Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing taking place at Sha Tin.
Other international racing tips for Sunday:
Bunbury
Bendigo
Sha Tin
Neil Morrice Tips
Anthony Delpech – Sha Tin
Race 1: No2 SEA MONARCH
Trainer: Chris So – Jockey: Karin Teetan
A bit of speculative advice in the opener is SEA MONARCH to turn the tables on SMILING FACE and CHANCHENG PRINCE from their meeting over course and distance last month. A lot can happen to a young horse’s constitution and overall demeanour in three weeks, and even though Sea Monarch has a fair bit to find he didn’t look as wound-up as the blinkered favourite, or indeed the race third. The son of Dandy Man could easily improve past them with the benefit of that experience.
Prediction: 2-3-1
Race 2: No1 DEMONS ROCK
Trainer: David Hall – Jockey: Zac Purton
Although yet to establish the level of ability that saw him win four on the bounce before shipping from the UK, DEMONS ROCK has signalled with two recent near-misses that he’s on the cusp of a breakthrough. He appears to be getting better with each race since his trainer added blinkers, and has a good slot in a gate three off the fence. PLEASANT GUY hasn’t shown much so far but is relatively lightly raced and enjoys the assistance of Moreira for the first time. First-time blinkers could enable SUPER FUN to uphold the promise shown in his work.
Prediction: 1-5-8
Race 3: No1 EAGLE WAY
Trainer: John Moore – Jockey: Zac Purton
EAGLE WAY is getting longer in the tooth and might not be quite the force of old, but the eight-year-old did enough when a three and a quarter lengths third to stablemate Exultant in the QEII Cup here a week ago to convince me he can prevent Australian Group 1 winner HELENE LEADINGSTAR from completing a hat-trick in this Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Winner of the race three years ago, he’s seen the back of his improving rival on one occasion this year but key to today’s race is that he stretches out to 2400m. That extra quarter-mile helps put the ball in Eagle Way’s court, even taking on board his rival, who has trained at Conghua since his last start, was victorious over 2500m in the South Australian Derby on his final outing before import. The one that could produce a minor upset is SAVVY NINE, a Group 1 winner in France who looks for all the world as if he wants the step up that he enjoys here, as he showed with his fourth to Golden Sixty in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Prediction: 1-2-5
Race 4: No5 DUBLIN STAR
Trainer: Manfred Man – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
Maiden FABULOUS EIGHT is on third start back from a break having looked unlucky when meeting interference last time. KINDA COOL didn’t clock a great time when winning his recent trial but wasn’t asked much by Zac Purton and could have a lot more to offer. The speed is in the high drawn horses and gives Fabulous Eight an extra edge. However DUBLIN STAR has the potential to thwart both if resigning to put it all together. He’s still something of a talking horse and has proved expensive to follow, but from his midfield gate is pitched close enough to the dangers to be in the right place at the right time to deliver.
Prediction: 5-6-8
Race 6: No4 EXCEL DELIGHT
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Joao Moreira
One of the best bets on the card is EXCEL DELIGHT. Taking stock of the fact he scored over the course and distance back in February, his three straight second-place finishes are beginning to make him seem expensive. What irks his followers is the fact that he often looks like winning, only to somehow fall short and by the most minute margins. That was certainly the case when he failed by a short head to overcome Super Power Man, but I think he can get it right this time. GOLDIE FLANKER delivered on latest start and from his favourable draw can figure, while SPLENDID TIMING can improve off a recent run that was better than it looked.
Prediction: 4-2-8
Race 7: No5 GALACTIC
Trainer: Doug Whyte – Jockey: Joao Moreira
From the stable that gave us a well-supported winner in General’s Delight last week, GALACTIC can show he’s a young horse with a future by opening his account in Hong Kong. He wasn’t really expected from the outside gate last time but ran a monster race to go down by just half a length in a three-way blanket finish to Best For You. He was the moral winner that day, and from a much more alluring slot can start to justify the plaudits that have rung out for him. DECISIVE ACTION has made gradual progress in his five starts this year and with Purton up for the first time is a must include. LEADING FORTUNE short-headed Party Genius last time and from his favoured slot on the rail, could give a boost to the last-named horse ahead of his run in R9.
Prediction: 5-7-9
Race 8: No8 DEFINING MOMENT
Trainer: Caspar Fownes – Jockey: Joao Moreira
Several have valid claims in this and a tight finish is in the offing, but with his tail up after two decisive wins DEFINING MOMENT looks set to complete a fine hat-trick. Joao Moreira is the key to the horse who knows where the winning post is and only does enough. That’s helped minimise his ratings rise, and he could still have improvement under the locker, especially with ‘ Magic Man’ doing the steering. ENZEMBLE deserved his win three weeks ago, one that could well have given his confidence a timely boost, while top weight may not prevent CHARITY GO from having a say, as he showed with his run behind Enzemble that he’s getting closer to D-Day.
Prediction: 8-6-1
Race 9: No9 PARTY GENIUS
Trainer: Doug Whyte – Jockey: Zac Purton
Back from just a seven day back up SPRINT FORWARD will have his supporters, especially as his trainer John Moore excels when backing his horses up quickly. Under Blake Shinn he enjoyed a clean trip and finished third, but will surely be fitter. Jimmy Ting is also deadly with a stable change horse and he puts first time blinkers on MOMENTUM HAPPY, who shaped well in his trial and will almost certainly be ridden positively in his bid to record a first win here. But preference is for PARTY GENIUS, who failed by a whisker to land some chunky bets last time and is a winner waiting to happen when he puts it all together.
Prediction: 9-12-6
Race 10: No7 JUST NOT LISTENING
Trainer: John Moore – Jockey: Joao Moreira
Moreira should fancy his chances of making it third time lucky on JUST NOT LISTENING following that horse’s near-misses last month. The six-year-old faces mainly out of form rivals, although UTOPIA LIFE was a convincing all the way scorer two starts back while FLYING SWORD can improve for his switch to the Tony Cruz yard combined with the addition of Purton for the first time.
Prediction: 7-1-10
Race 11: No3 BEAUTY SPIRIT
Trainer: Tony Cruz – Jockey: Neil Callan
There’s plenty to recommend about BEAUTY SPIRIT, who is a horse finding some form and well placed in the gate to gain a first success in over a year. The consistent PRIVATE ROCKET has been up against prolific winners like Fantastic Show and Mighty Giant on his last two starts and does not face foes of their ilk. However, JUNEAU PARK has trod a similar path of late and looms as a big threat, having been given plenty to do when fourth to Mighty Giant last time. He was never closer than at the finish that day, and with a better passage could have got closer.
Prediction: 3-10-6
