Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 10th May 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Castle Peak Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:35.45 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
Britney Wong and Benno Yung combined to win the opener with JOLLY JUMPER (NZ 3yo g Belardo – Maneo Invictus) as he broke his maiden status. After jumping well from out wide, Wong rolled forward and was able to get across and settle on the outside of the leader rather easily down the back straight. They were going along at an even tempo before the leader slammed on the brakes turning off the back. That didn't affect Jolly Jumper though as he was poised to strike around the outside and he moved up to take the lead at the top of the straight still under a hold. He didn't put his rivals away early in the straight as he showed some inexperience when Wong asked for an effort, but once he finally got himself together, he began to inch away. There were a couple looming late, but he was too strong late in the race to score by a length in the line. LAPRAS drew gate four and kicked up to land on the back of the leader on settling down the Cody Mo's charge showing good early speed. He travelled well in behind the speed and had enough space to move off the fence around the home turn and was travelling strongly as he got into the clear on the outside. He didn't have a turn-of-foot like the leaders, but he was making his presence felt inside the final 150m. He looked as though he'd challenge for the victory late, but couldn't peg back the margin, finishing in second after Chadwick gave him every possible. BEAUTIFUL WIN was able to dictate from the front and sprinted quickly on straightening. He was beaten by Jolly Jumper at the 200m point but fought on gamely to just miss out on second in a photo finish.
Race 2 – Chai Wan Road Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.82 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
Danny Shum's three-year-old MOON ROCKET (AUS 3yo g Manhattan Rain – Riverina's Girl) picked up his first win at start two. He was drawn to the inside part of the track, but Derek Leung got the gelding out quickly and he was able to roll across and get toward the grandstand rail in running. A few rivals kicked up on his inside through the middle stages, keeping Leung toward the middle of the track, but he was still within striking distance, linking up with the course proper and he let down strongly when asked for an effort. He moved up to take the lead with 100m remaining and was in for the fight over the closing stages. The race favourite came at him late, but Moon Rocket had enough in the tank to get the job done. ALSONSO jumped awkwardly and copped a bit of a bump out of the gates which saw him settle well back in the run under Zac Purton. He was strong in the run under Purton who just needed some luck inside the 400m mark. Purton was held up with nowhere to go until the 200m point where he was able to navigate a passage through and he came after the leader. He kept going to the line strongly but ran out of time to reel in Moon Rocket. LAHORE got away well from out wide and was sitting just off the leader through the middle stages. He moved up strongly at the 400m point and came off the leader's back to mount his challenge. Moon Rocket got to him with 100m to run and Alsonso grabbed him close to the line, but he turned in a bold effort as a $10 chance.
Race 3 – Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.15 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
FLASH CURRENT (NZ 4yo g Derryn – Shimmer 'N' Shine) bounced back to form in race three, picking up his second win of the season with Zac Purton hopping in the saddle. After getting away on terms, Purton was unable to slot into the running line and was left racing wide in a midfield position, though he did have cover three deep. The speed was even through the early stages and with runners beginning to make their move by the 600m point, it gave Purton a good cart into the race as he travelled strongly into the straight. He ended up near the middle of the track on straightening, but he was coming with a strong run and took the lead with 150m remaining. He went on to win easily under the top weight, scoring by a length as the $2.40 favourite. RIDING TOGETHER rolled forward from out wide after jumping well and was forced to go to the front with rivals kicking up on Andrea Atzeni's inside. He took the lead outright as they passed the 800m point and led by over a length around the home turn. They came off heels to challenge early in the straight, but the gelding kicked well on straightening to get away from his immediate rivals. He was no match for the winner however who stormed down the outside, but he was a clear second with third a further 1-1/2 lengths behind. THE AUSPICIOUS was a flashing light late in the race as he finished strongly into third. James Orman snagged the gelding from out wide and he was still a clear last on straightening. He finished off well down the middle to get third and is worth keeping an eye on in future races.
