Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 14th December 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Fairy King Prawn Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.50 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
Zac Purton got his day underway on a winning note, guiding home the David Hall-trained RISING PHOENIX (NZ 4yo g Darci Brahma – Flying Firebird). After getting away on terms, the gelding didn't show much early speed, ending up in a midfield position along the fence. The speed was even and as they turned past the 800m point, Purton ended up being shuffled back just a touch, ending up in the second half of the field as they worked around the turn. Purton got off the fence and began to course wider on the track as they entered the straight, with the Australian hoop getting through the gap with around 200m remaining. The gelding stormed home to take the lead inside the final 100m of the race and pulled away to score by three quarters of a length. ENDUED drifted back from the wide draw to end up near the tail of the field on settling down. Craig Williams tried to improve his position along the inside but switched off the fence approaching the 800m point and looked to move into the race out wide on the course. Williams was held up momentarily in the straight and was forced to follow the winner through the same gap late in the race. He finished strongly but was unable to reel in Rising Phoenix over the concluding stages. SMILING FALCON loomed as a winning threat early in the straight as Harry Bentley got him to the outside and he stuck on well over the concluding stages. He crossed the line in third place, just a length off the winner as a $79 chance.
Race 2 – Snow Fairy Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.82 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Former European galloper HELENE SUPAFEELING (IRE 3yo g City Light – Adana) was very impressive in his Hong Kong debut, announcing himself as a 4Yo Series contender for James McDonald and David Eustace. The gelding lacked the early speed of some rivals, ending up near the tail of the field under McDonald. The Kiwi hoop initially crossed down to the fence with a solid tempo on offer through the middle stages, before angling away from the rail from the 500m point. The gaps opened for McDonald and he got a dream run to the outside, coming down the middle of the course to hit the front with 150m remaining. He was in for the fight over the concluding stages, fending off his rivals to pick up a debut victory. YOUNG ARROW settled about midfield under Harry Bentley and was suited by the good tempo on offer. Bentley got a nice tow into the race around the home turn, swinging wide into the straight with Helene Supafeeling coming off his back. The pair made their runs together down the outside and both fought gamely down to the line, though it was Helene Supafeeling who had more in the tank. CIRCUIT GRAND SLAM drifted in betting, ending up jumping the second favourite as he settled at the rear of the field. He was the widest in the straight and was plugging away over the concluding stages, though he couldn't catch the first two across the line.
Race 3 – Silent Witness 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
James Orman and Jamie Richards caused an upset in race three with COOL BOY (NZ 3yo g Per Incanto – Saoirse) getting the job done as a $31 chance. The gelding drifted back from the wide draw, ending up in the second half of the field from barrier 14, though the race unfolded nicely for him through the middle stages. A three-wide running line was established, allowing Orman to work into the race three-wide, building up the revs and being in a midfield position on the point of the home turn. Orman got to the outside on straightening and the gelding may have quickened a little better than he was anticipating. The gelding moved up to the leaders with ease on straightening with Lucky McQueen putting on a good fight as the pair squared off over the concluding stages. Cool Boy stuck his head in front with 100m to run and got away from his rivals, winning comfortably as a $31 chance. LUCKY MCQUEEN was unable to slot into the running line from barrier six, forcing Matthew Chadwick to sit three-wide throughout the race, though he did have cover out there. He worked into the race strongly around the turn, joining the leaders at the top of the straight and eventually gaining the upper hand with around 250m left to run. Cool Boy was looming large on his outside and while Lucky McQueen fought hard under Chadwick, he couldn't fend off the winner. PACKING PHOENIX didn't have much luck for Purton back to the inside, being held up for the majority of the straight. He did get through with around 200m to run, though he was probably entitled to finish off a little better than he did.
