Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 14th February 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – TVB Lok Sin Tong Charity Corner Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.35
Karis Teetan and Brett Crawford combined to win the opening event on the card with GOR GOR (AUS 4yo g Shalaa – Lady Moura). It was just the gelding's second start with the Crawford camp, breaking his maiden at start seven. Gor Gor was initially in the second half of the field as they looked to sort their order out, with Teetan crossing down to the fence in the early stages. This allowed the Mauritian hoop to kick up along the fence and improve his position, sitting midfield as they worked through the middle stages of the race. He was getting a lovely run through the middle stages and the gaps opened up for Teetan when he needed them. Teetan got to the outside with ease early in the straight, but it took an eternity for the $15 chance to wind up. He was grinding down the outside and looked to be headed by Incredible Moment down the middle of the track, but the four-year-old kept chugging along to rally back and get his nose down on the wire. It was a very tight finish, with Gor Gor winning by a nose. INCREDIBLE MOMENT was unable to slot into the running line from a tricky barrier and was left facing the breeze three-wide throughout the run. He was a little worse than midfield in transit, but this allowed Richard Kingscote to swing wide into the straight and build his momentum. He loomed ominously with 100m to run and looked the winner out wide, only to be denied in a tight photo finish. SHOTGUN was there to strike late in the race as well as he came through with 100m to run in an exciting finish, though the two rivals out wider were too strong late in the race.
Race 2 – TVB Yan Oi Tong Charity Show Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.58
AMAZING PARTNERS (AUS 4yo g Pierata – Dizzy Diva) made it back-to-back victories, continuing the impressive start to his career for Francis Lui and Vincent Ho. From barrier eight, the gelding found himself in the second half of the field on settling down and was left racing three-wide and without cover. As they turned off the back, Ho began to creep closer under his own steam, inching closer around the home turn as he got into the clear. He kept grinding away out wide to chip into the margin with every stride, eventually taking the lead inside the final 100m of the race and proving too strong. LIGHT YEARS GLORY raced in a handy position under Brenton Avdulla and was seemingly given every chance after getting across to be just off the speed from barrier nine. He was to the inside of Amazing Partners at the top of the straight, but he was unable to go with the eventual winner late in the race. He stuck on well in the closing stages to finish in second position, but the winner always seemed to have his measure. CALIFORNIA BAY got across to land in the one-out-one-back position for Zac Purton, and he ran to the lead at the top of the straight. He led for a while but was collared by Amazing Partners and Light Years Glory late in the race as he looked to peak on the run.
Race 3 – TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.94
CHILL BUDDY (AUS 4yo g Flying Artie – Ouija) picked up his maiden win at start eight, getting the job done for Andrea Atzeni and Ricky Yiu. He wasn't the first out of the barriers, though he showed good early speed to be up on the pace from barrier five. He was able to drop into the one-out-one-back position as they turned off the back, but as the race continued to unfold, Atzeni crept closer to be on the outside of the leader as they turned for home. He went up to take the inside the final furlong and he never really looked in trouble. He made the most of a race that worked out perfectly for him, scoring by three quarters of a length. MICKLEY went back from the wide draw with James Orman settling near the back of the pack. The speed was solid up front and he found himself well back as the approached the 600m point, with the Australian hoop swinging wide on the home turn. He came down the extreme outside to make his run and looked to be closing nicely at the furlong pole, though he was just set a task too great, running into second position. RED SEA stuck on gamely after setting the tempo for Zac Purton, crossing the line in third place.
Race 4 – TVB Pok Oi Charity Handicap Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:47.80
Andrea Atzeni made it a race-to-race double as he teamed up with the Tony Cruz-trained SERANGOON (AUS 6yo g Ilovethiscity – Maraudamiss) to secure his first win in almost a year. The gelding didn't have any early speed and Atzeni had to urge him along to keep in touch with the field. Things worked out nicely for Atzeni in the early stages, sliding along the inside rail to land in a midfield position as they passed the halfway stage of the race. He was getting a lovely run in transit back along the inside, though the field was bunched up by the 600m mark. Around the home turn, the Sicilian hoop remained to the inside part of the track, looking to slice through. The gaps appeared for Serangoon and he didn't have to change course, getting the dream run and taking the lead with around 100m to run. He was too strong late in the race, winning by a length running away from his rivals. AUDACIOUS PURSUIT ended up in a midfield position on settling down, racing between horses under Ellis Wong. He was a touch keen in the early stages as the pace slackened through the middle stages and Wong forced his way into the clear a long way from home. He was one of the widest horses on straightening, but he quickened nicely down the middle of the course to hit the front with around 250m left to run. The race favourite couldn't fend off Serangoon who was just too strong. RELIABLE DAD finished off gamely from back in the pack to finish in third position in an eye-catching effort.
Race 5 – TVB Lo And Behold Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:37.77
The well-backed SKY VINO (AUS 4yo g Vino Rosso – Sombre Sea) didn't let punters down, getting the job done for Ellis Wong and Caspar Fownes. There was plenty of speed in the early stages, so Wong elected to ease back from gate six and settle in the second half of the field. The pace continued to be strong through the middle stages of the race and the first four in the run broke away from the rest of the field, leaving Sky Vino a long way back in the run. Ellis Wong didn't look panicked however, cruising around the home turn as he got to the outside and finished off strongly down the outside. He came with a strong run, taking the lead close to home and getting the job done by a half-length on the line. DRAGON AIR FORCE raced alongside Sky Vino in the run as Hugh Bowman drifted back from barrier nine. He was well back in the run, but the pace suited him as he made his run alongside Sky Vino. Bowman could never get his nose in front of the $2.6 favourite, being a half-length off the winner right down the stretch and finishing in that position. ROMANTIC THOR turned in a very strong performance from up on the speed, though he couldn't fend off the two storming down the outside. It was a brave run and he's worth following despite being defeated.