Race 4 – Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:39.21 Standard Time: 1:39.00 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
CHARMING STEED (FR 7yo g Charm Spirit – Militante) scored his second win of the season with Ellis Wong in the saddle for the Caspar Fownes yard. The gelding jumped well from barrier three and positioned himself close to the speed around the first turn. The leader was well clear in the run with the field stretched out down the back straight, though Wong didn't panic and he remained in a handy position at the front of the chasing pack. The apprentice hoop was able to improve his position along the fence in running and he was poised to strike on the turn despite spotting the leader a 7-1/4 length head start on straightening. The gelding looked to have plenty to offer on straightening and he was chewing into the margin early in the straight. He mowed down the leader with 100m to run and he scored a comfortable victory by a half-length. MEEPMEEP jumped well from the wide stall but after being caught very wide heading into the first turn, Brenton Avdulla ended up dragging the gelding to the back of the pack. He was a mile off the leader at the 800m point and was still 13-1/4 lengths back as they swung around the home turn. Avdulla ducked back to the inside early in the straight and scraped the paint to make up his ground before coming off heels and launching a late attack, but it was too late as he finished a clear second. PRECISION GOAL was on the back of Charming Steed in the run and swung to the outside on straightening to make his run. He stuck on well to finish in third but was 2-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 5 – Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.00 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton picked up his second win of the day with PATCH OF STARS (AUS 3yo g All Too Hard – Tuscany Lady) picking up his second win in-a-row. From the inside barrier, the gelding jumped on terms and was able to hold his position along the inside, being on the back of the leader on settling down. The field was compact in the early stages of the race, but the sprint went on around the home turn and Purton just needed an ounce of luck at the top of the straight. The gap appeared and he was able to shoot through and take the lead. The gelding quickly put up a 5 or six length margin on his rivals with Purton barely asked his mount for an effort. He was eased down over the closing stages and ended up winning by a length, but it was much easier than the final margin suggests. LUCKY FIONN jumped on terms but eased back shortly after the start, crossing down to the inside and landing on the back of the eventual winner in the run. He was a little worse than midfield in the run under Keagan De Melo and was on the back of the right horse around the home turn, though he needed luck with runners whipping around his outside. De Melo followed Patch Of Stars through, but he didn't have the turn-of-foot to match and while he did close off well, he never looked like winning. BEAUTY LIVE was on the outside of Lucky Fionn in the run and came wide in the straight to make his run. He closed off nicely to finish a clear third, but this race is all about the winner.
Race 6 – The Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association 50th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.19 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
LITTLE PARADISE (AUS 3yo g Toronado – Devil In Her Heart) remained unbeaten with an impressive victory in a different scenario. After leading on debut, he was a little slow from his outside gate and was eased back by Luke Ferraris to settle a little worse than midfield. He was three-wide in the run, but he had cover early on with a hot pace being set. He got into the running line through the middle stages and pulled into the clear at the top of the straight with 5 lengths to make up down the middle of the track. He was still a couple of lengths off the leader with a furlong to run, but his class kicked in late in the race to put the race to bed inside the final 100m, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths, and there looks more in store for him. SEA SAPPHIRE kicked up off the inside barrier to be close to the speed on settling down, ending up on the back of the leader with a strong tempo being set through the middle stages. He was run off his feet around the home turn but got to the outside and into the clear at the top of the straight and began to make up ground three wide. He was no match for the winner, but he was strong to the line, fighting back to claim third position. ENJOY GOLFsat midfield and came with a strong run in the straight. It looked as though he'd run second, but he peaked on the run late and ended up in third position.
