Xavier Blair takes a look into tonights Sha Tin meeting and evaluates each race.
Race 1 SANDOWN HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1200m
Rating 40-10
High Note (4) is coming off consecutive placings with the most recent of those being on the All Weather Track behind Single Malt. He is starting to creep up in the weights but Darren Beadman should give him a charmed run from gate two and he can breakthrough today. Splendid Sails (5) looks his main danger and is coming out of that same race behind Single Malt where he ran third beaten a length and a quarter. He has just the three wins from 54 starts and was a beaten favourite last start but Brett Prebble does stick with him. Seize The Day (8) looks suited by the drop back to 1200m after just failing to finish the race off from the box seat over 1400m last start. Gallant Hussar (1) made plenty of ground on the Happy Valley course last start over 1000m and will appreciate the return to Sha Tin. He could be some value.
Selections:
4-5-8-1
Race 2 ASCOT HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1200m
Rating 60-40
Be My Song (4) is a tough on pacer who looks suited here as he has come up against a couple of handy performers in recent times including the talented A Walk In The Park two runs back where he went down narrowly after leading. Last start he fought on well after being headed early in the straight. From gate five he should slide to the top and be hard to catch. Sohna (14) has only the one win to his name but probably should have won on this circuit two runs back when he was checked at the 350m mark costing him all chances of winning. He picked himself up to rattle home but then was very disappointing when he had every chance in the box seat at Happy Valley. That run should be forgiven as he was up to the mile from his previous run over 1200m in which he is back to the 1200m today. You Gotta Pay (1) made an impressive debut, winning narrowly when favourite here at Sha Tin over the 1200m but does go up in weight for his efforts. Loads Of Joy (6) was a beaten favourite on debut and will benefit from that run. Give him another go as he steps up in distance.
Selections:
4-14-1-6
Race 3 LINCOLN HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1600m
Rating 80-60
Fair race this which looks like a match race between Jun Dao (4) and Glory Of India (5) with the former going on top judging by two excellent runs in which he just peaked on his run at his debut and then was taken back and stormed home behind Brave Kid. He steps up to the mile today which is right up his alley and only has to beat Glory Of India (5) who was a beaten favourite last start over 1800m but he too will relish the mile journey in which he won his previous start by over a length defeating Lu Yue. They look the logical quinella and whatever beats them wins. Telecom Gogo (14) has some good form behind some handy horses on this circuit including Moonwalk and Napa II over this distance and hasn’t been far from the winner in all career runs to date. He stays down in the weights but does have to deal with a wide gate. Nordic Star (13) could be the blowout down the middle of the track if he can repeat his latest effort over 1400m when taken back and finishing off well. He is another one who is suited by the mile.
Selections:
4-5-14-13
Race 4 EPSOM HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1200m
Rating 80-60
I have been following Turf Magic (10) since his debut last year and I reckon today he is ready to fire, judging by the fact Brett Prebble has been put on top. He has been slow out of the gates in both career runs to date but that habit should be fixed by now and he looks a great each way chance at a bit of odds. Elite Sixty-Six (1) is the class runner in the field who hasn’t been further back than two lengths at his past four starts. If you go by his run two starts back behind Always Something over 1200m when he was a bit unlucky, he should be winning this. Supreme Win (2) has won two of his five starts and is coming along nicely. He never got into the race last start behind Elegance Desire when a beaten odds on favourite. He should be a lot sharper over the 1200m today. Lombardi (5) has been around the mark of late but has hit work cut out from gate 11.
Selections:
10-1-2-5
Race 5 EXETER HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1400m
Rating 65-40
I’m tipping an upset here with Solider (7) to topple the likely short priced favourite Brave Heart (4) even though the latter probably should be unbeaten in his two starts so far. Solider (7) settled at the rear on the Happy Valley circuit last start and encountered numerous traffic problems in the straight. Before that he just missed over the 1400m here and is sure to hit back hard today. Brave Heart (4) had a good trail and won like a good thing last start. He steps up to the 1400m today and from a wide gate he is no good thing but could still win without surprising. Eight Plus Nine (2) is the value runner in the race and it is best to overlook last start when he was never on the track at Happy Valley when trying to find a spot towards the lead. His previous form reads very well including close up finishes behind Danzulu and Chater Way in similar races. Blessing (1) indicated he is finding some form by making late headway behind Loyal Army last start. He has drawn well and should not be taken lightly.