Race 4 – The Longines Hong Kong Vase, HK $26,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 2400m – Track Good
Time: 2:28.05 Standard Time: 2:27.00 Course/Class record: 2:24.60 Viva Pataca
The first Group One of the day went to Europe, with SOSIE (IRE 4yo c Sea The Stars – Sosia) winning the Hong Kong Vase after being heavily backed just prior to the jump. With a sedate tempo on offer through the opening stages, Maxime Guyon rolled forward to settle in the one-out-one-back position as they rounded the first turn. With Urban Chic moving forward three-wide with the slow tempo, Guyon got onto his back down the back straight, though he was left racing wide and without cover as the pace increased from the 1200m point. Guyon worked into the race under his own steam out wide, creeping closer to the leaders around the turn and keeping Goliath in a pocket. On straightening, the gelding quickened well, though he did have some threats out wide on the course. He saw them off with 100m to run. He showed his class over the concluding stages, proving too strong for his rivals, scoring by three quarters of a length after being backed in from around $6 to the $2.7 favourite. GIAVELLOTTO lobbed into a midfield position under Andrea Atzeni, stalking Sosie wherever he went in the run. Atzeni followed the favourite everywhere he went before coming off his back around the home turn to lay down his challenge. He was there to win if he was good enough, but he just bumped into one better on the day. GOLIATH was put back in a pocket by Sosie as Christophe Soumillon angled out on the home turn. He was forced back to the inside, which was the inferior going, though he stuck on well to claim third, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
Race 5 – The Longines Hong Kong Sprint, HK $28,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:07.70 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) extended his winning run to 16 in-a-row in another dominant display. After showing blistering speed from the inside barrier, nobody took on Zac Purton with Win Carnelian happy to sit on his outside in the run. Ka Ying Rising had them all chasing at the 600m point with his sustained speed and Purton bought the gelding to the middle of the track in the straight. He didn't ask for much of an effort, but the gelding sprinted away from his rivals, and it looked as though he was going to put a space on them. The champion hoop eased him down over the final 50m, with the World's Best Sprinter again showing his class. RAGING BLIZZARD stormed home late in the race for Brenton Avdulla and John Size to take second position. He was miles back in the run but worked his way through the traffic to finish in second position. FAST NETWORK showed his run in the Jockey Club Sprint was no fluke, sitting close to the speed and trying to hold on to Ka Ying Rising's tail for as long as he could. He was a clear second midway down the straight, though he just felt the pinch late in the race and held on for third in a photo finish.
Race 6 – Jim And Tonic Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:47.55 Standard Time: 1:47.50 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
James McDonald picked up a winning double on the card as PRESTIGE GOOD (NZ 5yo g Sacred Falls – Lamplighter) returned to winning ways. From a middle gate, the gelding showed good speed to roll forward and sit on the speed for McDonald, racing in a line of three up front with a good tempo being set. Eventually Mister Dapper would cross to the lead, allowing McDonald to move up on his outside and be right there when the sprint went on around the home turn. The first two in running skipped away from the rest of the pack and went toe-to-toe over the final 450m. Brenton Avdulla was throwing everything he had at Mister Dapper, though it was Prestige Good and McDonald who got his head in front late in the race to steal the win. MISTER DAPPER put up a strong fight in defeat, rolling forward from barrier 13 to take up the running approaching the 800m pole. The speed was good throughout and he and Prestige Good raced away from the rest of the pack at the top of the stretch. After an exciting duel over the closing stages, Prestige Good stuck his head in front and got the job done, with Avdulla and Mister Dapper having to settle for second. THE AUSPICIOUS plugged home strongly from out wide, finishing 1-1/4 lengths away in third position.
Race 7 – The Longines Hong Kong Mile, HK $36,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:33.47 Standard Time: 1:33.90 Course/Class record: 1:32.55 My Wish
Zac Purton secured a winning treble on the day as VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS 7yo g Deep Field – Raheights) went back-to-back in the Group One Hong Kong Mile. After jumping well, Purton took the gelding forward from out wide, working across to settle in second position. Purton crossed down to the rail through the middle stages, forcing the leader to kick on a touch approaching the 600m point to get across, allowing Purton to then switch off heels and get to the outside where they had been coming all day. There was a line of three at the top of the straight, with Voyage Bubble clearly headed by the Japanese horse Soul Rush at the top of the straight. He didn't go down without a fight though, rallying back to gain the upper hand with 50m to run and bringing up back-to-back wins in the Group One feature. SOUL RUSH allowed Voyage Bubble to cross in the early stages with Christian Demuro keen to get onto the back of Hong Kong's Triple Crown hero. He was to the outside of Voyage Bubble in the run with Demuro niggling at his mount around the home turn, with Soul Rush moving up to take the lead with around 300m remaining. It looked as though he would run away with the win, but he may have tired close to home, opening the door for Purton and Voyage Bubble to come back through along the inside and steal the victory. RED LION stood up when it counted once again, proving his Champions Mile win in April wasn't a one hit wonder. He stuck on well to finish in third as a $52 chance.
