Preview and form for the meeting at Sha Tin on New Year's Day, Tuesday. Selections by Andrew Hawkins.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Tuesday January 1, 2019)
RACE 1: #8 Godspeed, #9 Management Star, #3 Smiling Pride, #5 Chiu Chow Kid
RACE 2: #2 Dashing Dart, #1 Adonis, #4 Indigenous Star, #6 Money Winner
RACE 3: #6 Mr Darthvegar, #1 Hard Promise, #9 Gracious Ryder, #2 Regency Darling
RACE 4: #2 Lakeshore Eagle, #5 Full Of Beauty, #7 Yichun Blitz, #1 Back In Black
RACE 5: #4 Monica, #7 Noble De Love, #6 Picken, #11 Blizzing Away
RACE 6: #4 Alcari, #1 Sir Redalot, #12 Big Party, #11 Grade One
RACE 7: #11 Gentle Breeze, #1 Jing Jing Win, #5 Gamechangers, #4 Key Witness
RACE 8: #5 Regency Legend, #7 Mission Tycoon, #11 Country Star, #3 New Asia Sunrise
RACE 9: #8 Rattan, #9 Conte, #5 Nothingilikemore, #4 Born In China
RACE 10: #7 Nicconi Express, #8 Pakistan Friend, #6 Noble Steed, #5 Vincy
RACE 11: #4 Waikuku, #12 Lady First, #11 Happy Sebring, #8 Smart Patch
RACE 1: YI TUNG SHAN HANDICAP
#8 Godspeed rattled home at his second start in almost a year last time out. He’s still yet to prove that a mile is his trip, even though – on pedigree – this is when he should just be getting warm. Still, he should get every chance from the good gate and, with no weight on his back, he’s a leading player.
#9 Management Star is racing well and should be given another chance in this spot.
#3 Smiling Pride has run well in both starts for Jimmy Ting, winning fresh before a nice second last time out. He’ll probably be around the mark yet again.
#5 Chiu Chow Kid can’t be overlooked.
RACE 2: KOWLOON PEAK HANDICAP
#2 Dashing Dart has run well in two starts since getting back to Class 5, not having the best of luck on either occasion. If he can get a clear passage under Joao Moreira – who is unbeaten from one ride aboard the Pins gelding – then he’s a leading player here.
#1 Adonis produced one of the most extraordinary efforts of last season back in June, missing the start hopelessly before rallying for fourth. He didn’t show much first-up in October, although he wasn’t gifted the best of runs, and the 1600m should suit now. He’s a contender.
#4 Indigenous Star doesn’t win out of turn but he’s the type of horse to get into the finish here.
#6 Money Winner is next best.
RACE 3: GRASSY HILL HANDICAP
#6 Mr Darthvegar has caught the eye in his trials. The well-named Lope De Vega four-year-old looks primed to make a winning debut and should be hard to beat in what looks a fairly average Class 4 here.
#1 Hard Promise has improved in every run for Benno Yung this season. He’s right near a win now and he’s the main danger.
#9 Gracious Ryder mixes his form but he’s capable of unleashing a big effort in a race like this.
#2 Regency Darling is a chance if he can get an easy time of it near the speed.
RACE 4: GRASSY HILL HANDICAP
#2 Lakeshore Eagle sprinted really nicely to win on debut at Happy Valley. He had shown talent throughout his preparation and he appears capable of progressing further in a short space of time.
#5 Full Of Beauty is still far from the complete product but he looks to have enough natural ability to figure at start one.
#7 Yichun Blitz ran a nice race on debut and, with normal progression, he’s sure to be around the mark.
#1 Back In Black returns to Class 4 for the first time in almost three years. He may need to shed a few more points but he’s got the points on the board to be able to figure.
RACE 5: WONG LENG HANDICAP
#4 Monica improved for a return to the Sha Tin 1400m to win last time out. He’d always appeared capable of producing that sort of effort and, even with a six-point penalty, he looks well-placed to run another big race here.
