International Racing: Sha Tin Best Bets Saturday 12th October 2019

An interesting card of 10 races awaits punters, this Saturday 12th October 2019. Two Class 2 events headline the meeting, with the 7th Race potentially being one of the most mouth-watering contests of the short season so far. 

But punters will have to wait for the last Race, where one of the better bets on the cards should present a nice opportunity to finish on a high note. GIFT OF LIFELINE looks a progressive sort who enters Class 3 company for the first time, but a replay of his eye-catching last start should go a long way to swaying punters in his favour. The value bet comes in Race 8, with DEFINING MOMENT finally cracking a draw. He has been in good form in similar company for some time now and is worth following.

Best Bet: GIFT OF LIFELINE (Race 10)
Value Bet: DEFINING MOMENT (Race 8)

Race 1 – 07:00
Selections: 3 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 7 
A tricky Class 5 event awaits punters to kick off proceedings and the pick for first is the Moore trained, SAVVY SEVEN. He appears to be in good form and he drops into this lesser class, after a solid showing last time out. That was over this course and distance when overcoming a very tough draw and he did exceptionally well to box on for 3rd. He enjoys this course and distance and now gets the services of the 10-pound claiming Chan, from gate 2. If he continues on his current run of form, he will go very close to winning this. GOLD VELVET has been in good form and he looked every part a winner last time out, but found one better in the dying stages. On his form before that, he has been just touched off and he will be looking to throw his hat into the ring once again, from an improved draw this time. He has some good course and distance form and with Domeyer retaining the ride, he’ll be involved in the finish. LE PANACHE went very close last time out, his second outing since dropping back into this class and that came off the back of a solid penultimate start when finding plenty of traffic. He has a wide draw to overcome this time and may be forced to commit early. With his course and distance record in mind, he just needs a bit of luck and he will certainly be a contender for a sum of the prize money. BLAZIN PARTNERS is the top weight here and he showed good improvement in that latest effort, his first since dropping into this class. Despite being hampered twice in that run, he did well to box on for just a 1 length beating. He has his peak run after a 4-month absence from the course, due to bilateral epistaxis and he’ll be cherry ripe to put in a big claim here, from a good draw.

Race 2 – 07:30
Selections: 6 – 4 – 2 – 1 – 13 
A tough race to analyse here, with 5 horses having their official debut and 5 more having had four starts or less, there is significant potential for a volatile result. Another unusual anomaly to consider is the fact that 14 runners go to post and not one has a front running profile. With that said, the likes of ALLIED AGILITY and SHIMMER AND SHINE may find themselves in the front line early. VICTORY POWER may not be in the lead early, but he’ll be just behind the early speed after doing just that in his two comeback runs, after a short absence. Both of those efforts were for his new stable, when being fitted with the blinkers and cross-noseband. Having gone down a nose last time over this course and distance, Purton sticks with the ride and he’ll be looking to go one better this time. SHIMMER AND SHINE, as mentioned above, may be part of the early lead and he could use that to his advantage. He has been dropping in the ratings and now enters this lesser class, where he has notched up two wins from four attempts. Back on the Turf this time, he drops to the minimum trip with Moreira up and he could be hard to peg back in the latter stages of the race. STRATHALLAN has also been dropping in the ratings and he returns to Sha Tin, where his record appears to be a lot more consistent. He particularly likes this trip, having landed both of his career wins over the 1000m and he’ll enjoy returning to the straight course after finding wide draws of late (Happy Valley). Teetan retains the ride and he will be involved in the finish. DUKE WAI is still just getting going in his career and he returns after a 5-month lay-off, after showing some solid form in his last three starts. He drops in trip and will be hoping for the front-runners to use their initiative and set a good early tempo. With plenty of scope for further improvement and if not too in need of the run, he should have a realistic chance of earning a stake cheque.

Race 3 – 08:00
Selections: 2 – 8 – 4 – 9 – 7
SILVER FIG confirmed his affinity for the All-Weather surface last time out, when smashing the field by a convincing 3-length winning margin. That was just his 7th career start, taking his record to 3 wins and 3 places and he still has plenty more to come. He ran 2nd in his only other start on this surface and his followers can expect another solid showing this time. Moreira retains the ride from a much tougher draw, but the son of Hard Spun displayed an electric turn of foot last time out and if finding that finish again, he should have this fields measure. STAR LUCK also has a solid record on this surface and he stayed on nicely last time out, when returning from a short rest. That was his second effort since rising to this class and he looks well suited to this slight step up in trip now. He too has just picked up the 7 runs so far and he still has plenty more scope to improve. He should strip fitter this time and must have a big say here. JUST NOT LISTENING loves this course and distance and he returns to racing after a five-month absence from the course, after that disappointing last start. He was slow out the blocks on that occasion and when the rider dropped his rain, his chances had all but dissipated. He gets the cheekpieces removed to make way for the blinkers and with Purton taking the mount this time, he deserves healthy respect. GENERAL DINO has notched up three wins from fours attempts on this surface and he was in good form before those last two runs on Turf, when drawn wide. He drops in trip for this effort and with the 3-pound claimer doing duty he, should be right there from gate 6.

