Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Tropicbird Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Wet Slow

Time: 1:09.16 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure

SPEEDY SMARTIE (NZ 6yo g Satono Aladdin – Lemonade) made it two wins from his last 3 starts as he returned to winning ways on the All Weather. The gelding showed good speed out of the barriers under Karis Teetan to roll forward in the early stages, only headed off by one out wider as they travelled down the back straight. Teetan urged his mount along to hold onto second position as they turned off the back, travelling well around the turn and inching closer to the leader on straightening. He took the lead shortly after straightening and was edging away from his nearest rival in the final furlong. He stuck on strongly to get the job done by a half-length as the race favourite, bringing up Brett Crawford's first winner in Hong Kong. DOUBLE BINGO drifted back in the early stages to be near the tail of the field on setline down. Matthew Poon was caught very wide in the early stages of the race but did end up with some cover as they turned off the back racing four-wide around the turn. He was able to build up the momentum around the turn and Poon got to the middle of the track on straightening to make his run. His last 100m was very impressive as he stormed home late in the race, but he ran out of time to reel in Speedy Smartie. NOTTHESILLYONE rolled across from out wide to make his own luck up on the speed and didn't give up when he was overtaken in the straight. He fought gamely to finish in third, with a big gap back to the fourth placegetter.

Race 2 – Parrot Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good

Time: 56.34 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.95 United We Stand

FLOWING RICHES (AUS 4yo g Denman – Shutout) secured his maiden victory first-up for the new season after showing flashes of ability in his debut campaign. The gelding got away on terms from barrier seven with Keith Yeung remaining out in the middle of the track on settling down. This allowed him to build into the race from the 450m mark as he loomed up to take the lead with a furlong to run. He inched away in the run to the line, proving too sharp for his rivals with the cheekpieces on for the first time. MR DESIRA went to the front under Vincent Ho and led the field out near the middle of the track as they stretched six-wide across the straight. He was in front until the final furlong where he was claimed by Flowing Riches and he couldn't match motors with the winner in the dying stages. LAHORE jumped the race favourite and finished a length back in third position under Zac Purton. He was stalking Flowing Riches in the run but was unable to reel in the winner who was just too speedy.

Race 3 – Woodpecker Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good

Time: 1:34.35 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.35 Ninja Derby

Brett Crawford made it a winning double on the day as NINJA DERBY (NZ 6yo g Ocean Park – Pastrana) repeated the dose of 12 months ago, winning first-up for the new season. The gelding went to the front from barrier 14 with the gelding showing plenty of early speed under Lyle Hewitson. The South African was able to get to the front rather easily, crossing to the fence and setting an even tempo aboard the $9 chance. He kept the field running as they turned off the back, travelling sweetly around the home turn and kicking strongly at the top of the straight top break 1-1/2 lengths clear with 400m remaining. The margin continued to extend to the furlong pole and at the 150m point you knew nothing was going to catch him. He went home a dominant winner, scoring by 2-3/4 lengths in impressive fashion and setting a new course and class record. PERFECT PEACH lobbed in a brilliant position one-out-one-back under Zac Purton, enjoying the run of the race down the back straight. The Australian was just niggling at his mount off the back to keep in touch with the leaders and peeled three-wide at the top of the straight to make his challenge. He ran to a clear second with 300m to run but the winner was already off and gone by that point. He finished a clear second with a wall of horses chasing him in the last 100m of the race. STRONGEST BOY flew home late in the race to grab third as a $26 chance. He settled in the second half of the field under Matthew Chadwick and needed plenty of luck in the straight. The race was over by the time he got into the clear, but he finished off strongly once clear.

Race 4 – Swallow Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.33 Standard Time: 1:08.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour

FUN N FUN TOGETHER (NZ 5yo g Charm Spirit – Musigny) held on for a narrow victory under Zac Purton, getting the job done as the $2.2 favourite. The gelding jumped quickly and went straight to the front under the Australian hoop, with Purton having to kick up along the inside to hold his position with runners surging forward from the deep. Heading off the back, Fun N Fun Together was able to hold his position and kick through to lead comfortably past the 600m point, opening up a gap to his rivals as they entered the home straight. Purton was 3-1/2 lengths in front on straightening, and he held the gelding together early in the straight as he waited patiently to push the button. The five-year-old was getting tired close to home, but the mid-race move proved very important in the outcome as he survived a late challenge to score by a shorthead on the line. GOOD LUCK BABE was urged along in the opening stages to try and hold a position and while he didn't have the speed to match his rivals early on, he landed in a midfield position under Angus Chung. He was a long way off the leader coming into the straight, but the gelding was lifting under the urgings of Chung, and he was coming after the leader strongly in the dying stages. He stayed on powerfully right to the line but couldn't edge out Fun N Fun Together. DAILY TROPHY made his run alongside Good Luck Babe in the straight and hit the line alongside that runner. It was a strong effort for third as they put good gaps back through the rest of the field.

