The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Group 3) is the headline event on the 11-race programme at Sha Tin, on Sunday 3rd May.
Other international racing tips for Sunday:
Bunbury
Bendigo
Sha Tin
Neil Morrice Tips
Anthony Delpech – Sha Tin
A test of stamina over 2400m, it is a small field of just five starters and trainer John Moore will send four of those runners to post. South African bred CHEFANO is flagged as the value bet in this race and on pedigree and form combined, he should be a major contender. Punters will have to wait until race 7 for the best bet on the card when GALACTIC has a great opportunity of picking up his first win in Hong Kong. See more here.
Best Bet: GALACTIC (Race 7)
Value Bet: CHEFANO (Race 3)
Race 1 – 06:30 – 1000m – Griffin – Turf
Selections: 3 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 5
A small field of five will go to post in the opener on the card for this Griffin event, and four of them come from the same form line behind Sunny Star. SMILING FACE started at the top of the betting boards in that run but despite staying on strongly in the closing stages, he was forced to settle for 2nd. Joao Moreira retains the ride over the same course and distance here, and the son of Acclamation should get it right this time. CHANCHENG PRINCE and SEA MONARCH finished right behind the top selection and with the expected improvement, they should be involved in the finish. LIKE THAT is a 2-year old who finished 2-lengths behind the top three selections on debut. Zac Purton retains the ride and he will be looking to get a lot closer this time.
Race 2 – 07:00 – 1200m – Class 5 Handicap – All-Weather
Selections: 11 – 1 – 7 – 3 – 6
We switch to the All-Weather for the first of three races on this surface, a Class 5 sprint over 1200m. EXPONENTS has continued to drop in the ratings, and he lands a plum draw for this attempt at his 3rd career win. He was unlucky not to finish closer in his latest effort over this course and distance, after finding an interrupted passage through the 600m marker and if finding an early position just off the leading line here, he will be a huge contender in the finish. DEMONS ROCK also found traffic in his last start, in a 1000m sprint down the Sha Tin straight. He did well to finish just 1,25-lengths behind the winner, after being baulked for running at the top of the straight. Zac Purton jumps aboard having gone close on him in his penultimate run and from gate 3, he will be one of the leading contenders at the finish. FAIRY FLOSS finished in front of the top selection in his penultimate start, when having his first attempt on the All-Weather. He was back to his disappointing form he showed prior top that, when returning to the Turf in his latest run and he will be looking to make amends here on what appears to be a preferred surface. GRAND HARBOUR is another contender who stems from the same form line as the top selection, in that latest run. He stayed on well when being forced wide from a tough draw and having landed gate 5 for his follow up, he should feature prominently.
Race 3 – 07:30 – 2400m – Group 3 – Turf
Selections: 4 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
The feature race on the card, The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Group 3), looks an intriguing test for this small field. It will be a race of tactics and despite the fact that four of the contenders share the same collateral form line, when HELENE LEADINGSTAR won last time out, we could see a reversal of that form here. CHEFANO lines up 3,5kg better off with the former and as South African pundits will know, his pedigree has this 2400m trip written all over it. Matthew Chadwick takes the mount this time, and on what this son of Silvano has shown over slightly shorter, they should be major contenders. EAGLE WAY gave a great sight in the QE II Cup last Sunday, when finishing 3rd behind Exultant. If this run hasn’t come too soon, he has the credentials to feature. HELENE CHARISMA finished right behind HELENE LEADINGSTAR in that same form line mentioned above and they could make this a blanket finish.
Race 4 – 08:00 – 1000m – Class 4 – Turf
Selections: 6 – 5 – 1 – 8 – 13
FABULOUS EIGHT showed good improvement in his last start when sporting the tongue-tie for the second time in a row. The son of Dream Ahead has only had the six starts so far and he has placed in three of those, all of which have come over this course and distance. Joao Moreira takes the mount now and with the scope for further improvement, he looks the one to beat. DUBLIN STAR finished in front of the top selection in his penultimate start when finishing third, despite finding traffic. He drops back to the same trip today after staying on well over the 1200m last time and with this being just his 5th career outing, he too will have plenty of scope for more and he must go into the equation. SPLIT OF SECOND returns to racing after a 4,5-month absence. He was showing signs of winning in his last three starts, since dropping into this class and if not too in need of the run, he should feature despite the wide draw. KINDA COOL is a 3-year old son of Per Incanto having his debut here, and Zac Purton looks an interesting jockey engagement. He must be considered.
Race 5 – 08:30 – 1200m – Class 3 – Turf
Selections: 14 – 8 – 11 – 13 – 3
HAPPY TIME appears to have landed on a competitive mark of 61 and he showed that when overcoming a wide draw in his last start to rally late for a well deserved second. He finds another wide draw for his return to the same course and distance but having placed in both attempts over this track and trip, he should be running on late once again and could win this. MIG ENERGY has only had the three starts in Hong Kong, but the son of Redoute’s Choice has been thereabouts in all three and he appears to have the gate speed to overcome this draw. Karis Teetan retains the ride and he looks progressive enough to go close in this race. AMAZING KNIGHT finished behind MIG ENERGY in that Hong Kong debut run and he should have the scope for improvement, with Moreira retaining. HAPPY ALUMNI progressed well into this class three runs back. He finished just behind the top section in his penultimate start and followed that up with a useful effort last time out. If overcoming barrier 9, he should be right there.
