International Horse Racing Tips: Sha Tin (Turf / AW) – 15th December 2019

A mix of All-Weather and Turf makes for an interesting afternoon of racing this Sunday 15th December 2019, at Sha Tin. 

The feature on the card comes in the 8th race, the Lukfook Jewellery Cup (Handicap) which is a Class 2 race over 1400m and it should be a very competitive affair. The best bet on the card comes earlier in the day, in the form of WOOD ON FIRE in the 5th race.

With two solid efforts over the 6-furlongs to start his career, he is going to relish the extra furlong here and he looks tough to oppose. The value comes in the race prior to that, in the form of PROUD SKY. He has been very competitive in his last two starts and over the same course and distance this time, he gets the cheek-pieces fitted and he should be worth following at a decent price.

Best Bet: WOOD ON FIRE (Race 5)
Value Bet: PROUD SKY (Race 4)

Race 1 – 06:15 – Class 4 – 1000m (Turf)
Selections: 6 – 1 – 9 – 8 – 3 
SMART OF YOUTH travelled well in the early parts of his debut just under 3-months ago, before his effort faded out over the final furlong. He was reported to have pulled up lame after that run and that may go a long way to explain his modest finish. He reverts to the Sha Tin straight course for his follow up run and drops to the minimum trip. That will suit his early speed and he should’ve come on from his debut. Moreira takes the ride on the son of Niagara and he is drawn on the right side of the course for his track debut. With the expected improvement, he looks to be the right one here. WAR OF COURAGE boxed on well over the final furlong when having his debut three weeks ago. That was in this class, over the same course and distance and Chad Schofield retains the ride. He would’ve learnt a lot from that run and improvement will be expected here. He has plenty of speed and if building on his debut, he will be rallying late once again. VALIANT DREAM didn’t go as well as expected last time out when having the tongue tie fitted and finishing behind the former. That was when dropping into this class of opposition and he is far better than that effort. He has a solid record over this course and distance and if recapturing that useful recent form at Class 3 level, he will be involved in the finish. STAR OF THE HARBOUR has continued to drop in the ratings in his seven starts in Hong Kong and he showed good improvement last time out when having the blinkers fitted. Ho retains the ride for this drop in trip and with this being his third start since dropping to this class, he must be considered a threat.

Race 2 – 06:45 – Class 5 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 10 – 6 – 2 – 3 – 13
VICTORIOUS LEADER had a tough trip last time out, which may explain that below-par performance. The stipes reported that he became unbalanced at the start after taking a bump and when travelling through the 150m he was taken in before being hampered and steadied away from heels. His penultimate outing wasn’t much smoother, but if repeating that effort when going down a nose, he should win. Purton retains and they look tough to oppose. BIG BULLY is still a maiden after 17 outings, but he has been knocking on the door for some time and one gets the feeling that he could pop up at any time. He is a repeat campaigner over this course and distance and having finished just off the top selection in his latest effort, he lines up 2-pounds better off at the weights. Drawn wide, he gets the services of Moreira in the irons and they must go in. GREAT HARVEST gave a fair account of himself in that comeback run last time, after a 3-month absence. He lands another wide barrier to overcome, but as he has done in his last two starts, he will be pushing to take up the early running and with this being his first outing since dropping into this class, he will be right there. GENERAL TRUMP finished a nose in front of the top selection last time out when dropping into this class. That was a run worth a bit of merit, but with the former having found traffic in that run, it is unlikely he will repeat that feat here. With that said, he looks competitive off his current rating and if overcoming the draw, he will be involved in the late scramble for the line.

Race 3 – 07:15 – Class 4 – 1200m (All-Weather)
Selections: 7 – 3 – 6 – 5 – 11
SUPREME PATROL has shown some very good improvement since reverting to the All-Weather in his last two starts, over this course and distance. He finds a useful draw once again and Callan seems to be getting a bit extra out of him, so he retains the ride. If building on those two efforts, he has a lot going in his favour here and deserves plenty of respect. DOLLAR REWARD finished right behind the former in his penultimate start and he followed that up with a solid effort over the same trip on Turf thereafter. He is a 2-time winner from 8 starts on this surface and from another good draw, Zac Purton retains the ride. Having found traffic in his last three starts, he will be looking for a smoother outing this time and if so, he’ll be right there. SKY TREASURE can be excused for that disappointing last start when being forced wide from barrier 12. He was reported to have pulled up lame after the run and on his prior form, he is much better than that effort. From a slightly improved draw this time, Leung jumps back aboard having picked up 3-wins and 4-places from the 9 engagements he has had on this son of Stravinsky. With this being his second run back, he will be expected to improve and should be right there. STRATHCLYDE is a regular contender over this course and distance and he has a useful record here. From a plum draw this time, Schofield will be looking to recapture the form he showed in his penultimate start when finishing right behind the top selection and a repeat of the run will bring him right into the equation here.

