International Racing: Sha Tin Best Bets Sunday 6 October 2019

Ten races carded for a return to Sha Tin, this Sunday 6th October 2019 and the meeting starts off with a few Class 4 and 5 events, before progress to Class 3 and we close the meeting off with an intriguing Class 2 race. 

A tricky catalogue for punters, but BAND OF BROTHERS looks the stand-out on the card in Race 8 and he’s the best bet here. A three-time winner from five starts, he appears to be heading for bigger and better. The value on the card arrives in the form of CANTSTOPTHEFEELING in Race 9, a competitive sprint over the 6-furlongs and he will be looking to make his second Hong Kong start a winning one. 

Best Bet: BAND OF BROTHERS (Race 8)
Value Bet: CANTSTOPTHEFEELING (Race 9)

Race 1 – 07:00
Selections: 3 – 4 – 2 – 1 – 5
A modest Class 5 event gets us underway this Sunday and the obvious selection for first prize is REGENCY GEM. The son of Showcasing has started to look very threatening since dropping in class and switching courses. He steps up slightly in trip and that will certainly enhance his chances even more, if repeating his eye-catching turn of foot. He has the blinkers removed for the pacifiers and Purton takes the mount from a much-improved draw. He has plenty of scope for improvement and looks tough to beat here. SKY GEM has also dropped in the ratings and his two comeback runs prior to this, have been perfect preps for this step up in trip. He did well to rally late last time, after being forced wide at a crucial stage of the entrance into the straight. From gate 9 this time, he will be looking for a smooth passage to compliment his turn of foot and he looks a threat with Moreira retaining the ride. CURLING LUXURY finished just behind the latter last time, when stepping up to the mile in his second start this term. He rates a threat since dropping to this mark and he should enjoy the step up to this trip. The concern would be his modest course form and clear preference for the Happy Valley track, but on current form he must be included. FULL OF CHANCES has been lightly raced this year, as he drops into Class 5 company this time. He has been dropping in the ratings, but still hasn’t managed to improve against stronger and he’ll certainly fancy his chances at making big improvement now. He has the visor removed for the cheek pieces and having won over this course and distance before, he deserves respect in this class.

Race 2 – 07:30
Selections: 4 – 2 – 7 – 1 – 6 
BLASTOISE lines up for his 5th career start and he will be looking to continue on his current trajectory. All four starts so far have been in this class and on what he has shown so far, he will relish this step up in trip to the 1800m. He had a tough draw to overcome last time and managed to find traffic through the 850m, forcing him to be eased. From gate 4, he gets the services of the in-form Teetan and with the expected improvement he should be very tough to beat. CROWN AVENUE hasn’t missed the first three for a while now and his continued good run of form culminated in a solid victory last time, over this course and distance. With 4 wins from 13 attempts at this trip, he certainly has the credentials to feature and with Purton retaining the ride he must be included. INDIGENOUS STAR has been in solid recent form and he was not disgraced last time out, when rising to this class. The son of Exceed And Excel has gone close twice in three attempts over this course and distance and if overcoming the draw, he should be right there again. NEW ELEGANCE has been dropping in the ratings and he showed good improvement last time, when dropping into this class. He steps up slightly in trip this time and finds a much-improved draw. If building on that latest effort, he’ll be a big runner and must go in.

Race 3 – 08:00
Selections: 7 – 8 – 5 – 14 – 9
LET’S COME BACK has been on the improve since dropping into this class and stepping on to the All-Weather surface. Being fitted with the cheekpieces appears to have assisted with his improvement in his last two and they stay on for this outing. He has had to overcome a few wide draws in recent times and will certainly benefit from gate 2 this time. He has dropped to a very competitive rating now and with Purton up, he looks the one to beat. HIDDEN SPIRIT beat the top selection last time out, his first attempt at this course and distance. That was just over 3-months ago and he was penalised 8-pounds for that impressive victory. Coupled with the fact that he has a wide draw to overcome this time, he may find it a little harder. He returns for his first outing this term and could just be short of a run. With that said, he certainly looks competitive on this surface and in this class. With Teetan retaining the ride, he looks the biggest danger to the top selection KEEP WINNING finished behind the top two selections last time, when returning to this surface for the first time on a while. He did well to box on late on that occasion and may be excused for not finishing closer, having pulled up with blood in his trachea. He has won over this course and distance and certainly has an affinity for this trip, having won and placed twice from 4 attempts. From a much-improved draw, he should be right there at the business end. MASTER BERNINI makes his stable debut for Tony Millard, having left the Ferraris outfit. He has been thereabouts in his last few starts and the continued drop in the ratings has started to make him appear a promising betting proposition. He can be excused for not going closer last time when the rider dropped his crop early on, having jumped from a wide gate and he has another wide draw to overcome here. He does have some useful gate speed, which was on display last time and that will be called into action once again. With Moreira up, he looks a bit runner if not in need of the outing.

