Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 14th June 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – HKU Faculties Of Arts And Education Plate, HK $950,000,
Griffin – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.84 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 55.33 California Spangle
THE ALL OUT (NZ 2yo g Brutal – Sistabeel) made it two-from-two with a very solid performance down the Sha Tin straight. After being backed into $1.7, the gelding showed good speed to work across from his inside barrier to be one off the grandstand rail as they sorted their order out. He was travelling sweetly throughout the race and when his rivals came under the pump at the 400m mark, Purton was still sitting pretty aboard his mount. He only asked for an effort inside the 300m point and the two-year-old ran straight to the front under hands and heels, taking the lead with a furlong to go and won comfortably on the line, with the official margin being a half-length. MOTOR jumped from an outside barrier and showed good speed early to settle just off the leader in a great position under Derek Leung. He was stalking the leader throughout, he just lost some ground through the middle stages, but he picked up well when Leung urged him along with 400m to run. He improved swiftly and ran up the back end of the leader and The All Out, with Leung having to switch back to the inside at the furlong pole. He was still coming late in the race, but he couldn't reel in The All Out as he finished well clear in second position. WINNING CHAMPION wasn't the fastest into stride and ended up in a midfield position on settling. He looked to be struggling to keep up through the middle stages with Matthew Poon niggling at the mount a long way from home, but he did his best work late in the race. He flew late to grab third position, beaten 2-1/2 lengths and looking ready to for 1200m again now.
Race 2 – HKU Faculties Of Law And Medicine Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:35.72 Standard Time: 1:35.45 Course/Class record: 1:34.38 Le Panache
SMART BEAUTY (IRE 6yo g Dark Angel – Layla Jamil) turned his form right around as he scored his first win of the season, after his previous best finish of the term was a 7th place at the end of 2024. He got away on terms from the inside barrier and Angus Chung held his position along the inside to land on the back of the lead as they sorted their order out. The pace was even through the middle stages as Smart Beauty enjoyed a lovely run, being within striking distance around the turn and edging his way into the clear early in the straight. A couple of others quickened better than him at the top of the straight, but he eventually hit top gear to fight back and take the lead with 100m left to run. He would inch away over the concluding stages, winning by a half-length on the line. BEAUTIFUL WIN jumped well and took up the running from barrier four right after the jump. He was taken on for the lead early, but James Orman kicked up to hold his position in front as they set an even tempo through the middle stages. He gradually ramped things up from the 600m point and kicked well at the top of the straight, keeping many of his rivals at bay to passing the furlong pole. Smart Beauty kept chipping away at the lead however and eventually stuck his nose in front of Beautiful Win, with the top weight having to settle for second position. APOLAR FIGHTER had settled on the back of Smart Beauty in the run and remained to the inside in the straight. He has his chance if he was good enough, but he was just grinding away in the straight and claimed third in a photo finish.
Race 3 – HKU Heritage Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.39 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
AEROVOLANIC (AUS 3yo g Frosted – Conscious) proved too strong on debut for Ellis Wong and Pierre Ng. The gelding got away on terms and was able to position himself just off the speed, settling on the back of the leader. He remained on the back of the leader around the turn and was within striking distance on straightening, Wong just needed some room to move as rivals began to get around him early in the straight. The gap appeared approaching the furlong pole, though just as Wong went for it, the leader wobbled across him and just halted his momentum a touch. He was able to pick himself up after that inconvenience, rallying inside the final 100m to take the lead and win rather comfortably in the end. TOURBILLON GOLFER wasn't the fastest into stride but improved his position under the urgings of Matthew Poon to sit up front. He was away from the fence, but he was leading by about half a length as they worked around the home turn, still having his nose in front and kicking strongly when asked for an effort. The debutant looked to be fending off his rivals, but he began to wobble back to the rail as he got tired. This opened the gap for Aerovolanic to come through and eventually take the win, with Tourbillon Golfer finishing in second position. RANDBOW SEVEN had his chance if he was good enough as he saw clear air early in the straight. He stuck on fairly down the stretch and loomed as a winning hope with 100m to run but may have peaked on his effort close to home, holding on for third in a photo finish.