Selections:
7-4-2-1
Race 6 BADMINTON HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 2000m
Rating 85-60
Napa II (8) has never been out of a placing in seven career runs and looks mighty hard to beat here as he tackles the 2000m for the first time. His form reads very well including consecutive placings behind the talented Algarve followed by a win over the mile where he defeated My Goal here at Sha Tin. I would be surprise if he doesn’t finish top two today. Yue Lu Treasure (3) is in some fine form at the moment including a recent win and close up second last start when just failing to run down Strawberry on the Happy Valley circuit. He should settle midfield and look the winner at some stage as he steps up to 2000m. Spinnaker (13) is one who has drawn well and has consistent form in lesser grade that can show up here. He put together two in a row a few starts back then struggled when stepping back in distance last time out. Give him another chance over 2000m. Rocket Power (1) goes in at a bit of odds and simply never got into the race at Happy Valley last start where he has never figured in four runs. He had goof form before that and is a winning hope.
Selections:
8-3-13-1
Race 7 THE KENT & CURWEN CENTENARY SPRINT CUP
Turf, “B” Course, 1000m
Hong Kong Group One
Sacred Kingdom (1) was very impressive in a recent trial where he was untouched down the straight and looked in top order for this assignment today. He has won five times over the shorter trip and will be very hard to hold out. One World (3) just failed to pick up Sacred Kingdom in the International Sprint when he rattled home into second placing. He looks the main danger to the champion and with any luck he can beat him. Joy And Fun (2) was slowly away in the International Sprint but managed to make good late headway into third in an impressive run. He looked flat last start over the 1400m behind Egyptian Ra but will show a lot more zip in this event today. Green Birdie (4) was pushed out in his trial but that should top him off nicely in preparation for todays sprint. The top four are clearly the best in the race and should fight it out.
Selections:
1*-3-2-4
Race 8 THE STEWARDS’ CUP
Turf, “B” Course, 1600m
Hong Kong Group One
Fancy the quinella here of Good Ba Ba (2) and Collection (3) in a cracking race. Good Ba Ba (2) won the International Mile in scintillating fashion defeating Happy Zero back in December and is the benchmark here. Rising star Collection (3) was stepped up in distance late last year and acquitted himself well running some great races including a close up second behind Vision D’Etat on International Day. He has had two unplaced runs at the mile previously but he looks suited to finish strongly here today. Egyptian Ra (1) is rock hard fit after an impressive all the way victory here on New Years day defeating Sunny King who came out and won two weeks ago. The form stacks up well and he should be rolling along in front and they may not catch him. Fellowship (5) was runner up in this race year and he does appear to be going better this time around with a win in the mile trial and a good effort in the International Mile.
Selections:
2-3-1-5
Race 9 COWDRAY PARK HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1600m
Rating 100-80
Gem Of Chiu Ton (1) is a classy entire who had previously been a bit of a tease for punters until his barnstorming win on International Day when coming from well back. He was then slowly away behind Beauty Legend but still manage to pick up many lengths in the run home. Now that he has found form it will be very hard to dismiss him in any event he contests. Little Dreams (10) could be the blowout here with two fairly uninspiring runs to date. He was always back in the field on debut behind Heartline over 1200m and then made little impression when three back the fence behind Beauty Legend last start over the mile. I do believe he is nearing peak fitness and it is interesting that Beadman has jumped on and for that reason he has to be an each way hope at a price. Appreciation (3) has had a nice freshen after his form slightly tapered off towards the end of last year. He should be ready to fire today and he too is a knock out hope. Redragtoabull (6) stepped up to the 2000m last start and simply didn’t run it out, only battling in the run to the line. He is best ridden cold and will improve back to the mile.
Selections:
1-10-3-6
Race 10 SOUTHWELL HANDICAP
Turf, “B” Course, 1200m
Rating 100-80
Heartline (1) is a flashy looking chestnut by Show A Heart who looks a nice bet in the last on the card coming off a nice win here over 1200m two runs back then a forgetful run when stepping up to 1400m when he was caught wide throughout. He has drawn wide again but should go back and be the strongest at the finish. Cat Storm (11) finally broke through for a much deserved win after being very unlucky in all runs since making his debut here in Hong Kong. He drops nicely in weight for the rise in grade but is a horse on the up. High Point (3) ran well over the shorter sprinting distance last start and will enjoy the return to his favoured 1200m where he has won four times. Prebble takes the ride for trainer David Hall which is also a good lead. Royal Pericles (2) was just edged out by Heartline a couple runs back but meets him worse off at the weights and is a place chance.
Selections:
1-11-3-2
Written by Xavier Blair
