Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Lukfook Jewellery Hexicon Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.34 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

SALON S (AUS 3yo g Zousain – Divine City) proved too strong on debut, setting the tempo and kicking away to score impressively for trainer Frankie Lor and Matthew Poon. There was some speed from out wide, but Poon kicked up to keep them out from his inside barrier, leading the field on settling down. He ran along at a good tempo through the middle stages, getting about a length in front passing the 600m point and kicking strongly on straightening. He got further in front as they travelled down the straight, leading by three lengths with 100m to run and he went on to win very easily by 1-1/4 lengths. SUPER DRAGON was slowly into stride from barrier five and ended up a long way back under James McDonald. The kiwi hoop was able to slide through between horses by the 800m point, improving his position through the middle stages to be a little worse than midfield as they turned for home. McDonald went back to the inside in the straight and he was held up for a run until the 300m point, finally getting out and letting down strongly. He closed strongly to finish a clear second. COOL BOY stuck on well from a midfield position to finish in third after racing three-wide and with cover throughout.

Race 2 – Lukfook Jewellery Wedding Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good

Time: 1:48.20 Standard Time: 1:48.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.33 On The Lash

Luke Ferraris and Pierre Ng combined to win race two with $12 chance ON THE LASH (NZ 5yo g Savabeel – Candelabra) making it back-to-back wins. Ferraris urged the gelding out of the barriers to be prominent on settling down, showing good speed to take up the running as they sorted their order out. He wasn't waiting around in front, rolling along at an even tempo down the back straight and kicking up along the fence to avoid being crossed from a rival three-wide. The pace steadied turning off the back, with On The Lash dictating the terms up front and when the sprint went on, he had the sharpest turn of foot. He broke away to lead by 2-1/2 lengths at the top of the straight. On The Lash was still well in front with 200m to run, and while he was feeling the pinch late in the race, he'd built a big enough gap to hold on for the victory. COOL BLUE was taken back from the wide barrier by Richard Kingscote after the gelding failed to show any early speed. The Englishman remained at the rear throughout before getting onto the back of improving horses on the turn and building up the revs around the home turn. He finished off strongly from well back in the run, coming down the middle of the course with his final 200m of the race the most impressive of his performance. NINJA DERBY was shuffled back and ended up in a tricky spot on the home turn as he was cluttered up between horses with nowhere to run. Once he finally got clear he closed off strongly and probably should've finished closer than he did.

Race 3 – Lukfook Jewellery Love Is Beauty Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good

Time: 2:02.48 Standard Time: 2:02.65 Course/Class record: 2:01.28 Happy Hero

DOUBLE WIN (NZ 6yo g Burgundy – Salsa) stormed home from the back of the pack to get the job done, securing his maiden victory at start 18. The gelding blew the start and was taken straight back from the draw, though Hollie Doyle was able to improve his position slightly heading into the first turn with a moderate pace on offer. There was no change to the order down the back straight, though the pace ramped up as they approached the 800m point and Doyle was beginning to feel for her mount turning off the back. He was improving under the urgings, swinging wide and getting to the middle of the course as they entered the straight. He was plugging away out wide on the course, but he was making ground with every stride, levelling up to the leaders with 100m to run before inching away once taking the lead, scoring by a half-length on the line. SUPREME MASTERMIND was forced to race three-wide throughout the race, though he was in a good spot midfield and with cover. When the three-wide line began to make their move, McDonald was right there in the trail, and he pulled out four wide as they swung around the turn. He let down strongly in the straight to move up and take the lead with around 150m to run. He fought off the first challenge, but he couldn't see off Double Win who got over the top of him late. SERANGOON looked to have his chance under Zac Purton but could only manage a third-place finish, edged out for second in a photo finish.

Race 4 – Lukfook Jewellery Diabling Shimmering Gold Collection Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good

Time: 56.75 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior

CRIMSON FLASH (AUS 4yo g Showtime – Damselle) picked up from where he left off last campaign, bringing up his third win in-a-row, all by the same three-quarter-length margin. The gelding showed good speed from barrier seven to stalk the speed throughout the run, sitting away from the grandstand rail. Andrea Atzeni faced the breeze throughout the race, but his mount was there for him when he asked for an effort, and he moved up to hit the front with 100m left to run. He was just too good in the end, getting the job done quite comfortably. FAST RESPONDER jumped quickly from out wide and put himself close to the speed down the outside rail under Britney Wong. The apprentice hoop spent a long time trying to edge off heels and into the clear, but he was held up until the leader wobbled off the fence with 300m to run. The gap appeared and he shot through, but Crimson Flash was just too good on the day. SPARKLING FELLOW finished off well from a midfield position, weaving through the traffic to finish in third place.

Race 5 – Lukfook Jewellery Miss Hong Kong Love Yourself Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good

Time: 1:22.25 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

BUCEPHALAS (NZ 5yo g Savabeel – Relentless Desire) was well backed in his seasonal return and he didn't disappoint, winning comfortably and turning his form around after a 9-1/4 lengths defeat at his last start in May. The gelding showed good speed from the barriers to get across and land close to the speed, ending up one-out-one-back once they sorted their order out. He had a lovely run in transit and Matthew Chadwick popped into the clear at the top of the straight and the gelding let down strongly. He hit the front with 200m to run and while he showed plenty of inexperience once he found the lead, Chadwick was able to nurse him to the line, scoring by 1-1/4. THE GOLDEN KNIGHT was a little slow into stride and ended up near the back of the field on settling down. Vincent Ho was racing between horses and with rivals swinging wide heading into the straight, the gaps opened up for him to sprint through. He finished off strongly down the outside to finish in second position. WINNING DATA finished off nicely once he saw clear running to finish in third position.

