Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 23rd November 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.15 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
MABUBU (AUS 4yo g Zousain – Furiosa) picked up a debut victory for Chris So and Vincent Ho, with the four-year-old leading all the way to win as a $29 chance. The son of Zousain kicked up from the inside barrier to hold out his rivals, showing good speed heading into the first turn. He railed through to lead by about a length coming to the 600m point and wobbled off the fence around the home turn. He left the inside wide open, but he was just too fast for his opponents, extending his lead to the 200m point. All's Well was making some good late ground, but he couldn't catch Mabubu who was just too strong. ALL'S WELL landed just off the speed through for Hugh Bowman after getting away on terms from barrier three. The Australian hoop raced along the inside rail to the home straight, before popping off the fence and coming with his effort. He was just grinding away early in the straight, but from the 150m point he really kicked into overdrive. He made a late challenge at Mabubu, but it wasn't enough as he finished a neck away in second place. JUBILANT STAR stormed home from the back of the pack to finish in third place, 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 2 – BOCHK Sme In One Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.47 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
FIT FOR BEAUTY (NZ 4yo g Vanbrugh – High Tail It) secured his maiden victory at start three, with James McDonald scoring his first winner since arriving in Hong Kong. From barrier three, McDonald was relatively neutral aboard his mount, landing in a midfield position one off the fence as they sorted their order out. The field was bunched as they worked through the middle stages, but McDonald was able to improve into the one-out-one-back position as they approached the home turn. The Kiwi hoop continued to work into the race on straightening, getting into the clear and coming with his run down the outside. He was getting into the margin stride by stride, eventually taking control with around 50m to run and getting away late to score by a length on the line. LUCKY MAN had enjoyed the run of the race on the back of the leader under Brenton Avdulla after drawing the inside barrier. He was there to strike on straightening, and he looked to have plenty to offer when Avdulla asked for an effort. He moved up to take the lead, but only momentarily before Fit For Beauty gained the upper hand. He stuck on well to finish in second position, with the race leader THOUSAND SPIRIT sticking on for third, only 1-1/2 lengths from the winner.
Race 3 – BOC Life Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.66 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
DO YOUR PART (NZ 5yo g Coats Choice – Blue Bond) continued to build on his impressive record, scoring his second career win. The gelding jumped well for Hugh Bowman and showed good speed early on, crossing over to land on the pace. The leader kicked away in front approaching the home turn, before dropping back to the pack with 600m remaining, allowing Bowman to apply the pressure around the home turn and take the lead shortly after straightening. He let down strongly when asked for an effort, kicking over a length in front with 100m to run and he never looked like being beaten. He went on to win comfortably by a length as the race favourite. NEZHA finished off well to take second position as a $23 chance, James Orman was able to slot the gelding into a midfield position in the run, sitting one off the fence throughout. He was held up slightly coming to the home turn, but the Australian hoop was eventually able to work his way to the outside midway down the stretch. Once he got clear he finished off strongly, getting his nose down on the line to grab second place. NYX GLUCK sustained a long run form the back of the pack under James McDonald to finish in third position, only 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 4 – BOCHK "Banking Trendytoo" Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:01.71 Standard Time: 2:01.90 Course/Class record: 1:59.77 Winning Wing
WINNING WING (NZ 5yo g Preferment – Stand Firm) made it back-to-back wins for Dylan Mo and Francis Lui. The gelding didn't show much early speed from an inside barrier and landed in a midfield position from the draw, cluttered up along the inside fence as they worked down the back straight. It wasn't until the 1000m point where some moves were made, with the leader's applying the brakes. It prompted a charge of the light brigade, with horses racing four-wide around the turn and trying to sustain a run from the 900m point. This played into the hands of Mo, who watched it all unfold ahead of him before getting into the clear at the top of the stretch and taking the lead with 250m remaining. He had to fight for the win, but the $2.9 favourite showed his class, to make it back-to-back wins. PRESTIGE GOOD was one of the horses caught in the firing line. After landing just off the speed from barrier seven, the slow tempo prompted Richard Kingscote to move three-wide and creep forward down the back straight, before a couple others let rip. The race changed complexion, though Kingscote was up to the task, ending up on the outside of the leader and travelling strongly to the turn, taking the lead under his own steam at the top of the straight. He had plenty of horses chasing, but it was only Winning Wing who got to him with around 250m left to run. To Prestige Good's credit, he didn't go down without a fight, sticking on gamely right down to the post to be just a neck away on the line. SNOWFIELD stormed home from a mile back to finish in third position as a $22 chance. He was 9-1/2 lengths off the leader at the 800m mark and still 4-3/4 lengths away on straightening but closed well to end up in third position.
