SHA TIN 9 MAY 2020
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Re: SHA TIN 9 MAY 2020
5 years 4 weeks ago
John Blance: Hong Kong Racing Preview
John Blance
Hong Kong commentator and racing analyst John Blance provides his selections for all races on Saturday morning's valuable card of flat racing at Sha Tin. Check them out below.
Race 1 - 6:00am - Peridot Handicap
The first at Sha Tin on Saturday is not a strong race and it should pay to side with the Neil Callan-ridden HARD PROMISE. He had to work across to lead from gate twelve last time out and, given the hard early sectionals, would have been forgiven for running out of gas in the closing stages. He stuck on to finish second, though, massively outrunning his SP of 41/1 in the process. Gate seven is not perfect this time out, but he should be able to slide to the rail pretty easily. He’ll take a bit of pegging back.
WIN: 2
Race 2 - 6:30am - Jasper Handicap
The Purton and Moreira ridden Clear Choice and Ping Hai Treasure respectively will be popular with punters, but I think it may pay to go a little wider. HANDSOME BO BO has always looked like a good dirt prospect and it is a bit of a surprise that they waited until his 25th start before trying him on it. That was a very good third over 1200 metres and he can put his early sprint speed to good use over the longer trip. With Victor Wong’s 5lb claim he’ll give you a good sight out in front. GREAT TREASURE is not getting any younger but is admirably consistent and almost always overlooked in the market. His seven HK wins have come at 29/1, 36/1, 34/1, 23/1, 36/1 and the almost shockingly short 6/1 and 11/2. They key to him is pace. He is a get back type and if they overdo it out in front he will stay on strongly.
WIN: 2 and 5
PLACE: 2
SWINGER: 2 and 5
Race 3 - 7:00am - Peridot Handicap
The third on the card is not the most competitive Sha Tin contest I’ve ever seen and the swinger perm really picks itself. ILUVATAAR is a newcomer from the John Size yard who has trialled very professionally in the hood which he wears today. Moreira has been aboard for all of those trials at Sha Tin too and he clearly rates him as probably a bit better than the middle of class four. FLYING BONUS has good early speed, is down in class and has the assistance of the on-fire Zac Purton in the saddle while DECISIVE TWELVE will probably track him across into a good early position.
SWINGER: 1,2 and 6
Race 4 - 7:30am - Topaz Handicap
RED BRICK FIGHTER ran a huge race over 1650 metres on his All Weather debut last time out but returns to the turf today. His efforts on the dirt were preceded by some very solid runs at sprint trips and his move up to a mile here is logical. His latest run clearly wasn’t lost on Zac Purton who leaps aboard today and he has to be included despite a tricky draw. HUMBLE STEED stuck his neck out to win in a driving finish at Happy Valley last time out and, back at Sha Tin with a good draw to boot, he should go well.
WIN: 4
SWINGER: 4 and 9
Race 5 - 8:00am - Sapphire Handicap
McMUNIGAL is the obvious choice here. He was quite useful when trained as a two-year-old in Ireland by Ger Lyons but, like a lot of European imports, took ages to acclimatise to Hong Kong and struggled to run to his lofty initial rating. He arrested his plummet down the weights with a shock 146/1 win victory at this course and distance on New Year’s Day and, since then, hasn’t looked back. He absolutely thrashed a subsequent winner last time out - first two well clear of the rest - and looks to be well capable of making the step up to class four here.
WIN: 9
Race 6 - 8:35am - Ruby Handicap
KA YING BRILLIANCE ran a very tough race last time out on the speed in a closer’s race at the top of class five. The handicapper put him up two rating points for that which now sees him in class four off a very light weight. He can run well from a good draw. STRATHCLYDE is also well drawn, is an AWT specialist and got a somewhat muddling gallop for his first run at the trip last time out. There should be more early speed on here and he has bagged stall one again. BLADE RACER is an AWT winner at a shorter trip and, with Alfie Chan taking the 7lbs off, he will feel like he is running loose with only 111 lbs on his back.
WIN/PLACE: 8
SWINGER: 8, 12 and 14
Race 7 - 9:05am - Crystal Handicap
Again another small field for the seventh on the card and it looks a fairly straightforward task for FANTASY. He has won at odds on in his last two starts with the minimum of fuss and, although he has a big weight to carry, he has a powerful constitution - tipping the scales at over 1300lbs - so he should be able to shoulder the burden. RELENTLESS ME was three wide throughout a couple of weeks ago here at this trip and still found a way to win. That was under Alfie Chan who today is replaced by new club apprentice Jerry Chau, who takes off the full 10lbs. He won’t be far away, especially from stall one.
