It’s the Chinese New Year Race day this Monday 27th January 2020, headlined by the Hong Kong Classic Mile for four-year-olds and supported by the Group 3 Centenary Vase over 1800m.
Following the development of the novel coronavirus, the jockey club has pulled out all the stops to allow the meeting to go ahead and it should present another show stopper of a race day.
Best Bet: PING HAI BRAVO (Race 5)
Value Bet: KWAI CHUNG ELITE (Race 1)
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Race
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Time
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Conditions
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
|
|
1
|
06:00
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1200m – Class 5 (T)
|
8
|
10
|
2
|
14
|
12
|
|
2
|
06:30
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1000m – Class 4 (T)
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3
|
1
|
4
|
13
|
7
|
|
3
|
07:00
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1400m – Class 4 (T)
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1
|
2
|
7
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6
|
11
|
|
4
|
07:30
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1800m – Gr 3 (T)
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1
|
8
|
7
|
11
|
9
|
|
5
|
08:00
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1200m – Class 4 (T)
|
8
|
5
|
3
|
6
|
7
|
|
6
|
08:30
|
1400m – Class 4 (T)
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1
|
13
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
|
7
|
09:00
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2000m – Class 3 (T)
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4
|
10
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5
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1
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12
|
|
8
|
09:30
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1600m – HK Classic
Mile |
1
|
4
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3
|
2
|
5
|
|
9
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10:05
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1400m – Class 3 (T)
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9
|
4
|
7
|
6
|
13
|
|
10
|
10:40
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1400m – Class 1 (T)
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3
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1
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9
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5
|
14
|
|
11
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11:15
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1200m – Class 3 (T)
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2
|
1
|
4
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6
|
3
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The first race is a class 5 sprint over the 6-furlongs and KWAI CHUNG ELITE could just be the value punters are all looking for to get the meeting off on a winning note. He finished right behind the 12 horse, FIRE AND GOLD, last time out and with the benefit of a favourable 9-pound turn around at the weights with the latter, he should be right there at the business end. He lands another useful draw and with Teetan taking the mount this time, should be worth following.
Race 2 is a tricky affair to follow up after the first race. 14 runners go to post over the 1000m straight course and there are a number of debutantes to consider, coupled with limited exposed form from the rest. WAR OF COURAGE has started off on a good note, with two solid performances behind him and despite being drawn on the wrong side (1), he will just need to build on that last course and distance effort to land his first career win. Sylvestre de Sousa lands the ride on the son of DECLARATION OF WAR and he must be included.
SUNSHINE WARRIOR has taken a liking to the 1400m Sha Tin circuit and he returns for his 8th outing over the same course and distance, in the third race. He finds a much-improved draw after not having much luck in that department prior to this and with Moreira up, he should be hard to beat. RICH AND LUCKY is the biggest danger, with current champion jockey Zac Purton retaining the ride and with plenty of scope for further improvement, he will be looking to build on that useful course and distance record at just his third attempt here.
Race 4 looks a mouth-watering affair, being the Grade 3 CENTENARY VASE and the field looks very competitive. EXULTANT comes off the back of a smart effort in Grade 1 company last time out over the 12-furlongs and having won twice in five attempts over this course and distance he could enjoy the drop in trip. Purton remains loyal to the son of Teofilo and with a useful draw he should be the one to beat. HARMONY VICTORY gave a solid account of himself in this class, over the same distance at the Valley course last time out and he should be worth including for minor money.
The best bet on the card arrives in the fifth race, a Class 4 sprint over 1200m. PING HAI BRAVO showed an impressive turn of foot over the same course and distance on debut and from a much-improved draw here, he should be very hard to beat with the expected improvement to come. HERO STAR and HARMONY N HOME both have plenty more to offer and they should be worth including, just in case the top selection fluffs his lines.
GREAT TREASURE is a class dropper in the sixth race and the son of Husson returns to a level where he is well performed, having notched up all six of his wins in Hong Kong in this class. He has been finishing just off them in recent outings against stronger opposition and from a perfect draw, he should be worth following with a fair amount of confidence.
The first Class 3 event of the afternoon arrives in the seventh race, a 10-furlong test for 14 contenders. TASHILDELEK has found some very good form in his last two starts, having been touched off by just neck in both efforts and despite the tricky draw he faces, he gets the services of Zac Purton who can get the job done for the Moore camp. PARTY TOGETHER appears to be the best of the rest, having landed on a competitive mark of 68 and with the 3-pound claimer up he should be a big danger to the former and must go in to the equation.
The Hong Kong Classic Mile has been much anticipated all week and with a quality of field going to post, it should certainly live up to expectations. A field of 9-four-year olds line up at the start and the top choice is GOLDEN SIXTY who will be aiming for his fifth win in a row. The son of Medaglia d’Oro is untested over the mile, but he has an impressive record of 7-wins from 8-outings. He is bred for this and that could provide some comfort to his connections. The inform Ho retains the ride and after that impressive Group 3 win over the 1400m last time out, he should be the one they all have to beat. MORE THAN THIS is also vying for his fifth win in a row, but he steps up in class and will find this level a lot tougher.
Race 9 kicks off the final Pick-3 of the day for punters and ASSIMILATE should be the banker. He has flashed up late in both of his last two starts over this course and distance and despite not winning in 8 attempts over this track and trip, he looks well set up to get the job done this time. For wider perms it should be worth throwing TAKING AIM into the mix. He has been dropping in the ratings for some time now and off his current mark of 83, he will be looking to go a lot closer. Moreira takes the mount from another good draw and he’ll be worth including.
The aptly named Chinese New Year Cup takes place in the penultimate race on the afternoon and it looks a tricky Class 1 event over 7-furlongs. FAT TURTLE had no issues stepping up to this trip last time out, when finishing behind the top selection in the main race on the card (GOLDEN SIXTY). He’s drawn out wide again, but that shouldn’t dissuade his followers when considering his preference to race handy and he will be looking to overcome that draw at the off. If he gets caught out wide, that could put pay to his efforts and for that reason, it may be worth looking a bit wider for some value. If that is the case, ENCOURAGING must be considered having finished just behind the top selection last time out. He has a useful record over this course and distance and with the 10-pound claiming Chan up, he should be right there.
SUPER WEALTHY is the pick to get the job done in the final race, a competitive Class 3 event over 1200m. he found some firm betting support last time out, at just his second time of asking and he clearly has a lot more to come. Drawn wide again, Badel retains the ride and having won with consummate ease in that latest run, he can follow up here. LUCKY MORE has also got off to a good start, having found the winners’ box on two occasions from 4 attempts. No surprise seeing Purton stick with the son of More Than Ready and if overcoming that very wide barrier, he should be right there.
