Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin is Sunday morning at 4 a.m. EDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free Handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.
Race 1: 6 Jedi Spurs, 7 Quantum Wukong, 4 Sharp Planet, 1 Chancheng Sparkle
Race 2: 8 Country Dancer, 9 Viva Chaleur, 4 Always Fluke, 3 Robot Knight
Race 3: 9 Francis Meynell, 1 Flash Current, 6 Eternal Richness, 4 Sky Deep
Race 4: 2 Enthralled, 6 Absolute Honour, 14 On The Lash, 12 Smart Fat Cat
Race 5: 1 Juicy Dragon, 5 One Man Show, 3 Happy Shooter, 2 Pejibaye
Race 6: 7 Polar Patch, 11 Gorgeous Victory, 9 Voyage Boss, 1 Meaningful Dragon
Race 7: 3 Superb Spirit, 6 Lucrative Eight, 5 Sight Dreamer, 1 Island Buddy
Race 8: 3 Packing Angel, 8 Mighty Masts, 1 Sagacious Life, 5 Max Que
Race 9: 1 Victory Sky, 3 Turquoise Velocity, 10 Pi Legend, 2 Blazing Wind
Race 10: 2 Endued, 8 Big Return, 4 Power Of Vitam, 11 Complete Unknown
Race 11: 3 Super Express, 7 Aerovolanic, 14 Conrad Patch, 12 Baby Sakura
Race 1 – Sunbird Plate
No. 6 Jedi Spurs has trialed well twice ahead of his debut. He has taken a step forward each time and has shown good gate speed, suggesting he can lead on debut and prove too classy for his rivals. No. 7 Quantum Wukong ran a slashing fourth on debut from the outside post over six furlongs and can take a step forward second-up. He draws the outside rail and maps for every chance. No. 4 Sharp Planet placed second on debut at this course and distance two starts ago, when he started favorite and was beaten under a length. Second-up, he drew wide stepping to six furlongs, settled back and raced wide. A run to forget. No. 1 Chancheng Sparkle was held up for a good part of the straight on debut before getting out late and running on into fifth. It was an encouraging effort and one he can improve on second-up.
Race 2 – Shearwater Handicap
No. 8 Country Dancer looks to get the right run from post 3. This is his fourth run back in class 5, where he is a two-time winner, and the set-up gives him the chance to capitalize. No. 9 Viva Chaleur has a poor turf record at Sha Tin, but he arrives in career-best form on the all-weather and could now be ready to translate that to turf. No. 4 Always Fluke might not have enjoyed the rain-affected track last start and is better than that. He gets another look. No. 3 Robot Knight will lead from post 1 and look to repeat his last-start all-weather win over Viva Chaleur.
Race 3 – Swan Handicap
No. 9 Francis Meynell gets every chance to break through today with Purton in the saddle for the first time and post 3 to work with, where he looks set to get a sweet on-pace run throughout. No. 1 Flash Current is back into class 4 and is one to follow, while Jerry Chau taking the ride also catches the eye. He is yet to team with Jimmy Ting for a win this season, but this is only their 10th pairing today. No. 6 Eternal Richness resumes and trialed better just the other day. Post 2 should provide a good run and blinkers going back on is meaningful. No. 4 Sky Deep draws post 11, but he could come across easily in a race without much speed on paper. He needed the run last week, first-up off a long break, and was not beaten far.
Race 4 – Flamingo Handicap
No. 2 Enthralled maps for the right run from post 4 in a race that does not look to have much pressure. He has been knocking on the door since returning to class 4 and this looks like his shot. No. 6 Absolute Honour has lifted since the stable switch to Frankie Lor, with a win, a third and a fourth from three starts. Once again, he gets every chance with Purton staying aboard from post 3. No. 14 On The Lash looks the one to lead under Nichola Yuen’s 10-pound claim and will be in this for a long way if able to control the sectionals under steady going. No. 12 Smart Fat Cat has been consistent all season without capitalizing, with three placings from eight starts. First-up from a low draw, he can show something.
Race 5 – Sand Martin Handicap
No. 1 Juicy Dragon is thriving since switching to this track and distance and having visors applied. He comes off his second win from four starts with the gear change, has won a trial heat impressively between runs and gets his chance to win again in a hotly competitive race. No. 5 One Man Show can make use of post 1 to lead or be handy, which is required from the inside gate at this course and distance. He has also trialed well between runs, winning his heat since placing second here. No. 3 Happy Shooter should map just off the speed from post 2. He had his first spin at the track and distance two starts ago, checking in a close-up second. No. 2 Pejibaye is a talented horse resuming from injury and has looked well in his trials. Post 11 is the query.