#7 Noble De Love has only won once in 18 starts, but he is progressing nicely this season and, third-up, he should be hard to beat.
#6 Picken had disappointed before finally breaking through last time out. He has to contend with an outside gate but maybe he can continue on his way now.
#11 Blizzing Away might be worth throwing into all exotics at odds.
RACE 6: LANTAU PEAK HANDICAP
#4 Alcari produced the worst effort of his career last time out. He looks back on track now though and, in a race that doesn’t really have much depth, he can return to form here.
#1 Sir Redalot ran well at his last two starts at Happy Valley. He’s probably better suited at the city track but he’s not without claims in this spot.
#12 Big Party won nicely at start two on the dirt last time out. He has no weight and he’s worth keeping safe here.
#11 Grade One was originally a reserve for this race. He’s racing well enough and is a place chance yet again.
RACE 7: LANTAU PEAK HANDICAP
#11 Gentle Breeze won two starts back over the Happy Valley 1000m before finishing fourth at the same course and distance last start. He failed at his only attempt at the Sha Tin 1200m but, with a little more experience under his belt, he can get into the finish here.
#1 Jing Jing Win hasn’t reached the heights that appeared likely early, but he’s racing well enough to suggest he can win at the top of this grade again.
#5 Gamechangers has performed better at the city track but he’s on a mark where he should be able to figure.
#4 Key Witness is lining up for his 63rd start and is aiming for his seventh win. He’s likely to be somewhere in the finish.
RACE 8: TAI MO SHAN HANDICAP
#5 Regency Legend couldn’t have been any more impressive first-up in Hong Kong, drawing clear for a four-length triumph. It was particularly noteworthy given the former Kiwi hadn’t raced in a year. It’s tough for any three-year-old to win in the middle of Class 2, but he looks a horse heading for the highest grades and he’s worth taking again here.
#7 Mission Tycoon should take plenty of benefit from his first-up third to Gunnison on the dirt. Back to the turf should suit and he should enjoy a perfect run in transit.
#11 Country Star has won three of his five starts. He faces the same issue as Regency Legend of being a three-year-old in Class 2, but he’ll be winning in this grade eventually.
#3 New Asia Sunrise is so honest that he’s worth inclusion.
RACE 9: G3 CHINESE CLUB CHALLENGE CUP
#8 Rattan has developed into a top 1400m fresh horse. He has only 119 pounds to carry and meets Conte six pounds better for defeating him in the Panasonic Cup. He shapes as the horse to beat.
There’s every chance the market will side with #9 Conte, who does shape as the main danger once again. He might have more upside than Rattan.
#5 Nothingilikemore has reached his limit, but he gets in well at the weights and can’t be discounted back to 1400m.
#4 Born In China ran better than expected in the Hong Kong Sprint and probably is better suited at 1400m these days.
RACE 10: LIN FA SHAN HANDICAP
#7 Nicconi Express has run well in both starts to date. He was ridden on the speed from the wide gate last time out but, with a kinder draw, he might be able to take more of a sit here. That might allow him to find the line better and, if so, he’ll be mighty hard to beat in this spot.
#8 Pakistan Friend is likely headed for Class 2 in little time at all – he might even be a blowout hope to make the field for either the Classic Mile or the Classic Cup. The wide gate will make it difficult here, although there’s every chance that he crosses to lead and proves hard to pass.
#6 Noble Steed will be running home strongly and shapes as a chance again.
#5 Vincy is next best.
RACE 11: SUNSET PEAK HANDICAP
#4 Waikuku didn’t have the easiest of runs first-up and the fact that he got as close as he did is a testament to his talent. He’s going to break through quickly and he should be hard to beat here.
#12 Lady First was the last runner for trainer Michael Freedman back in November. He now steps out for his new handler Jimmy Ting and he has to have claims in this spot.
#11 Happy Sebring disappointed last time out, but his efforts before that had been good and he can figure with the right run.
#8 Smart Patch was incredibly disappointing at his first start. He did arrive with huge wraps from New Zealand and he’s worth affording another chance.
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