Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Sha Tin 4th January 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – Tai Lam Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:22.03 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.40 Fight Time
THE CONCENTRATION (AUS 5yo g Hellbent – Ivy Blue) kicked off the card in style, with Frenchman Maxime Guyon and Ricky Yiu combining for a strong closing victory. Eased back from his wide draw, the gelding found himself with more than 5 lengths to make up turning for home, but once balanced he began to build through his gears. Sweeping past the leader at the 100m, he maintained a decisive surge to score by a 1/2 length. GALE SAGA, under Karis Teetan, made his run alongside the winner and was full of momentum late, but the task proved too great after straightening nearly 7 lengths off the pace. He closed strongly to grab second. STERLING WONGCHOY had ensured a solid tempo throughout and fought on bravely after being headed, holding third 1-1/4 lengths away.
Race 2 – Tsam Chuk Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.87 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 0.56.65 United We Stand
SIGHT HERMOSO (AUS 4yo g Headwater – Rose Queen) continued his rise in race two, with Brenton Avdulla and John Size combining for what now has the lightly‑raced gelding two‑from‑four. Allowed to sit back early, Avdulla was intent on keeping him in touch, urging him along throughout to maintain contact with the front division. The real momentum shift came from the 400m, where Avdulla peeled wider, threading a neat passage to the outside fence. Once he balanced up and found that outside rail, SIGHT HERMOSO lengthened powerfully, joining the leader inside the final 50m before careering away late to score by a decisive 1-1/2 lengths. LAHORE had raced prominently throughout and took over when the sprint went on at the 400m, opening up a healthy break to the 100m. He was soon claimed by the winner's superior turn of foot but held a clear margin over the rest. LIVE WIRE sat just behind the early speed, appeared to hit a flat spot when they quickened, but picked up strongly again late to grab third in a photo, 2-3/4 lengths from the winner.
Race 3 – Tai Mong Tsai Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.84 Standard Time: 1:08.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
BRIGHT MORTAR (AUS 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Divine Miss Magnus) relished the drop in trip and produced a booming finish to claim race three in a heart‑stopper, with just 3/4 of a length covering the first six home. Under Angus Chung for Tony Cruz, the gelding was slowly away from his low draw and found himself in a tough spot—last on the fence and struggling to keep in touch early. Chung didn't panic. He bided his time, eased off the rail approaching the home turn, and immediately asked his mount to lift once they straightened. Still with more than 6 lengths to make up, BRIGHT MORTAR threaded through the field and built momentum with every stride. He surged inside the final 100m, lunging right on the line to snatch the win in a perfectly timed bob. ONE MAN SHOW had enjoyed the run of the race, parked leaders‑back throughout. He pushed off the fence early in the straight, took over at the 200m, and fought hard when challenged, only to be collared in the final stride and beaten a short head. SO MY FOLKS was brave after racing on speed, sticking on resolutely in the blanket finish to grab third, just 1/2 a length from the winner.
Race 4 – Tai Mong Tsai Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:08.38 Standard Time: 1:08.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
SUPREME SEA (AUS 3yo g Sebring Sun – Tough Baby) justified his market support on debut, getting the job done in authoritative fashion under Lyle Hewitson for the Mark Newnham stable. Jumping cleanly from a favourable draw, the gelding parked perfectly behind the leading pair with the ideal trail. Hewitson bided his time, then presented him beautifully on straightening, easing into the three‑wide line and asking for the full effort passing the 300m. The response was immediate. SUPREME SEA surged, joined in within a handful of strides, and quickly put the race to bed, careering away late to score by 1-3/4 lengths in a dominant maiden success. MONTA FRUTTA was the only runner to make meaningful ground from the back, turning in a sharp closing effort to grab second. JUICY DRAGON, who had travelled alongside the winner throughout, stuck on bravely in the straight but couldn't match the winner's superior turn of foot, finishing 2-1/2 lengths away in third.
Race 5 – Broadwood Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.36 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
GALLANT APPROACH (NZ 5yo g Iffraaj – Bella Grace) snapped a 329‑day drought in style in race five, with Maxime Guyon bringing up his double and turning the contest into a one‑act affair for Francis Lui. Positive from a middle draw, Guyon rolled forward to take control and once he found the front the favourite was never headed. Travelling sweetly throughout, he straightened more than a length clear before booting away passing the 300m, opening up a decisive break and then cruising through the final strides to score comfortably by 1-1/2 lengths. MONARCH COUNTY produced a sharp run for second, weaving through traffic after turning three pairs back on the fence and finishing off strongly once clear. ABSOLUTE HONOUR enjoyed the perfect trail behind the leader and stuck on honestly, but couldn't match the winner's acceleration, holding third 1-3/4 lengths away.