Race 8 – The Longines Hong Kong Cup, HK $40,000,000,
Group One – Turf - Distance 2000m – Track Good
Time: 2:02.29 Standard Time: 2:00.50 Course/Class record: 1:59.23 Romantic Warrior
ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE 7yo g Acclamation – Folk Melody) secured his fourth Group One Hong Kong Cup in a row, continuing to build on his legendary reputation. James McDonald allowed the champion horse to find his feet early in the run, remaining away from the rail to avoid getting boxed in. As the race unfolded around the first turn, McDonald was able to land in the one-out-one-back position, but when Galen rolled to the front, the Kiwi hoop was left facing the breeze. The leader upped the tempo from the 800m point, though McDonald didn't panic, cruising three-wide to avoid being boxed in and striding to the front at the top of the straight. The gelding quickened impressively when asked for an effort and he never looked like losing, going on to put a good gap through his rivals, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths. BELLAGIO OPERA rolled forward in the early stages before eventually settling on the back of the leader in running. The Japanese hoop didn't have the best of time around the home turn, being shuffled back to near last on the turn and having to wait for a gap to open. He finished off strongly behind Romantic Warrior, but he never looked like he was going to reel him in. QUISISANA was shuffled right back on the turn and looked as though she might run last early in the straight, but she stayed on gamely to take third position in a strong performance.
Race 9 – Ouija Board Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:21.74 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Karis Teetan got there right on time aboard SMART AVENUE (AUS 4yo g Shamus Award – Notebook) to steal the victory. The Mauritian hoop snagged the gelding back from a wide draw, settling near the tail of the field. He was 8-1/4 lengths off the leader as they turned off the back straight, moving into the three-wide line from the 600m point with Teetan already urging him along. Teetan got the four-year-old to the outside on straightening and he was coming with a strong run down the outside. He always looked like a threat, though it wasn't until he got his nose down on the line that you were confident he'd taken the win. EVERYONE'S A STAR landed in a midfield position for Zac Purton with the Australian hoop moving three-wide from the 600m point. He enjoyed a lovely tow into the race and Purton looked rather confident at the top of the straight, waiting until he was inside the 300m point before asking for an effort. With 100m to run, it looked as though the flashy grey would take the lead, though Smart Avenue wasn't going down without a fight out wide. He missed out by a nose on the line, with Smart Avenue getting his nose down where it mattered most. ONE MORE was very strong from out in front, leading the way under Lyle Hewitson and proving tough to run down, finishing a neck away in third.
Race 10 – Highland Reel Handicap, HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:22.07 Standard Time: 1:21.45 Course/Class record: 1:19.92 Packing Hermod
The final race of HKIR went the way of Derek Leung and Cody Mo, with AERIS NOVA (AUS 5yo g Justify – Fine Scent) picking up his third career win. The gelding showed good early speed from barrier 12, with Derek Leung looking to roll across and slot into the running line in a midfield position. He was unable to do so and was left racing wide and without cover throughout the event. The five-year-old travelled well up to the home turn however and was there for Leung when the local hoop asked for an effort. He sprinted quickly, moving up to take the lead with 150m remaining and inched away late in the race, leading home a wall of horses to take home the final race of HKIR. DROMBEG BANNER was able to dictate the tempo up front and that is when he races best. Hollie Doyle was able to slow the tempo through the middle stages, before kicking strongly at the top of the straight and giving his rivals something to chase. He was tough to gun down, finishing a neck away in second in a strong performance. PUBLIC ATTENTION backed up his strong debut run in Hong Kong with another solid outing. He was probably inclined to finish off a little better than he did with no weight on his back, though his target is the 4Yo Series and he looks on song for the Classic Mile.
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