Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin will close out Derby day at 12:45 a.m. EDT Sunday, 9:45 p.m. PDT Saturday. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free Handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.
Race 1: 2 Autumn Vibes, 13 Triumphant Warrior, 1 Always Fluke, 14 Supreme Winner
Race 2: 8 Virtus Glory, 10 Leading Dragon, 1 Master Lucky, 4 Chiu Chow Golf
Race 3: 4 View All Things, 9 Yee Cheong Raider, 3 Winning Machine, 8 Winning Diamond
Race 4: 14 Sunny Q, 12 Incredible Moment, 3 Quartz Legend, 13 Riding High
Race 5: 6 Jubilant Star, 2 Gallant Design, 1 Circuit Fiery, 7 Let’s Have Fun
Race 6: 5 Nautical Force, 2 Winning Wing, 3 Gentlemen Legacy, 1 Stunning Peach
Race 7: 5 Vermilion Tempest, 6 Amazing Gaze, 8 Volcanic Spark, 1 Charity Together
Race 8: 8 Sky Jewellery, 2 Stormy Grove, 11 Pocketing, 9 Max Que
Race 9: 9 Shamus Storm, 8 Enthusium, 1 Aerodynamics, 3 Pope Cody
Race 10: 9 Red Maestro, 14 Baby Sakura, 8 Quantum Legend, 12 Exceed The Limit
Race 11: 1 Crossborderpegasus, 14 Almighty Lightning, 4 Turquoise Velocity, 2 Smart Golf
Race 1 – Celebrating Our Shared Champion Spirit Handicap
No. 2 Autumn Vibes is the interesting runner on the stable switch to Brett Crawford and his trial for the new yard was a good sign. He drops into class 5 for the first time and Purton taking the ride adds to the appeal. No. 13 Triumphant Warrior gets Nichola Yuen and her claim brings him in on 114 pounds, while his form has been heading the right way since joining Jamie Richards. Post 8 gives him the chance to be positive and give a sight. No. 1 Always Fluke has a wide draw to overcome, but his form has been strong this season with three placings from four starts. A genuinely run race can bring him into it late. No. 14 Supreme Winner has turned things around since joining the Douglas Whyte stable and comes off a maiden win over Always Fluke.
Race 2 – Ownership Pride Handicap
No. 8 Virtus Glory is a likeable debutant for Ricky Yiu and his trial work has been impressive enough to suggest he is ready to run well first-up. Post 13 is not ideal, but the speed map looks uncertain and that can still allow him to find a handy position and bring his trial form to race day. No. 10 Leading Dragon is improving with racing and took a clear step forward last time when runner-up to Elite Golf after leading throughout. Similar tactics look on the cards again. No. 1 Master Lucky is worth another chance after a poor trip at Happy Valley last time, finishing seventh but beaten only two and a quarter lengths. The run was better than it reads. No. 4 Chiu Chow Golf is a newcomer for the Frankie Lor stable and his trials have been trending the right way. Post 2 gives him the chance to land a good spot and run a race on debut.
Race 3 – Racing Heritage Handicap
No. 4 View All Things maps well from post 3 and comes off an encouraging first-up run, awkward away before settling back and closing nicely into fifth. Purton takes over, and the way he trialled between runs under him was a good sign. No. 9 Yee Cheong Raider has found form since joining the Brett Crawford stable, running back-to-back seconds, and he deserves his chance to go one better. He had to do it from post 12 last time and post 2 is the key swing in his favor. No. 3 Winning Machine was third in that same race and was sent off at very short odds under Moreira. It was a slowly run contest where most had their chance, so he may be a better price this time with Ellis Won aboard. No. 8 Winning Diamond finished fourth in the same event and was the one making the clearest late ground. Post 12 is not ideal, but the booking of Hugh Bowman adds interest.
Race 4 – The Hilltop in the Valley Handicap
No. 14 Sunny Q gets a kinder gate in post 3 after jumping from 9 last time, settling back and running on well into ninth. There does not look to be much speed on paper, so the key is being close enough in running early, because his turn of foot can still see him play a role. No. 12 Incredible Moment draws post 1 and shapes as the likely leader, giving himself the best opportunity yet to break through for a win. No. 3 Quartz Legend goes on in first-time blinkers, which catches the eye, and while post 13 is awkward, his form is good enough to have him in the mix. No. 13 Riding High can also make his own luck on speed from post 4 and, even though he is better placed in class 5, he is not without hope under today’s conditions.
Race 5 – Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap
No. 6 Jubilant Star has been forced into quiet tactics from wide gates at his last three starts and gets a better chance from a middle draw today, with Purton sticking aboard. He was badly held up in the straight last time, so there is a forgive factor too. No. 2 Gallant Design looks close to a win after four very good runs, but he has had to do it with a few things against him at times, awkward draws and not always beginning cleanly. The ability is there. No. 1 Circuit Fiery looks the likely leader from post 5 under Nichola Yuen’s 10-pound claim. That will prove a real asset in a race like this and they’ll be in it for a long while. No. 7 Let’s Have Fun showed he is on an upward trajectory last start when he attracted strong support and responded with his best effort yet when third.