Race 4 – HKU Faculties Of Dentistry And Social Sciences Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Wet Fast
Time: 1:08.82 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
It took 18 starts, though HINOKAMI KAGURA (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Little Zeta) is a maiden no longer with a strong victory on the All Weather surface. The four-year-old jumped well and showed good early speed to sit close to the speed on setting down. He landed on the back of the leader as they turned off the back but was being run off his feet in the middle stages, with Matthew Chadwick niggling his mount along through the middle stages to remain within striking distance. He improved around the home turn and just needed some daylight to make his challenge on straightening, getting out with around 250m remaining and launching a strong attack. He moved up to take the lead inside the final 200m and pulled away from the chasing pack, winning impressively by 1-3/4 lengths. YEE CHEONG LEGEND was snagged to the back of the field from a wide barrier after the jump and was well back as they turned off the back straight. Andrea Atzeni was down to the inside as they worked around the home turn and rode for luck early in the straight, before eventually shifting out wider to continue his run down the stretch. He got into clear air inside the final 200m and stormed home late in the race. He was a big eye-catcher in the dying stages, flying home to finish in second position in an impressive effort as a $77 chance. FASHION LEGEND also ran on well from back in the field, stealing third place right on the post in a photo finish.
Race 5 – University Hall Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.56 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
TRULY FLUKE (AUS 3yo g Brutal – Kascata) picked up his maiden victory as he stepped out to 1400m for the first time, continuing the successful debut season for trainer David Eustace. Despite the wide alley, Andrea Atzeni rolled forward and landed on the outside of the leader as they turned off the back straight. He travelled well through the middle stages with a good tempo being, though Atzeni did have the gelding under the pump prior to entering the straight. He looked to be just grinding away, but it was inside the final 150m where he really made his mark as he began to move up to join the leader. His final 50m was the best of the race, showing his strength to take the lead and the victory by a neck on the line in a four-way finish. ROMAN CROWN stole second position right on the post as he flew home from the back of the pack. He was taken back from the wide draw at the start and ended up near the tail of the field early on. Brenton Avdulla was able to pinch some ground along the inside rail as he got up underneath some rivals, improving his position around the home turn as he was absolutely bolting turning into the straight, just needing some luck. Avdulla still had a strong hold of the gelding until the 200m point, where the duo finally saw daylight and let rip late in the race. He was finishing strongly but couldn't get the job done, finishing in second position in a photo finish. DEVAS TWELVE held on for third position after leading for the majority of the race. He proved very hard to run down in the straight and only got tired close to the line, ending up in third position in a tight finish. The first four across the line cleared out from the rest of the field.
Race 6 – HKU Faculties Of Architecture And Science Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:47.61 Standard Time: 1:48.10 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue
Trainer Tony Cruz picked up a winning double on the card with KINGLY DEMEANOR (GB 5yo g Oasis Dream – Brom Felinity) proving too good under Keith Yeung. Despite drawing out wide, he was the first into stride and was able to work across with ease from the deep, taking up the running early on and setting a good speed in the process. Yeung led by over a length at the 800m point as he kept the speed rolling through the middle stages of the race and the local hoop still had a strong grip on his mount while his rivals were beginning to feel the pinch around the home turn. When asked for an effort, he didn't kick away from his rivals, but he kept going at a similar speed, keeping his rivals at bay and scoring a strong all-the-way victory by 1-1/4 lengths. YOUTH POWER jumped well from an inside barrier and put himself close to the speed, sitting on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He remained on the back of the leader throughout the run and got clear air shortly after straightening to make his challenge. He had his chance if he was good enough, though he was unable to peg back the margin to Kingly Demeanor, holding on for second position in a photo finish. OCEAN IMPACT flew home late in the race once he got to the outside for Zac Purton, being the big eye catcher late in the race and finishing in third position.
Race 7 – The Hong Kong University Alumni Association Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.74 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
HAROLD WIN (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – Musically) dropped back to the Sha Tin 1400m today and was just too good, sitting close to the speed and winning comfortably. The gelding showed good speed from barrier eight and rolled across relatively easily early on, landing just off the leader who crossed from out wide and led by a couple of lengths turning off the back. Harold Win was in prime position with a bunny to chase around the turn, building into the race nicely with only the leader ahead of him on straightening. Despite the gelding having plenty to offer, he was his own worst enemy under Jerry Chau as he continually laid in under Chau's riding early in the straight, with the local hoop eventually able to get him off heels where he let rip. He took the lead with 100m to run, and it was all over, running away to score by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. WORLD HERO had to work across from out wide to take up the running and led by a couple of lengths throughout the race. He was a clear leader at the top of the straight and was holding Harold Win midway down the stretch. He was no match for the leader once he straightened himself out, but he stuck on well to the line to finish a clear second. STRATHPEFFER was left racing wide and without cover in the run, but it allowed Lyle Hewitson to build into the race with ease wider on the track. He never looked like a winning hope, but he stuck on well to finish in third position, 3 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – HKU Business School And Faculty Of Engineering Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.12 Standard Time: 1:08.80 Course/Class record: 1:07.89 Thanks Forever
The only horse to beat the World's Best Sprinter got back to winning ways, with WUNDERBAR (AUS 4yo g Rich Enuff – Could Be Something) bouncing back to form. He flew out of the barriers from gate one, but Hugh Bowman wasn't keen to lead as he ended up just off the speed through the middle stages. The speed was hot and around the turn, Bowman was along the inside fence looking for a way out as they approached the straight. The leader was going well, which opened the gaps for Wunderbar, and he was there for Bowman when he needed him. He came through a gap with 200m to run and loomed as a big danger, eventually taking the lead approaching the 100m point and going on to win by three-quarters of-a-length. RAGING BLIZZARD landed midfield on settling down with a strong tempo being set up front and Brenton Avdulla was relatively clear in that position. The Australian followed Hugh Bowman and Wunderbar into the straight before switching to the outside as he got into the clear down the middle of the track. He loomed as a winning chance when he got to the outside, but Wunderbar shot through toward the inside and was just too good in the end. HARMONY N BLESSED stuck on gamely after being on the back of the leader in the run, getting through late to grab third position.
