Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Racing For Charity 1650m Handicap, HK $875,000

Class 5 – All Weather – Distance 1650m - Track Good

Time: 1:39.35 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.30 Apolar Warrior

CHARMING STEED (FR 6yo g Charm Spirit – Militante) broke his winning drought in the opener, with his last win coming back in May 2022. The six-year-old was the first one out of the barriers and was able to work forward and settle on the speed around the first turn. As the field sorted their order out, Vincent Ho allowed the leader to cross in front of him, taking a trailing position through the middle stages. The gelding travelled comfortably down the back and continued to stalk the leader around the home turn, keeping to the inside rail. As they turned for home, the race opened right up for Ho and Charming Steed, with the pair getting away from the inside and into open air at the top of the straight. He ambled up to the leader once clear and when Ho pressed the button, the six-year-old shot clear, taking the lead and running away from his rivals at the 200m point. He never looked like being run down as he won by a very impressive 2-1/2 lengths. EAGLE RUN got away on terms but had to do some work around the first turn to find his position in running. Angus Chung was able to work across to get on the outside of the leader as they settled into stride and travelled well despite facing the breeze. Chung made his move as they turned for home, moving up to take the lead at the top of the straight. He wasn't able to shake the eventual winner though who blew right by him with 200m remaining, as Eagle Run finished a clear second. ASIAN ONE had followed the eventual winner throughout the event but lacked the turn-of-foot that Charming Steed possessed. He stuck on well late in the race but was 3-3/4 lengths off the winner.

Race 2 – JC Project Lift 1400m Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:21.56 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair

Race two saw another impressive winner, this time from the Chris So-trained SUNNY DA BEST (NZ 3yo g Proisir – Artemis) who broke his maiden in fine style. After getting away on terms Keagan De Melo rolled forward to sit up on the speed through the opening stanza. Whilst he was kept away from the inside, De Melo wasn't in a hurry to get across to the inside, only making his way across with around 700m remaining. Once a clear leader, the South African hoop didn't ease the tempo, keeping the field running around the home turn as he led by 1-1/4 lengths at the top of the straight. De Melo still had a strong hold of his mount, with the gelding eventually shooting clear when he pressed the button. Passing the 150m point, none of his rivals were eating into the margin and the three-year-old extended his lead, scoring by three lengths on the line. SIXTH GENERATION initially slid back from the sticky alley before Vincent Ho drove the gelding up along the inside to land in a midfield position. The gelding looked to have plenty to offer turning for home, with Ho getting away from the inside and looking for gaps to make his run. The local hoop didn't have to go off his line as he drove between runners late in the race, but the winner was too far in front despite his finishing burst. WAR OF COURAGE had niggled at Sunny Da Best through the opening stages, keeping him away from the inside before eventually taking a sit in the trail around the turn. Matthew Chadwick was unable to reel the leader in once he slipped him that rope, but he kept on well to the line to finish in third.

Race 3 – Institute of Philanthropy 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Wet Slow

Time: 1:08.58 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love

SING DRAGON (AUS 4yo g Written Tycoon – Secret Doubt) made it three wins in-a-row as he clung on for victory in a photo finish. He wasn't the fastest out of the machine Sing Dragon, but he was able to muster good pace and land outside the lead on settling down. The pace was good as they sorted their order relatively quickly, with Karis Teetan happy to sit at the leader's girth around the home turn. It took a while for the gelding to work through his gears turning for home, but he eventually struck the front with around 200m left to run and was a clear leading with 100m remaining. He was tiring though, and he had a rival breathing down his neck as the approached the finish line. Sing Dragon got his nose down on the wire to score by a short head on the line, bringing up a hat-trick of wins. MONTA FRUTTA didn't jump the best and then copped some interference shortly after the start, settling at the back of the pack under Angus Chung. As they turned off the back, Chung was able to slide along the inside rail to improve his inside, and that run continued around the home turn as runners looked to fan wide at the top of the straight. He went underneath his rivals as they turned for home, before switching off heels and getting clear air to chase after the leader. He kept grinding away out wider on the course, making plenty of ground in the closing stages but he just missed out on victory in a photo finish. HONG KONG HALL jumped to the front and led the field throughout the opening and middle stages. He didn't go down without a fight as he was only overtaken with a furlong to run, and the gelding held on to third position comfortably on the line.

