Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin - 30th November 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Class 4 1000m Turf Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.28 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
PACKING GLORY (NZ 4yo g Harry Angel – Monrecour) got the job done on debut, with Zac Purton in the saddle for Ricky Yiu. The gelding wasn't the fastest into stride, with Purton getting across from barrier two to settle down the middle of the course. He picked himself up through the middle stages however and was travelling very strongly as they ran onto the course proper. Purton got his mount into the clear with plenty of time remaining and the four-year-old let rip when he asked for an effort. He sprinted impressively down the middle of the course to hit the front with 150m to run and inched away for an impressive debut win, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths. SIGHT HERMOSO was able to position himself in a lovely position just behind the speed, racing close to the outside fence. Once Brenton Avdulla got his mount off heels and into the clear, he let down well to chase Packing Glory to the line, but the race was already over by that point. GET FRIENDLY stuck on well under Jerry Chau after sitting on the pace throughout, holding on to finish in third position as a $14 chance.
Race 2 – Class 5 1400m Turf Handicap, HK $875,000,
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.30 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.40 Fight Time
YOUNG HORIZON (AUS 7yo g Star Witness – Shalimar Sky) picked up his first win for over 12 months, with trainer Brett Crawford able to turn the gelding's form around at just his second start for the stable. Young Horizon didn't have the speed to go with his rivals in the early stages and ended up in the middle of the pack on settling down, remaining one off the tail as they turned off the back straight. From the 600m point, Teetan was angling for a run wider out, looking to get into the race around the home turn. He narrowly avoided heels on straightening, and once the Mauritian hoop got him going again he came with a strong finishing burst. He came with a strong run down the outside to join the leaders with 200m to run, taking the lead shortly after and getting away from them late to score by 1-1/4 lengths. BLING BLING GENIUS settled in the second half of the field under Hugh Bowman after being slowly into stride from barrier five. He raced along the inside rail turning off the back and with the field bunching on the home turn, the Australian hoop needed a touch of luck around the turn. He was held up on straightening, but Bowman was able to quicken well and slide into the clear approaching the furlong pole. Just as he was getting into the clear, Young Horizon blew by him down the outside and Bling Bling Genius couldn't reel him in. THE CONCENTRATION was a clear last on straightening under Luke Ferraris and he was held up for much of the straight. He finished off strongly once clear to finish in third position and looks primed for a bold effort if they step him up in distance.
Race 3 – Class 4 1200m AWT Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.71 Standard Time: 1:08.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
DAY DAY VICTORY (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Onemorezeta) made it back-to-back wins for Alex Badel and Michael Chang, proving too good for his rivals on the All Weather surface. The gelding was caught wide through the early stages of the race, with Alex Badel rolling forward under his own steam to sit handy to the speed out wide. He remained in a three-wide position throughout the run but quickly moved up to take the lead on straightening under his own steam. The gelding quickly put the race to bed when the French hoop asked for an effort, sprinting clear and landing the knockout blow, with the official margin being 1-3/4 lengths. GLACIATED jumped the race favourie for Maxime Guyon and was racing in the three-wide trail, settling in a midfield position. The French hoop improved to be on the back of Day Day Victory around the home turn, but he was under heavy pressure on straightening and couldn't match the winner when he sprinted at the 200m point. He stayed on well down to the line to finish in second position, but he was always well held by the winner. THUNDER PRINCE landed behind the leaders and had his chance if he was good enough. Hugh Bowman gave him a peach of a ride but was unable to reel in the first two past the post.
Race 4 – Class 4 1200m Turf Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.85 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner
Zac Purton made it an early double on the card as MAJESTIC VALOUR (AUS 4yo g Toronado – Margiela) put his rivals to the sword on debut. Purton pressed on from barrier six to land in the one-out-one-back position as they settled into stride and was enjoying a lovely run on the back of a strong speed. The gelding travelled well up to the home turn and was poised to strike on straightening, with Purton peeling into the clear. The four-year-old ambled up to the leaders early in the straight, before taking the lead with 150m remaining and showing plenty of late strength. He was very impressive late in the race, finishing 1-3/4 lengths in front after being eased down late in the race. EVER LUCK was heavily backed and jumped the $1.5 favourite. He led the field on settling down with the aid of an inside barrier, but he never had any peace up front, being eyeballed all the way around the turn. He fought off his main challenger with 250m to run but couldn't keep Majestic Valour at bay as he gained the upper hand with 150m to run. He finished a clear second, but the winner was in a league of his own. LEADING AGILITY was a long way back on straightening but closed off very impressively. Matthew Chadwick was able to weave his way through the traffic, before sticking his nose down on the line to take third position in a photo finish.