Race 9 – HKU Foundation Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:46.99 Standard Time: 1:47.75 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
Ellis Wong continued his strong run of form, brining up another winning double aboard JOY OF SPRING (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Certitude) for the Caspar Fownes barn. The five-year-old was a touch slow from barrier four but Wong was able to navigate his way through to land in a midfield position as they sorted their order out. The speed was even through the middle stages, and the gelding was travelling well between horses, with the local hoop finding himself in a great position as they swung around the bend. Wong was able to find clear air with ease, and it was all over once he got into the clear, with Joy Of Spring taking the lead with around 250m remaining. He shot away form the chasing pack to win very easily on the post, with the official margin being 1-1/4 lengths. GENTLEMEN LEGACY didn't have the best of luck on settling down as he ended up in a midfield position, but three-wide with cover. He was shuffled back as they turned off the back and dropped the bit at the 800m point, however he did pick up to get a nice cart into the race. Alexis Badel was the widest runner in the straight, coming right down the outside aboard Gentlemen Legacy and while he was closing the margin late, he was never catching the winer. WINNING WING stuck on gamely after facing the breeze three-wide throughout, taking home third position in a very strong performance under Dylan Mo.
Race 10 – HKU Jockey Club Student Villages Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:08.23 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
The penultimate event saw Andrea Atzeni bring up a winning double on the day, guiding home the Mark Newnham-trained MOJAVE DESERT (AUS 4yo g I Am Invincible – Fine Bubbles) to his second career win. He was a little slow into stride from the inside barrier and was near the tail of the field early on. With the inside draw, Atzeni was able to improve his position as he scraped the pain in the early stages of the race, but this left him in a sticky position around the home turn as he had to remain to the inside and ride for luck. The gaps came for Atzeni however, weaving through the traffic and getting up along the fence to loom as a big chance late in the race. He flew home to score an impressive victory, winning comfortably in the end under the Sicilian hoop, scoring by a length on the line. GUMMY GUMMY was also a touch slow into stride and was ridden along by Luke Ferraris to land in a midfield position, sitting in front of Mojave Desert in the run. He was just off the speed as they came to the turn and Ferraris began to work his way into the clear, making his run down the outside midway down the straight. He emerged between horses to make his challenge with 200m to run but Mojave Desert was flying down along the fence. He was no match for the winner, but he stuck on well to finish in second place. PACKING BOLD led the field in the run and set up a strong tempo under Jerry Chau. He was strong to the line out in front, only caught late by both Mojave Desert and Gummy Gummy as he got tired, but he was very solid.
Race 11 – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.44 Standard Time: 1:21.85 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
Zac Purton also scored a double on the card, steering home the very impressive and progressive PATCH OF STARS (AUS 3yo g All Too Hard – Tuscany Lady) who looks a nice galloper on the rise. The gelding got away well and landed in a handy position under Purton with a solid tempo being set up front. Purton improved a touch past the 1000m point as he raced in a midfield position off the back, but he had to creep closer as he was spotting the leader 5-1/4 lengths with 800m to run. He was just cruising through the middle stages and he was able to get to the outside with ease on the turn and the race was over with 400m to run. The gelding ambled up to the leaders early in the stretch under a strong Purton hold and he took the lead with 300m to run. Purton clicked him up inside the final 200m and he shot away and put the race to bed, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in very impressive style with Purton not having to raise the heart rate at all. VICTORY SKY landed in the one-out-one-back position for Derek Leung, and he tracked into the race strongly as he got into the clear on the turn. He loomed up on the outside but just as he moved up, Patch Of Stars flew right by him. He stuck on well to the line to finish a clear second, but the winner was just too good. MASTER OF ALL led the field at a solid tempo and kept on well to the finish, crossing the line in third position, beaten 2-1/2 lengths in a strong effort.
Check out the latest South African News