International Racing: Sha Tin – Saturday 23rd November 2019

We are back at Sha Tin this Saturday 23rd November for an intriguing affair. 10 races are carded and there are plenty of opportunities for punters to find a bit of value. 

LUCKY MORE in the third race on the card appears to be the best bet, after a promising debut when going off favourite. He would’ve learnt a lot from that run and he’ll be expected to get it right this time. The value comes in the very next event, Race 4. LITTLE GENERAL has dropped in the ratings and he lands a plum draw. Grant van Nierkerk knows him well and he retains the ride here. The blinkers stay on and he should just about win this.

Best Bet: LUCKY MORE (Race 3)
Value Bet: LITTLE GENERAL (Race 4)

Race 1 – 06:15 – Class 4 – 1200m (Turf)
Selections: 1 – 3 – 10 – 11 – 5 
A tricky race to analyse, with a number of runners having their first runs here. WINNING FEELING does however, have form to his name. He has dropped 11 points in the ratings in his last five starts and he drops into Class 4 company, for his 3rd run back this term. From a good draw, he gets the services of Neil Callan for his 7th outing in Hong Kong and the blinkers go on this time. With the expected improvement in this lesser class, he rates the one to beat. GOOD SHOT is one of the debutantes. He lands an attractive jockey booking in the form of Zac Purton and he could be worth including. Punters are advised to monitor the betting changes to get a feel for his chances here. BEST FOR YOU is one of the raced runners and he too has slipped in the ratings. He clearly needed that comeback run last time out, when returning from a 4-month absence and overcoming a tricky draw. He is starting to look competitive off his current mark and he’ll strip fitter this time out. Grant van Niekerk retains the ride and he’ll be worth including. BULB ELITE is still a maiden after 21 outings in Hong Kong. He needed his last run, when making his return this season after a 3-month lay-off and he too should line-up a fitter horse this time. Having dropped 12-points in the ratings in his last five starts, he is looking more and more likely of picking up his first win here and if overcoming the draw, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 2 – 06:45 – Class 5 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 9 – 2 – 1 – 8 – 5 
VICTORIOUS LEADER has shown good improvement as he has slipped in the ratings of late. He was an unlucky loser last time when finding traffic towards the top of the straight and going down by a neck in 2nd. Drawn wider this time, Zac Purton retains the ride and he will be required to employ that fast finish he has shown in recent times. He will strip a fitter horse, with this being his second run back and he should be tough to beat if overcoming the draw this time. MR MAGELLAN has been knocking on the door in recent times and he showed his versatility last time when going close to winning on the All-Weather. He has gone close over this course and distance in recent times and with the blinkers on this time, he rates a threat. Chad Schofield retains the ride and he must be included. The top-weighted GENERAL TRUMP drops into Class 5 company for the first time in his career and he lands a much-improved draw for his second run back this term. He will relish the extra furlong here and with this being just his 9th career outing, he has the scope to improve and with improvement he should go into contention. NEVER BETTER has been in threatening form in recent times and he clearly has a preference for this course and distance. He is a useful competitor in this class and looks well set for another big performance soon. Drawn well, he has his peak run after a short rest and his followers can expect to see him give a very good account of himself.

Race 3 – 07:15 – Class 4 – 1000m (Turf)
Selections: 4 – 1 – 5 – 14 – 3 
LUCKY MORE was strongly supported on debut over this course and distance when going down half a length in second place. The well-bred son of More Than Ready would have learnt a lot from that run and it is no real surprise to see Purton retain the ride. With the expected improvement to come, he shouldn’t miss this time and he rates one of the better bets on the card. VALLIANT DREAM faded unsurprisingly over the final 300m in his last start, after being chased up from a wide draw. That was when stepping up to the 6-furlongs and he will relish the drop back to the minimum trip here. He drops back into a class where he has earned himself a useful record and with this being his peak run back, he looks a threat if the top selection fails. HERE COMES TED finished right behind the top selection in that encouraging debut, when finishing in 3rd place. He showed an electric turn of foot in that run after finding traffic at the start. With plenty of scope for improvement, he is very hard to knock and he should be involved in the finish, with Callan retaining. GALAXY RACER has his sixth career start here and he lines up off a reduced rating, having dropped 11-points since his debut. He showed good resolve last time when improving to go down by just over 2 lengths in defeat and that confirms his newly found competitive streak off his current mark. He drops slightly in trip, but retains the services of his 3-pound claiming apprentice and should be right there this time.

