After some surprise results on the All-Weather surface on Friday, racing is back on the turf at Sha Tin this Sunday for a ten-race programme.
Anthony Delpech Sha Tin Preview
There are two Group 2 events including The Chairman’s Trophy which sees BEAUTY GENERATION and WAIKUKU renew their rivalry. The other Group race is The Sprint Cup where HOT KING PRAWN looks very hard to beat. The best bet on the day is PING HAI BRAVO who takes his place in Race 9. He is in very good form and meets the right field. Once again Joao Moreira looks to have a good book of rides and must be followed closely as he looks to stretch his lead at the top of the Jockey’s Championship.
Best Bet: PING HAI BRAVO (Race 9)
Value Bet: UNIQUE TREASURE (Race 2)
Race 1
HERE COMES TED has returned to some good form in his last two starts over this course and distance. He stayed on well at the business end of his last start but returned having cut his left eye. Grant van Niekerk retains the ride from pole position and the pair may find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. DREAM TEAM finished 0.75 lengths behind the top selection on his debut effort. He would have gained from the experience and with the natural improvement that is expected, he should give the first choice a good run for his money. TRUST ME won his last start over this distance well. Despite getting bumped at the start, he took the lead late and drew off for the victory. Zac Purton is in the saddle once again and the pair merit healthy respect. DECISIVE TWELVE finished 1.25 lengths behind the third-choice last time. That was his debut effort and with the natural progression that is expected, he should finish closer today. The slight concern is his wide draw, but he gets the services of a very capable rider in Vincent Ho.
Race 2
UNIQUE TREASURE is slowly returning to his best form. He was running on well at the finish in his last start over this course and distance when finishing fourth. Karis Teetan does duty aboard the son of Exceed And Excel from a good draw and the pair should go close to winning. VICTORIAM has not finished too far behind the winner in recent outings. He had some excuses last time as he was bumped at the start and hampered at the 1100m mark. With a bit of luck in running today, he should pose a big threat to the top choice. TAKE WHAT YOU NEED was a tad disappointing in his last start. That race was over seven furlongs and he may enjoy the drop in trip today. Zac Purton has ridden him three times for a second and a third-place finish. CALIFORNIA TURBO was running on well in his last start over this distance at Happy Valley. He hasn’t had much luck in running in his last four starts, so if things go his way today, he may be the one to cause the upset.
Race 3
WAIKUKU is in top form recently. He won his last start well over this course and distance when beating BEAUTY GENERATION by a neck. He is drawn in pole position today and if repeating that last outing, he should come out on top once again. BEAUTY GENERATION got back to winning ways in his last start over seven furlongs on this course. Despite getting hampered on the turn that day, he managed to pounce on the lead at the 180m mark and draw off for victory. He has not beaten the top selection in their last four clashes and may have to settle for the runner-up birth once again. FAT TURTLE with Vincent Ho in the irons and KA YING STAR with Chad Schofield up look to have their work cut out with regards to winning this, but they are the next two selections to fill the minor money.
Race 4
KA YING EXCELLENT was narrowly beaten in his last start over this course and distance. He had every chance to win that day, but just missed where it matters most. He is drawn in pole position today and with Zac Purton riding, he should be the one to side with here. CHAIRMAN LO showed some signs of returning to best form in his last start. He didn’t have much luck in running that day as he was hampered at the 700m mark and also crowded at the 350m mark. Joao Moreira steps back into the irons and the pair could throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. CASIMIRO produced a fair latest over 1650m after winning his penultimate race over this course and distance. Blake Shinn rides from a neat draw and the pair must be included in all bets. LORIZ has fair recent form to his credit. He was doing his best work late at the finish last time over this course and distance. If repeating that run today, he can run into the placings.
Race 5
BUTTERFIELD was his own worst enemy in his last start as he did not settle from the mile mark. He should have finished closer that day as he was crowded at the 400m mark. He won his penultimate race in this class when taking the lead at the 300m mark. From pole position and if Joao Moreira manages to switch him off early, he may be the one they all have to beat. HELENE LEADINGSTAR got back to winning ways over nine furlongs last time. Karis Teetan steps back aboard the son of Wanted and if repeating his last effort, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. SAVVY NINE showed some signs of a form return last time. The manner in which he finished off his race that day was encouraging. Chad Schofield rides for the first time and on best form shown, he should be involved in the fight to the finish. DARK DREAM is better than his poor latest suggests. He has been racing in some stronger company recently and takes a drop-in class today. He runs well for today’s pilot Zac Purton who has ridden him four times for a first, second, third and fourth-place finish.
