Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 22nd February 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Daffodil Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.74 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class Record: 54.94 United We Stand
ALMIGHTY LIGHTNING (AUS 3yo g Dirty Work – Morton) made an immediate impact on debut, running away to win under Zac Purton. The gelding jumped on terms and settled just off the speed as he remained down the middle of the course. He was in a midfield position as they passed the 400m point and Purton had the gelding under the whip shortly after. He came with a strong run to take the lead inside the final 150m and run away from his rivals, scoring by two lengths in a very impressive debut. RUN RUN SUNRISE sat just off the speed for Derek Leung, stalking the leaders before pouncing and taking control with 250m remaining. He got to the front, only to be given windburn by Almighty Lightning. He was clearly the second best on the day, finishing 1-1/2 lengths clear of third, but the winner was just a cut above. FUN ELITE closed off strongly to run into third position after getting back in the run.
Race 2 – Gladiolus Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.11 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class Record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
EMBRACE ABERDEEN (AUS 3yo g All Too Hard – Gentle Persuasion) picked up his second win of the season, sitting on the speed from the wide draw and proving too good. Matthew Poon fired the gelding out of the barriers and urged him along from gate 11, trying to get across in the opening stages. He was able to clear his rivals to his inside and took up a position on the outside of the leader through the middle stages of the race. He travelled strongly into the straight, moving up under his own steam to challenge for the lead, before taking control when Poon gave him a squeeze. He took the lead and while he didn't run away from his rivals, he never looked like getting beaten. He went on to win comfortably by a half-length. THOUSAND SPIRIT was the first one out of the barriers and rolled across for Lyle Hewitson to take up the running. He set a solid tempo out in front but still looked to have something in the locker as they swung around the home turn. He couldn't fend off Embrace Aberdeen, but he fought gamely down to the line and was only half-a-length away at the finish. JUBILATION FOR ALL had been planted wide and without cover throughout the run but stuck on strongly under Dylan Browne McMonagle. He had every right to fall back through the field, but he was very tough over the concluding stages.
Race 3 – Jasmine Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:48.14 Standard Time: 1:48.45 Course/Class Record: 1:47.33 On The Lash
Zac Purton picked up a winning double on the day as the Chris So-trained COOL BLUE (NZ 7yo g Foxwedge – Imanana) returned to winning ways. The gelding was very slow out of the barriers and ended up near the tail of the field despite his handy barrier draw. Purton was locked away on the fence through the middle stages of the race, but down the back straight he was able to creep a little closer. With a solid tempo on offer, there were plenty under pressure rounding the home turn while Cool Blue still travelled strongly, with the seven-year-old just needing a gap on straightening. A big gap appeared for Purton to come through with the gelding, who was staying strongly in the final furlong. He came through to take the lead with around 50m to run and get the job done by a half-length on the line. ROMANTIC FANTASY settled in a midfield position in the run after getting away on terms from barrier three. Alex Badel was able to get into the clear on straightening, getting to the outside and sprinting well down the middle of the track. Just as Badel was reaching the lead. Cool Blue came through underneath him, taking the lead and the win. BEAUTY MISSLE jumped the race favourite and after a lovely run in transit, Hugh Bowman swung around the corner looking very confident. He sprinted quickly when asked for an effort but just couldn't go on with the job late in the race. He got tired late to end up in third position, 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 4 – Orchid Handicap, HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.36 Standard Time: 56.05 Course/Class Record: 54.68 Valiant Dream
STELLAR EXPRESS (Fr 6yo g Zoustar – Darinja) made it a hat-trick of victories, leading throughout to score by a neck down the straight course. The six-year-old showed plenty of speed to get across to the grandstand rail and take up the running, setting a good tempo up front under Andrea Atzeni. The Sicilian hoop waited before pushing the button with around 250m remaining with his rivals there to strike if good enough. The $1.5 favourite loomed up to him close to home, but Stellar Express had too much in the tank, keeping him at bay yet again and scoring by a neck on the line. COLOURFUL KING sat just off the speed in the small field and began to make ground from the 400m point. He was taking ground off the leader down the stretch and loomed ominously inside the final 100m of the race.He couldn't stick his nose in front at any stage and was forced to settle for second place. INVINICBLE SAGE finished off nicely back towards the far side to take third place as a $29 pop.