Race 6 – The Queen Mother Memorial Cup
No. 5 Nautical Force made a statement on debut, winning well straight up in class 2 over 1 1/8 miles. This is a deeper test stepping into Group 3 company, but he beat the key rivals fair and square that day and the performance stood up on the clock. No. 2 Winning Wing carries weight but brings the strongest form, a Group 1 third behind Romantic Warrior at set weights two runs ago, then dropping back to 1 1/8 miles and still finishing off well into eighth to Nautical Force after being ridden well back. The step up to 1 1/2 miles is new ground, but he shapes as though he will relish it. No. 3 Gentlemen Legacy draws post 1 and looks suited by the run of the race, while the extra trip is what he has been calling for. No. 1 Stunning Peach has a big weight to shoulder as well, but the rise in distance suits.
Race 7 – Beas River Country Club Handicap
No. 5 Vermilion Tempest is worth another look after a few luckless runs since dropping into class 4. He gets a good draw today and the switch to Sha Tin can suit. He is not without hope at a price. No. 6 Amazing Gaze is trending the right way and a kinder gate helps after posts have not been his friend. Gate 8 is an improvement and gives him the chance to capitalise. No. 8 Volcanic Spark has been threatening all season, placing a few times from seven starts, and post 2 sets him up for every chance after going down by a head over 1 1/4 miles last time. No. 1 Charity Together broke through for his first Hong Kong win in that same race, getting the better of Volcanic Spark at 1 1/4 miles, and the drop back to 1 1/8 miles does not look an issue. Post 3 gives him the opportunity to map a winning chance again.
Race 8 – The Members Cup
No. 8 Sky Jewellery returned from a bleed in style, scoring a stunning seven furlong win at the top of class 3 on a day where not many won from his position in running. He looks a serious talent with more to come and still appears ahead of the handicapper. No. 2 Stormy Grove steps back from the Derby after finishing third behind Invincible Ibis, and his Classic Cup win earlier was ultra impressive. He is still untapped, but top weight asks the question in this line-up. No. 11 Pocketing can roll forward from post 11 and, if they choose to use that option, he may get a soft time in front. Second-up improvement is the angle. No. 9 Max Que comes off a strong class 2 win and, under this ratings band, carries less weight, keeping him well placed again.
Race 9 – Conghua Racecourse Handicap
No. 9 Shamus Storm had excuses last week, bumped at the start and ending up further back than usual, then doing good work late after striking traffic in the straight and finishing sixth. He draws inside today and tries 1 1/4 miles for the first time, which adds interest. No. 8 Enthusium looks close to a win after three local runs, his first two from wide draws where he did better than the results suggest, then improving again into third last time with a kinder gate. No. 1 Aerodynamics took luck out of it last start, rolling to the lead from an outside stall and allowing Purton to dictate. The map may not be as kind this time, but he has tactical versatility and still looks to have more improvement in him. No. 3 Pope Cody will be settling back and looking to be working into it late if the tempo suits.
Race 10 – Shenzhen Centre Handicap
No. 9 Red Maestro made an encouraging debut over six furlongs, finishing fifth in a race that has since turned into a strong form reference, with runner-up Geneva and Jubilant Winner in fourth both winning next time. He has trialled since and showed improvement. No. 14 Baby Sakura gets in very light, carrying 17 pounds less than last time when he finished a luckless third. He is still a maturing three-year-old, but the talent is obvious. No. 8 Quantum Legend was well fancied on debut but could only manage ninth, not beaten far, and the step up to seven furlongs second-up looks an interesting move but can suit. Post 2 helps him land a clean run in a competitive race. No. 12 Exceed The Limit is coming on with racing and post 3 gives him the chance to run a race at odds.
Race 11 – Beijing Clubhouse Handicap
No. 1 Crossborderpegasus jumped fairly before blundering and losing ground first-up, then running on well into fifth from post 10 in a race that did not suit those settling back. It was his first run in four months, so he will be fitter second-up, and the tempo looks more suitable today. No. 14 Almighty Lightning takes on a tougher assignment, stepping up in both trip and class, but he has shown ability in two starts. First-time blinkers are the new angle and post 2 gives him the chance to map well off what should be a genuine tempo. No. 4 Turquoise Velocity is ultra-consistent and maps for a sweet run from post 3 and should have plenty of options in transit. No. 2 Smart Golf has trialled well since his last run, when he made it three wins from five, and while he faces more pressure in the map this time, he remains an untapped four-year-old with more to come.
Luke Middlebrook is a contributor at Idol Horse. After blogging about the sport for years, he spent eight years in Singapore as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing form and editorial content for racing in Hong Kong and Singapore. Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.