Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 19th February 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Kung Hei Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.86
COME FAST FAY FAY (NZ 4yo g Wrote – Madrekay) secured his maiden victory in the opener with Richard Kingscote in the saddle for Jimmy Ting. The gelding was very slow out of the barriers and was near last in the opening stages, though Kingscote was able to kick up along the fence to be in a midfield position turning off the back. He got off the fence coming to the 600m point and was able to improve into the race around the home turn with Kingscote trying to get the four-year-old off heels and into the clear. Once the son of Wrote cooperated with the Englishman, he began to let down strongly down the outside, taking the lead and getting away late in the race for a half-length victory. MAJESTIC DELIGHT kicked up from barrier two to keep his rivals out, landing in the one-out-one-back position for Hugh Bowman. The Australian put the gelding in the prime position in the run and peeled out with confidence on straightening, quickening nicely to take the lead inside the final 150m. He couldn't fend off Come Fast Fay Fay who grabbed him late, but he stuck on well for second position. HE WAS ME flew home down the outside to grab third position in a photo finish, rounding out the placings as an $18 chance.
Race 2 – Fat Choi Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.23
PAPAYA BROSE (AUS 3yo g Zousain – Leami Astray) was very impressive on debut, landing the knockout blow for Hugh Bowman and Caspar Fownes. After jumping on terms, the Australian hoop slid back in the field to avoid being caught wide, getting into the three-wide line. He travelled well in the middle stages and swung to the outside, letting rip down the middle of the track. His inexperience was on display, but he had enough in the tank to get over the top of his rivals, winning by 1-1/2 lengths in a good display. PRESTIGE HALL drifted back from the wide alley to settle near the tail of the field for Zac Purton. He was racing between horses but just lost his place in the trail as they turned off the back, which cost him some momentum. He was chasing a long way out but was there to strike midway down the straight. He just peaked on the run close to home but had enough class to get into second position as the race favourite. HAPPY PARK sat on the speed for Karis Teetan and stuck on well after crossing from a wide draw, holding on for third position.
Race 3 – Lucky Star Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:35.14
A slight gear change and a rise to the mile seemed to do the trick for FLYING BOOM (AUS 4yo g Saxon Warrior – My Sweet Fish), with the Michael Chang-trained gelding getting in narrowly. The gelding was just moderately into stride, with Matthew Poon settling in a midfield position. The tempo was solid throughout the race and Poon continued to course wider on the home turn, remaining with cover throughout. At the top of the straight, the local hoop got to the middle of the course and loomed up to the leaders. Glorious Success was to the inside of Flying Boom down the straight and the two of them fought out the finish. It was neck-and-neck right to the wire, with Flying Boom getting his nose in front where it mattered most. GLORIOUS SUCCESS had raced to the inside of Flying Boom in the run and was able to peel wider on the home turn with ease. He got into the clear with around 250m remaining with Poon and Flying Boom trying to keep Jerry Chau in a pocket. The pair made their charge together, though it was Flying Boom who got the job done by a narrow margin. SMILING FALCON was another who closed off well from the back of the pack, sliding up the inside rail to finish in third position.
Race 4 – Fat Choi Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.68
BABY SAKURA (AUS 3yo g Tagaloa – True Priority) sat on the speed and turned in a very impressive debut performance with James Orman in the saddle for Francis Lui. He wasn't the fastest away from barrier 11, but Orman took luck out of the equation, rolling forward to sit on the outside of the leader. The pace was just moderate through the middle stages of the race as the debutant loomed large on straightening, running to the lead shortly after Orman asked for an effort. He took the lead and sprinted away from his opponents in a very strong performance, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in a dominant debut victory. ELITE GOLF fired out of the barriers and was clearly the first into stride, working across to lead the field comfortably. He kicked up to hold the lead as Baby Sakura worked across, but he didn't use any petrol at all as the flashy grey had his ears pricked coming around the home turn. He sprinted quickly when asked, but Baby Sakura always seemed to have his measure in the run home. He finished a clear second ahead of $77 RUSSET FLOW who snuck up the inside to finish in third place for Lyle Hewitson and Mark Newnham.