Race 5 – The Heung Yee Kuk Centenary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.98 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class Record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
SMART GOLF (AUS 4yo g Needs Further – Aimless) bounced back to winning ways in impressive fashion for Harry Bentley, with the win bringing up a double of Frankie Lor. He showed good speed from the outset to stalk the leader. He travelled strongly throughout the race and loomed up to the leader at the top of the straight, before sticking his nose in front with 250m to run. He shot away over the concluding stages to win very stylishly, and it looks as though there may be more to come. KING PROFIT was speedy out of the barriers and fired across to lead the field from barrier 10. Ellis Wong set a strong tempo up front aboard the $8.8 chance, who looked to be travelling comfortably around the home turn, and he kicked strongly on straightening. He couldn't see off the winner who was very impressive, but he stuck on gamely to hold on for second position. ALABAMA SONG finished off nicely from midfield as a $28 chance but never looked like threatening.
Race 6 – Peach Blossom Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.41 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class Record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
AEROVOLANIC (AUS 4yo g Frosted – Conscious) picked up his first win of the season with Zac Purton in the saddle, making it a winning treble on the day. Purton was able to use the long back straight to roll across from barrier 11 and sit on the outside of the leader. The gelding travelled well up on the pace, with the Australian sitting their patiently while many of his rivals behind him where under the pump. As they swung around the turn, Purton allowed the gelding to balance up before asking for an effort and he put the race to bed with ease. He took the lead and ran away, putting big spaces right through the field to score by two lengths in a fantastic performance. SHOTGUN showed good early speed to roll across from barrier nine and lead the field under Matthew Poon. The gelding was able to slow things down once he found the front, catching his breath as they turned off the back. Hed then ramped things up from the 600m point, building up the revs around the home turn as he travelled strongly into the straight. Aerovolanic was there to strike on straightening and Shotgun couldn't fend him off as he got by with 200m left to run. He finished a lonely second, with ALL ROUND WINNER a further 1-3/4 lengths away in third. He stuck on well from just off the speed to take third position.
Race 7 – Peach Blossom Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.51 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class Record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
ALL'S WELL (NZ 4yo g Frosted – Ruby Queen) turned his form around in a big way, winning by three lengths after being beaten 6-1/4 lengths at his start prior. Dylan Browne McMonagle came out neutrally aboard the gelding who settled in a midfield position one off the fence. The tempo was even throughout the race and as they came to the home turn, McMonagle stayed nearer the inside and sliced his way through the traffic. He pushed his way into the clear with 200m to run and put the race to bed in a matter of strides, pulling away for an emphatic three-length win. YODA'S CHOICE showed good early speed to press on and sit on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. The flashy grey travelled well through the middle stages with Keith Yeung in the saddle, creeping closer to the leader by the 600m point. He was poised to strike around the home turn and quickly took the lead shortly after straightening. The $26 chance got about a length in front, before All's Well got the split and rattled home to get the job done. He led home a blanket go for the minor placings with BIG RETURN sticking his nose down on the wire to take third position as a $14 chance.
Race 8 – The Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, HK $13,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:19.36 Standard Time: 1:21.10 Course/Class Record: 1:19.36 Ka Ying Rising
KA YING RISING (5yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) extended his winning run to 18, breaking the all-time record set by the great Silent Witness, and doing it in style. He jumped well from gate three and was immediately on the speed for Purton, with the champion hoop happy to allow Copartner Prance to cross him in the early stages. They didn't look like they were going all that fast, but the splits said otherwise as they cruised by the 600m point with Purton sitting pretty on the Hong Kong champion. They swung for home and Purton pushed the button aboard the five-year-old and he quickly put a big space on his rivals. It was an emphatic display, smashing the track record and winning by 3-1/2 lengths, making it four wins on the day for Purton. HELIOS EXPRESS closed strongly as he tends to do from his midfield position. He was clearly the second best yet again, finishing 1-1/4 ahead of Lucky Sweynesse who stuck on gamely after being close to the speed, holding on for third position in a photo finish.