Race 6 – TVB The Queen Of News Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.29
CALIFORNIA STAR (FR 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Marechale) was another who didn't let punters' down, being well backed and saluting comfortably for Tony Cruz and Zac Purton. The five-year-old had no early speed and had to be dug up by Zac Purton in the opening stages of the race, with the gelding ending up in a midfield position along the fence. A solid tempo was being set up front, and Purton was getting a lovely run in transit, travelling midfield along the fence before easing away from the fence with around 500m to run. The gap appeared for Purton at the top of the straight and he ran to the lead with around 250m remaining. He took the lead and broke away from his rivals, putting the race to bed a long way from home and getting the job done by 1-1/2 lengths eased down. HAPPY UNIVERSE was caught racing wide into the first turn and Richard Kingscote eased back to be near the tail of the field as they entered the back straight. He was racing wide, but had cover down the back straight with Kingscote creeping a little closer as they turned off the back. The Englishman swung wide into the straight, and the gelding was finishing nicely, though he was just too far back to challenge for the victory. FIREFOOT finished off well down the middle of the track to grab third in a photo finish.
Race 7 – The TVB Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:08.41
Ellis Wong and Caspar Fownes combined once again to win the feature event on the day, with SKY TRUST (AUS 5yo g So You Think – Humble) getting back to winning ways. The speed was hot early, and Sky Trust was in that clump early as Wong looked to roll forward from the wide draw. Coming to the first turn, Wong eased out of the speed battle to settled into a more midfield position through the middle stages. After travelling well in the run, Wong was pushed wider on the home turn by a rival, but he still travelled well into the straight and made his presence felt down the middle of the track. He stuck his nose in front with 100m to run, but there were winning chances everywhere with 50m to run. He was able to hold on for the win, being too strong late in the race to score by a short head. INVINCIBLE SHIELD jumped the race favourite in the end with the scratching of Patch Of Stars behind the barriers. The gelding ended up well back in the run under Vincent Ho, though he travelled well into the race and had plenty of time to reel in the winner as he got to the outside. It took him a while to wind up in the straight, but he finished off strongly in the dying stages. He couldn't snatch the victory, but it was still a strong performance. GUSTOSISIMO pushed Sky Trust wide on the turn to get into the clear on straightening and those two made their runs together. He may have just peaked on the run late in the race, ending up a half-length off the winner.
Race 8 – TVB Scoop H candicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.16
RUN RUN SMART (IRE 4yo g Dandy Man – Lauren's Girl) got back to winning ways, picking up his second win this season with Derek Leung in the saddle for Frankie Lor. The four-year-old was quickly into stride and took up the running for the local hoop, setting a good tempo up front. He wasn't challenged out in front as they turned off the back straight, leading by about a length before slowing the tempo slightly through the middle stages of the race. The field bunched up around the home turn and fanned across the track, though Run Run Smart was travelling sweetly back to the inside and he kicked strongly at the top of the stretch. He had plenty of company early in the straight, but the four-year-old was just too strong in the end, keeping his opponents behind him to score by three quarters of a length as a $35 chance. AMAZING DUCK kicked up to settle in second position for Richard Kingscote, creeping closer to Run Run Smart as they worked through the middle stages. Around the home turn, Amazing Duck lacked the turn-of-foot shown by the leader, with Kingscote urging his mount to pick up as a couple of rivals headed him early in the straight. He didn't go down without a fight, coming back inside the final 100m to get back to second position. ALWAYS FLUKE quickened impressively on straightening and looked the winner early in the straight as he ran up to Run Run Smart. His run was rather short lived though as the leader got away again and he got tired close to home, falling back to third in the shadows of the post.
Race 9 – TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 55.47
TURQUOISE VELOCITY (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Calming Influence) continued the bright start to his career, scoring his second victory in his first three starts. After drawing out wide, Keith Yeung put the $5.9 chance on the pace as they raced down the grandstand rail. He broke a length in front by the 400m point and was giving his rivals something to catch. He was still well in front with 100m to run. He may have been getting a little tired close to home, but he never really looked like being run down, finishing a neck in front. LOOKING BRIGHT was very speedy from barrier one, working across under Matthew Poon to be close to the speed from the outset. He stalked the tempo throughout the race as he travelled down the middle of the course and was there to strike if good enough. The gelding couldn't reel in the winner however, who was just too speedy. SIGHT HERMOSO flew home back to
the inside for Brenton Avdulla, closing strongly to finish in third position and seemingly looking for further.
Race 10 – TVB Miss Hong Kong Pageant Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 (Restricted) – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.33
STORMY GROVE (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Seagrove) scored his maiden victory with Harry Bentley in the saddle for Frankie Lor. Bentley took the gelding back from the wide draw, settling at the tail of the field early on with a moderate pace on offer early. The sluggish tempo saw Stormy Grove racing a touch keen in the early stages, but he settled better through the middle stages, though he was well back in the run at the 600m point and being niggled at prior to the home turn. Bentley swung wide on the home turn and came right down the outside, with the gelding sprinting quickly down the middle of the course. He was very impressive in the run home, taking the lead close to home and scoring comfortably by three quarters of a length. WITHOUT COMPARE was able to take the lead early in the race and dictate the tempo under Lyle Hewitson. He kicked strongly on the home turn under the South African and broke away from his rivals with an impressive turn-of-foot. Just when you thought he had the race at his mercy, Stormy Grove appeared out wide with a withering burst. Stormy Grove was just the better horse on the day. ENDUED stuck on gamely under Andrea Atzeni after being caught wide and without cover throughout the race, finishing in third, 2-1/4 lengths off the winner.
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