SWINGER: 1 and 4
Race 8 - 9:35am - Amethyst Handicap
HONG KONG WIN came very close to scoring down the straight 1000 last time out in March, just being pipped by subsequent winner Computer Patch. He was drawn in stall seven that day and gets a bit closer to the stands side rail here in box ten. He should settle up behind a frantic early gallop. BALTIC SUCCESS gave then a thrashing last time out and, although not missed by the handicapper, gets in to this class two contest with a light weight of 118lbs. I was also taken with LOVING A BOOM’s last effort over the flying five at Happy Valley and, from a good high draw here, he can go well again.
SWINGER: 5, 9 and 14
Race 9 - 10:10am - Amber Handicap
The ten-pound claimer is an interesting phenomenon in Hong Kong. When I worked there I heard many veterans of the press room tell me that the latest addition to the club riding ranks was “useless” or “can’t ride” - they were two of the more polite assessments - and yet their mounts would often find their way into tipping columns. As trainer David Hall once said, the 10lb concession equates to “half a class” and, with that in mind, even an only semi-competent rider can be initially quite successful. We know from his experience in South Australia that Jerry Chau is definitely capable of pointing one in the right direction and that may be all he needs to do with BUDDIES. He is a front runner who gave a good sight in the Classic Mile carrying 126lbs so can do some serious damage here with only 110 on his back. MORETHANLUCKY is not drawn in the Shing Mun River this time and can go well, also with a claimer up. BALLISTIC KING, conversely, does have a bad draw but can overcome it thanks to his thoroughly consistent profile.
WIN: 10
SWINGER: 10, 11 and 12
Race 10 - 10:45am - Emerald Handicap
ALL IN MIND had legitimate excuses for peaking on his run too early last time out. He had been drawn wide, had to work into a prominent position and was then got marooned in an early speed battle. Hopefully none of those factors will eventuate on Saturday and he can replicate his win here from two starts ago. That FARHH ABOVE was an unlucky loser last time out will not have been lost on shrew HK punters who will make him favourite here. He is an obvious candidate for exotic bets.
WIN: 8
SWINGER: 8 and 10
PLACEPOT PERM:
5) 9
6) 8,12 and 14
7) 1 and 4
5,9 and 14
9) 10,11 and 12
10) 8 and 10
John Blance
Hong Kong commentator and racing analyst John Blance provides his selections for all races on Saturday morning's valuable card of flat racing at Sha Tin. Check them out below.
Race 1 - 6:00am - Peridot Handicap
The first at Sha Tin on Saturday is not a strong race and it should pay to side with the Neil Callan-ridden HARD PROMISE. He had to work across to lead from gate twelve last time out and, given the hard early sectionals, would have been forgiven for running out of gas in the closing stages. He stuck on to finish second, though, massively outrunning his SP of 41/1 in the process. Gate seven is not perfect this time out, but he should be able to slide to the rail pretty easily. He’ll take a bit of pegging back.
WIN: 2
Race 2 - 6:30am - Jasper Handicap
The Purton and Moreira ridden Clear Choice and Ping Hai Treasure respectively will be popular with punters, but I think it may pay to go a little wider. HANDSOME BO BO has always looked like a good dirt prospect and it is a bit of a surprise that they waited until his 25th start before trying him on it. That was a very good third over 1200 metres and he can put his early sprint speed to good use over the longer trip. With Victor Wong’s 5lb claim he’ll give you a good sight out in front. GREAT TREASURE is not getting any younger but is admirably consistent and almost always overlooked in the market. His seven HK wins have come at 29/1, 36/1, 34/1, 23/1, 36/1 and the almost shockingly short 6/1 and 11/2. They key to him is pace. He is a get back type and if they overdo it out in front he will stay on strongly.
WIN: 2 and 5
PLACE: 2
SWINGER: 2 and 5
Race 3 - 7:00am - Peridot Handicap
The third on the card is not the most competitive Sha Tin contest I’ve ever seen and the swinger perm really picks itself. ILUVATAAR is a newcomer from the John Size yard who has trialled very professionally in the hood which he wears today. Moreira has been aboard for all of those trials at Sha Tin too and he clearly rates him as probably a bit better than the middle of class four. FLYING BONUS has good early speed, is down in class and has the assistance of the on-fire Zac Purton in the saddle while DECISIVE TWELVE will probably track him across into a good early position.