Race 4 – 07:45 – Class 5 – 1800m (Turf)
Selections: 10 – 12 – 13 – 4 – 1 
PROUD SKY has been in useful form since returning three runs back. He has finished within 1,5-lengths of the winner in all three starts, with his last two coming over this course and distance. The visor will be replaced by a set of cheek-pieces and Sylvestre de Souse jumps aboard, having ridden him on one previous occasion. Off his current mark of 27, he should win soon and given the fact that he finds another mid-field draw, he has a great opportunity here. VIRTUS STAR has slipped 11-points in the ratings in his last five starts and he lines up on the back of an interrupted trip last time. He lands another wide draw which won’t help his cause, but Zac Purton jumps aboard this time. The son of Sebring has a very fast finish and a genuine speed up front, he’ll be flashing home late. ROMANTIC JOURNEY finished in front of the former last time out and he lines up from an even wider draw here. He has finished second in his last three starts and he just missed last time out, when dashing home over the last 200m, with Moreira aboard. He retains the ride here and despite the draw, they must go in. VICTORIOUS SEEKER has improved with the drop in ratings and the blinkers seemed to help in his last two. He gave a fair impression last time out when returning for his first outing this season and that would’ve brought him on nicely. With that effort being his first since dropping into this class, he returns to the same course and distance with Leung retaining and they must be included.

Race 5 – 08:15 – Class 4 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 2 – 4 – 1 – 10 – 11 
WOOD ON FIRE has only had the two career starts so far and both of those outings were over the 6-furlongs. The son of Per Incanto was very unlucky to not finish a lot closer than his two lengths defeat last time out, having found plenty of traffic at a crucial stage of his run. Drawn in gate 9 this time, he will relish the step up to the 1400m and with the expected improvement to come, he should win with Moreira up. DESTIN was also short of luck in his last start, having found a wall of horses in front of him 2-furlongs from home. He had very consistent form prior to that run, over this course and distance and from a much-improved draw this time, he has a nice chance. AMAZING has dropped in the ratings and he has improved in his last two starts, since dropping into this class. Zac Purton makes for an attractive jockey booking and if overcoming that tricky draw, he will go right into contention with the expected improvement to come. GOLDEN FOUR has been in useful form of late and he finished in front of the second selection last time out when finding a plum draw for a change. He finds another one here and with plenty of scope for improvement, having only had the 8 starts so far, he deserves respect.

Race 6 – 08:50 – Class 4 – 1600m
Selections: 3 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 6 
HAPPY WIN WIN enjoyed stepping up to this trip last time out, when boxing on well from a wide draw. He has slipped to a competitive rating since reverting to this class of opposition and with the improved draw here, a lot looks to be in his favour. Rispoli retains the ride and the son of Zoffany looks the one to beat. AMAZING SATCHMO has also been dropping in the ratings and he finished just in front of the top selection last time out, with Zac Purton aboard. He retains the ride here and he will be looking to pick up a win soon on this son of Kyllachy, having dropped in class three starts back. His form has been threatening and he rates a threat. CHEERFUL LEADER has improved since his debut three starts back and he has certainly enjoyed the step up in trip in his last two. He kept on nicely over this course and distance last time out and with plenty of scope for improvement, he’ll be expected to improve on that 1,5-length defeat last time. The blinkers go on, Chadwick retains the ride and they must be included. EMERALD SPUR has given a good account of himself in his 10 starts so far, having picked up two wins along the way. He rallied well over the final furlong last time out when going down a head and that came on the back of picking up two wins in a row. From a reasonable draw, he will relish the step up to the mile this time and with the 2-pound claimer up, he must go in.

Race 7 – 09:20 – Class 3 – 1200m (All-Weather)
Selections: 3 – 10 – 8 – 5 – 7 
MOST BEAUTIFUL has shown up well in his last three starts, since switching to the All-Weather surface. He has had relatively difficult draws to overcome in all three of those runs and he lands a plum draw this time. Having dropped another 2-points in the ratings since his last start, he looks well handicapped here and with the claimer taking a further 3-pounds off his back, his chances look good. TEAM FORTUNE needed his last two starts, after returning from a 5,5-month absence from the course. He will strip a lot fitter now, as he lines up off a reduced rating and Joao Moreira makes for an interesting engagement. From a handy draw, he should make the required improvement to feature prominently. MEGA HEART has been knocking on the door for some time now and when he does finally crack another victory, one can assume it will be over this course and distance. Purton jumps aboard the son of Foreplay for the first time and having finished right in front of the top selection last time out, he will be right there if negating that wide barrier and he must be included. BEAUTY ICON finds an improved draw as he drops in trip, after two modest efforts over the 1650m. He continues to slip in the ratings and with his best recent effort coming over this trip, despite it being on Turf, he should go well here. The inform Teetan jumps aboard and he must be included at a decent price.

