SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday November 18, 2018)
RACE 1: #5 Charizard, #1 Super Star, #14 Super Euro Star, #12 Happy Warrior
RACE 2: #2 Chater Thunder, #1 Travel First, #11 Spicy Kaka, #9 Quick Return
RACE 3: #3 Elusive State, #12 Imperial Concorde, #5 Turf Sprint, #9 Shamport
RACE 4: #2 Styling City, #4 Money Boy, #3 E-Super, #9 Triumphant Jewel
RACE 5: #6 Harmony Victory, #1 Insayshable, #3 Victory Boys, #5 Stimulation
RACE 6: #1 Beauty Generation, #5 Singapore Sling, #6 Southern Legend, #8 The Golden Age
RACE 7: #3 Werther, #1 Pakistan Star, #9 Glorious Forever, #2 Time Warp
RACE 8: #7 Hot King Prawn, #4 Beat The Clock, #1 Ivictory, #2 Mr Stunning
RACE 9: #3 Limitless, #12 Raging Storm, #6 Summer Passage, #1 California Fortune
RACE 10: #11 Noble Steed, #1 Lockheed, #5 Nicconi Express, #13 Grade One
RACE 1: BOCHK ENRICH BANKING HANDICAP
#5 Charizard ran well on debut, closing into fourth behind Complacency. This is no tougher and, while he will probably have to drift back from the wide gate again, he can close off over the top.
#1 Super Star won nicely at his first start in the style of a horse who looks capable of reaching Class 2 in time. He should be hard to beat in this spot.
#14 Super Euro Star will probably head
back to Class 5 after this run if he misses the placings, but if he gets an easy lead in front, he could stick on for some minor money.
#12 Happy Warrior is improving and can’t be ruled out.
RACE 2: BOCHK BUSINESS INTEGRATED SERVICES HANDICAP
#2 Chater Thunder’s saddle slipped first-up, causing him to buck and dislodge Neil Callan. He’s a two-time course and distance winner who is drawn to enjoy the right run in transit here and he can atone for that blip.
#1 Travel First hasn’t quite got the same resume as his siblings Rivet and Booming Delight, but he has shown an affinity for this course and distance. Now, back down in grade and on this surface, he deserves plenty of respect.
#11 Spicy Kaka can finish in the placings with no weight on his back.
#9 Quick Return will break through one of these days and must be included.
RACE 3: BOCHK PRIVATE BANKING HANDICAP
#3 Elusive State couldn’t have been more impressive at his second start for Tony Millard last time out, coming off two late-season wins for former trainer Derek Cruz. He has an awkward draw here, but he looks a horse capable of going up in grade on this surface based on his last win. He’ll be hard to beat.
#12 Imperial Concorde rarely runs a bad race over this course and distance. He can’t be dismissed.
#5 Turf Sprint steps up to the extended mile for the first time. It might not prove a bad move and he’s worth including.
#9 Shamport has a style that should be suited on the dirt. He’s not without claims.
RACE 4: BOCHK CROSS-BORDER FINANCIAL SERVICES HANDICAP
#2 Styling City showed last time out the best way for him to be ridden is to simply allow him to bowl along near the speed. He’s likely to get that opportunity here and, if so, he can break through into Class 2.
#4 Money Boy is something of a warhorse. He’s inconsistent but he’s always capable of running a big race in these sorts of contests if things fall his way. He’s worth
including.
#3 E-Super returns to the Sha Tin 1000m for the first time in 18 months. He actually
ran some nice races at the course and distance early in his career but couldn’t build on a first win, prompting the switch to Happy Valley, where he found success. He can easily get into the finish here.
Veteran #9 Triumphant Jewel took the first race of the season, before going back-to-back at his next start. It might be tough now on a mark of 68 but he’s not without a hope.
RACE 5: BOC LIFE HANDICAP
#6 Harmony Victory impressed at his first Hong Kong run, making ground from near the tail, before a fair effort second up behind Victory Boys. The former Brazilian should appreciate the extra 200m and he gets his chance for a first win here, despite the bad gate.