Race 4 – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy (Handicap), HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good

Time: 55.91 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand

MULTISUPER (AUS 4yo g Vancouver – Purity) scored his maiden victory in good style at start number 14. The gelding got away on terms and sat just off the speed as the sorted their order out. With rain falling at Sha Tin, the field were spread across the track looking for the best going, which allowed Lyle Hewitson to work across and be toward the favourable outside fence. He sprinted strongly when asked for an effort by Hewitson, with the gelding moving up to take the lead inside the final 200m. He was far too strong in the closing stages, holding his rivals at bay and winning by three-quarters of-a-length on the line. RED ELEGANCE jumped well from a middle draw and raced just off the speed in the run, sticking toward the middle of the track with plenty of water and dirt being flicked up in the run. He was about a length off Multisuper as they passed the 400m point with Matthew Chadwick beginning to ask the flashy grey for an effort. He had every chance to pick the leader up if he as good enough, but the winner was just too strong close to home as Red Elegance finished 1-1/2 lengths clear of third. PRINCE OF PORTY jumped an equal favourite of the event and settled out the back under Hugh Bowman. The Australian hoop remained in the middle of the track throughout the running and the gelding was a very eye-caching run late in the race. He would finish off well to take third, with the other equal favourite finishing in fourth.

Race 5 – Positive Ageing 1650m Handicap, HK $1,170,000

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

Time: 1:37.83 Standard Time: 1:38.80 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo

Ellis Wong brought up his 14th winner this term as he guided GALVANIC (AUS 4yo g Ilovethiscity – Miss Hottie) to victory. The gelding got away on terms and the race panned out beautifully for him in the opening stages, with Wong able to get across and land just off the speed. There was no real change to the order through the middle stages, though the leader did pour the pressure on and break the field open as they turned off the back. With his rivals angling off the fence, Wong was able to remain close to the inside and sneak underneath his rivals turning for home. The apprentice hoop persisted with the inside run and when the leader wobbled away from the inside, Wong pushed the button and the gelding shot through along the inside. He burst clear inside the final 200m, but he was getting tired late in the race as he drifted away from the inside. There were a few rivals coming at him at the finish, but he'd built a big enough gap to hold on and win by a neck. STARSHIP EIGHTY didn't show much pace at the beginning of the race and ended up a long way back in the run. Vincent Ho remained toward the back of the pack throughout the event and was spotting the leader 6-1/2 lengths as they turned for home as he got the gelding into clear air shortly after straightening. He was still a mile off them when Galvanic took the lead with 200m to run, but he really hit his straps over the final stages. He charged hard at the finish to claim second, but the winner had a gap that was too big to peg back. FAST VICTORY was another who rattled home at the finish. After settling a little worse than midfield, he sprinted strongly in the straight to get to within a length of the winner.

Race 6 – Empowering Youth 1200m Handicap, HK $1,170,000

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

Time: 1:08.73 Standard Time: 1:08.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour

Antoine Hamelin and Douglas Whyte combined to win the final All Weather race on the day with VALIANT ELEGANCE (AUS 7yo g Salade – Lolly Lover) bringing up back-to-back wins. The gelding got away to a good start out wide and was able to work across to sit outside the leader. The pace was on from the start and the seven-year-old was travelling sweetly through the middle stages, strolling to the front as the leader capitulated before the home turn. He led by a couple of lengths with 200m remaining, but there was one rival who was bursting out of the pack to make a challenge. Valiant Elegance was tiring late in the race, but he had done enough to hold on for victory, scoring by a nose on the line in a great finish. HINOKAMI KAGURA had settled just off the speed in running and never really looked comfortable with Harry Bentley always niggling at his mount. Despite being under heavy pressure prior to the home turn, the gelding wasn't done with yet as he ran into second position midway down the straight. Hinokami Kagura just kept coming under the urgings of Bentley, moving up to join the eventual winner in the shadows of the post, but he just missed with his bob on the line. EVERYONE'S VICTORY closed off well to round out the placings after settling worse than midfield, finishing 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.

Race 7 – Healthy Community 1600m Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1600m - Track Good

Time: 1:35.78 Standard Time: 1:35.00 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky

It's been a long time coming for CELTIC TIMES (IRE 5yo g Dawn Approach – Teoirim) and today was his day, shedding the maiden tag at start number 22. Karis Teetan was able to sum up the situation from a wide alley early on, sliding across to settle in a midfield position. The Mauritian hoop was strolling along in the three-wide trail, racing comfortably throughout the event as he remained with cover. He was pushed four-wide at the top of the straight, but Teetan still had cover as he began to get to work aboard the gelding. He got off heels and into the clear early in the straight, though he did initially look to be going up and down in the one spot. He began to work through his gears approaching the 200m pole and was grinding away down the middle of the course. He moved up to take the lead with 50m to run and held on for his maiden victory, scoring by a head on the line. JOY OF SPRING ended up in a tricky spot on settling down, racing in the back half of the field and being hemmed up along the inside. The pace was only moderate through the middle stages as well, making things difficult for Vincent Ho who stuck to the inside as they entered the straight. He made a strong run along the inside, only going around 1 runner and hitting the line full of running to be beaten head. Things didn't go his way today, but he looks to have his hoof on the till. SMART FIGHTER moved up to hit the front with 300m to run after enjoying a good run in transit. He was unable to sustain the run though, being caught late in the race and ending up in third, beaten a half-length.