Race 6 – Swan Handicap, div 2
No. 7 Polar Patch is only a three-year-old still starting to figure it out, but on the six-day turnaround off back-to-back thirds, he looks ready to win a race. The booking of Jerry Chau also instills confidence. No. 11 Gorgeous Victory has been itching to break through in recent runs but has not always had luck on his side. Purton taking the ride is meaningful and gives him every hope. No. 9 Voyage Boss has slid down the ratings and, with Nichola Yuen’s 10-pound claim accounted for, is well placed. He has not had much luck with the post draw in recent runs, making post 2 a big upgrade. No. 1 Meaningful Dragon has ability but has been hard to catch through his career. He won well again last start and remains a live chance if he turns up in the same form.
Race 7 – Anser Handicap
No. 3 Superb Spirit showed promise from a wide draw on debut, closing into fourth, before coming into post 4 second-up and winning well, better than the three-quarter-length margin suggests. He is only a three-year-old and his racing manners still show there is more improvement to come, with raw ability taking him a long way at this stage. No. 6 Lucrative Eight was second to Superb Spirit last start after doing the early work, making it three straight placings from as many starts. He is ready to win when the race shape unfolds to suit. No. 5 Sight Dreamer will appreciate a good tempo, which looks likely here, and his last start was a good return to turf when finishing second to Conrad Patch. No. 1 Island Buddy should not have to be used up as early as he was in his last two runs from wide draws, now that he comes into post 1.
Race 8 – Peacock Handicap
No. 3 Packing Angel has hit his straps recently, placing third three runs ago before going to Happy Valley to win his first race of the season, then backing it up with a fast-finishing fourth after getting too far back early. He made up a stack of late ground against the race shape, so there was plenty to like about the run. No. 8 Mighty Masts has a nice turn of foot and has acquitted himself well in two runs since rising to class 2, with a pair of thirds to Winning Ovation and Six Pack. He will sit back from post 9 and launch late. No. 1 Sagacious Life is first-up after a stable switch to Caspar Fownes and his roaring condition has been treated. Post 1 suits and his trial for Fownes was encouraging. No. 5 Max Que gets post 4 and that sets him up for a sweet run. Forget last start, when he failed to go on the rain-affected track.
Race 9 – Snipe Handicap
No. 1 Victory Sky gets a decent jockey switch to Jerry Chau and post 1 is ideal. He was well beaten into second by Blazing Wind last time, but had excuses after blundering at the start, losing ground and settling back before closing off best in the race. He is ready to turn the tables. No. 3 Turquoise Velocity has done little wrong in seven career starts, winning four and placing second once. He likes to go forward, making post 4 suitable for his first all-weather look. No. 10 Pi Legend steps out after a stable switch to Brett Crawford and trialed well for it, ridden quieter than what he has shown on race day. Similar tactics seem likely here. No. 2 Blazing Wind needs to overcome post 10 and an 11-point rise in the ratings, but he is thriving on the all-weather.
Race 10 – Spoonbill Handicap
No. 2 Endued gets post 2 and a race where the tempo looks good. He can camp just off it within striking range and sprint over the top late, having produced a series of solid efforts without much luck since winning six starts ago. No. 8 Big Return is thriving since stepping to the mile at this track, winning three on the bounce. This is tougher in a competitive class 3, but on form he stands out and can measure up with 14 pounds of weight relief. No. 4 Power Of Vitam mixes his form but arrives off an encouraging second at Happy Valley, and returning to this track and distance is no problem after winning here four starts ago over The Red Hare, who has since won a race. No. 11 Complete Unknown turned in his best run yet when third in a race like this and maps as a chance again from post 4.
Race 11 – Owl Handicap
No. 3 Super Express is first-up since late April, when he led from post 12, went too quickly in front and faded to sixth, beaten four lengths. Pacifiers go on for the first time today, and he has trialed impressively in them. Post 3 sets him up for a far more economical run and gives him the chance to bounce back to winning ways. No. 7 Aerovolanic also gets a post upgrade, coming into gate 2 from 14 after enduring a wide trip near the pace and plugging away for third on a yielding track. Conditions suit better today. No. 14 Conrad Patch rises in class and drops nicely in weight after posting his second win at start seven. There looks to be more to come from him. No. 12 Baby Sakura stuck on for fourth as favorite last start but had every chance to win. He is only a three-year-old and should improve even more next season.
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.