Race 6 – Lukfook Jewellery Heirloom Fortune Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good

Time: 1:38.94 Standard Time: 1:39.05 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo

SUPREME AGILITY (BRZ 5yo g Setembro Chove – Margaery) scored his maiden win at start 24, bringing up a winning double for trainer Pierre Ng. From the wide barrier, Zac Purton snagged the gelding to the back of the pack early on before kicking up closer to the inside to improve his position on settling down. The speed was solid throughout as Purton ended up near last as they sorted their order out, racing along the rail. The champion hoop was able to pick up a few positions turning off the back as he continued to scrape the paint but ran into a dead end coming to the 400m point with nowhere to go. Early in the straight, Purton was nursing the five-year-old through the traffic, before finally asking for maximum effort with around 150m left to run. He stormed home late in the race to get his nose down and score his maiden victory in a photo finish. CALIFORNIA STAR had settled in the second half of the field as well from barrier seven, remaining away from the fence in the run and pushing wider as they came to the home turn. He sprinted well down the middle of the track to move up and take the lead with a furlong to run and looked to be getting away from his nearest rivals with 100m to run. That was before Purton got out and Supreme Agility rattled home, stealing the win from California Star. SIGHT DREAMER moved up to hit the front early in the straight after a good ride from Keith Yeung, though he couldn't match it with California Star or Supreme Agility late in the race.

Race 7 – The Lukfook Jewellery Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000,

Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:08.88 Standard Time: 1:08.65 Course/Class record: 1:07.76 Tomodachi Kokoroe

Zac Purton made it a race-to-race double as PATCH OF STARS (AUS 4yo g All Too Hard – Tuscany Lady) made it back-to-back wins. The gelding jumped well and rolled forward from barrier nine to land in the one-out-one-back position for Purton. He was in prime position turning off the back with the speed strong through the middle stages of the race, as Purton peeled out three-wide and cruised up to the leaders early in the straight. He ran to the lead under his own steam at the 300m point and he sprinted quickly when Purton pushed the button. He didn't shake his rivals as anticipated over the final stages, though he still held on for the win, scoring by a neck on the line. INVINCIBLE SHIELD had landed on the back of Purton and Patch Of Stars in the run and stalked him throughout the race. Vincent Ho's mount lacked the sprint of the winner at the top of the straight and that's where the damage was done, with Patch Of Stars putting a couple of lengths on Invincible Shield on straightening. Ho and Invincible Shield came back at him late, but it wasn't enough as he was forced to settle for second position. AERIS NOVA turned in another bold performance following a big run over 1400m here just last week. He flew home late in the race to be just a half-length away on the line.

Race 8 – Lukfook Jewellery Ccool Collection Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: NTT Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

Race eight was abandoned. Dreaming Winner jagged left and dropped Matthew Poon after the start and galloped the wrong way, forcing Stewards to void the event.

Race 9 – Lukfook Joaillerie Handicap, HK $2,050,000,

Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good

Time: 1:38.59 Standard Time: 1:38.60 Course/Class record: 1:36.79 True Legend

It was a great training performance by David Eustace to get LOCH TAY (GB 3yo g Bated Breath – Presiding Officer) to score at his second start in Hong Kong under very different circumstances to his debut. After jumping on terms from barrier five, Kingscote went down to the inside rail and landed three pairs back, stalking the speed which was quite good early in the race. He enjoyed a lovely run in transit under the Englishman with no change to the order down the back straight. Kingscote kept the gelding within striking distance as they turned off the back, eventually getting off the fence with around 500m to run and getting into the clear around the home turn. He travelled strongly into the straight and eventually took the lead with 200m to run, though he had some challengers. He was able to shake them off in the dying stages, pulling away over the final 50m to win by three quarters of a length. It was a super training effort by Eustace, with Loch Tay making his Hong Kong debut a month ago over 1200m at Happy Valley, finishing 7-3/4 lengths away, and getting the job done in a very different scenario.

Race 10 – Lukfook Jewellery Night Banquet In Tang Palace Collection Handicap, HK $2,050,000,

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

Time: 1:34.78 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit

BEAUTY BOLT (IRE 3yo g Night Of Thunder – Song Maker) made it a treble for Zac Purton on the night and solidified his 4YO series credentials in the final event of the card. The gelding jumped well and with rivals kicking up inside of Purton early in the race, the Australian hoop eased back to slot into a position just off the speed. They weren't going overly hard early in the race with a three-wide running line on offer, allowing Purton to move into a three-wide position with cover with 600m to run. The gelding travelled into the race strongly on the turn and Purton waited patiently before asking for an effort. He got through his gears to take the lead with 200m to run in an impressive sprint. Purton punched him out over the closing stages, winning rather comfortably in the end by a neck. MISTER DAPPER was caught wide in the early stages of the race with Brenton Avdulla moving up to sit on the outside of the leader as they turned off the back straight. The gelding travelled strongly around the turn and took the lead heading into the home straight, sprinting quickly so see off his nearest rivals. Beauty Bolt blew by him inside the furlong marker, but Mister Dapper didn't go down without a fight. The gelding fought gamely right to the line, finishing in second position. MAX QUE lacked the sprint of his rivals at the top of the straight but his late strength was a highlight, closing off strongly to take home third position in a photo finish.