Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 1st March 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Citi Wealth Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:47.33 Standard Time: 1:47.85 Course/Class Record: 1:46.54
STORM RUNNER (NZ 4yo g Microphone - Astardia) picked up back-to-back wins, sitting handy throughout for Andrea Atzeni. From a good draw, the Sicilian hoop was able to lob into the one-out-one-back position with ease, settling comfortably just off the speed. The tempo was good throughout and the four-year-old travelled sweetly. Coming by the 600m point, Atzeni moved three-wide and worked into the race strongly, joining the leaders at the top of the straight under a strong hold. He took the lead under his own steam before lengthening away from his rivals when Atzeni pushed the button at the furlong. Charity Together was finishing off strongly late, but he never looked like a winning threat as Storm Runner went home to win comfortably. CHARITY TOGETHER jumped the favourite in an open race and settled in a midfield position along the rail. The gelding travelled well for Chau and worked into the straight nicely with the local hoop trying to get the gelding off heels and into the clear. He was hanging in as Chau tried to get him out, switching the whip into the right hand and eventually finding clear air. He closed off nicely to run to second position ahead of AMAZING GAZE who finished off well from the second half of the field.
Race 2 – Citi Private Bank Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.96 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class Record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
CHILL PARTNERS (AUS 3yo g Hellbent – Bold Runner) clung on for a narrow victory, shedding his maiden at start number four. Jerry Chau rolled forward from his wide stall, getting across to land on the back of the leader as they approached the first turn. The speed was solid through the middle stages of the race as he tracked the leader into the straight, initially sticking to the inside before coming off heels at the 300m point to come after the leader. It took a while for the three-year-old to wind up, but he was coming strongly with 100m to run and stuck his nose down where it mattered most, scoring by a short head on the line. CALIFORNIA BAY was made to work in the early stages with Zac Purton pushing forward to lead the field. He had to kick up approaching the home turn to keep his rivals from crossing him, setting a solid tempo through the first half of the race. The gelding kicked strongly around the home turn however and led comfortably inside the final furlong. California Bay just began to feel the pinch in the dying stages and was claimed in the shadows of the post. MR COOL finished off strongly from the back of the pack to run into third position, getting the nod in a photo finish as he crossed the line just a neck off the winner.
Race 3 – Citigold Private Client Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.01 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class Record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
After being beaten in a photo finish in the race prior, Zac Purton went one better this time aboard CIRCUIT FIERY (NZ 6yo g Tavistock – Triaction) for the Chris So stable. The six-year-old was quickly out of the barrier from barrier one and was straight on the speed after jumping the $1.7 favourite. He settled well up front and Purton was able to slow the tempo as they turned off the back, stacking the field up through the middle stages before ramping things up again around the home turn. The gelding quickened impressively to open a gap on his rivals and he wouldn't be caught. They all had their chance if they were good enough, but Circuit Fiery made every post a winner. THE ALL ROUNDER kicked up from his inside barrier to settle on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. Matthew Poon was getting a cosy run in transit and continued to track the leader into the straight, Rezeki got by him early in the straight, but The All Rounder battled back inside the final 150m to regain second position, finishing runner-up as a $42 chance. REZEKI was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race with Andrea Atzeni rolling forward through the middle stages to be in line with the leader. He lacked the turn-of-foot shown by the winner and just felt the pinch late after his tough run, crossing the line in third place, 2-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 4 – Citigold Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.07 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class Record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
Lyle Hewitson and Brett Crawford joined forces in race four as WARRIORS DREAM (IRE 5yo g Oasis Dream – Mujadil Lachy) secured his maiden win in Hong Kong. The son of Oasis Dream jumped quickly from barrier six and rolled across to settle on the back of the leader with a strong tempo being set early in the race. Hewitson was getting the dream run in the race, waiting patiently around the home turn before going back to the fence to make his run in the straight. He had a length to make up with a furlong to run, but he was grinding away back to the inside, eventually taking the lead inside the final 50m. The $15 chance inched away with the race late, scoring by a half-length on the line. ALSONSO returned to form with different tactics this time around. Luke Ferraris took the gelding straight to the front from barrier seven and he ran along at a solid clip throughout the race. He quickened nicely on straightening and looked to be in control with 150m remaining, though he just began to feel the pinch late in the race. He couldn't fend off the winner who was just too strong late in the race. GOLD PATCH jumped the $1.6 favourite and looked to be travelling well in the run, though he began to wobble about under pressure with 140m to run. He was able to rally back close to the line, beaten 1-1/4 lengths in third place.