Race 8 – 09:50 – Class 2 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 9 – 11 – 8 – 14 – 1 
PERFECT MATCH gave a very good showing last time out when returning for his first run this term. He overcame a very wide barrier to box on well over the final furlong. With that being just his third outing in this class, it shouldn’t be long before he picks up a win at this level. With 3 wins and a second from 4 attempts over this course and distance, he is going to relish the step up in trip here. He will strip fitter and from a much-improved draw, it is hard to knock his chances. BEAUTY IRISH has only had the three starts in Hong Kong and he has improved with each one. He enjoyed stepping up to this trip for the first time in his latest attempt when overcoming barrier 9 and from pole position, his chances will be enhanced this time. Moreira takes the ride and he looks a big threat. CIRCUIT NUMBER TWO has been right there in his last five starts, before tiring over the final half-furlong. Having campaigned over further, he’ll relish dropping back to the 1400m here. He needed that last start, when returning from an 8-month rest and it is no surprise to see Teetan retaining the ride on what will be a fitter horse. He likes to race up with the speed and over this trip, he should be involved in the finish. YOO YOO KING has only had the four starts, since making the trip over from South Africa and he has shown up well so far. Not disgraced in that last start, when stepping up in class and overcoming a tough barrier, he finds an improved draw this time. Sylvestre de Sousa takes the ride and with the scope to improve, he must be considered.

Race 9 – 10:25 – Class 3 – 1200m (Turf)
Selections: 9 – 5 – 1 – 2 – 12
QUADRUPLE DOUBLE has been in very good, competitive form of late and he rises to Class 3 level, where he has finished in second in his only attempt prior to this. With two wins and two seconds from his four attempts over this course and distance, he clearly knows his way around this track and trip and he lands another plum draw here. Poon retains the ride on this promising son of Zoustar and from the front, he has a nice chance to box on for his third career win. BIG FORTUNE gave a good account of himself when jumping up into this class last time out. He found plenty of traffic in that run and he will be looking for a much smoother passage this time, with Teetan up. He is a regular contender over this course and distance and from another reasonable draw, he has a nice shout here. LONE EAGLE is a well-bred son of Zoffany having his 9th outing here. His record doesn’t quite match his pedigree at this stage and his connections will be looking for more soon. Drawn well, he gets the services of Joao Moreira in the irons and that could make the difference. LOCKHEED has slipped three points in the ratings in his last three starts and he had excuses in his latest effort, with blood being discovered in his trachea. If over those issues, he will strip a fitter horse as he lines up for his peak run after a rest. He will need to overcome gate 11 and if finding some luck in running, he will be right there.

Race 10 – 11:00 – Class 3 – 1600m (Turf)
Selections: 9 – 3 – 13 – 1 – 4 
SMART PATCH did well to handle the step up in class in his last three starts when overcoming tough draws in all three. Both of his last two efforts came over this course and distance and he lands a much-improved draw this time. With just 13 starts to his name, he should have a bit more to come and with his course and distance record in mind, he should have a nice shout here. RELIABLE TEAM has had no issues handling the rise into this class and it has taken him just the three outings to pick up his first win at this level. A three-time winner from just five starts, he turns to the Sha Tin course for the first time which will add an element of the ‘unknown’ to his chances. With that said, Purton has ridden him on all five occasions and he will have plenty more to come. The tough draw won’t help, but he should have the required gate speed to overcome it and that will bring him right into the equation. EZRA has had two starts since his recent rise to this level and he hasn’t quite shaped against this tougher opposition, despite finding himself at the top of the boards in both. He steps up to the mile this time and gate 1 will certainly aid his cause. With de Sousa retaining the ride, he has plenty more to come and he must be included. PACKING WARRIOR has been in good consistent form of late and he finished right behind the top selection in his latest effort, over this course and distance. He did well to box on in the closing stages on that occasion, but the widest draw will make things a lot more difficult here. From off the speed, he will be looking for a split in the field and if finding one, he has the finish to bring himself right into contention. Teetan rides and they must be respected.