Race 5 – Shrike Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:08.69 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

Zac Purton quickly made it a winning double on the day as the short-priced debutant PACKING PHOENIX (AUS 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Kylix) got the job done as the $1.5 favourite. The gelding rolled forward from barrier six to be running up front early in the event, before being crossed as they entered the first turn. This allowed Purton to have a bunny to chase through the middle stages as he switched off heels and began to improve on the outside of the leader. At the top of the straight, the debutant quickened impressively when asked and ran to the front, though he had company as he sprinted t the lead. Purton had to keep him on the straight and narrow late in the race with a rival looming, but Packing Phoenix had enough in the tank to secure the win. SPICY STANDARD used the inside draw to his advantage, settling on the back of the odds-on favourite as they settled into stride. Brenton Avdulla stalked Purton throughout the run and tracked him into the straight as he got off the fence and then into the clear on straightening. Spicy Standard was under the pump before Packing Phoenix, though the gelding dug deep to peg back the margin, particularly in the last 50m where he loomed as a big danger. Ultimately, he couldn't steal the victory, but it was a very strong performance in defeat. Two lengths back in third was PATCH OF TIME who finished off strongly from the second half of the field.

Race 6 – Tailorbird Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.71 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

LUCKY SAM GOR (NZ 4yo g Press Statement – Giovanna Bella) picked up his maiden victory at start number nine, with Jerry Chau in the saddle for Mark Newnham. After jumping from the widest barrier, Chau didn't really make a decision in the opening stages of the race before eventually drifting well back to settle near the tail of the field as they turned off the back. There was good speed on up front however and that suited the backmarkers in the run, though he did have 8-1/4 lengths to make up on straightening. Chau didn't have the best of luck as they turned into the straight, having to wait for the gap to appear before the four-year-old could sprint through. Once he did, he was very impressive, storming over the top of his rivals to win comfortably by a length with Chau celebrating up in the irons. BLAZING WUKONG rolled forward in the opening stages of the race to sit in second position under Andrea Atzeni. The leader was a couple of lengths in front of him, though he did face the breeze throughout afterjumping the $4.7 second favourite. Atzeni got to work as they entered the straight and the gelding ran to the lead approaching the furlong marker. He began to feel the pinch late under the top weight however and was gunned down by Lucky Sam Gor. He just found one better on the day and he's worth following. THE AUSPICIOUS also flew home from well back in the run to claim third position, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.

Race 7 – Cuckoo Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:08.73 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

Zac Purton made it three winners on the day with LITTLE PARADISE (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Devil In Her Heart) picking up his third win from 5 starts, justifying his $1.3 starting price. The gelding was away only fairly from barrier four and ended up in the second half of the field as he was racing a touch keenly through the opening stages. Purton was able to squeeze between horses passing the 600m point as he tracked wider, and the four-year-old was there for him when he asked the gelding to quicken between runners on straightening. He shot through the gap as soon as it appeared down the middle of the track and he began to wind up passing the 200m point. He moved up to take the lead inside the final 100m of the race and was very strong late, scoring by a length on the line. STAR RISE was snagged to the tail of the field by Matthew Poon in the early stages, before crossing down to the inside rail and improving his position slightly as they turned off the back. The local hoop was able to get off the fence around the turn and got wide enough to track Little Paradise into the straight, looking to follow the raging favourite through the gap early in the straight. He did just that and had his chance to win if he was good enough. The winner was too good, though he stuck on strongly to take second position in a photo finish. AHREN took the lead early in the race before getting passed out wider as they turned off the back. Ahren was able to regain the lead as they worked around the home turn, using the inside to his advantage and breaking away from the chasing pack. He led by about two lengths at the furlong pole but was caught and passed late in the race.