Race 5 – Citi Ultima Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.77 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class Record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
CONRAD PATCH (AUS 3yo g Zousain – Pretty Fancy) broke his maiden at start number three with Hugh Bowman in the saddle for the Cody Mo stable. Hugh Bowman pressed on from barrier seven to land in a handy position close to the speed, eventually settling in the one-out-one-back position. He travelled well through the middle stages before peeling out three-wide approaching the home turn, moving into the race strongly as they entered the straight. He didn't let down as quickly as his rivals, but he eventually moved up to take the lead with 150m to run and had enough left in the tank to hold them at bay, securing the win by a neck on the line. HAPPY SHOOTER used the inside draw to his advantage, settling on the inside of Conrad Patch and on the back of the leader. He had a lovely run in the race and was able to thread through a gap between horses inside the final furlong to make his challenge. He couldn't reel in Conrad Patch who had taken the lead as he came through the gap, finishing a neck away in second. INVICTUS DRAGON was very impressive from the back of the pack, closing off strongly to take third, just missing out on second in a photo finish under Zac Purton.
Race 6 – Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.98 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class Record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Jerry Chau picked up his second win of the day aboard GALACTIC VOYAGE (AUS 4yo g Impending – Sandida) for the Francis Lui stable. The gelding was a little slow into stride and ended up at the back of the pack in the early stages, though a solid pace was being set up front. He travelled well near the back of the field with Chau remaining in the running line and looking to come through beneath some rivals early in the straight. The gelding pushed his way into the clear early in the straight, coming down the middle of the track under Chau. He wound up strongly to storm over the top, taking the lead with 100m to run and running away to score by 1-1/4 lengths. MICKLEY settled on the back of the leader from an inside barrier for James Orman. He was well positioned in the run, stalking the tempo under the Australian hoop as he crept closer to the back of the leader on straightening. He quickened nicely on straightening and took the lead coming to the furlong pole under Orman, though Galactic Voyage was just too good out wider. SIGHT HERMOSO stuck on well at his first try over 1200m to hold on for third position under Brenton Avdulla.
Race 7 – The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, HK $13,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 1:59.77 Standard Time: 2:00.50 Course/Class Record: 1:59.23 Romantic Warrior
Hong Kong's champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE 8yo g Acclamation – Folk Melody) secured his 13th Group One victory and did it with ease, bolding in for James McDonald and Danny Shum. After getting away on terms, McDonald was able to slide into a handy position on settling down with a solid tempo being set up front. The field of six raced in single file down the back straight with McDonald keeping the leaders within striking distance. The field was strung out as they turned off the back, where the leaders began to come back to the rest of the pack. McDonald was sitting patiently atop of Romantic Warrior around the home turn and he put the race to bed with ease shortly after straightening. The result was never in any doubt as he went on to score by four lengths with ease. ENSUED stuck on well after sitting close to the speed throughout to finish in second position as an $88 chance for Dylan Browne McMonagle, with WINNING WING finishing strongly in third position, 5-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – Citi Insurance Services Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.16 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class Record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Trainer Chris So secured a winning double on the card with PAKISTAN LEGACY (AUS 5yo g Epaulette – Latitude) picking up his first win of the season. James Orman put the foot down from his wide barrier with the five-year-old showing good speed to get across from barrier 11 and lead the field off the back. Pakistan Legacy was able to slow the tempo through the middle stages, catching his breath before sprinting quickly at the top of the straight. He turned in a strong 10.97 second split from the 400m to the 200m point, though he was under pressure at the furlong marker. He couldn't be caught in the run to the line, winning by a half-length in a strong front-running performance. RISING FORCE drifted late in betting to jump the second elect at $2.6. He settled on the back of the leader under Richard Kingscote who got the gelding into the clear with plenty of time to catch the leader if he was good enough. He was right there ready to strike, but couldn't peg back the margin down the straight, always being in second position. GENEVA closed off nicely under Hugh Bowman to round out the placings as a $25 chance, sticking on well from beyond midfield.
