the front as they approached the first turn. Although he wasn't pressured out in front, Ferraris kept them running through the middle stages as he remained out in front. As they turned off the back, a few of his rivals began to feel the pinch and some moves came at the 500m point with runners swinging wide on the turn. Precision Goal was still travelling sweetly to the turn however and kicked away impressively as they entered the straight. He was just too strong from up front and although the margin was shortening close to the line, the gelding won comfortably on the line by 1-1/4 lengths. SIGHT SUPREME drew the inside barrier and while there was a good go for the lead into the first turn, Karis Teetan was able to hold his position along the fence midfield. Runners weren't able to cross down in front of him which proved important late in the race with Teetan continuing to kick up underneath his rivals down the back straight. He would be on the back of the leader turning off the back, but was one of the first off the bit and under heavy pressure as they rounded the home turn. The leader kicked well to put a break on Sight Supreme, but the late work of Teetan's mount was very solid. He finished off nicely to finish in second place, beaten 1-1/4 lengths. ALLCASH was able to finish off strongly from a midfield position to finish in third place, beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

Race 5 – Kwong Fuk Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Soft

Time: 1:37.09 Standard Time: 1:34.90 Course/Class record: 1:33.28 Bright Inheritance

John Size and Brenton Avdulla combined to win race five with GOOD GOOD (NZ 5yo g Savabeel – Fast Company) with the track now downgraded to Soft with heavy rain falling. Good Good went straight to the front under Brenton Avdulla who used the inside barrier to his advantage, scooting through to keep out his rival along the fence. The speed was only moderate on settling down, with the tempo ramping up from the 600m and seeing Avdulla kick away around the home turn. He continued to scrape the paint entering the straight and was there to be caught if his rivals were good enough. They had the entire straight to run him down, but they couldn't catch the five-year-old, scoring by a neck on the line as a $14 chance. PEARL OF PANG'S was able to roll across from barrier 10 and settle close to the speed under Derek Leung, but he was left racing wide and without cover in the run. That may have worked in his favour though as the gelding was able to work into the race under his own steam out wide, quickening well when the sprint went on around the home turn. He dug deep late in the race to rally back when challenged, staying on strongly to finish in second position. HAPPY UNIVERSE trailed Pearl Of Pang's into the race and stuck on well in the closing stages to finish in third position, only a half-length off the winner.

Race 6 – The KPMG 80th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Soft

Time: 1:09.39 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor the Winner

SKY TRUST (AUS 5yo g So You Think – Humble) relished the conditions to run away and score impressively for the in form combination of Ellis Wong and Caspar Fownes. Wong urged his mount of the barriers to hold a forward position, crossing down to the inside fence and landing on the back of a good tempo early in the race. They were running along up front, and Wong was getting a lovely sit in behind and as they approached the home turn, a massive gap opened for Wong to slide through. The apprentice hoop only had one to mow down in the straight, needing to make up 1-1/2 lengths in the straight. He sprinted quickly and got to the lead approaching the 150mn point. He was wandering up the track late in the race, but he was in splendid isolation up front as he bolted in by three lengths in dominant fashion. WONDERSTAR set the tempo up front and travelled strongly into the straight. He was well in front at the top of the stretch, but was quickly reeled in by Sky Trust who blew right by him with around 150m to run. He was getting tired late, but had built a big enough gap to hold on for second position. TIN FOOK finished off nicely down the middle of the track after being in the second half of the field in the run. He was the eye-catcher late in the race and is worth following in future events.

Race 7 – Kowloon Bay Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Soft

Time: 1:22.35 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

Hugh Bowman made it a winning double on the card as he guided home SOLID WIN (AUS 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Casino Card) to his second career victory. Despite jumping on terms, Bowman eased the gelding back from barrier 12 to settle near the tail of the field as they sorted their order out. He was out the back as they passed the 800m point, though the field began to bunch at the 600m point and Bowman was able to take off around the outside of his rivals. He ended up very wide on the turn, but he was building into the race strongly and he sustained that run down the middle of the track. He moved up and hit the front with a furlong to run, showing good strength to win by a length in the trying conditions. THE HEIR proved his last start win was no fluke, turning in another strong performance. After landing in the second half of the field, Vincent Ho improved between horses around the home turn as the local hoop waited for the gap to open. He got into the clear with around 300m remaining, but Solid Win had already run to the front as he found clear running. He tried hard to peg back the margin, but the winner was just too good. BLING BLING GENIUS was another who came down the outside from a midfield position to finish in third position, getting his nose down to be on the right side of the photo finish.

Race 8 – Pat Sin Leng Handicap, HK $2,050,000,

Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow

Time: 1:38.82 Standard Time: 1:39.90 Course/Class record: 1:36.79 True Legend

MOJAVE DESERT (AUS 5yo g I Am Invincible – Fine Bubbles) was the eye-catcher first-up just last week, and he ran up not that performance to win comfortably in what ended up being the final event of the day. The gelding ended up in a midfield position from his inside barrier, travelling well down the back with a good tempo being set up front. Atzeni was going to need some luck as they turned off the back, with the Sicilian hoop sliding along the fence and improving his position a touch to the turn. The gap finally appeared on straightening and the gelding travelled sweetly passed the 300m before Atzeni asked for an effort. Atzeni never needed the whip, with Mojave Desert picking up the leader with ease and running away to score by 1-3/4 lengths under hands and heels. ENDEARED was the last one out of the barriers and Brenton Avdulla took his medicine, settling at the back of the pack and crossing down to the rail. The Australian got onto the back of Mojave Desert down the back straight and Avdulla followed him into the straight, coming off his heels to make his challenge. He never made ground on the winner, but he didn't lose ground either as he tracked the $3.3 favourite to the line, finishing in second. NEW FOREST stuck on well after setting the tempo under Lyle Hewitson to finish a clear third, 3-1/2 lengths off the winner.

Due to the deterioration of the track due to the weather conditions, the final two races of the card were abandoned.