Race 5 – BOCHK Wealth Management Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.30 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton and Mark Newnham combined to win race five with exciting up-and-coming galloper INVINCIBLE IBIS (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – My Dear Friend). From barrier two, Purton allowed the gelding to find his feet, ending up in a midfield position on settling down. The speed was good through the early stages of the race, though Purton wasn't panicking, ending up worse than midfield off the back straight. The Australian hoop was able to work into the race around the home turn, getting the $1.5 favourite into the clear at the top of the stretch and coming down the outside with a strong sprint. Purton didn't use the whip at any stage, with the gelding hitting the front with 100m to run and inching away for an impressive victory, scoring by a length on the line. EIGHTY LIGHT YEARS showed good speed from the outset to roll across and land on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. Despite using some petrol early, the gelding ran to the lead under Lyle Hewitson early in the straight and broke a length clear of his rivals, before Invincible Ibis came with his run. He stuck on well to finish in second place, but he was no match for the winner. THE RED HARE had the run of the race one-out-one-back under Hollie Doyle and while he wasn't a match for the first two across the line, he finished a length clear of his nearest rival in third position.
Race 6 – The BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint, HK $5,350,000,
Group Two – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:07.33 Standard Time: 1:08.15 Course/Class record: 1:07.20 Ka Ying Rising
The World's Best Sprinter KA YING RISING (NZ 5yo g Shamexpress – Missy Moo) showed no ill effects of his trip to Australia, making it 14 wins in-a-row. Despite drawing out wide, the gelding was fast into stride and rolled across in the early stages to settle close to the speed, with a rival kicking up on his inside to hold out Ka Ying Rising. The speed was strong as they turned off the back and Purton was poised to strike around the home turn, creeping closer on the turn and eventually taking the lead on straightening. The gelding shot away to lead by some five lengths at the 200m point, and Purton eased up on him from the 200m mark. The official margin was 2-3/4 lengths, though the margin could've been much bigger had Purton pushed him out to the line. FAST NETWORK sat just off the speed for James McDonald and got onto the back of Ka Ying Rising on straightening, towing McDonald into the race. He was well clear in second position right down the stretch, finishing 1-3/4 lengths clear of the third placegetter in a very strong performance. HELIOS EXPRESS rallied late to get his nose down on the wire, finishing in third position bin a photo finish.
Race 7 – The BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile, HK $5,350,000,
Group Two – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:32.88 Standard Time: 1:33.90 Course/Class record: 1:32.55 My Wish
It was somewhat of an upset in the Jockey Club Mile as GALAXY PATCH (AUS 6yo g Wandjina – Voltara) slid up the fence to win for James McDonald and Pierre Ng. The gelding was a little slow into stride once again, ending up near the tail of the field on settling down with an even tempo being set up front. After travelling well in the run, McDonald was hemmed up along the fence and needing luck coming to the home turn, with the Australian hoop staying nailed to the fence on straightening. The gaps opened when McDonald needed them, slicing through along the inside to take the lead with 100m to run and scoring by a half-length on the line. It was a tight finish for the minor placings with SUNLIGHT POWER getting his nose down on the line to grab second position as a $27 chance. Hollie Doyle landed near the tail of the field on settling down, racing to the outside of Galaxy Patch as they worked around the home turn. Doyle was able to get into the clear out wide on straightening and copped some interference with around 300m remaining. He dug deep to fend off his nearest rival and finish in second position, beating HAPPY TOGETHER in a photo finish. Happy Together tried to push Sunlight Power out of the way with 300m remaining, with the pair making their runs together over the concluding stages. There wasn't much between them on the line, both beaten a half-length.
