Racing returns to Hong Kong’s famed Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday and a ten-race card awaits.
We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you and a full preview of each race and Sha Tin tips can be found below.
Kwai Chung Elite hasn’t been seen at the races since late January, but he is a classy horse when he puts it all together and looks a winning chance in the first. The four-year-old son of Poet’s Voice found form around some decent horses in spring and trainer Richard Gibson has elected to throw on the blinkers for this contest. This is a pretty open race and I’ll be happy to have something small each-way on this bloke to begin the card.
Karis Teetan has been riding like a man possessed all season (though he was recently suspended) and he looks capable of steering another winner home here, in the form of Cheerful Star. Cheerful Star has been a model of consistency this preparation and ran home well to finish on the placegetters’ heels at Happy Valley last time out. He can take a position off the pace and needs only even luck to be running home well again.
Fantasy could hardly have been more impressive during his short racing career so far and he probably won’t be offered a better opportunity to win than this. The Sizzling gelding won on debut and has missed a place only once in five career starts so far. He hit the line with intent to finish second here a fortnight ago and he’ll carry a very manageable weight here, with Joao Moreira engaged to ride.
This looks a pretty open race and City Legend looms as a live chance at an each-way price. His runs have been spaced and I like that he was sent for a trial prior to finish midfield at this track and distance three weeks ago. He will have to make up lengths on a couple of these rivals, but I do think that he harbours upside and he does meet a couple better at the weights.
Jade Phoenix has quickly stamped himself as a horse to follow and is primed to break his maiden at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Frankie Lor-trained gelding hasn’t missed a place in three starts so far and flew home to finish second here last week. I like that he’s on the short back up and he will take plenty of beating. He’s my best bet of the program.
Sam’s Love only just missed here last time out and he looks capable of going one better on Sunday. The Smart Missile gelding has been freshened since that performance and typically does race well early in his preparations. I like that Zac Purton is jumping into the saddle and he could very well enjoy the run of the race from barrier 4.
Chad Schofield will jump aboard a live hope in War Of Courage and with even luck, will be hard to beat. The three-year-old son of Declaration Of War has a brief freshen up after winning at this track and distance in late January and resumed three weeks ago to finish second by the barest of margins. He’s weighted well and with natural improvement, is the one to beat.
Superich hasn’t been seen at races for a month and has been charged with carrying topweight, but all signs point to a big performance at Sha Tin on Sunday. The five-year-old mixed his form a little in summer, but he was utterly dominant in quick time at a trial last week and looks like he’s really going to bounce back this week. Drawn well, Purton takes the ride – I’m happy to be with him.
This is a wide-open field and there is a case to be made for several horses in the market. I can’t find an angle that I am particularly confident in, so I’m going to stay out of it.
Perfect Match was last seen winning over 1400m here in late January and can made a winning return. The Not A Single Doubt gelding stepped out in far tougher races than this one last time in and I like the way he worked home in a trial a couple of weeks ago. Happy to end the card with something on him.