Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin 11th January 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Chek Keng Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.77 Standard Time: 1:09.55 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King
Zac Purton wasted no time in extending his Jockeys' Championship lead, guiding home the Ricky Yiu-trained SNOWTHORN (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – Geneteau) to his maiden win. From the outside barrier, Purton worked forward to sit on the outside of the leader settling down and he didn't have to use too much energy to be there either. It was just an even tempo through the middle stages and as they swung into the straight, Purton was sitting confidently aboard the four-year-old. Snowthorn ran to the lead with around 300m to run under his own power before inching away from his rivals as Purton urged him along. He was just too good on the day, scoring by three quarters of a length. SHOTGUN was another who got across from out wide, slotting into the one-out-one-back position. Matthew Poon was stalking the eventual winner through the middle stages before popping off his back to mount his challenge around the home turn. He was unable to quicken with his rivals at the top of the straight and was clearly headed by Majestic Delight early in the straight, though his late strength was a highlight as he rallied back to take second position as a $32 chance. MAJESTIC DELIGHT was caught racing wide and without cover throughout the race under Jerry Chau after the local hoop was unable to slot into the running line. Despite his wide run, he quickened well on straightening and headed Shotgun in the straight. He just tired on his run late in the race after his wide run, falling back to third place in the shadows of the post.
Race 2 – Wu Kai Sha Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1.09.04 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
Zac Purton quickly made it a race-to-race double, continuing his winning start to the day aboard MAJESTIC VALOUR (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Margiela) for the Pierre Ng stable. The four-year-old jumped well from barrier nine and showed good speed from out wide to take up the running as the $2.9 second favourite. He ran them along at a good tempo through the middle stages and had a few of his rivals under pressure around the turn. While Purton sat quietly aboard the son of Toronado into the straight. The gelding quickened impressively when asked for an effort, shooting away from his rivals to put a big gap on them midway down the straight. The gap was narrowing close to home, but the race was over with 150m to run and he still scored by 1-3/4 lengths on the line. LUCKY RANGER jumped the $2 favourite for Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris but went back from the outside barrier to settle near the tail of the field. Ferraris was racing in the three-wide running line as they sorted their order out but was a long way off his main danger as they worked into the straight. He spotted Majestic Valour 4-3/4 lengths on straightening, and while he did finish off well, he never looked a threat, finishing a clear second. A further 1-3/4 lengths away was WARRIORS DREAM back in third position. After sitting just off the speed in running, he stuck on well under Karis Teetan to round out the placings as a $15 chance.
Race 3 – Wu Kai Sha Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1.09.59 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
ELITE GOLF (AUS 3yo g Frosted – Split Not A Shock) scored his maiden victory at start two, turning his form right around following a 4-3/4 length defeat on debut back in November. With Harry Bentley in the saddle, the gelding showed good early speed to put himself on the pace, sitting on the outside of the leader as the turned off the back straight. The leader was able to dictate the tempo through the middle stages, setting just an even tempo before they sprinted quickly on straightening. Elite Golf was up to the task, moving up to take the lead with 250m remaining, though his inexperience was on display once he stuck his head in front. The English hoop had a tough time trying to keep the grey gelding to run straight in the dying stages, but Bentley did enough as he showed some class in the win, scoring by three quarters of a length. HAPPY SHOOTER jumped sharply from barrier 12 and rolled across to take the lead without much resistance under Lyle Hewitson. The South African hoop was able to lead easily through the middle stages and rode the tempo to suit. He kicked well on straightening but was reeled in by Elite Golf with around 250m to run. Elite Golf was doing some things wrong late in the race, but Happy Shooter was unable to capitalise, finishing in second position.
Race 4 – Wu Kau Tang Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.91 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
REZEKI (NZ 5yo g Ardrossan – O'Misty) returned to the turf course today and broke his maiden at start 10. After jumping on terms, Andrea Atzeni dug up the gelding to hold his position along the rail, settling on the back of the leader. He enjoyed a cosy run throughout the race, stalking the pace and waiting for his moment to strike as they swung into the home straight. He was held up until the 250m point in the straight, but when the run back to the inside presented, he shot through nicely to take the lead. He held on to score by a neck with Endeared flying down the outside late in the race, but Rezeki made the most of his economical run to score by a neck. ENDEARED was away only fairly from his wide barrier and ended up near the tail of the field as they sorted their order out. Zac Purton was racing between horses in a bunched field through the middle stages, with the leading hoop needing to weave some magic coming to the home turn with horses all around him. Purton shouldered his way into the clear at the top of the straight as the gelding rocketed home down the middle of the course. He couldn't peg back the margin, though he lost no admirers in a good effort in defeat. CIRCUIT FIERY enjoyed a great run in transit after sitting in the one-out-one-back position. He stuck on well to finish in third position, three quarters of a length off the winner.
