International Racing: Sha Tin Best Bets Sunday 20th October 2019

An interesting card presents itself this Sunday 20th October, for the 12th meeting this term. There are two Group 2 events to look forward to, in the form of the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy and the Premier Bowl. 

BEAUTY GENERATION returns to line up in the former Gr2 event on the card and he appears to be the best bet today, in the 8th race. SUNSHINE WARRIOR has his third run back and he looks cherry ripe to add a bit of value to punters wallets, in the 6th race. See more here.

Best Bet: BEAUTY GENERATION (Race 8)
Value Bet: SUNSHINE WARRIOR (Race 6)

Race 1 – 06:15
Selections: 10 – 14 – 11 – 4 – 1
HARBOUR CENTURY has been dropping in the ratings for a while now and he is starting to show signs of a winning effort. He appeared to enjoy being taken up handy last time out, when stepping back up to this course and distance and that may be his only option from barrier 10. If building on that latest effort, he should be involved in the finish and should be worth following. VICTORIOUS LEADER has also been dropping in the ratings and he seems to have improved since having the blinkers and hood removed for his last two, despite overcoming wide draws. He lands a very useful draw this time and secures Purton for his comeback run after a 3-month absence. If not still in need of the outing, he looks very competitive off his current rating and must be a big threat. BIG BULLY actually finished just in front of the top selection last time out, but he finds a wider draw this time so it will be that much tougher to maintain that margin. He has a solid finish and that will stand him in good stead in the closing stages, considering that he may be forced to settle off the early pace. Always thereabouts in the finish, Callan retains the ride and his followers can expect another promising effort and a good run for their money. KWAI CHUNG ELITE has started to show signs of a big run since dropping to this mark of 40. Both of those runs have come in this class and he brings with him, a decent record over this course and distance. In fact, both of his career wins have come over this track and trip and despite the fact that he has tough draw to negate, he deserves plenty of respect.

Race 2 – 06:45
Selections: 5 – 13 – 2 – 6 – 11
JUDY’S STAR enters Class 4 company after three good efforts in Griffin company, with his last two coming over this course and distance. He put up solid effort in his penultimate start, with the winner of that outing having come out and won again since – against Class 2 opposition no less. Despite the draw, he has a useful finish and plenty of scope for improvement. Purton takes the mount for his first effort in this class and he looks the likely winner. MASTER ALBERT has been knocking on the door for a while now and he has started to show signs of a big run in his last two, since dropping further in the ratings. He has a strong finish, as he has shown in recent times and that will go someway to nullify his wide draw. Teetan sticks with the ride and his followers can expect to see him flashing home late. WINSTON’S LAD drops into this company for the first time, having shaved off 8-points in the ratings in his last five starts. He has a solid record over this course and distance and lands a much-improved draw this time, after finding a wide barrier in his last two. Ho jumps back up and if continuing on his current trajectory, he rates a threat. YICHUN BLITZ is yet to find the winners’ box, but he has been giving a very solid account of himself in his last few starts. He is well performed over this track and trip and despite having a wide draw to deal with here, he will be putting in a late claim for top prize and must go in with Moreira up.

Race 3 – 07:15
Selections: 6 – 2 – 8 – 4 – 3 
The first of two Gr 2 events on the card and FULL OF BEAUTY looks set to add this prize to his ever-growing trophy cabinet. He was impressive last time out, when notching up his 6th win at just his 9th career outing. That was when returning from a 4-month absence and he finds another useful draw for his second effort this term. That latest form line features prominently here, with all of the 2,4 and 8 finishing just behind him on that occasion and they all line up on better weight terms this time. With that said, he is a 5-time winner from 8 starts over this course and distance and with Moreira sticking with him, he rates the one to beat. RATTAN clearly needed that last run, when just tiring late. That was when returning from a 5-month absence from the course and he will strip a lot fitter for this step up to the 6-furlongs. He won his only attempt at Gr2 level and that happened to be over this course and distance. If overcoming the wide draw, he looks a big danger with Schofield retaining the ride. GUNNISON lines up 5-pounds better off with the top selection, on their latest duel last time out. That was when he returned from a 4-month absence from the course and he lands another useful draw for his 5th effort over this course and distance. Beaten just 1.5 lengths last time, he will strip a lot fitter and he will once again be fighting out the finish. WISHFUL THINKER also finished behind the top selection last time, when going down by just a neck in 3rd. He should benefit from the favourable 4kg turnaround at the weights this time and from an improved draw he will be looking to add to that already impressive record over this trip. He is yet to win in this class, but on his recent form he rates a major threat.