Race 9 – Peony Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.67 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class Record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
COOL BOY (NZ 3yo g Per Incanto – Saoirse) made it three wins in-a-row and Purton's fifth on the day as he handled the rise to Class 3 with ease. The three-year-old jumped on terms but eased back from barrier five to slot into a midfield position one off the fence. The speed was good up front and as the race unfolded, Purton was able to improve into the three-wide train and travel sweetly into the straight without working too hard. Purton sat motionless by the 300m point, looking supremely confident and the gelding took control as soon as he asked for an effort. Lifeline Express was chasing gamely, but Cool Boy had too much gas in the tank, securing another victory by three quarters of a length. LIFELINE EXPRESS settled out the back from barrier and was a clear last once they sorted their order out. Dylan Browne McMonagle stayed near the inside on straightening, eventually getting onto the back of Cool Boy shortly after straightening. He peeled into the clear midway down the stretch to mount his challenge, but he was unable to reel in the winner. The first two across the line gapped PACKING GLORY who stuck on well after sitting on the speed.
Race 10 – Primula Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.35 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class Record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
It was an upset in the penultimate event of the day, with POWER OF VITAM (NZ 4yo g Proisir – Mariota) turning his form around to score as a $47 chance at just his second start in Hong Kong. He was a touch slow into stride from barrier three, but Matthew Poon was able to get him into a handy position early on, settling midfield. The speed was just fair in the opening stages, with Power Of Vitam a touch keen early doors, but he did settle better as the approached the first turn. He was racing between horses throughout, before peeling wide prior to the home turn with Poon using the whip as they swung for home. He got to the outside and once he picked up, he looked very impressive. The son of Proisir just kept coming out wider, winding up strongly to take the lead with 50m remaining and pull away to win by 1-1/4 lengths in good fashion. THE RED HARE was positioned just in front of Power Of Vitam in the run, landing one-out-one-back for Maxime Guyon. The French hoop didn't have the best of luck at the top of the straight as gaps didn't appear and he was already behind Power Of Vitam once he got into the clear. He had some work to do and couldn't match the winner late in the race, settling for second. LOVERO was left facing the breeze three-wide throughout under Harry Bentley. The gelding moved into the race strongly despite his tough run and even took the lead by the 150m point. He peaked on the run late in the race as the first two went by him, but there's plenty of merit in his performance.
Race 11 – Rose Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:20.72 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class Standard: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Matthew Poon made it three wins on the day as impressive three-year-old SALON S (AUS 3yo g Zousain – Divine City) continued his unbeaten run. From barrier eight, the gelding showed good speed and ran to the front under Poon, though he was racing fiercely for the local hoop. He broke away from the rest of the field to lead by 3-1/2 lengths turning off the back straight, though Poon was able to get him to relax better around the turn as he caught his breath. Impressively, he was then able to kick strongly on straightening, breaking his opponent's hearts and showing them a clean set of heels. He wouldn't be caught in the run to the line, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in easy fashion. GHORGAN settled midfield under Alex Badel and raced along the inside rail. The French hoop needed some luck on straightening as he ran into dead ends early in the straight, with Badel having to get right to the outside before he could ask his gelding for an effort. The Ghorghan's credit, he picked himself up and finished off strongly to steal second position in a photo finish. HAROLD WIN wasn't far off the speed in his one-out-one-back position and improved around the home turn to be in line with the leaders. He was under heavy pressure from Atzeni, but he wouldn't go away down the stretch. He got to second position with around 150m remaining and fought off his nearest rivals, just for Ghorgan to grab him late. It was a strong performance from the $54 chance who rounded out the placings.
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