Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin 27th December 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Wong Chuk Wan Handicap, HK $ 1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.34 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
SALON S (AUS 3yo g Zousain – Divine City) justified his market support and remained unbeaten, making it two from two with a professional front-running display for Matthew Poon and Frankie Lor. Away fairly from a middle draw, Poon was positive early, urging his mount forward to take up the lead on settling, and from there the race shape barely shifted. Rolling along at a genuine tempo, SALON S travelled comfortably and maintained a healthy margin on his pursuers into the straight. Still held together until the 300m, Poon then asked for an effort and the gelding responded sharply, kicking clear and sustaining his momentum to score decisively by 1-3/4 lengths. TURIN CHAMPIONS was the clear eye-catcher, after settling near the tail from a wide draw under Hugh Bowman for David Hayes. He did become unbalanced and shifted in at the top of the straight, but once balanced he powered down the outside, making strong late ground to hit the line hard. Outsider CORSSVORDERDUDE also closed off well, doing his best work late to round out the placings, beaten 3 lengths.
Race 2 – Tulip Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.67 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
AURIO (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Madame Cactus) rewarded favourite backers again in race two, this time going one better under James Orman for Manfred Man after narrowly missing first-up. Away fairly from the inside draw, Orman ensured the gelding held a prominent position, keeping him honest early before settling perfectly behind the leader on the fence. Allowing the front-runner to roll along at a genuine clip, Orman remained patient, though supporters may have felt a flicker of nerves when the leader kicked clear at the top of the straight, leaving AURIO more than 3 lengths to bridge. Once asked to quicken, however, the favourite responded superbly, lengthening with purpose to sweep past the leader at the 150m and power away for an authoritative 3 length victory. LITTLE MONSTER, for Jerry Chau and Cody Mo, lifted strongly late to grab second after appearing flat-footed early in the straight, making up significant ground from midfield. VICTORY CHAMPION also closed off well down the outside but was left with too much to do, finishing 3-1/4 lengths from the winner.
Race 3 – Long Ke Handicap, HK $3,120,000,
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 2000m – Good
Time: 2:00.94 Standard Time: 2:01.70 Course/Class record: 1:59.53 Glorious Fever
NUMBERS (NZ 4yo g Tivaci – Sheezababe) controlled proceedings from start to finish, delivering a polished front-running performance under Derek Leung to hand Frankie Lor an early double. Jumping cleanly from a middle draw, Leung wasted no time taking his mount to the lead, rolling along at a genuine tempo while rivals kept him honest throughout. Still holding less than a length when straightening, NUMBERS continued to lift under Leung's urgings, maintaining his advantage all the way down the straight and fending off all challengers to score by a tidy length. Race favourite WINNING WAY closed strongly from the tail under Dylan Mo, but after turning more than five lengths off the leader, the task proved too great and he had to settle for second. GENTLEMEN LEGACY also made late inroads, finishing 1-1/4 lengths from the winner in third.
Race 4 – Yung Shue O Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – All Weather – Distance 1800m – Good
Time: 1:49.85 Standard Time: 1.49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.67 Lucky Bole
FOREMOST TEDDY (Aus 5yo g Fastnet Rock – Moqueen)stamped his authority on race four, producing a dominant pillar-to-post display under Karis Teetan for Danny Shum. Away fairly from his low draw, Teetan was intent on taking control, urging the gelding forward early to find the front and hold the rail. Once there, the pair never looked troubled. Travelling sweetly throughout, FOREMOST TEDDY straightened with just under a length in hand before Teetan asked for more at the 300m. The response was immediate and emphatic - he kicked right away and coasted to the line, scoring arrogantly by 2-3/4 lengths. SUPER HING KONG, under Richard Kingscote, was under pressure well before the bend but refused to yield, charging hard up the inside late to snatch second. ATOMIC BEAUTY had eyeballed the winner to the turn and stuck on bravely despite being outpaced in the straight, finishing 3 lengths away in third.
Race 5 – Tai Long Tsui Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Good
Time: 1:09.29 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
MOUNT EVEREST (AUS 4yo g Exceed And Excel – Divine Centuri) caused a major upset in race five, storming home late under Keith Yeung to score for Chris So. Away only fairly from his low draw, the gelding struggled to keep pace early and drifted back to settle off‑midfield on the fence. Still glued to the rail turning for home with 4 lengths to make up, he began to build momentum behind runners but was held up between the 300m and 150m. Once the gap finally appeared, MOUNT EVEREST exploded through, surging late and thrusting his neck out right on the line to win by that exact margin. Fellow outsider MASTER PHOENIX, who had travelled a pair ahead under Vincent Ho for David Eustace, was forced wider upon straightening and closed off well, but couldn't match the winner's sharp burst up his inside. CLOUD NINE ensured a strong tempo in front and fought on bravely in the straight, clinging to third 1-1/4 lengths away. Race favourite PACKING PHOENIX stalked the pace throughout but failed to let down in the straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
Race 6 – Tai Tan Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.09 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
HAPPY BOSS (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Art Series) didn't keep David Eustace waiting long, shedding his maiden tag at just his second career start with a polished performance under Luke Ferraris in race six. After catching the eye on debut with a strong late finish, the gelding progressed nicely at start two to get the verdict. Away fairly from a middle draw, Ferraris allowed the early speed to unfold and was content to settle midfield with cover, giving his mount a smooth, trouble-free run. With no dramas in transit, he eased HAPPY BOSS into the clear at the top of the straight, still with 3 lengths to make up. Once balanced, the gelding began to build through his gears, really lengthening inside the final 200m. He struck the front at the 100m and kept finding, showing determination to fend off the late closers and prevail by a head. STAR STAYR gave the winner the biggest fright, darting back up the inside after tracking him throughout and weaving a clever path in the straight to make it tight on the line. AEROVOLANIC was also brave, racing to the outside of HAPPY BOSS the entire way and forced even wider on the turn, yet still sticking on gamely to finish 1/2 a length away in third.