Race 5 – Wu Kau Tang Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.00 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
ROBOT STAR (AUS 4yo g Extreme Choice – Happy Highway) picked up his maiden victory at start three, bringing up a winning treble early in the card for Zac Purton. Despite being ridden along early, the four-year-old didn't have as much pace as his rivals, settling in a midfield position for Purton as they travelled down the back. The speed was good through the opening stages of the race but slackened a touch through the middle stages which prompted Purton to get out and moving prior to the home turn. The Australian was very wide coming into the straight, but he was building his momentum as he came down the middle of the track. The Australian hoop knew what he had under him as it looked as though the leaders were going to fight out the finish, the late strength of Robot Star was very impressive. He kept coming in the dying stages, sticking his nose in front in the shadows of the post and scoring by a neck on the line. STRATHPEFFER went straight to the front under Lyle Hewitson who rated him perfectly out in front. After going hard early on, he was able to slow the tempo through the middle stages and catch his breath which was pivotal to his chances. He kicked strongly on straightening as the field broke apart at the top of the straight and was fending off his nearest challenger down the stretch. That was until Robot Star had the last crack at him, stealing the victory from Strathpeffer close to home. CROSSBORDERDUDE was there to strike if good enough after having the run of the race, sitting one-out-one-back. He stuck his nose in front with 150m to run, but couldn't go on with the job, eventually finishing a half-length away in third.
Race 6 – Hebe Heaven Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:46.81 Standard Time: 1:47.85 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue
Zac Purton couldn't be stopped, notching up another victory on the day, this time aboard CHINA WIN (NZ 4yo g Super Seth – Miracle Miss) for the David Hayes barn. After jumping well from out wide, Purton took the gelding all the way back from barrier 14 to settle near the tail of the field. The field was bunched through the early stages of the race, with Purton getting into a position three-wide with cover as they sorted their order out. The pace slowed as they turned off the back straight, but Purton was staying out of trouble as they rounded the home turn as he bought the gelding to the extreme outside on straightening. Purton looked confident at the top of the straight and he had every right to be, with the gelding taking the lead with around 250m to run and sprinting clear of his rivals in the run to the line. He may have announced himself as a 4YO series contender with the way he finished off, pulling away in the final stages to score by 2-1/2 lengths. AUDACIOUS PURSUIT was taken right back to the tail of the field straight after the start, ending up a clear last as they travelled by the 1200m point. Hugh Bowman eventually moved onto the back of China Win as they turned off the back straight and stalked that galloper into the race, following his every move and coming off his back to make an impression on straightening. The gelding was a little wayward under pressure, wanting to hang in a touch as Bowman got to work aboard him, though China Win was just simply too good in the run to the line. VOLCANIC SPARK finished in third position for Maxime Guyon, beaten 3-1/4 lengths.
Race 7 – Hung Mui Kuk Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.74 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Race seven saw a big upset with $68 chance YOUNG EMPEROR (IRE 5yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Emirate Jewel) scoring his maiden win. After drawing wide, Luke Ferraris took the gelding back to the tail of the field. The speed was very strong through the opening and middle stages however, so he was suited by the strong tempo. He was still well back on straightening, and rather than swinging wide in the straight, Ferraris ducked back to the inside to weave his way through the traffic. The gelding was coming home strongly back along the fence, getting through beneath his rivals with the five-year-old flashing late to steal the victory right on the post. CHILL BUDDY had speared across from out wide to take the lead under Karis Teetan, setting a strong tempo up front. He looked to have shaken off his rivals with 200m to run as he led by two or three lengths, only for the $68 chance Young Emperor to emerge along the fence. The Mauritian hoop threw everything he had at the gelding, but he was unable to hold on for thew win, going under in a photo finish. CELESTIAL HERO rounded out a high-paying tierce, coming through the traffic late under Hugh Bowman to take third after striking some bad luck in the straight.