Race 4 – 07:45
Selections: 5 – 4 – 10 – 7 – 12 
CLASSIC UNICORN is unbeaten in two starts so far, with his latest coming in this class of opposition. Both efforts have come over this course and distance and the progressive looking son of Per Incanto should have plenty more to come. He does return from a 3-month absence which may render him a touch in need of this run, but class should prevail and with Purton jumping back up, he looks a tough horse to beat. MR LUMIERES has been dropping in the ratings and he is starting to show positive signs of a big run soon. Both of his last two starts have come since being lowered into Class 3 level and he appears to be far better off in this league, having picked up both wins here. He gets the services of the 10-pound claiming Chan for the second time in his career, having finished 3rd on him on his first engagement. That was against tougher opposition and he looks set for a big showing here. MERIDIAN GENIUS is still just getting going in his career and he has plenty of scope for further improvement. He jumps into this higher class this time, after a good win over the course and distance last time out. The signs indicate a preference for this trip and with Moreira sticking with him, he will be right there at the finish. SUPER JUNIOR loves this course and distance and despite the fact that he is yet to win in this class, he has gone very close in his last two starts and he deserves plenty of respect here. Both of those efforts have been since the start of the season, so he certainly won’t be short of the run and he must be included.

Race 5 – 08:20
Selections: 3 – 10 – 7 – 14 – 2
SUCH A HAPPINESS has been in solid form of late and he may just have found the 1800m a touch too far last time out. Back to the Sha Tin mile here, he will be looking to replicate that penultimate start of his, over this course and distance. Both of his career wins have come over this track and trip and, in this class, so on current form he looks attractive. Purton takes the mount from another good draw and with this being his third run back, he looks set to find the winners box. VILLA FIONN has been dropping in the ratings and is starting to show promise, despite having two tough draws to overcome in his last two starts. Drawn 5 this time, Domeyer gets the mount and off his current mark, he should be a massive runner. CALIFORNIA LEGEND has shown good improvement since having the blinkers removed and he appears to have enjoyed his last two starts over this course and distance. He has a tough draw to overcome here, but Teetan has opted to stick with him and he has the form to go close. SAVVY SEVEN has found solid form since dropping to this mark. He is yet to win in 16 attempts, but he likes this course and distance and with Moreira up today, he can go close if overcoming the draw.

Race 6 – 08:55
Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 12 – 8 
SUNSHINE WARRIOR has only had the 7 starts so far and he seems to have returned with good intent since the start of this season. He has put together three good efforts and he clearly has taken a liking to this course and distance. He does have a tough draw to negotiate, but that doesn’t necessarily pose a major concern, as he exhibits a fast finish. He’ll need a genuine pace for that to happen and there should be one. Domeyer regains the ride, having notched up his one and only victory aboard the son of Pierro three starts back. He gets the cheekpieces fitted and looks the value bet on the card. FALCON TURBO finished just in front of the top selection last time out, when having the blinkers fitted. He appears to be knocking on the door for his 2nd win in Hong Kong, since dropping into this class and changing stables three starts back. He looks the biggest threat to the top selection, with Purton taking the mount from a good draw. He is bound to go close and must go in. EPTIWINS put in a solid effort when overcoming a tough draw last time. That was when stepping up to the 6-furlongs and he showed an impressive turn of foot in that run, just going down by 2-lengths in 3rd. He tries this trip for the first time, but the signs in his last start surely indicate that he’s going to relish the extra. He gets the hood and cross-noseband fitted this time and he should be right there. TELECOM ROCKET has finished just off them in recent times and with just the 9 starts under his belt, he should go close soon, if not this time. He lands a much-improved draw here and looks a big threat off his current mark of 43.