Race 7 – Wong Yi Chau Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.53 Standard Time: 1:39.05 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
SIGHT DREAMER (NZ 4yo g Almanzor – Sacred Rhythm) delivered exactly what favourite-backers hoped for in race seven, producing a commanding pillar-to-post victory under Andrea Atzeni for John Size. Much like the earlier All Weather contest in race four, the favourite jumped cleanly from barrier four and Atzeni wasted no time urging him forward to take control and hold the rail. Once in front, the gelding travelled comfortably, rolling along at a solid clip while being kept honest by those stalking behind him. Holding just over a length when rounding the home turn, Atzeni asked for the full effort approaching the 300m. SIGHT DREAMER responded with purpose, digging in to keep his rivals at bay before extending his margin late, powering clear to score decisively by 2 lengths. Both FASHION LEGEND and YODA'S CHOICE tracked the winner throughout and loomed momentarily at the top of the straight, but neither could match his superior turn of foot. FASHION LEGEND stuck on well enough to win the photo for second back on the inside, with a good gap back to the rest.
Race 8 – Sham Chung Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.85 Standard Time: 0:56.45 Course/Class record: 0:54.89 Voyage Warrior
MAGNIFIQUE (NZ 4yo g Charm Spirit – Of Dee Jay) continued his upward trajectory in race eight, giving James Orman a well-earned double for the David Hall stable. Well supported in all four career starts, the progressive sprinter jumped fairly from his wide draw before sliding into a smooth rhythm on the speed. Travelling comfortably throughout, he was poised to strike turning for home and took over at the 300m. Once asked to lengthen, MAGNIFIQUE quickened smartly down the outside rail, sustaining his run to the line to score by a length. FAST RESPONDER, under Andrea Atzeni, tracked the winner every step of the way and produced a strong late surge, ducking back to the inside to issue his challenge, but ultimately couldn't reel him in. CHILL BUDDY also loomed at the 300m and stuck on bravely down the centre of the track, holding third despite being unable to match the winner's acceleration, beaten 2-1/4 lengths.
Race 9 – Tai Long Au Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – All Weather- Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.08 Standard Time: 1:38.60 Course/Class record: 1.36.79 True Legend
NEW FOREST kept the All Weather pattern firmly intact in race nine, delivering another authoritative front-running victory for Mark Newnham under a confident ride from Lyle Hewitson. One of the quickest into stride from his middle draw, Hewitson wasted no time sliding across to take up the lead and hold the fence. Although kept honest by a few around him, NEW FOREST travelled comfortably throughout and maintained control of the race shape. Turning for home with over a length in hand, Hewitson asked for more and the gelding responded immediately, booting clear and putting the race beyond doubt. The margin was only a length at the post, but he was cruising late and appeared to have something up his sleeve. DEFINITIVE finished off strongly for second after enjoying a soft run three pairs back on the fence, saving every inch of ground before closing well inside the final furlong. ANOTHER WORLD, who had settled a pair ahead of him and tracked the winner into the home turn, stuck on gamely but was edged out late, finishing 1-1/4 lengths away in third.
Race 10 – Shui Long Wo Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.24 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
JUMBO TREASURE (AUS 5yo g Written Tycoon – Secret Liasion) capped the card with a strong first-up, all-the-way victory, giving Derek Leung a well-earned double for the Cody Mo stable. Sharp into stride from a middle draw, Leung wasted no time taking control, sliding across to lead where the race shape barely shifted. Bowling along at a solid clip, he still held a length turning for home, travelling comfortably before being asked to lift at the 300m. The gelding responded, kicking on strongly and continuing to find, doing just enough to fend off the late surge of race favourite SZERYNG, scoring by a head. After jumping one of the quickest, Zac Purton aboard SZERYNG was forced to snag back from his wide alley in search of cover, eventually landing midfield in the three-wide line with protection. He loomed ominously down the centre of the track and looked every chance of overhauling the leader, but despite his full effort he couldn't quite reel in JUMBO TREASURE. The eye-catcher was NEW FUTURE FOLKS, who settled near the rear before unleashing a powerful late burst, charging home to finish a length away in third. A tidy return from the winner and a strong finale to the meeting
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