Race 6 – The Po Leung Kuk Cup Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1400m – Track Good
Time: 1:21.54 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon
POSITIVE SMILE (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Eva Godiva) delivered a commanding performance in race six, with Keith Yeung and David Hayes combining for a win that oozed confidence. Settling midfield behind a genuine tempo, Yeung judged the race to perfection, biding his time before easing into clear air at the top of the straight. Once presented, POSITIVE SMILE unleashed an impressive turn of foot, sweeping up to the leaders at the 300m and putting the race away in a matter of strides. He was so dominant that Yeung was able to ease him down late, scoring by a comfortable 1-1/4 lengths. FLOW WATER FLOW was the eye‑catcher from the back, storming home under Hugh Bowman after a very conservative ride on the well‑supported second pick. He made significant late ground but simply had too much to do. MR COOL, the race favourite, travelled well behind the winner throughout and closed off soundly, but couldn't match POSITIVE SMILE's acceleration, finishing 2 lengths away in third.
Race 7 – Leighton Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.09 Standard Time: 1:34.25 Course/Class record: 1:32.24 Preciousship
It was the two big gun jockeys going at it here with Zac Purton proving too good aboard the 3.5 favourite SAGACIOUS LIFE (BRZ 4yo g Put It Back – Quatro Islas). Trained by Pierre Ng, the lightly raced gelding made it two wins from three starts, seeing off Hugh Bowman's mount SOLEIL FIGHTER by 3/4 of a length. Purton had Sagacious Life poised just off the speed and tracking Soleil Fighter into the straight, getting the upper hand inside the final furlong. It was a close go for third placing which eventually went the way of TOP DRAGON who found the line well, beaten 2 lengths.
Race 8 – The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Handicap), HK $4,200,000
Group 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 55.85 Standard Time: 0.55.90 Course/Class record: 0.54.96 Super Wealthy
Our sprint feature on the card at Group 3 level and it was clearly the win of the day, with STELLAR EXPRESS (FR 6yo g Zoustar – Darinja) leading throughout in scintillating fashion. He'd been an impressive Class 3 winner the start prior but the opposition was tougher here which saw the John Size trained galloper a $13 chance, but he never looked like losing under Andrea Atzeni, going on to score by three lengths. The 1.8 favourite, COLOURFUL KING, ran on well from back in the field and still managed to put 1-1/4 lengths on third, which went to seasoned Group performer Invincible Sage.
Race 9 – Tai Tong Shan Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:07.87 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Once again it was Purton getting the wood over Bowman as VICTORY SKY (AUS 5yo g US Navy Flag – No Tricks) controlled the race and justified favouritism with a strong two length victory. Drawn ideally in barrier three, Purton kicked up aboard the Ricky Yiu trained galloper and moved up boldly outside the leader on the turn, kicking clear in the straight. SWIFT ASCEND had his chance for Bowman who settled a pair further back and followed the winner but couldn't make much ground, holding off BLAZING WIND who ran on well from back in the field after drawing wide. It marked back-to-back victories for Victory Sky who ran slick overall time and can win again next time out.
Race 10 – Pak Tam Chung Handicap, HK $1,860,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.06 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
Another favourite home here in the form of LOYAL BRIGHT (AUS 4yo g Better Than Ready – Mostly Lucky) for trainer Frankie Lor, ridden by Derek Leung, and once again the ability to lead paid dividends. Unbeaten in three starts at Toowoomba, North Queensland before coming to Hong Kong, Loyal Bright went straight to the lead here to win his first race at Sha Tin by two lengths as the even-money favourite. It was very much a case of the others fighting out the minors, but second went to GOLDENTRONICMIGHTY who tracked the speed and stuck on ahead of GALACTIC VOYAGE who was the eye catcher from the back. The chasers simply had too much to do against Loyal Bright who controlled the tempo well and proved far too smart.
Race 11 – Tai Tong Handicap, HK $2,050,000,
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1600m – Track Good
Time: 1:34.63 Standard Time: 1.34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit
Jockey Harry Bentley struck in the last race aboard LOVERO (JPN 7yo g Lord Kanaloa – Sacred Sight) who nabbed his first win since November 2024 and his first at Sha Tin. He'd run well for second the start prior and the ride proved the difference in the end, with Bentley guiding the Brett Crawford trained galloper to a narrow victory, scoring by just a nose. He settled Lovero midfield, one off the fence with cover in run and brought him to the outside around the turn, moving up boldly at the 250m mark to take a clear lead. SMART AVENUE got going late from well back in the field to make things interesting over the concluding stages but Lovero had pinched a winning break. LEGEND WINNER stuck on fairly well for third but was 2-1/2 lengths off the winner while the favourite, EVERYONE'S STAR for Purton was off the bit early and could only manage to pick up late for fifth.
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