Race 8 – The Celebration Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000,

Group Three – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:20.79 Standard Time: 1:21.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.05 Beauty Generation

The first Group race on the Hong Kong racing calendar went the way of last season's 4YO Classic Mile winner MY WISH (AUS 5yo g Flying Artie – Set The Tone) who jumped a well-backed favourite for Luke Ferraris and Mark Newnham. The five-year-old jumped well and was able to land in a lovely position on the back of the leader with ease. The tempo was even throughout the race and Ferraris was cuddling his mount around the home turn with the $2.20 elect just needing a gap to make his presence felt. He had to wait until the 200m point before the gap appeared, with Ferraris going back to the inside after a couple of nervous moments halfway down the straight. The gelding shot through to take the lead and went on to win very easily, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths. COPARTNER PRANCE jumped a $103 chance for Francis Lui and Keagan De Melo and stuck on gamely from the front to hold on for second. The South African hoop rolled forward from out wide and was in front for a long way, although he was kept away from the rail throughout the event. He swung into the straight in front and travelling strongly, quickening nicely when De Melo asked for an effort. He was no match for the winner, though he stuck on strongly to finish in the placings. HAPPY TOGETHER stormed home from out wide for Alexis Badel to finish in third place, rounding out the placings as a $48 chance. Not much separated the field and there were a number of hard luck stories behind them, including Patch Of Theta and Divano who both never got a chance to show what they can do.

Race 9 – Magpie Handicap, HK $2,840,000,

Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:07.76 Standard Time: 1:08.65 Course/Class record: 1:07.76 Tomodachi Kokoroe

TOMODACHI KOKOROE (AUS 7yo g Written Tycoon – Rainbeam) hadn't won at Sha Tin (turf) in seven attempts, but he bolted in to win race nine on the card and clock a new course and class record. The seven-year-old jumped well and after being caught three-wide in a speed battle early on, eased back to land in the one-out-one-back position. The gelding enjoyed a lovely run on the back of a good speed, getting into the clear three-wide at the top of the straight and travelling strongly. Harry Bentley hadn't flinched aboard Tomodachi Kokoroe just yet, but he ran to the lead under his own steam and quickened away from his rivals when asked for an effort. He bounded away and was eased down close to the line, still clocking a new course/class record in the process. DANGING CODE jumped the race favourite and burrowed through to take up the running on settling down. He set up a strong tempo under Vincent Ho and travelled well to the turn. He shook off most of his rivals, though Tomodachi Kokoroe was poised to strike midway down the straight. The winner was too good on the day, with third a further 2-3/4 lengths back. MID WINTER WIND stuck on well as he had to duck back to the inside, finishing in third position as an $18 chance.

Race 10 – Hwamei Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

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 it a hat-trick of wins either side of the break, scoring by a short head in the exact same finishing time that saw him win three weeks ago. Angus Chung urged the gelding along out of the barriers to roll forward and land on the outside of the leader initially, before eventually taking up the running down the back straight. Chung tried to slow the tempo once he got to the front, though he was quickly taken on turning off the back straight and had to kick into gear once again. Chung was niggling at the gelding as they entered the straight but couldn't shake off his nearest rival as they continued to battle it out inside the final 100m. He proved too strong in the closing stages, holding on to score by a short head on the line. SOUTH STAR jumped the $2.5 favourite and was well backed late in betting. Zac Purton tried to ease the gelding back into a position with cover, though with South Star racing keenly, he allowed the gelding to stride forward as they turned off the back and sit on the outside of the leader. He travelled well to the turn and Purton still had a strong hold of the gelding to the 300m point where it felt as though he'd take the lead and run away with the race when the Australian pushed the button. That didn't happen however as Beauty Crescent held him off. TOP TIME was able to sneak up the fence to finish in third position after landing midfield in the run, beaten two lengths.

Race 11 – Mesia Handicap, HK $2,050,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:34.07 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit

POPE CODY (AUS 4yo g Showtime – Smurf Cody) scored his first win in Hong Kong, turning his form right around from three weeks ago. After getting away on terms, Jimmy Orman was left racing three-wide down the back straight with a good tempo being set in the opening half of the race. The field strung out which allowed Orman to slot into the running line in a midfield position as they approached the 800m point. The field packed up around the turn, but Orman avoided any trouble by getting into the clear and working into the race strongly around the turn. He was wobbling about at the top of the straight, but once he balanced up, he loomed large, joining the leader midway down the straight. He took the lead coming to the 100m point and got the job done by a head on the line. MASTER TRILLION landed in the second half of the field on settling down and was on the back of Pope Cody as they worked around the home turn. He lacked the turn-of-foot shown by the winner early in the straight, though he was coming back strongly in the last 200m of the event. He was finishing off strongly but just missed out on the win as an $86 chance. BEAUTY BOLT jumped the race favourite and looked like the winner turning for home, though his fitness may have given out in the closing stages of the race. He couldn't go with Pope Cody or Master Trillion late in the race but held on to finish third as the $2.8 favourite.