Race 5 – Fat Choi Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.12
CIRCUIT CHAMPION (GB 5yo g Starspangledbanner – Wowcha) proved his debut effort at big odds wasn't a fluke, being backed into equal favouritism and winning impressively for Keith Yeung and Danny Shum. From the inside barrier, the five-year-old was a little slow into stride but mustered speed to land on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He was racing comfortably behind the pace setter before pushing his way into the clear at the top of the straight and setting out after the leader, who had kicked away on straightening. He loomed up to take the lead with a furlong to run and put his rivals to the sword over the concluding stages, pulling away to win by 2-1/4 lengths in impressive fashion. CROSSBORDERDUDE landed in the one-out-one-back position for Zac Purton, who was there to strike around the home turn. Purton looked confident at the top of the straight and the gelding sprinted quickly when the Australian asked for an effort. He got to Circuit Champion with 200m to run, but couldn't match motors after that, ending up in second position. RIDING HIGH kicked strongly at the top of the stretch to break away from the pack and give his rivals something to chase. He was gunned down by Crossborderdude close to home and crossed the line in third, 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 6 – The Year Of The Horse Cup (Handicap), HK $3,120,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:35.95
STUNNING PEACH (IRE 5yo g Wootton Bassett – A Mist Opportunity) returned to winning ways for the first time since June 2024, winning the feature of the day under Angus Chung. The Tony Cruz-trained gelding settled in a midfield position for Chung with just an even tempo being set through the early stages of the race. As they sorted their order out, Chung was shuffled back a touch to be racing in the second half of the field, though he obtained a gun run on the back of an improving galloper as they worked into the straight. The local hoop tracked that runner into the race before coming off his back to take the lead at the furlong pole. The race favourite Top Dragon was coming through strongly at that point, though Stunning Peach wouldn't go down without a fight. He dug deep right to the line, holding on to score in a photo finish. TOP DRAGON was to the inside of Stunning Peach in the run and Maxime Guyon opted to weave through the traffic rather than swing wide on the home turn. He finally got through with 200m to run and only had Stunning Peach to run down, however he was unable to stick his nose in front at any stage. The first two cleared out ahead of Regal Gem who finished off nicely from last place to grab third position, 2-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 7 – Prosperity Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.38
AEROINVINCIBLE (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Miss Bondi) made every post a winner today, leading throughout to score his first win since October 2024. Under Andrea Atzeni, the gelding rolled forward from barrier two to set the tempo in the early stages. He set an even tempo through the middle stages and came away from the rail as they turned for home. Atzeni was sitting quietly aboard the five-year-old as they turned for home and he kicked away from his rivals at the top of the straight with a strong turn-of-foot. The gelding showed a clean set of heels, leading from barrier to box as the race favourite. JUST FOLLOW ME settled midfield for Karis Teetan and was able to improve his position around the home turn as runners fanned wide on entering the straight. He was able to slice through close to the inside and run into second position, but the winner was just too good. GALLANT EPOCH stuck on well from up on the speed to hold on for third place, 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – Yue Yee Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.53
JUBILANT WINNER (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – We Can Dance) bounced back to winning form, getting the job done in fine style for Jamie Richards and Alex Badel. The French hoop was able to kick up and hold a forward position on the back of the leader on settling down with a good tempo being set up front. The leader kicked clear, leaving Badel just off the speed around the home turn with a few lengths to make up. Badel got the $6.50 chance to the outside midway down the straight and he never looked like getting beaten. He inched away over the closing stages to win by 1-1/4 lengths in good fashion. HAPPY INDEX rolled forward in the early stages to sit close to the speed for Zac Purton. When the leader kicked away, Purton dropped down to the rail in a stalking role, keeping within striking distance of the leader as he crept closer around the home turn. The Australian hoop produced his mount at the top of the stretch and cuddled him to the 300m point before asking for an effort. He ran to the lead with a furlong to go, but Jubilant Winner was bearing down on him. He couldn't fight back as the Jubilant Winner got away late. THUNDER KIT snuck through along the inside part of the track from a midfield position to sneak into third position.
Race 9 – Red Packet Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:00.96
Hugh Bowman picked up his second winner of the day with GENTLEMEN LEGACY (AUS 5yo g Showtime – Chaplet) leading home a Tony Cruz stable quinella. Bowman fired the gelding out of the barriers to settle in the one-out-one-back position as they sorted their order out, getting across from gate six. The speed was even throughout, and Gentlemen Legacy cruised along in his favourable position. The leader put the foot down by the 800m point and Bowman was up to the task, remaining within striking distance as he swung into the clear on straightening. The gelding was inching closer with every stride, trying to reel in his stablemate as the pair fought it out over the final 150m. IT was a tough slog to the line, with Gentlemen Legacy getting his nose in front where it mattered most and scoring by the narrowest of margins. LIVEANDLETLIVE was able to take up the running from barrier four with Matthew Chadwick in the saddle. The local hoop dictated the tempo out in front, running the race to suit his mount through the first half of the event. He quickened things up from the 800m point, with the first five horses in running pinching a break on the rest of the field. He was still in front with 100m remaining, though his stablemate was inching closer. He fought hard to the wire but was just edged out. ENTHRALLED finished off strongly from beyond midfield to finish in third position under his light weight.
Race 10 – Yue Yee Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.04
HOT DELIGHT (AUS 3yo g Too Darn Hot – Love Somebody) continued the impressive start to his career, leading the field this time before bolting in for Vincent Ho and Francis Lui. The gelding was sent straight up to Class 3 off the maiden win, and he showed good speed from the outset, taking the lead under Ho in the early stages. The local hoop has his nose in front turning off the back but didn't try to get down to the rail as he was kept off the fence throughout. He cruised into the straight and he broke away as soon as Ho breathed on him. He was very impressive late in the race as he broke away from his rivals, putting 2-3/4 lengths on them in an emphatic victory. ARMOUR WAR EAGLE was able to settle just off the speed for Andrea Atzeni, stalking the tempo throughout the race. Atzeni was forced back to the inside on straightening, which was the inferior going on the day, though he got through to be second at the furlong pole. He was no match for the winner, but he kept on strongly in the closing stages to finish in second place. THRIVING BROTHERS enjoyed a nice run in transit and finished off nicely to be in third position, 3-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 11 – Kut Cheong Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.77
It was a blowout in the final event of the day with RIDING TOGETHER (IRE 5yo g Profitable – So Funny) picking up his second win of the season. The $35 chance pinged out of the barriers and Dylan Browne McMonagle rolled across from the deep to take up the running. Once the Irishman found the front, he was able to dictate proceedings, slowing the tempo down as he held an uncontested lead. He increased the tempo around the home turn, sprinting quickly at the top of the straight to drop his nearest rivals and break a couple of lengths in front at the 200m point. Super Express was inching closer back to his inside late in the race, but Riding Together had enough gas in the tank to hold on and score by a half-length. SUPER EXPRESS raced in the one-out-one-back position for Maxime Guyon. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, he was held up slightly on straightening before going back to the inside rail to make his run. He was creeping closer late in the race but couldn't reel in the winner who stole it from the front. DO YOUR PART was up on the speed throughout and stuck on gamely under Hugh Bowman to finish a clear third.
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