Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
The first meeting at Happy Valley had it all. Keagan De Melo bought up his first winner in Hong Kong with his first ride around the 'City Circuit', while fellow newcomer Andrea Artzeni also got off the mark. A heavy deluge of rain didn't dampen the spirits of Derek Leung and Luke Ferraris, both finishing with winning doubles on the night.
Race 1 – Yi O Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.99 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
With his first ride at the 'City Circuit', Keagan De Melo scored his first winner in Hong Kong aboard VALHALLA (NZ 6yo g Ocean Park – Eudora). The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper settled three pairs back and along the inside as the field rounded the first turn. The pace was good, and De Melo never found himself too far away from the leaders as they worked off the back. Being in a tricky position, the South African hoop was forced to ride for luck, sticking to the inside rail as they swung for home. He ran into a brick wall at the top of the straight, being boxed in down along the inside, but he was finally able to get into clear air with 150m left to run. De Melo shifted the gelding across heels and he let down powerfully, running over the top of his rivals close to home and scoring by 1-1/2 lengths. VAMOS and MULTIMORE finished second and third respectively after spending the entirety of the race locked together out in front.
Race 2 – Tung Chung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.49 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Hugh Bowman continued his strong early season form, steering D STAR (NZ 4yo g Darci Brahma – Florella) to a narrow victory in race 2. The gelding was away only fairly and copped some interference shortly after the start, with Bowman settling near the tail of the field. The Australian jockey was able to improve a touch along the inside, sliding forward down the back stretch and beginning to urge his mount along from the 600m point. The four-year-old was responding to the efforts of Bowman, beginning to rev up as Bowman steered him away from the inside and into the clear turning for home. The $3.80 favourite made it a hard watch for backers, but he stuck on gamely to stick his nose out right on the
line, scoring by a short head. He denied DRAGAON STAR and Angus Chung and all-the-way victory. Chung was able to do as he pleased on the gelding right throughout the event after surging forward form barrier 9. He rated his mount beautifully and was only caught in the final few strides. Zac Purton's mount NICE BIRDIE finished at the rear with Purton telling steward's the gelding was one-paced in the run to the line.
Race 3 – Tai O Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.19 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
MEGA BONUS (AUS 6yo g Shooting To Win – Exceed And Excite) flew out of the barriers for Andrea Artzeni and held the lead early on, before settling in behind the leader travelling down the back straight. The rain was tumbling down, but Mega Bonus had clear vision thanks to Artzeni, who sat just off the leader right throughout the event, using him as a bunny as he began to pick him up swinging for home. The big fellow travelled into the race strongly and they ground away down the straight, with the chestnut sticking his nose in front with 100m left to run. He'd prove too strong close to home, scoring by a length ahead of SUPER EAGLE who had a cosy run trailing the eventual winner throughout. He was just unable to run past him in the straight, while red-hot favourite DENFIELD finished in third. He missed the start slightly and got a long way back in running before Teetan made his move from the 500m point. He just ran out of puff late, but still a solid return.
Race 4 – Tai O Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.34 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Keith Yeung bought up his first winner for the term with JOY COMING (AUS 4yo g Sooboog – Anadyomene). The gelding got away well and rolled forward for Yeung as he took the lead heading around the first turn. He ended up taking a sit just off the leader nearing the 800m point, remaining down to the inside rail and eventually sitting on the back of the leader turning off the back. The leader slipped clear at the 400m point, with Yeung urging the Francis Lui-trained galloper along heading into he straight. He was a couple of lengths away with 150m to run but the leader began to tire close to the finish. He ran to the front close to home and was able to hold off his rivals on the line, getting the nod in a photo finish. EXUBERANT was heavily backed prior to the start and was hitting the line with a head full of steam. He just missed on the line but there was no missing his run. TRAVEL
GOLF ended up jumping favourite in an open event and ran third, only a short head away from the winner in a blanket finish.
Race 5 – Ngong Ping Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.48 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
HAMERON (GB 5yo g Night Of Thunder – Thurayaat) got away well for Luke Ferraris and landed in a midfield position from barrier 4. The pace was solid early on before slowing through the middle stages with the leader able to dictate out in front. The gelding travelled beautifully under Ferraris throughout the race, and he began to improve ominously as the South African asked for an effort. He swept around the field out wide to be only a length away at the top of the straight, before running on by to take the lead with a furlong to run. He proved too strong in the run to the line, going on to win easily in the end by 1-1/2 lengths in to bring up back-to-back wins. The old boy RED MAJESTY ran his usual good race in second, sticking on gamely after settling in the one-out-one-back position. He looks set for another good season while race favourite SPLENDID LIVING didn't have the best of luck in the straight, finishing in third.
Race 6 – Sha Lo Wan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.15 Standard Time: 57.00 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
It was somewhat of a blowout in the sixth race with the third-longest priced runner of the event KOWLOON EAST STAR (AUS 6yo g Zoustar – Cardinal Court) running away for an impressive victory. Derek Leung pressed on from a wide draw and the gelding showed superior pace, leading comfortably on settling down. He didn't come up for air through the middle stages and had plenty of rivals off the bit and chasing as they turned for home. The flashy gelding never gave anything else a sniff, leading all of the way for a 2-length victory. CIRCUIT SEVEN had a tough run in transit, racing way off the track for the majority of the event. He still had the guts to run a clear second despite his tough run in a very strong effort. KOKUSHI MUSOU crossed the line in third with the favourite running fourth.
Race 7 – Chek lap Kok Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.00 Standard Time: 56.60 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
Derek Leung made it back-to-back victories aboard the David Hayes-prepared HARMONY N BLESSED (AUS 7yo g Magnus – Fly To Win). The gelding shot out of the barriers and was racing wide in the early stages before crossing to sit outside the leader. After sitting comfortably facing the breeze, Leung crept forward to stick his nose in front as the leaders turned for home. He gained control by over a length at the furlong marker but did have rivals putting in a strong chase. His stride was shortening close to the line, but he held on to score in a close photo finish, holding off the fast-finishing HUMBLE STAR. He was a long was back in the run for Karis Teetan, but was storming home over the top to just miss. HEROIC MASTER stuck on gamely to finish in third spot after sitting in behind the leaders.
Race 8 – Mui Wo Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.14 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Luke Ferraris was the next jockey to bring up a winning double on the night, with XPONENTIAL (AUS 8yo g Equiano – Eternal Circle) causing an upset in the last. The gelding jumped well from out wide and was able to roll across and settle outside the leader as they worked into the back straight. The pace was strong early as they sorted their order out, but the eight-year-old settled well thoughout the middle stages. He came under pressure before the leader did, but he wound up to take the lead 200m from home and break clear from most of the chasing pack. He was running on tired legs close to the line, but had enough in the tank to hold off a late challenger and score in a photo finish. SUGAR SUGAR made a big lunge up the inside rail under Alfie Chan but couldn't topple the winner in the finish stride. ARMOUR EAGLE ran into third with the favourite ONE FOR ALL crossing the line in fifth.