Race 9 – The Hong Kong Classic Cup, HK $13,000,000,
Four Year Olds – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:46.62 Standard Time: N/A Course/Class Record: N/A
STORMY GROVE (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Seagrove) caused an upset in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, scoring comfortably for Harry Bentley and Frankie Lor. The English jockey drifted back from barrier 12 in the early stages with an even tempo on offer up front. Bentley was happy sitting near the tail of the field, only moving into the three-wide trail from the 600m point and swinging wider again turning for home. The gelding let rip impressively down the middle of the track, joining the leaders with 200m to run before putting the race away with 100m left to run. He was just too good in the end, winning comfortably and bringing up back-to-back victories. INVINCIBLE IBIS turned around a disappointing Classic Mile performance to be runner-up in the Classic Cup. Hugh Bowman was in a midfield position in the run, putting the gelding to sleep from his inside barrier and riding for luck as they entered the straight. The Australian hoop scraped the paint, going up the inside to get to second position inside the final 50m. PATCH OF COSMO looked to be making a strong run early in the straight and was put back in a pocket by Stormy Grove. He rallied strongly after that to get into third position as a $25 chance.
Race 10 – Citi Investment Services Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:00.93 Standard Time: 2:01.90 Course/Class Record: 1:59.77 Winning Wing
GENTLEMEN LEGACY (AUS 5yo g Showtime – Chaplet) secured back-to-back victories, storming home under Hugh Bowman. Despite getting away well from barrier seven, Bowman drifted back in the early stages to slot into a midfield position around the first turn. The field was strung out through the middle stages of the race with the foot being put down a long way from home. Horses were improving into the race out wide, giving Gentlemen Legacy a beautiful run into the straight as Bowman began urging him along around the home turn. The gelding moved up to the leaders with 250m to run and stuck his nose in front at the 150m mark. Fortune Boy was right there with him, but he couldn't peg back the margin as Gentlemen Legacy got the job done by a neck. FORTUNE BOY was behind Gentlemen Legacy in the run and found himself a long way off the leader with 1000m to run. As they worked around the home turn, Harry Bentley got onto the back of the eventual winner around the home turn and continued to make ground on him in the straight. He was grinding away on the outside, but he ran out of time to catch the leader. MONEY CATCHER continued his return to form with a gutsy third placing as an $11 chance.
Race 11 – Citi Credit Card Handicap, HK $2.840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.74 Standard Time: 1:21.45 Course/Class Standard: 1:19.92 Packing Hermod
EMBLAZON (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Princess Of Queens) continued to work through the grades, making it four wins in a row and five wins from 6 starts this season. Jerry Chau was able to get into a lovely position one-out-one-back aboard the $2.6 favourite with the leader running along up front. Chau was stalking the speed throughout the race, working into the race boldly around the home turn as the local hoop kept the gelding out of trouble. He stormed down the middle of the track to hit the front with 200m remaining and he went on to win comfortably by three quarters of-a-length on the line. JUNEAU PRIDE was again behind Emblazon for the third start in a row. Andrea Atzeni ended up in the second half of the field from barrier nine and looked to get onto the back of Emblazon around the home turn. He had his momentum up around the home turn but copped a bump shortly after straightening. The bump didn't seem to affect him too much, but he couldn't reel in the winner who was just too good yet again. MUGEN snuck through closer to the inside to get into third position, getting the nod in a tight three-way photo finish. He was worse than midfield on the turn, but with rivals fanning wider on the course, Purton snuck up the inside to make his run. He was no match for his rivals out wide, but he got his nose down on the line, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
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