Race 5 – Class 4 1600m Turf Handicap, HK $1,170,000,
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:35.08 Standard Time: 1:34.90 Course/Class record: 1:33.28 Bright Inheritance
AUDACIOUS PURSUIT (NZ 4yo g Ardrossan – Dolce Amore) secured the victory he'd been building towards, getting his nose down on the line to secure his maiden win at start six. Hugh Bowman let the on-pace runners go early in the race and took a sit off the speed by the 1000m point. As they approached 800m point, the Australian picked up to be on the back of the leader around the home turn, waiting patiently for a run to present on straightening. Bowman bided his time before getting off heels and letting down with around 250m to run. It was a tight finish, with Audacious Pursuit only getting his nose in front in the final couple of strides. SMART FAT CAT bounded at the start and ended up further back than anticipated in the run under Zac Purton. He was midfield on settling down, being on the back of Audacious Pursuit in the run. Purton was hemmed up along the rail on straightening and was getting on heels around the home turn, but the gaps appeared for Smart Fat Cat to get wide. He quickened well once he did get into the clear, coming with a strong run late, though he was unable to reel in the winner. AMAZING DUCK held on to run third as a $27 chance after setting the tempo throughout. He was able to dictate proceedings up front and run the race to his liking.
Race 6 – Class 3 1200m AWT Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.15 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Hollie Doyle and Ricky Yiu combined to win with VICTORY SKY (AUS 5yo g U S Navy Flag – No Tricks) in race six on the card. Victory Sky jumped well and showed good speed early but drifted back on settling down to be in a midfield position as they turned off the back. The field split in two by the 600m point and Doyle always niggling at her mount to keep him within striking distance. Around the turn he had plenty of ground to make up, but he was coming home with a wet sail down the middle of the track. He mowed down the leader inside the final 100m, before getting away late in the race to score by 1-1/4 lengths in a very strong victory. AURORA PATCH was left racing three-wide up on the speed from a widfe barrier with Matthew Chadwick happy to take his medicine out deep. He travelled beautifully in the run, and he looked to have the race shot to bits when he let down early in the straight. He broke away from the rest of the pack, though Victory Sky was coming at him fast. He couldn't fend off the winner, but he finished a clear second. SUPER JOY N FUN finished off strongly out wide on the course after settling near the tail of the field in running. He finished a clear third, with almost two lengths further back to fourth.
Race 7 – Class 2 1600m Turf Handicap, HK $3,120,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.02 Standard Time: 1:34.25 Course/Class record: 1:32.96 Not Usual Talent
HONG LOK GOLF (AUS 5yo g Grunt – Sky Island) hadn't been at his best so far this campaign, but he returned to winning ways in race seven to add to his impressive record. After jumping from barrier one, Bentley was happy to lob into a midfield position aboard the gelding, settling along the fence. The speed was good early on and the field stretched right out as the two leaders fired each other up down the back straight. They came back to the pack with 800m remaining, causing some jostling for position around the home turn. This allowed Bentley to get off the fence however, working through the traffic on the home turn. He was held up for a run on straightening, but Bentley shot through the gap when it appeared with 150m to run. The gelding picked up impressively to mow down the leaders, scoring by a neck on the line in a brilliant effort. SOLEIL FIGHTER usually does his best work at Happ Valley or on the All Weather surface, though he turned in a bold performance to finish second as a $32 chance today. Andrea Atzeni rolled forward from barrier 13 and landed in third position on settling down with the leaders well ahead down the back. Atzeni avoided the rail as he moved one off the fence around the turn and continued wider heading into the straight. He and Steps Ahead made their runs together and it was a ding-dong battle right to the line. Steps Ahead looks to have his nose in front at stages, before Soleil Fighter gained the upper hand inside the final 50m once again. Once he got his nose in front, Hong Lok Golf claimed them both out wider. STEPS AHEAD had his chance if he was good enough under Zac Purton, with the Australian hoop giving his mount every chance. He had his nose in front of Soleil Fighter in the straight and couldn't fight him off in the dying stages.