Race 6 – 09:00 – 1200m – Class 4 – All Weather
Selections: 4 – 11 – 10 – 9 – 7
Back on the All-Weather for the 6th race and it’s EXCEL DELIGHT who appears to be the likeliest winner here. He has just been touched off his last three starts which were all over this course and distance, with Joao Moreira up. He knows this son of Exceed And Excel well, having ridden him on 11 occasions before and he retains the ride once again. From gate 10 he will be relying on luck in running, but he has the credentials to win this. LITTLE THUNDER was forced to do too much in the early stages last time out when overcoming a wide draw on his All-Weather debut at this track and trip. He finds an improved draw this time and with the 2,5kg claimer retaining the ride, he should be right there at the business end. WAYFOONG CHARMER finished right behind the top selection in his last start. He has performed well in his last four starts, since dropping to this trip on both surfaces and appears to be due a win now, off his competitive mark of 45. SPLENDID TIMING stems from that same form line in his last start and he too appears to have improved with the drop in ratings. Drawn well, he rates a threat and must be included.
Race 7 – 09:35 – 1600m – Class 4 – Turf
Selections: 5 – 1 – 14 – 7 – 13
GALACTIC was pushed to lead early from a wide draw last time, and he did well to stay on strongly for just a 0,5-length defeat in third. That was just his second career start after a decent debut. He relished the step up to the 1400m and the son of Deep Field looks perfectly prepped for this mile challenge. With Moreira retaining the ride, he should be one of the better bets on the card. MONSTER KAKA is a class dropper, but he has shown up well in his last five starts against stronger. He has his peak run back after being freshened up at the start of the year and with the step up in trip, he should be the biggest danger. LITTLE GENERAL has been in good consistent form and the son of Cape Blanco finds a plum draw this time, for his 16th attempt at picking up his maiden win. Despite rising back into Class 4 company, he should have claims. DECISIVE ACTION has improved with the drop in ratings and he starting to look threatening on current form. Zac Purton takes the mount and they must be considered for minor money.
Race 8 – 10:05 – 2000m – Class 3 – Turf
Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 8 – 6
LONDON HALL has taken the rise into this class in his stride, having followed up that win over this course and distance in his penultimate start, with a solid effort to finish third last time out. With two wins and two thirds from his four attempts over this track and trip, he has the credentials, and the draw to win this. CHARITY GO has been slipping in the ratings and he has improved with each of his last four starts, culminating in a solid third last time out. The rise in trip is bound to suit the son of Harbour Watch and with Antoine Hamelin up, he should be the biggest danger. CHAMPION SUPREME finished right behind the latter last time out and the son of Denman is another contender who looks well handicapped and well-prepped to make a big impression. DEFINING MOMENT bids for a hat-trick of wins as he rises into Class 3 company. The visor has clearly worked and with Joao Moreira retaining the ride, he should go into contention.
Race 9 – 10:35 – 1400m – Class 4 – Turf
Selections: 5 – 9 – 14 – 4 – 11
HARRIER JET gave a good sight last time out when passing most of the field in the closing stages. He finds a slightly improved draw this time out and gets the services of the bang inform, Karis Teetan. If settling just behind the leading line early on, he should be a big contender for first prize. PARTY GENIUS has only had three starts so far and he has enjoyed the step up to the 1400m after a modest debut. He finds barrier 12 for the third time in a row but is clearly on the up and he must be included. WINWIN THIRTYTHREE is another contender with good recent form who has been drawn in the cheap seats here. He has only missed the first three places once from 7 attempts over this track and trip and Joao Moreira will be tasked with giving him the best possible chance. GOLDEN FOUR just missed in his latest effort over this course and distance, when finishing in front of the top selection. From gate 1, he will be hoping to avoid being caught on the rail and with a bit of luck in running, he should be right there in the closing stages.
Race 10 – 11:10 – 1200m – Class 3 – All Weather
Selections: 2 – 7 – 12 – 10 – 1
Back on the All-Weather for the penultimate race on the card and its another 1200m sprint, this time a Class 3 event. UTOPIA LIFE gets the nod for first, after two solid efforts since stepping back onto the All-Weather. Caught three-wide in his last start, he boxed on gamely for third and a slightly easier passage should be enough this time. With a win and four places from six starts over this course and distance, he as the credentials to find the winners enclosure. JUST NOT LISTENING lines up 0,5kg worse off at the weights after finishing just in front of the top selection last time, continuing his good run of form since reverting to this surface. Joao Moreira retains the ride, but he has a much tougher draw to overcome this time and that may be his undoing as far as his winning chances are concerned. ZERO HEDGE stems from the same form line as the top two selections. He has taken the recent rise into this class well and deserves plenty of respect from another good draw. Zac Purton takes the mount on FLYING SWORD, who boxed on gamely in his second outing on the All-Weather last time. From a plum draw he gets the tongue tie fitted and must be considered.
Race 11 – 11:45 – 1400m – Class 3 – Turf
Selections: 10 – 6 – 13 – 1 – 2
JUNEAU PARK took the rise into this class well last time out when boxing on well for a respectable fourth over this course and distance. With two wins and two seconds from his six career outings, he has plenty of scope for progression and with both his wins coming from four attempts over this course and distance, he looks primed for a big run here. Joao Moreira retains the ride and looks the likely winner of the last race. PRIVATE ROCKET stayed on in his last start over this course and distance, when overcoming a tough draw. He has a useful record over this course and distance and on his prior form, he should be a big threat. EMERALD SPUR is another who has progressed well since rising into this class and the son of Super Easy will be looking to convert that into another big performance here. Both of his wins have come over this course and distance and from a decent draw, he must be included. RACING FIGHTER is a class dropper who has another wide draw to contend with. With that said, he has been finishing just off them in stronger company and if Zac Purton is able to utilise his useful finish, he could go into contention and deserves inclusion.
