Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Waglan Island Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:24.01 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
Hugh Bowman struck first on the night aboard the Ricky Yiu-trained WINWIN THIRTYTHREE (Showcasing – Abenroad). After jumping on terms from an outside barrier, Bowman took the gelding back to last place in the run, crossing down to the inside with the field compact turning off the back stretch. The Australian hoop was unable to improve his position along the inside and was forced to swing extremely wide as they came into the straight, still stone-cold last and getting out to be the widest runner in the straight. He needed to make up 4-3/4 lengths at the top of the straight, but motored home powerfully to take the lead with 100m to run and pull away from his rivals for a very impressive two length win. Turning for home, NOBLE STEED had commenced a run also, moving around the field from near the tail and building momentum into the straight. It was a bold effort from the gelding and although he never took the lead, he hung on for second place in a tight photo finish. Challenging him at the end was APEX TOP who was cluttered up for much of the home straight. Luke Ferraris only got the gelding out with a furlong to run, making a late charge to finish in third.
Race 2 – Tung Lung Chau Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.53 Standard Time: 1:09.70 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King
Opposite to the first event on the night, the first across the line in race 2 was on-pace runner DAY DAY RICH (Love Conquers All – La Zap) for Karis Teetan and Benno Yung. The six-year-old was quickly away from his outside stall and was able to cross the field to sit outside the leader on settling down. The pace was good throughout and Teetan was always there to strike despite the leader slipping clear around the home turn and opening up a 1-1/2 length lead at the top of the stretch. To the gelding's credit, he dug deep as he came away from the inside to take the lead 250m from the finish. He was challenged 150m from the finish, but his rival just couldn't get past the son of Love Conquers All as he scored by a head on the line. VAMOS was the challenger who had made a strong run from his midfield position, sticking to the inside and going underneath most of his rivals to challenge for the victory. He and the winner cleared out from the rest of the field with race favourite THE GOOD DEAL finishing third, 2-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 3 – Tiu Chung Chau Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.18 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
There was plenty of feeling in race 3 with the Michael Chang-trained LADY'S CHOICE (Charm Spirit – No Pushover) saluting, pushing Chang over his required number of winners for the season and allowing him to train next season. The gelding began well from a favourable stall and got into a lovely position in behind the speed for Zac Purton. After travelling well in the run, Purton needed a way clear in the straight and was able to follow the leader through, before coming off heels with 200m to run. He laid down the gauntlet and took the lead with 100m to go, pulling away to win by 1-1/4 lengths and keep his license for the 2023/24 season. ISLAND GOLDEN had settled in front of the eventual winner in the run and was the one who took Lady's Choice into the race. He took the lead early in the straight looked as though he'd dart away, but he couldn't escape the clutches of Purton and Lady's Choice who gunned him down. He held on for second ahead of ALWAYS FLUKE who led home a number of swoopers from the rear who all hit the line close together out toward the centre of the track.
Race 4 – Ninepin Group Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:22.91 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
The good-to-yielding surface was providing some big margins tonight and there was another big winner in race 4 with ALL IS GOOD (Press Statement – Lago Joy) scoring comfortably. The gelding jumped on terms and was caught wide in the early stages, but Vincent Ho was able to slide across and land midfield with cover on settling down. The pace was solid and the local hoop found himself in a perfect position around the turn, beginning to creep closer as he edged wider on the track turning for home. The leaders still held a 2-3/4 length advantage on the four-year-old at the top of the straight, but he was letting down strongly out wider and went up to take the lead with 200m to run. It was all over from that point on as he burst clear of his rivals and won very easily. KASI FARASI had ducked up the inside to snag second position, going under his rivals and snatching second place close to home for Hugh Bowman. KING OF THE COURT was a clear third across the line.
Race 5 – Ninepin Group Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:23.01 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton bought up his second winner on the night with the John Size-prepared SIMPLE HEDGE (Sebring – Lovani) who was just too good. He was slowly away from the barriers Simple Hedge, but Purton was able to rouse him along and get him to settle in a midfield position turning off the back. He was trapped along the inside with the pace only moderate around the turn, but the Australian hoop was able to weave through a gap to pop out into the open early I the straight. As soon as he saw daylight, the three-year-old shot clear and never looked like being run down, pulling away to win by 2-3/4 lengths in emphatic fashion. JUNE PLANET did was June Planet does, and that's run on from the rear and look a flashing light. He finished a lonely second as he made a long and sustained run from the tail of the field, storming down the centre of the track. ETERNAL BLOOM ran third in a gusty effort, holding off a late challenger to get the nod in a photo finish, but this was all about the winner, Simple Hedge.
Race 6 – Grass Island Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.13 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
It was an upset victory in race 6 with SUPER FORTUNE (Zoustar – Madamesta) saluting for Matthew Poon and Tony Cruz after jumping at $22. The gelding was quickly out of the barriers and showed superior speed early to cross his rivals from barrier 8, leading the field off the back. He was rated brilliantly in front by Poon who wasn't pressure through the middle stages, giving his mount every chance to succeed as he kicked away at the top of the straight. He was there to be beaten if goof enough, but the five-year-old stuck on gamely for the local hoop to score by three-quarters of-a-length. Flashing home into second was SOLID SHALAA who also jumped at $22. He settled midfield in the run and stormed home over the closing stages to grab second under the urgings of Mick Dee. PULSAR STRIDER sat outside the leader in running and made his challenge early in the straight, but was unable to reel in the winner who was just too strong from the front.
Race 7 – Kat O Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:36.39 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
Zac Purton needs just 5 winners to eclipse the most winners in a season after brining up a treble for the night with HELENE FEELING (Sioux Nation – Cynthia Calhoun). The race favourite wasn't the fastest out of the gates but rushed forward approaching the 1000m point to sit outside the leader as the field strung out. The pace was solid but slowed around the turn, allowing Purton to creep closer on the three-year-old as he pressed the button at the top of the stretch. Purton was throwing everything he had at the gelding who was digging in close to home. He stuck his nose in front with 50m left to run and claimed victory by a neck on the line in a tight finish. E LEGEND had led the field throughout and proved very tough to get past in the straight. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to hold off the winner who continues to improve through the grades. It was a much-improved run from BON'S A PEARLA as she crossed the line in third, with the first four horses in running the first four across the line.
Race 8 – Kau Sai Chau Handicap, HK $2,640,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:22.39 Standard Time: 1:21.40 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
The best race of the night came up in the final event as FLAMING RABBIT (Time Test – Ronja) bought up his first win in Hong Kong. Lyle Hewitson and Douglas Whyte teamed up with the four-year-old colt who rolled right to the front to lead the race for Hewitson. Hewitson wasn't pressured all that much out in front and was setting a relatively good pace through the middle stages. In saying that, he quickened powerfully between the 600m and the 400m, putting a gap on his nearest rivals and a bigger space back to the rest of the field, most of which were under pressure already. He just kept running for Hewitson and nobody was really able to make ground on the colt as he led all the way to win by 1-1/4 lengths. FIND MY LOVE was produced at the top of the stretch by Keith Yeung and looked as though he'd mount a big challenge close to the line, but he just couldn't get close enough to Flaming Rabbit. Third over was SAUVESTRE who ha stalked the winner throughout the race, but it looks the first of money wins for this son of Time Test in the Asian city.