Race 8 – Class 2 1000m Turf Handicap, HK $2,840,000,
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.35 Standard Time: 56.05 Course/Class record: 54.68 Valiant Dream
COLOURFUL KING (AUS 4yo g Blue Point – Hard Rider) looked to have a lap on his rivals in race eight, settling out the back and picking them off with ease down the Sha Tin straight. Purton snagged the gelding across to the grandstand rail from barrier two and was at the tail of the field as they ran onto the course proper. Purton was inching closer to the leaders down the grandstand rail before shifting back to the middle of the track with around 250m remaining. He came with a withering burst, taking the lead with ease and running away under hands and heels to score by 1-1/2 lengths. CRIMSON FLASH got out of the barriers quickly and was well positioned down the middle of the course. Andrea Atzeni was stalking the leader throughout the run and came off his heels to make a challenge with 400m remaining. He hit the front inside the final furlong but couldn't fend off the winner who was in a league of his own. BABY CRYSTAL got his nose down on the line to finish in third position after sitting handy to the speed as he scraped the paint down the grandstand rail.
Race 9 – Class 3 1200m Turf Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.09 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Ellis Wong and Danny Shum combined in the penultimate event to get MATTERS MOST (GB 4yo g Advertise – Squash) across the line. After jumping a $19 chance, apprentice Wong took the gelding straight to the front, getting across from barrier six to lead easily on settling down. A couple of rivals took him on as they approached the 800m point, but Wong kicked up to hold them out, setting a solid tempo in front. Despite the strong gallop, he travelled well turning for home and kicked away at the top of the straight to put three lengths on his rivals. The gap had widened at the furlong pole, but the gelding was beginning to feel the pinch late in the race. While he was tiring, he'd built a big enough gap back to his rivals and couldn't be caught, scoring by a neck on the lin. NEW FUTURE FOLKS settled in the back half of the field after being only moderately into stride. James McDonald was able to pinch some ground around the turn, sliding back to the inside and beneath his rivals on the home turn. The Kiwi hoop was held up on straightening, but the gelding was there for him when the gaps appeared. He got off heels and into clear air with 150m to run and he finished off strongly, though he ran out of time. SUPER STRONG KID enjoyed a lovely run just off the speed for Zac Purton after jumping a $1.9 chance. He had his chance to catch the leader if he was good enough, but he lacked the extra gear needed in the straight.
Race 10 – Class 3 1600m Turf Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:34.96 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
James McDonald ended the night on a winning note, bringing up a winning double for trainer David Eustace as DAZZLING FIT (NZ 4yo g Ribchester – Sapphire Lass) returned to winning ways. After looking to drift back in the early stages, McDonald then pushed forward from the 1200m point, settling just forward of midfield, though he was wide and without cover. He worked into the race nicely around the turn but was pushed four wide on straightening. That didn't seem to affect him however, being right there to strike at the top of the straight. The leader kicked strongly in the straight and it put Dazzling Fit on the back foot, though McDonald was clawing back the margin in the final furlong. He stuck his nose in front in the final couple of strides to steal the victory in a tight three-way finish. BEAUTY BOLT landed in the one-out-one-back position under Zac Purton, landing in a perfect spot. Purton gave him every chance in the run, and he sprinted well at the top of the straight and looked to be getting away from his rivals. That was until the final 100m where the weight may have gotten to him. He carried 11lbs more than the winner and 20lbs more than the third placegetter and was only beaten a short head. Things still seem on track for him to get to the 4YO Series. WITHALLMYFAITH had been on the back of the leader in running and once he got off heels he finished very strongly. He just missed out on second in a photo finish and was just a head off the winner.
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