Race 4 – 07:45 – Class 4 – 1600m (Turf)
Selections: 14 – 8 – 3 – 1 – 5 
LITTLE GENERAL looks competitive off his current mark of 43 and he finally cracks a useful draw here, after landing a few wide ones. He has done well of late regardless, with his last two runs coming over this course and distance and Grant van Niekerk retains the ride. He should find the run of the race with relative ease and on current form at this level, he looks hard to knock and should go close to winning. ILLA FIONNV has clearly benefitted from having the blinkers fitted and he clearly enjoyed stepping up to the mile last time. He seems to be enjoying the recent change of stables and off his current mark of 47, he should pick up his first win in Hong Kong soon. He does have a tough draw to overcome, but he is the type that prefers to be left alone and with the expected speed to be a good one, he will be rallying late and must be considered. AMAZING SATCHMO has been slipping in the ratings for a while now and his form is starting to look rather threatening. He returns to the Sha Tin track, where he has picked up most of his success. With Purton up from a good draw, he will be looking to add to that respectable course and distance record and he must be included in this trappy Class 4 event. LONDON HALL finished behind the top two selections last time out, when boxing on doggedly for his first run back this term. That was after a 4-month absence and he will strip a lot fitter this time. He has improved since being fitted with the blinkers 4 starts back, picking up two wins straight up before giving a good account of himself in his last two starts. If jumping on terms from a reasonable draw, he should be involved in the finish and must be included.

Race 5 – 08:15 – Class 3 – 1200m (All-Weather)
Selections: 8 – 11 – 1 – 5 – 9 
MEGA RED has been dropping in the ratings and his form is starting to show promising signs, with his best recent effort coming last time out on this surface. Both of his wins in Hong Kong have come on this surface and he lands another plum draw for his bid at an overdue win. Keith Yeung retains the ride on this son of More Than Ready and off his current mark of 64, he looks the winner here. FANTASTIC FABIA returns to the All-Weather surface, where he has picked up a relatively useful record in his 8 outings so far. After three fair efforts in his last three starts when overcoming wide draws, he lands a plum draw where he should find it easy to get to the front at the off. He likes to set the fractions and with this being back over his favourite trip, he looks a threat. MR WEALTH was an impressive winner when reverting to this surface last time out. That was when returning from a lengthy lay-off over this course and distance and lands a useful draw for his second run back this term. Bayliss retains and despite the 6-point penalty for that win, he could still be ahead of the handicapper on this surface and he rates a major threat if repeating that latest effort. TEAM FORTUNE finished well behind the former last time, when finding no luck at the start, on his return to racing this season. He will be looking to stay out of trouble this time from gate 9 and if finding his form prior to that disappointing latest, he will go right into contention.

Race 6 – 08:50 – Class 4 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 5 – 2 – 9 – 8 – 14 
DESTIN has returned this season with three solid efforts, kicking off his campaign with a win first-up before finishing in second in his last two starts. He did well to overcome a tricky draw last time and he finds another one here, but Purton picks up the ride and he will be looking to adopt the same tactics employed last time. If continuing his recent form, coupled with some luck in running from that draw, he should win this. SIMPLE ELEGANT is another runner who overcame a tough draw last time out when finishing behind the top selection. He likes to take up the running but despite the 10-pound claimer up last time, he faded over the last furlong. From a much-improved draw this time, he should be able to find the lead with relative ease. Grant van Niekerk pics up the ride, having won on his in his penultimate start and he could be tough to pass this time. SUPER ALLIANCES is just getting going in his career and he still has scope for plenty more, with just the two runs behind him. He too was forced to negate a tough draw last time out, but he did well enough to box on for a respectable finish. From an improved draw this time, Bayliss retains the ride and he will be looking to go right into contention with the expected improvement. FUN TIMES has been threatening the winners’ box in his last two runs, on the back of a winning return over this course and distance three starts back. He finds a wide draw to overcome this time, but he is clearly in a good place and despite relying on a bit of luck in running, he has the form to be involved in the finish.