Race 7 – Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:38.65 Standard Time: 1:38.60 Course/Class record: 1:36.79 True Legend
DRAGON AIR FORCE (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Best Of British) got back to winning ways, securing his third win of the season and his first over this trip. He jumped well from barrier seven and Matthew Chadwick rolled forward heading into the first turn, despite being caught wide around the turn. He was able to slot into the one-out-one-back position down the back, but the speed was only moderate, and he was fighting Chadwick early on. After coming off the bit when the speed went on around the 800m point, the gelding picked up as Chadwick tried to navigate his way through the traffic, getting into the clear at the top of the straight. There were plenty of chances on straightening, but Dragon Air Force dug in and took control with 200m left to run. He was taken on late in the race and it looked as though he would be gunned down late, but Dragon Air Force found another gear and kicked clear to win by three-quarters of-a-length in a strong performance. CHILL KAKA got away on terms but eased out of the speed battle early on to try and slot in. After getting into the running line, with a moderate tempo on offer, Zac Purton moved into the three-wide line and improved his position down the back, getting into a good position turning off the back and tracking into the race nicely on the home turn as he got into the clear. He let down well out wide and looked like he could claim victory with 100m to run, but when he loomed up to the leader, he kicked away late. He held on for second place in a photo finish. TALENTS AMBITION made a long and sustained run to the line, and he too looked as though he could edge out Dragon Air Force close to home. He may have peaked under the big weight, ending up in third position in a photo finish.
Race 8 – Lung Mun Road Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.73 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton picked up his third winner of the day aboard the David Eustace-trained LIGHT YEARS CHARM (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Dancer's Rose). The four-year-old was a little slow into stride and was dug up by Purton to land in a midfield position along the fence. The speed was okay, though the field was bunched turning off the back and Purton was hemmed up along the inside with 600m to run. He was eventually able to get off the fence rounding the home turn and was absolutely trucking early in the straight, though the champion hoop had nowhere to go. Purton had to be patient, ducking back to the inside and then threading the needle with 150m left to run. Once he was clear the $1.50 favourite shot through to take the lead, getting away from his rivals late in the race to score comfortably by a half-length. JUNEAU PRIDE had the run of the race in the one-out-one-back position and was poised to strike turning off the back. Brenton Avdulla got into the three-wide line around the turn and had plenty of clear air at the top of the straight as he let down strongly on straightening. He ran to the lead with 150m to run but couldn't fend off the late challenge of Light Years charm who got over the top of him late. RISING FROM ASHES stormed home from the tail of the field to finish in third position as a $30 chance.
Race 9 – Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.30 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
CALL ME GLORIOUS (AUS 4yo g No Nay Never - Boomex) picked up his first win in almost a year, with James Orman notching up his sixth winner of his stint in Hong Kong. From out wide, Orman pushed the button, and the gelding rolled across to take up the running. Once he got to the front he relaxed well, but didn't slow the tempo too much as he kept the field rolling turning for home. He still had plenty to offer on straightening and waited until the 300m mark before pushing the button. The favourite was right on his hammer and challenged him for much of the straight but Call Me Glorious packed too many punches to lead all the way for a narrow victory. AHREN was well backed late in betting and landed in a brilliant position one-out-one-back under Andrea Atzeni. After a perfect run in transit, Atzeni pulled the gelding into the clear and asked for an effort on the point of the home turn. It looked as though the $1.90 favourite would take the lead and run away with the race but Call Me Glorious wouldn't go away and in the end, Ahren couldn't stick his nose in front. RIGHTEOUS ARION was able to slide through late in the race to get into third position as a $23 chance after sitting on the back of the leader in the run.
Race 10 – Pok FU Lam Reservoir Road Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.44 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
LADY'S CHOICE (NZ 5yo g Charm Spirit – No Pushover) made every post a winner in the final event of the day, scoring an all-the way victory for Matthew Poon and Michael Chang. From barrier four, the gelding jumped well and found the front under his own steam, leading by about a length as they turned off the back. The speed was good early before Poon slowed it a touch passing the 600m point with the field packing up and runners beginning to fan wider approaching the home turn. He was taken on at the top of the straight and looked to be under plenty of pressure as Poon went for the whip, but he wouldn't go down without a fight. The first two in running pulled away from the rest of the pack and he proved too strong late in the race, getting away to win by three-quarters of-a-length. BOTTOMUPTOGETHER worked forward to sit on the outside of the leader in running and travelled sweetly through the middle stages. Zac Purton moved up to apply the pressure around the home turn and looked to be travelling better than his nearest rival early in the stretch. After a ding-dong battle right down the straight, Bottomuptogether felt the pinch late in the race and was forced to finish in second position. TOMODACHI KOKOROE ran on well from midfield to round out the placings at a massive starting price of $112.
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