Race 7 – 09:25
Selections: 11 – 2 – 1 – 6 – 8
A few contenders return for their first outing this season and a glance at the betting boards may be required to ascertain their readiness for this run. JUMBO PRIZE has the one run under his belt this season, when giving a good account of himself over this course and distance last time. That was his first outing at Sha Tin and the tongue-tie may have helped. He has taken the leap into this class in his stride and with that being only his 6th career start, he has certainly showed signs of promise thus far. From another useful draw, he will be nicely tuned up for his second outing this term and should give his followers a good run for their money. The main danger is the son of Darci Brahma, MR CROISSANT, who beat the top selection last time out. That was his second outing this term and he did well to overcome a tricky draw, under a masterclass ride by Zac Purton. He has only ever contested over this course and distance and he is clearly at home in this class, having yet to miss the first three in his five starts so far. The cheekpieces remain and as does Purton and they will benefit from an improved draw this time. AEROHAPPINESS is another useful contender over this course and distance and he comes into this event on the back on a win over the same track and trip last time out. That was in this class where he is well performed in his 13 attempts here. Moreira retains the ride from another useful draw and he must be included. BEAUTY ICON returns for the first time this season and he was showing signs of a big run late last term. He finds an improved draw this time and the tongue tie goes on, for his 5th appearance in Hong Kong. He appears to have dropped to a competitive mark and still has plenty of scope to improve.

Race 8 – 09:55
Selections: 1 – 9 – 3 – 8 – 6 
BEAUTY GENERATION is back, this time in Gr2 company and after that scintillating comeback run last time, he looks unstoppable here. He lands another useful draw and he his back to his favourite trip, over the Sha Tin mile. Purton predictably sticks with the ride and he looks set to add another win to his impressive career tally. KA YING STAR was game in defeat last time out, when staying on strongly in the latter stages, after setting a brisk pace from the front. He too steps up to his preferred trip and once again, he will be required to commit early from gate 8. Teetan retains and if the top selection fluffs his line, this son of Cityscape will be very tough to peg back in the latter stages. SOUTHERN LEGEND put in a good effort in the same form line as the top two, last time out. He rallied well over the last 400m and from another handy draw this time, he will be well placed to launch his challenge late and looks a likely place candidate. A Gr1 winner in his penultimate start in Singapore, over this trip and a repeat of that effort would make things interesting. WAIKUKU showed a bold effort on his return last time out, when finishing just over a length behind the top selection. He is a talented individual who may be more effective over the 10 furlongs, but he sure didn’t disgrace himself over the 7-furlongs last time out and he will relish the extra furlong here. Moreira retains and with his ever-improving luck with the draws in mind, he must be included as an upset prospect.


Race 9 – 10:30
Selections: 11 – 2 – 5 – 7 – 4 
GOLDEN SIXTY has been impeccable so far, having only faltered once in his 5 career outings. That was in his penultimate start, when stepping up to this trip to the first time and he was just a little one-paced late on. He steps into Class 2 company for the first time and with that, he gets the weight off his back for his second attempt at this trip. The son of Medaglia d’Oro has a promising career ahead of him and this should be well within his grasp. FLYING THUNDER is a consistent sort who has taken well to the rise in class. He won his last start over this course and distance, against stronger and that was when stepping up to this trip for the 2nd time. From another good draw, he looks to be the biggest danger. HEZTHEONEFORUS is another consistent sort, who has found little luck with draws prior to his last start and he finds another wide one here. With that said, he likes to race up handy and he possesses the gate speed to get there. Moreira retains the ride and he just needs a clear passage at the right time, to be right there at the finish. TAKING AIM is well-performed over this course and distance and he gave another solid account of himself over this track and trip last time out, when stepping up to this class. He finds a wide draw here and if he manages to avoid a deep position early in the running, he should be involved at the business end.

Race 10 – 11:05
Selections: 9 – 7 – 3 – 4 – 1
EVERYONE’S JOY has produced a good start to his career, with two wins from three outings. He was beaten last time out, when stepping up to the 1400m for the first time and he will be looking to go one better here. He was hampered at a crucial stage in that run and may have gone a lot closer than that 1.75 length defeat. The well-bred son of Redoute’s Choice has been absent from the course since the middle of May and that may be a slight concern for some, but he clearly has a lot more to come and looks to be a major contender for first prize. HAPPY FORCE also makes a comeback here, after a 3-month absence. He has been consistent over this course and distance and he lands a much-improved draw, after that narrow defeat from gate 12 last time. He has won in this class and from the front, he will be looking to fight this out and must be considered. SUPER WISE gave a good account of himself on his return last time out, when stepping out over the 6-furlongs. That was a furlong short of his best and he will certainly relish the extra ground here. He has a useful record over this course and distance and he is well performed in this class of opposition. If coming on from that last start, he will be a major contender at the finish. FOLLOW ME has been finishing just off them in recent times and he looks set for a big run here, with this being his third run after a rest. He will be cherry ripe for this run and he retains the services of his regular rider, Moreira. He enjoys this course and distance and has featured well in this class. From a good draw, he will be settled just off them in the early parts and he could make his presence felt late on.