Race 7 – 09:20 – Class 1 – 1600m (Turf)
Selections: 3 – 11 – 8 – 2 – 1 
GOOD STANDING gave a solid account of himself last time out over the 1400m, when overcoming barrier 9 to box on well for a 1,75-length defeat in 2nd.  That was despite the saddle shifting and he finds an improved draw this time, which will certainly stand him in good stead. That run came on the back of an encouraging effort in Group 2 company in his penultimate start and he is clearly showing signs of a winning effort soon. He looks well placed to find the winners’ enclosure here. FAST MOST FURIOUS stems from the same form line last time, when finishing right behind the top selection under Zac Purton. He has been in good consistent form in recent times and he clearly had no real issues rising to this level in that recent effort. He will find things tougher from gate 10 this time, but Purton retains the ride and he must be included on current form. HARMONY VICTORY is another consistent performer lining up in this 7th event on the card. He won at this level three starts back, over the same course and distance under a competent ride from Grant van Niekerk and his followers will be hoping to see similar tactics employed this time, by the competent young South African. From a wide draw, he will be happy to settle off the early speed and if finding a smooth passage in the straight, he will be flashing home late. CHAMPIONS WAY had a tough trip last time out, when taking a bump at the start and never going into contention thereafter. He is a 6-time winner from 8 career outings and he can certainly be forgiven for that disappointing outcome. Bayliss jumps back aboard the son of Hinchinbrook, having won on him before and if repeating his penultimate start when winning at Gr3 level, he rates a big threat.

Race 8 – 09:50 – Class 3 – 1200m (All-Weather)
Selections: 2 – 7 – 4 – 9 – 1 
JUST NOT LISTENING needed his last two starts, when returning from a rest and he should be cherry ripe now, after a much-improved run last time. He has a smart record on this surface, having notched up 3 wins from 10 outings on the All-Weather and he lands a plum draw with Purton up for his peak run. The blinkers seem to be helping and he should be tough to beat here. UTOPIA LIFE has taken well to this surface in his last three starts, finishing in second place on all three occasions. The 10-pound claiming Chan takes the mount this time and with the extra weight off his back, he looks a big threat. MEGA HEART finished right behind the former last time when returning to the All-Weather. He is becoming a useful performer on this surface and he lands a plum draw this time as he returns to the same course and distance. He looks competitive off his current mark and must be included with a big run expected. AQUILA has done very little wrong in his five starts so far and he has taken the step up to this Class in his stride. He tried the All-Weather for the first time in his latest effort and it was very encouraging to say the least. Drawn slightly wider here, he will be looking to find cover at the front and with a bit of luck in running he will be fighting out the finish.

Race 9 – 10:25 – Class 3 – 1600m (Turf)
Selections: 8 – 1 – 2 – 13 – 14 
GUY DRAGON has put in two useful effort efforts since returning this season and that was despite overcoming wide berths in both outings. He lands a perfect draw for his peak run and he will trip a much fitter horse with this being his peak run back. Chad Schofield retains the ride on the son of Dark Angel and he has the form to win. The top-weighted BAND OF BROTHERS has a solid record to his name so far and he certainly wasn’t disgraced last time, when stepping into a level above this class and finishing just three-lengths back. He reverts to Class 3 company where he has twice won and finished second from his three outings. Drawn wide this time, he will be relying on some luck in running but he certainly has the form to close this race out, if finding a smooth passage through. PACKING WARRIOR has his peak run back this term and he has been showing signs of a very big run in both come back runs so far. Drawn well, Purton takes the mount and he looks a major threat off his current mark of 77. He has gone close over this course and distance and he looks to be a major contender here. LOOKING GOOD has picked up a good-looking run of form since Grant van Niekerk jumped aboard the son of Postponed. He lands another good draw here and on his current form, he must be included.

Race 10 – 11:00 – Class 2 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 1 – 8 – 7 – 3 – 6 
GOLDEN SIXTY has an impeccable record so far, with 5 wins from 6 outings. He took the rise into this class with very little fuss last time, earning himself his 5th career win at only his second attempt over the 1400m. He returns to the same course and distance for his peak run back this term and from a useful draw, he looks tough to oppose. LUCKY HERO has been in solid form since rising to his mark of 85 and stepping into this stronger Class 2 company. He clearly enjoyed stepping up to this trip last time, when having his second run back this term and he will be cherry ripe for his peak run. Grant van Niekerk takes the ride and he looks a big threat if the top selection fluffs his lines. HAPPY FUN likes to take the initiative and go handy in his runs and it seems to be standing him in relatively good stead. He is a consistent son of Darci Brahma and he will be required to use his gate speed to overcome that tough draw. The 10-pound claimer retains the ride and with a bit of luck in running, he should be right there. RACING FIGHTER needed his last two runs when returning from a rest and he’ll strip a lot fitter here as he steps up to the 1400m. He gets the services of the 3-pound claiming apprentice for his fourth outing in Class 2 company and having won his first attempt at this level three starts back, he certainly has the ability to compete in this class. Drawn well, he should go close and must be included.