Race 4 – 08:30
Selections: 1 – 10 – 2 – 9 – 5 
STARSHIP showed good improvement last time out, when dropping into this class and finally finding a useful draw. He has been dropping in the ratings for some time now and despite the improved draw last time, found himself caught deep and was forced to rally wide in the closing stages. From gate three, Purton retains the ride and he’ll be looking to find a mid-field position to launch his assault on the leaders, at the top of the straight. If repeating that strong finish on display in his last start, he will be hard to fight off and should find the winners box. VILLA FIONN has shown good improvement since changing stables and the reduced trip with the blinkers fitted may have been contributing factors. Forced to rally wide from gate 14 last time, he has found another tricky draw to overcome here, but that shouldn’t discourage his followers too much. He has a good turn of foot if left alone in the early parts and he’ll be expected to flash home late. If finding a smooth passage through, he’ll be a massive runner. CENTRAL EXPRESS was a bit pedestrian leaving the starting stalls last time and that pretty much put pay to his efforts. The well-bred son of More Than Ready finds another useful draw over the same course and distance and Moreira retains the ride. He found some betting support leading up to that run, which may indicate some ability and he deserves another chance here. With plenty of scope to improve, he must be included. FUN TIMES beat the second selection last time out, having benefitted from the continued drop in ratings leading up to that run. Penalised 4-points for that victory, he lines-up 7-pounds worse off with the former and that will make things tougher this time. He is never too far off the action and with Teetan retaining the ride, must be respected.

Race 5 – 09:00
Selections: 9 – 4 – 3 – 14 – 6 
RELENTLESS ME has been dropping in the ratings for some time now and he found good improvement last time out over the course and distance, with Moreira up. He has a useful record over this track and trip and off his current mark of 51, he looks a major threat from another good draw. He should find the run of the race and looks tough to beat. SUNSHINE UNIVERSE has been in good consistent form over shorter and he steps up to the 7-furlongs for the first time. Having been outpaced in recent times, he’ll enjoy the more sedate gallop expected and that should bring him right into the equation. He has been finishing off his runs steadily since being fitted with the blinkers and from gate 5 he’ll settle in the first half of the field, where his followers can expect to see him flashing home late. KHAKI has been slipping in the ratings and he showed a good return to racing last time out when boxing on late, after a 5-month absence. He does have a rather modest record at this course and gate 10 doesn’t make things any easier. With that said, he may just enjoy this slight drop in trip after his return over a mile and with Hewitson riding for his first Hong Kong winner, he must be included in this modest Class 4 event. MR MAGELLAN has been in useful form over this course and distance of late, having a found a few tricky draws to negate before his last start. He finished just behind the top selection last time out, when finally landing a reprieve as far as those draws are concerned and he now lines up with the latter on 2-pound better weight terms. Grant van Niekerk retains the ride from another reasonable draw and he looks a major threat in this class, off his current mark of 51. With his smart turn of foot in mind, he’ll be running on strongly late and must be considered here.


Race 6 – 09:35
Selections: 12 – 1 – 2 – 10 – 7 
STAR SUPERIOR has enjoyed being back on the All-Weather surface in his last two starts. Returning to this class last time, he showed a very encouraging turn of foot to flash home late under van Niekerk and a repeat of that show will just about nullify the wide gate he will be subjected to here. He has a useful record over this course and distance and with van Niekerk retaining the ride, he has the form to win this. CASA DE FORCA finished right behind the top selection last time, when dropping into this class and he lines up a pound better off at the weights on that run. He is yet to win on the All-Weather surface, despite going close a few times and with his continued drop in the ratings he is bound to land in the winner’s box soon. It might not be this time yet, but he deserves plenty of respect in this class of opposition. GUNNAR returns to the All-Weather after that solid penultimate start, when finishing just behind DOLLAR REWARD. That was his first effort on this surface and he gets the blinkers for his second attempt. From a much better draw this time, he lines up 3-pounds better off with the latter and with that in mind, it is hard to imagine him not being involved in the finish. HAPPY HAPPY STAR has shown good recent improvement with his continued drop in the ratings and he looks well handicapped off his current mark of 44, to put in a big claim here. He also stems from the DOLLAR REWARD form line and if building on that latest effort, he should be in with a big shout here and deserves inclusion.

Race 7 – 10:05
Selections: 11 – 3 – 8 – 5 – 9 
The KING OPIE form line features prominently out of the in-form contenders here, with both of HARMONY VICTORY and STAR PERFORMANCE finishing behind the former who also lines up at the start. STAR PERFORMANCE however, is the pick for to take top honours in what appears to be one of the most enticing races of the season so far. He has impressed in both of his starts on the island thus far and he may have gone closer than that 1 length beating last time, had he not been inconvenienced at the 400m. Drawn 6 this time, Moreira takes the ride and he’ll go to post 2-pounds better off at the weights with KING OPIE. With just the eight career starts so far, he has plenty more to come and he rates the one to beat. HARMONY VICTORY finished a nose behind the top selection last time out, when coming from well off the pace to mount his challenge late. He is 2-pounds better off with the top selection, but one could argue that being a year older may limit his scope in comparison. With that said, his chances will be boosted by the services of Zac Purton in the irons and he must be included. TIANCHI MONSTER put in a solid effort over this trip on his return to racing last time, after a 5-month absence from the course. That was his first run in this class and he is clearly not out of his depth at this level. He lands another useful draw and if a fraction fitter, he will certainly be involved in the finish. KING OPIE put in a smart effort last time out, to finish strongly and pick up his 2nd win in Hong Kong. That was his first win in this class and he steps up to this trip for this first time, an extra furlong that may just catch him out in the closing stages. With that said, he is a seasoned campaigner in this class and from another decent draw with Teetan retaining, he deserves plenty of respect here.