Race 6
KING DRAGON has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He didn’t get off to the best of beginnings last time, but the manner in which he finished off his race was eye-catching. Vincent Ho who was aboard him last time retains the ride and the pair may find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. DEFINING MOMENT showed good signs of a form return in his last start over ten furlongs on this course. If repeating that run in this type of field, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post. CROWN AVENUE produced a decent last effort on the All-Weather surface. He does have a wide draw to contend with today, but he likes to come from off the speed and will be mowing down the frontrunners in the closing stages. PARTY EVERYDAY’S last two runs have been decent. He should have finished closer last time as he was hampered at the 600m mark and had to check at the 250m mark. Zac Purton knows the son of Snitzel well and the pair merit obvious inclusion.
Race 7
The second Group 2 event of the day is The Sprint Cup. HOT KING PRAWN got back to winning ways last time when showing pace and picking it up where it matters most. His record over this distance is good with four wins, three seconds and a third-place finish from nine attempts. Joao Moreira knows the son of Denman well and the pair should be tough to peg back in the closing stages. AETHERO is having his first run this year. He has good consistent formlines to his name and if at peak fitness, he should be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. MR STUNNING finished 0.5 lengths behind the top choice last time. He stayed on well at the finish that day. He is yet to be unplaced under jockey Karis Teetan and the pair must be included in all bets. THANKS FOREVER finished in front of the third choice in the race referred to above. However, he is worse off at the weights today and that is the reason MR STUNNING is preferred.
Race 8
TRUE LEGEND produced a promising debut effort over this course and distance. Despite easing at a crucial stage in the race that day, he finished his race off well and only went down by 1.75 lengths. He would have come on with the experience under his belt and with a bit of luck in running today, he should be the one they all have to beat. DUBLIN STAR should throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection. He has finished third in his last two starts over five furlongs. The slight concern for this son of Savabeel is that he doesn’t jump too well, but if over that bad habit, he should be right there. EL JEFE showed very good improvement to win his last start over the minimum distance. It is encouraging that jockey Zac Purton retains the ride and the pair cannot be ignored. SO WE JOY showed the expected natural improvement in his last start over this course and distance. He stayed on well at the business end of the race and with more natural progression to come, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.
Race 9
PING HAI BRAVO is the best bet on today’s programme and looks hard to beat. Despite being crowded at the 900m mark last time, he drew clear well to notch up his second career victory. He has a good record over today’s distance with two wins and two second-place finishes from five attempts. Joao Moreira knows him well and the pair should find themselves in the winner’s box. STAR LUCK is slowly coming back to best form. He raced three wide in his last start, but the manner in which he stayed on at the finish was good. Karis Teetan who has won on him in the past steps back aboard and the pair merit healthy respect. BIG FORTUNE has not finished too far behind the winner in recent outings. He does have a wide draw to overcome, but he gets the services of a claiming apprentice and cannot be ignored. KA YING LEGEND’S last start was fair. He has cracked pole position this afternoon and may be the one to cause the upset on best form shown.
Race 10
FARHH ABOVE was his own worst enemy last time as he didn’t settle in the running. He should have finished closer in his penultimate start as he was crowded from the 400m to 150m mark. If Joao Moreira can switch him off early and with a bit of luck in running, he may be the one they all have to beat. ULTIMATE GLORY has come back to life in his last two starts under Zac Purton. He has finally cracked a good draw and if continuing his good form of late, he should pose a threat to the top choice. CALIFORNIA AGENT set the pace in his last start and despite not settling, stayed on well at the finish. If settling in the running, he may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. GLORIOUS LOVER was a tad disappointing in his last start over a mile after producing a promising debut effort over this trip. With a bit of luck in running from his wide barrier position, he could be right there in the run down to the finishing post.