SWINGER: 1,2 and 6
Race 4 - 7:30am - Topaz Handicap
RED BRICK FIGHTER ran a huge race over 1650 metres on his All Weather debut last time out but returns to the turf today. His efforts on the dirt were preceded by some very solid runs at sprint trips and his move up to a mile here is logical. His latest run clearly wasn’t lost on Zac Purton who leaps aboard today and he has to be included despite a tricky draw. HUMBLE STEED stuck his neck out to win in a driving finish at Happy Valley last time out and, back at Sha Tin with a good draw to boot, he should go well.
WIN: 4
SWINGER: 4 and 9
Race 5 - 8:00am - Sapphire Handicap
McMUNIGAL is the obvious choice here. He was quite useful when trained as a two-year-old in Ireland by Ger Lyons but, like a lot of European imports, took ages to acclimatise to Hong Kong and struggled to run to his lofty initial rating. He arrested his plummet down the weights with a shock 146/1 win victory at this course and distance on New Year’s Day and, since then, hasn’t looked back. He absolutely thrashed a subsequent winner last time out - first two well clear of the rest - and looks to be well capable of making the step up to class four here.
WIN: 9
Race 6 - 8:35am - Ruby Handicap
KA YING BRILLIANCE ran a very tough race last time out on the speed in a closer’s race at the top of class five. The handicapper put him up two rating points for that which now sees him in class four off a very light weight. He can run well from a good draw. STRATHCLYDE is also well drawn, is an AWT specialist and got a somewhat muddling gallop for his first run at the trip last time out. There should be more early speed on here and he has bagged stall one again. BLADE RACER is an AWT winner at a shorter trip and, with Alfie Chan taking the 7lbs off, he will feel like he is running loose with only 111 lbs on his back.
WIN/PLACE: 8
SWINGER: 8, 12 and 14
Race 7 - 9:05am - Crystal Handicap
Again another small field for the seventh on the card and it looks a fairly straightforward task for FANTASY. He has won at odds on in his last two starts with the minimum of fuss and, although he has a big weight to carry, he has a powerful constitution - tipping the scales at over 1300lbs - so he should be able to shoulder the burden. RELENTLESS ME was three wide throughout a couple of weeks ago here at this trip and still found a way to win. That was under Alfie Chan who today is replaced by new club apprentice Jerry Chau, who takes off the full 10lbs. He won’t be far away, especially from stall one.
SWINGER: 1 and 4
Race 8 - 9:35am - Amethyst Handicap
HONG KONG WIN came very close to scoring down the straight 1000 last time out in March, just being pipped by subsequent winner Computer Patch. He was drawn in stall seven that day and gets a bit closer to the stands side rail here in box ten. He should settle up behind a frantic early gallop. BALTIC SUCCESS gave then a thrashing last time out and, although not missed by the handicapper, gets in to this class two contest with a light weight of 118lbs. I was also taken with LOVING A BOOM’s last effort over the flying five at Happy Valley and, from a good high draw here, he can go well again.
SWINGER: 5, 9 and 14
Race 9 - 10:10am - Amber Handicap
The ten-pound claimer is an interesting phenomenon in Hong Kong. When I worked there I heard many veterans of the press room tell me that the latest addition to the club riding ranks was “useless” or “can’t ride” - they were two of the more polite assessments - and yet their mounts would often find their way into tipping columns. As trainer David Hall once said, the 10lb concession equates to “half a class” and, with that in mind, even an only semi-competent rider can be initially quite successful. We know from his experience in South Australia that Jerry Chau is definitely capable of pointing one in the right direction and that may be all he needs to do with BUDDIES. He is a front runner who gave a good sight in the Classic Mile carrying 126lbs so can do some serious damage here with only 110 on his back. MORETHANLUCKY is not drawn in the Shing Mun River this time and can go well, also with a claimer up. BALLISTIC KING, conversely, does have a bad draw but can overcome it thanks to his thoroughly consistent profile.
WIN: 10
SWINGER: 10, 11 and 12
Race 10 - 10:45am - Emerald Handicap
ALL IN MIND had legitimate excuses for peaking on his run too early last time out. He had been drawn wide, had to work into a prominent position and was then got marooned in an early speed battle. Hopefully none of those factors will eventuate on Saturday and he can replicate his win here from two starts ago. That FARHH ABOVE was an unlucky loser last time out will not have been lost on shrew HK punters who will make him favourite here. He is an obvious candidate for exotic bets.
WIN: 8
SWINGER: 8 and 10
PLACEPOT PERM:
5) 9
6) 8,12 and 14
7) 1 and 4
5,9 and 149) 10,11 and 12
10) 8 and 10
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