Race 8 – Nurturing Talent 1200m Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:09.22 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

Alex Badel scored his first win of the afternoon aboard SOLID IMPACT (NZ 6yo g Sweynesse – Ultra Explosive) from the David Hall barn. After getting away on terms from a wide alley, Badel snagged the gelding back to the tail of the field to settle toward the rear of the field. As they began to sort their order out, Badel got down to the inside and shot up the rail, improving his position to be a touch worse than midfield as they worked around the turn. The field was clumped together as they swung for home, but the Frenchman had plenty of horse underneath him as he picked his way through the traffic searching for clear air. Badel wasn't able to fully test his mount until the final 200m and that's where he did his best work. He moved up along the inside to take the lead inside the final 50m and got the job done by a neck on the line. LADY'S CHOICE was in amongst the early battle for the lead which set up a solid tempo through the early stages. As they eventually sorted their order out turning off the back, Karis Teetan found himself on the back of the leader, but only momentarily as the Mauritian quickly switched off heels to keep himself in clear air. The leader was unfortunately eased out of the race turning for home with left Teetan in front at the top of the straight, with the $1.60 favourite breathing down his neck. He saw off the $1.60 pop as he held onto the lead, but that was only for Solid Impact to have the final crack at him close to home. IMA SINGLE MAN tracked the $1.60 favourite into the race as they turned for home and he just kept on coming down the outside. He's back in form from what we've seen at his past couple of starts.

Race 9 – Advancing Culture & Sports 1800m Handicap, HK $3,120,000

Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good

Time: 1:47.84 Standard Time: 1:47.40 Course/Class record: 1:45.88 Solar Hei Hei

Alex Badel made it a race-to-race double as C P BRAVE (IRE 7yo g Zoffany – Starship) returned to the winners list. From a favourable alley, Badel was able to find a midfield position with ease with the pace right on in the opening stages of the race. Badel was travelling comfortably along the inside as they turned off the back, eventually moving one off the fence with 600m remaining as he looked to make his move. The seas parted for the seven-year-old at the top of the straight as he moved into clear air, setting out after the leaders who were only 2-3/4 lengths up the track. C P Brave let down strongly to take the lead with 150m left to run and he sped away from his rivals, winning very easily on the line by 1-1/2 lengths. NATURAL STORM ended up a little worse than midfield after not showing a whole lot of pace early in the event. Antoine Hamelin had the gelding under heavy pressure at the top of the straight, but the Frenchman remained close to the inside and came underneath his rivals. He only went around one horse as he hit the line full of gusto, stealing second position right on the wire. FLAMING RABBIT had been one of the culprits for the quick early speed, sitting up front and setting the tempo. He quickened powerfully at the top of the stretch to put a space on his rivals, but he was reeled in close to home and ended up in third place, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.

Race 10 – Sustainability 1400m Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good

Time: 1:22.18 Standard Time: 1:21.80 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

Caspar Fowes bookended the program as he made it a winning treble on the day as SKY HEART (NZ 3yo g Ardrossan – Luroel) scored under Keith Yeung. The three-year-old was one of the first out of the barriers and went straight to the front under Yeung, showing a clean pair of heels to get to the inside rail. He was able to do as he pleased up front with not a whole lot of pressure being applied. The local hoop stuck to the inside on straightening while a number of his rivals spread wide on the course in search of better going. He kicked impressively at the top of the straight when Yeung asked for an effort, leading by two lengths at the furlong marker. He always held a comfortably margin down to the line, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in a very impressive win. CHIU CHOW SPIRIT settled midfield after getting away on terms from barrier nine and enjoyed a lovely run in transit. Turning off the back, Alex Badel moved into the three-wide trail and the Frenchman continued to push wider on the course, ending up near the middle of the track on straightening. He made a strong run down the middle of the track as he chased after the leader, but it wasn't enough as Sky Heart beat him comfortably. PATCH OF THETA jumped the $1.90 favourite of the race and settled in a position worse than midfield under Hugh Bowman. The favourite had plenty of traffic in front of him in the straight and Bowman never really got a chance to get the most out of his mount, having to push his way through a gap at the 200m point. That contact continued down the straight, with Patch Of Theta finally breaking the shackles close to home and hitting the line strongly for third.