Race 8 – 10:35
Selections: 12 – 1 – 11 – 3 – 2
DEFINING MOMENT has been in good recent form, having finished within 3 lengths in his last five starts. He is yet to win over this trip, but he has gone close on two occasions and things appear to be in his favour here. He has cracked a draw for a change, after finding wide berths in his last three starts. A touch on the sharp side last time, he did well to rally late despite doing it wide. Grant van Niekerk will have him settled just off the speed and he should be hard to beat. GLORIOUS DRAGON returns after a 3-month absence from the course, on the back of a solid effort over further. He has been taking a hold in his last few starts and the increased tempo here, should allow him to settle in the early parts. With this being his 11th career start, he still has plenty of scope to improve and off his current ark of 77 – he looks competitive. From gate 10, Domeyer will look to settle just off the early speed and his followers can expect to seeing him rallying late. BEAUTY DAY has been a very consistent performer, especially over this course and distance. He is still a maiden, but he has been knocking on the door for that first career victory for some time now and that time could be coming soon. Moreira takes the mount this time and he’ll have one option from that draw and that will be to find the lead, as he likes to do. If he finds a soft lead, he could be very tough to catch in the closing stages and must be included. VINCY has been slipping in the ratings in his last five starts and he has been showing up well, having been involved in the finish on a number of occasions. Purton takes the mount from pole and having gone close over this trip and in this class before, he must go into the equation.

Race 9 – 11:10
Selections: 4 – 7 – 6 – 1 – 2 
REFINED TREASURE has had a solid start to his career, having clocked 4 wins from his 10 outings. All 4 of those wins have come over this course and distance and one of them happened to be in this class. Drawn on the right side this time, he will be looking for clear passage from start to finish after finding traffic in his last two starts. Domeyer regains the mount, having ridden him twice before and he looks the likely winner here. AETHERO looks a progressive sort, having won 3 out of his 4 career starts so far. He won his only outing over this course and distance and he looks suited to the drop back to that trip, for his second attempt in this class. Usually one for taking up the early running, he was well out-paced on his first attempt against Class 2 opposition and Moreira will be looking for a much smoother departure this time. He’s obviously class and deserves healthy respect. VOYAGE WARRIOR has also won 3 out 4 and deserves his first attempt in a Class 2 event. All 3 of those victories have come over this course and distance and he is clearly on the way to bigger and better. It will obviously be tougher now, but Purton retains the ride for this step up in class and he must be included. The top weight, SAUL’S SPECIAL is no stranger to this class of opposition, having landed 2 career victories in 11 attempts. He likes this trip and drops back into this class after a respectable outing in Group 3 company last time. Teetan knows him well and he’ll look to go relatively handy from gate 11, to avoid those tracking across. If things go his way, he’ll be right there.

Race 10 – 11:45
Selections: 14 – 2 – 6 – 4 – 1 
GIFT OF LIFELINE steps into this class after a solid campaign in Class 4 company, where he has been a symbol of consistency. He lines up for his 10th career start today and steps up to the 1400m, after an eye-catching effort over the 6 furlongs last time out. Slow out, he tailed off in the early parts – completely outpaced to begin with. He managed to settle well off the pace for a matter strides, before beginning his challenge. Forced to rally wide, he made up many lengths in the closing stages to finish second. Over the extra furlong, he will be suited to the slightly more forgiving early speed and he should have no issues stepping into this class. Teetan retains and he’s certainly one of the better bets on the card. MY DARLING has been dropping in the ratings and he has found some solid form since reverting to this class of opposition, three starts back. With 2 wins and a second placed finish in 6 efforts, he is certainly at home at this level. He has a solid course and distance record and finds a much-improved draw for a shot at his 6th career win. Chadwick retains the ride and from his customary handy position, he’s not to be overlooked. CRAIG’S STAR has been in good consistent form over the course of his short career so far. He lines up for his 9th official start here and he looks well-positioned for a big claim at top honours. Drawn well, he has a god course and distance record and is certainly capable in this class, having finished 2nd twice in four attempts. Moreira takes the mount this time and he must be included. GUY DRAGON is another contender, just kicking things off in his career. With just 9 starts to his name, he still has some scope for improvement and he looks set to do exactly that, with Purton taking the mount here. The son of Dark Angel loves this course and distance and he is certainly not out of his league in this class. He may have to settle for a position 3-wide early on, due that tricky draw. But his followers can expect to see him boxing on well in the closing stages and he deserves respect.