#1 Insayshable won well enough at Happy Valley first-up, then he was simply run off his feet by Glorious Forever second-up. There’s nothing of that quality here, but it might still be better if he can settle a little
further back this time around.
#3 Victory Boys has been a success story for David Hall, finding the top four at 18 of his last 22 starts and taking his rating from Class 5 territory all the way to the middle of Class 2. In fact, on his rating of 91, he’d be eligible for most Class 1 races now, too.
He needs to go to another level but, on the evidence of his last win, there’s no reason why that’s not possible.
#5 Stimulation is still finding his feet but he can’t be overlooked.
RACE 6: G2 JOCKEY CLUB MILE
#1 Beauty Generation has been imperious in two handicap wins under top-weight this season, cementing himself as the top horse in Hong Kong. Back to set weights conditions, the only potential fly in the ointment looks the possible added speed of The Golden Age. Still, that’s a small concern and he really should be winning this.
#5 Singapore Sling closed off nicely first-up. He does meet Beauty Generation 11 pounds worse at the weights, but he can close off nicely again into the placings. #6 Southern Legend was plain in two runs to start his season, before missing an intended start in the Sha Tin Trophy due to a minor setback. Trainer Caspar Fownes
always said that his plan was to have him right for this race and so an improved effort should be expected.
#8 The Golden Age returns from injury. He’s a pace presence and he can stick around for a minor placing.
RACE 7: G2 JOCKEY CLUB CUP
#3 Werther defends his title in this race, having not won since his narrow victory over Time Warp last year. This time, though, the roles are reversed – he doesn’t have a five-pound penalty to carry while Time Warp does have the impost this time around. His return in the Sha Tin Trophy was good enough and the step up to 2000m should suit. In similar circumstances, he produced a terrific run in the Takarazuka Kinen in Japan earlier in the year, so don’t be surprised to see him win here.
#1 Pakistan Star almost repeated his old antics last start but a return to 2000m should prove a positive for him. Expect a good run to top him off for the Hong Kong Cup.
#9 Glorious Forever faces his stiffest test but, after a good run in the Ladies’ Purse, he can prove that he belongs amongst the big boys.
#2 Time Warp has the penalty but can still get into the finish.
RACE 8: G2 JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT
#7 Hot King Prawn demonstrated last time out that he is the complete package now, in that he can run along at a high cruising speed but he can also maintain that gallop right to the line. That’s a lethal combination and he can take another step forward here. #4 Beat The Clock makes his seasonal return, having been off the scene since the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in April. He is
consistent in these races and getting five pounds off Ivictory, Mr Stunning and D B Pin gives him his chance to win.
#1 Ivictory can atone for his last-start failure if he doesn’t attempt to tackle Hot King Prawn in the early stages.
#2 Mr Stunning will be somewhere around the mark.
RACE 9: BOCHK ASSET MANAGEMENT HANDICAP
#3 Limitless has trialled well since his last run. The booking of Gerald Mosse, a kind and patient rider with some of the best hands in the business, may prove an inspired decision aboard this notoriously quirky galloper and it might allow him to sprint clear in this very suitable race.
#12 Raging Storm gets Joao Moreira aboard once more, with the Magic Man having partnered the Fastnet Rock gelding to three wins from five rides. He has found Class 2 a little tough to date, but this is as easy a Class 2 as he will find and an improved run is not out of the question.
#6 Summer Passage ran a better race fresh and could improve once more heading into this.
#1 California Fortune should run a bold race on the speed.
RACE 10: BOC CREDIT CARD HANDICAP
#11 Noble Steed hasn’t lived up to the early expectations for him, but there’s no doubting the talent still exists. He just needs an ounce of luck and he’ll be hard to beat. Hopefully, he gets that clear air from barrier 10, allowing Joao Moreira to switch him off before unleashing his turn of foot. #1 Lockheed should be far better up to 1400m. He has to shoulder plenty of weight but he is better than his current rating, it’s just a matter of whether he brings it on raceday.
#5 Nicconi Express debuts here, having won two races impressively in Australia when named Weona Nicconi. He should improve with the run under his belt but don’t be surprised if he comes to hand quickly.
#13 Grade One can’t be dismissed with no weight on his back.
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