Race 4 – 08:30
Selections: 7 – 9 – 4 – 1 – 3 
MAJESTIC CONQUEROR gave a solid account of himself in that debut run, two weeks ago. He may have finished in the places; had he not been held up for a number of strides at the top of the straight. Thereafter, he was forced to be switched outwards in search of a clear run and did well to box on late. The form line of that debut run features prominently here and although he is drawn wider this time, he should have plenty of scope to improve and should go very close to winning this time. COLORADO HIGH stems from the same form line and he too found traffic issues in that run. He is just getting going in his career and hasn’t had the best entry as far as draws are concerned. From gate three this time, he should have a bigger chance of finding the run of the race and that brings him right into the equation. He’s clearly preferred reverting to the Turf in his last two and looks set for a big run if repeating that latest effort. Moreira takes the mount and the son of Star Witness must go into consideration. FRESH POWER is another contender from the MONKEY JEWELLERY form line. In fact, he finished in front of the top two selections last time out, when going down a short-head in 2nd. From gate 1, Purton takes the ride and he’s an obvious inclusion. SPLENDID TIMING returns from a rest just shy of 4 months, having picked up all sorts of issues in that last start. That was when dropping into this class and he finished some way back. He bled and pulled up lame, so the run can be excused and the rest was certainly needed. He reverts to the turf course and he’ll be more at home here. From a useful draw, he could go close if recapturing his earlier form and is worth including on that record.

Race 5 – 09:00
Selections: 9 – 3 – 7 – 8 – 13
SPRINT FORWARD has improved with every run and he’ll still have plenty of scope for more, from another useful draw. The son of Lope de Vega showed further improvement with the tongue tie on last time, when running on late and he clearly enjoyed stepping up to this course and distance. Zac Purton sticks with the mount and if continuing on his current trajectory, he should win this. SUNSHINE WARRIOR is another contender who is just getting going in his career and he has the benefit of knowing what it feels like to land in the winners’ enclosure. That was over this course and distance in his penultimate start, with Aldo Domeyer up. He followed that up with a solid effort last time, when overcoming a wide draw and gate 7 this time will certainly help. Domeyer regains the ride and he’ll be the biggest threat to the top selection. LUCKY GUY has been sliding in the ratings and has shown good signs of improvement. He has placed in his last three, over the 6 furlongs and looks set for a huge run over the extra furlong here. He finds a useful draw and Shinn retains the ride. If building on that last start, he’ll go close. MY WINNER is a solid campaigner over this trip and he has certainly shown that in his last two starts. On stable debut for his new conditioner, he gets the services of Moreira and he may have to settle some way off the pace from gate 13. With that said, he does have a useful finish and if finding a clear path late, he’ll finish prominently.

Race 6 – 09:35
Selections: 5 – 1 – 6 – 10 – 2
ENFOLDING has been in good consistent form leading into this race and is record over this trip is ideal, having finished in the first 3 places in five out of eight attempts. Although he is yet to win over this trip, he has gone very close a few times and this looks like a great opportunity to snatch his first Hong Kong win. Purton retains the ride here after that encouraging last start over this course and distance, when rallying wide in the closing stages. He gets the visor fitted for this run and looks well set up to win. TOUCH OF LUCK is still getting going in his career and he has already featured prominently over this course and distance, having finished second and third in two attempts. He steps back up in trip after two sprints and he’ll certainly relish the extra. Domeyer is booked for the ride and if placing his best foot forward this time, he’ll be right there at the finish. GRAND HARBOUR has been finishing just off them in his last four starts, since dropping to the 6-furlongs on this surface. He likes to race up with the speed and from gate 3, he should get there without much hassle. He has won twice over this trip and once over the course and distance. He gets the blinkers removed for this outing and on his current form, he’ll be involved in the finish. PROMISE KEPT has been dropping in the ratings and he he’s starting to show signs of a big run. He finds a much-improved draw this time, for this step up in trip and he should relish the extra 400m. Karis Teetan sticks with the ride and if finding that strong finish he displayed last time, he cannot be discounted and must go in.