Race 8 – The Racing Club Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:20.84 Standard Time: 1:21.45 Course/Class record: 1:19.92 Packing Hermod
Picking up his fifth win on the day, Zac Purton joined forces with Jimmy Ting as Ting's progressive four-year-old LITTLE PARADISE (AUS 4yo g Tornado – Devil In Her Heart) went back-to-back. After getting away on terms, the gelding found a position midfield with a hot tempo being set up front. Purton crossed down to the rail as they approached the first turn and kicked up along the fence, before switching off the rail with around 700m to run and somehow ending up in the three-wide trail as they approached the home turn. It was a magnificent piece of riding, and it gave the $2 favourite every possible chance coming into the straight, where he quickly took control of the event under Purton. He was well in front with 100m to run and the Australian hoop eased him down close to home, scoring by a length on the line to make it three wins from his past four outings. INFINITE RESOLVE was miles back in the run and had plenty of traffic in front of him as he came into the straight. Alex Badel didn't have much luck in the early stages of the straight, though once he finally got the gelding clear, he sprinted home very impressively to take second. MID WINTER WIND slid up the fence for Matthew Chadwick, going underneath his rivals to take home third position as an $18 chance.
Race 9 –Pak Sha O Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:46.42 Standard Time: 1:47.50 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
It had been exactly three years to the day since MONEY CATCHER (NZ 8yo g Ferlax – Warren's Sister) which was the Group Three January Cup at Happy Valley, but the now eight-year-old broke the drought in race nine. The gelding was one of the slowest into stride, ending up near the tail of the field early on with a solid tempo being set up front as they sorted their order out. After racing along the fence to the 1000m point, Derek Leung moved into a position one off the rail, racing between horses with a genuine tempo being set up front. At the 600m point he was inconvenienced slightly, but he was able to pick himself back up and moved into the clear on straightening with purpose. He came right down the outside for Leung, showing he still has the zest for racing as he took the lead inside the final furlong. He had to fend off Stunning Peach close to the line, but with no weight on his back he was tough to reel in, returning to winning ways as a $22 chance. STUNNING PEACH was way out the back as they came to the home turn for Hugh Bowman and got onto the back of Money Catcher as they swung into the straight. He carried 16lbs more than Money Catcher, but he was coming home strongly under Bowman. He couldn't reel in the winner, though the first two across the line finished a long way ahead of the rest of the field. THE AUSPICIOUS was another who closed off well, finishing in third as the front runners collapsed.
Race 10 – Pak Shek Au Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.18 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
INVINCIBLE IBIS (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – My Dear Friend) extended his winning streak to four in-a-row, landing a big blow to his rivals by winning race 10 which was restricted to four-year-olds. Despite jumping on terms, Hugh Bowman was rather neutral aboard the $2.8 favourite, ending up in the second half of the field as they sorted their order out. Bowman remained away from the fence as they settled down, with a good tempo being set up front. The Australian hoop began to make his move at the 600m point, making sure he was in the clear on straightening and beginning to get to work with 400m to run. He was coming home strongly down the outside with one of his main dangers in his sights. He ducked in under pressure, with Bowman then switching to hands and heels riding as he loomed up on the leader. In a good tussle to the line, Invincible Ibis came out on top, scoring by a neck on the line and stamping himself as the one to beat in the 4YO Classic Mile on February 1. Zac Purton hopped off Invincible Ibis to ride BEAUTY BOLT in this event and put himself in a good position early in the race. After being wide early on, Purton slotted into a nice position just off the speed as they approached the 800m point, travelling sweetly through the middle stages and into the straight. The champion hoop allowed the gelding to get through his gears before asking for an effort as he took the lead with 250m remaining. Invincible Ibis was right there to strike though, and Beauty Bolt couldn't fend off his more fancied rival, finishing a neck away in second place. There was a good gap back to THE RED HARE in third position who snuck up the fence to take third place, but the first two across the line look like the ones to beat moving forward.
Race 11 – Stanley Gap Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.33 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Trainer Mark Newnham finished off the day with a race-to-race double, winning the last race on the card with LUCKY SAM GOR (NZ 4yo g Press Statement – Giovanna Bella). Matthew Poon was in a tricky position early on, being left wide from barrier 10 as he rolled forward aboard the gelding. He continued to work forward, racing on the speed as he faced the breeze three wide in the middle stages. The pace was just fair however, so it was no disadvantage to be out wide through the middle stages and Poon looked to have plenty to offer as they swung into the straight. The gelding moved up to take the lead with 300m to run and got away from his rivals in a strong display. Stormy Grove was coming out of the pack with a strong effort, but he was unable to catch Lucky Sam Gor, who held on to win by the barest of margins on the line. STORMY GROVE was in trouble by the 600m point with Harry Bentley strung up near the tail of the field and along the inside. The Englishman was held up until the 250m point where he finally got out, with the gelding sprinting quickly once he finally saw daylight. He was charging after the leader as they hit the line simultaneously, though Lucky Sam Gor just had his nose in front where it mattered most. He probably should've won with clear running, so don't hop off him just yet. WITHOUT COMPARE flew home from the back of the pack to finish in third position, rounding out the placings as an $82 chance.
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