Race 8 – The BOCHK Jockey Club Cup, HK $5,350,000,
Group Two – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:03.72 Standard Time: 2:00.50 Course/Class record: 1:59.23 Romantic Warrior
Hong Kong's champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE 7yo g Acclamation – Folk Melody) returned as good as every under James McDonald, scoring an impressive win ahead of a tilt at a fourth Hong Kong Cup. He broke well from barrier two and landed just off the speed with a sedate tempo being set up front. As they sorted their order out, McDonald found himself in the one-out-one-back position, stalking the moderate speed with no change to the order passing the 1000m mark. McDonald was poised to strike turning off the back, and pre-empted the pace increase, moving three-wide and getting moving before the 600m as the pace lifted. McDonald was swinging on the hot favourite around the turn and the seven-year-old put his rivals to the sword when asked for an effort. He shot away for an easy win, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths without McDonald asking for maximum output. VOYAGE BUBBLE was ridden well by Zac Purton, leading the field up and turning it into a sit-and-sprint in an attempt to beat Romantic Warrior with speed rather than stamina. He kicked well into the straight, but he was no match for Hong Kong's champion. He'll be primed back to the mile after that performance. KA YING GENERATION closed off well to finish in third position under Luke Ferraris as a $57 chance.
Race 9 – BOC Credit Card Hanidcap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.00 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
SKY JOY (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – Magic Of Dreams) continued the impressive start to his career, making it three wins from 5 starts in the penultimate event of the day. Despite drawing the widest barrier, the gelding jumped well, and Jerry Chau rolled forward from the deep, sitting wide as they turned off the back. There wasn't really a chance for the $5.3 chance to slot into the running line, sitting handy to the speed throughout the event and facing the breeze. That didn't matter though as he sprinted quickly early in the straight, taking the lead approaching the furlong pole. He was there to be beaten if his rivals were good enough, but they couldn't reel him in over the concluding stages, scoring by a half-length on the line. PUBLIC ATTENTION was very impressive in his Hong Kong debut. He jumped well and put himself on the back of the leader under Brenton Avdulla, enjoying a lovely run in transit. The gap opened for him at the top of the straight and the race was there for him to win if he was good enough. He couldn't reel in the race winner, though he did carry the top weight, 13lbs more than Sky Joy. It was a very strong debut, and he looks as though he'll make his presence felt come the 4YO Series. STORMY GROVE closed off nicely from midfield to finish in third position, closing off impressively under Harry Bentley as a $37 chance.
Race 10 – BOCHK BOC Pay+ Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.98 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
It was a tight finish to end the night, but it was Lyle Hewitson and David Eustace coming out on top with $22 shot RIDING TOGETHER (IRE 4yo g Profitable – So Funny). The four-year-old showed plenty of speed from barrier 9 to roll across and take up the running under the South African hoop. He led them along at an even speed, ramping up the tempo from the 600m point and kicking strongly at the top of the straight. He quickly fought off his nearest rival, but there were plenty of others baring down on him with 100m to run. In an exciting finish with four across the track, Riding Together somehow held on to win, with a short head separating the first four across the line. MASTER OF ALL enjoyed the run of the race on the back of the eventual winner, sitting on the leader's back under Alex Badel. He travelled nicely up to the turn and edged off the fence as they entered the straight. It took him a little while to wind up, but inside the final 250m he began to make steady ground on the leader. Four of them ran to the line together, with Master Of All getting his nose down to finish in second place. EVERYONE'S STAR finished off strongly from midfield to finish in third position under Zac Purton and Frankie Lor.
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