Race 7 – 10:05
Selections: 4 – 7 – 1 – 8 – 9
BEAR SLAM has been in good consistent form of late and he appears to have landed on a competitive mark, since dropping down in the ratings. He has put in two solid efforts over this course and distance in his last two runs, despite being drawn wide. From gate 4, he will look to settle just behind the early speed and that should be the ideal launchpad for his sustained finish. Callan retains the ride and everything looks to be in his favour, to land in the winner’s box. PERFECT TO PLAY has been in good form on the Turf and he reverts to this surface, where he’ll be looking to convert this useful form into another career win. He was poor over this course and distance three starts back, when having a tough draw to overcome and he’ll be far more prominent from gate 5 this time. He has placed once in two attempts over this course and distance and with Purton up, he deserves plenty of respect. PACKING WARRIOR has shown good improvement since being fitted with the blinkers and he returns to the All-Weather track after those last three good runs on Turf. Teetan takes the mount this time and if repeating his last start, over the extra furlong, he’ll go very close. RULETHEROOST enjoyed his return to this surface last time out, when boxing on well in the closing stages, over this course and distance. Having finished just behind the top selection in that run, he finds a tougher draw to overcome here, but with a bit of luck in running he’ll be right there at the business end and must be considered.

Race 8 – 10:35
Selections: 4 – 3 – 5 – 1 – 9
BAND OF BROTHERS opens his account this season, with a return to his favoured course and distance. With a record of 3 runs, 2 wins and a 2nd – he still has plenty more to come. He has continued that impressive form since rising into this class two starts back and considering that both of those runs were launched from wide draws, he looks set to add to his win tally from an improved draw here. No surprised to see Zac Purton retaining the ride and if continuing on his current path, he looks very hard to oppose. WAR ROOM steps back up in trip after going very close over the minimum trip last time. He has only attempted this trip on three previous occasions and all three of those efforts have come over this course and distance, from wide draws. He’ll have the benefit of jumping from gate 4 this time and that brings him right into the frame. The blinkers stay off after that improved latest and with Shinn retaining the ride, he should be involved in the finish. SOLAR WAI WAI has also been knocking on the door for a while now and he did well to rally late last time, over a trip that may have been too sharp. He does enjoy this course and distance, having won and placed from three attempts and if overcoming gate 10, he looks a real threat on that impressive career record so far. The top weight, FOLLOW ME, lands a much-improved draw this time and he has a real opportunity to add to that very useful course and distance record. Moreira knows him well and that comeback run last time would’ve bought him on nicely. He’ll strip a lot fitter this time and must be included.

Race 9 – 11:10
Selections: 1 – 11 – 5 – 6 – 2
CANTSTOPTHEFEELING has another tough draw to overcome, but the same was the case in his local debut last time and he would’ve gone a lot closer had it not been for the traffic he found late on. He returns to the same course and distance and with a bit more luck in running, he should be knocking on the door for the winners’ box. Schofield retains the ride and with the expected scope for improvement, he’ll be flagged as a keep safe – value bet on the card. For second, CALIFORNIA GUNGHO gets the nod. He was unlucky not to win last time out when rising to this class over this course and distance. From gate 2, Moreira knows him well and he sticks with the ride. From a relatively handy position, he’ll mount a strong challenge late and he is not with out a chance. ENDEARING finished just in front of the top selection last time. Fitted with the blinkers two starts back, they appear to have made the difference, resulting in two good back to back efforts. He has a tricky draw to negotiate this time, but he has done so a few times before and the 9-year-old son of Lonhro is brave enough to box on from tough positions. He will certainly find it tougher from this draw, but he deserves plenty of respect. PRIVATE ROCKET has been in fair form before his latest effort when making his stable debut for the Whyte yard. He had another very tough draw to overcome in that run and he finally lands a draw that brings him right into the equation. He is fitted with the cross-nose-band this time and the son of Dark Angel will still have plenty of scope for further improvement here. He likes to settle just behind the early speed, as he did when winning three starts back and a repeat of those tactics over this slightly shorter trip should land him in contention.

Race 10 – 11:45
Selections: 3 – 7 – 2 – 14 – 13 
A strong Class 2 event to close proceedings and HEZTHEWONFORUS to do the business. He makes his return this term, after a solid campaign over the past 12 months. He seemed rather luckless with draws in his last four outings but gets his new campaign underway from pole position. He has a solid course and distance record in his short career so far and has no issues with stepping up to the plate in this class. Moreira retains the ride and he’ll be the one they all have to beat.  LUCKY HERO has featured prominently in his last three starts, since progressing into this class. He steps up in trip and will be suited to the extra furlong. Domeyer takes the ride from an improved draw and if ridden patiently, he’ll be flashing home late. FAST MOST FURIOUS beat the top selection in his penultimate start, over this course and distance and he followed that up with a good effort last time out. That was after being penalised 5 points for the win. He has been a solid handicapper in this class, with a handy record over the course and distance. Drawn wide today, Purton takes the mount and the son of Lope de Vega deserves utmost respect. UNCLE STEVE rises into Class 2 company for his new camp, after progressing well over the past six months. He drops slightly in trip after two good efforts over the mile and although he hasn’t won over the 7 furlongs, he has gone close a few times. With just 11 starts to his name – 7 in Hong Kong – he still has more to come and from a useful draw, he’ll be worth considering for the minor placings.