International Racing – Sha Tin – Sunday 26 April 2020 – FWD Champions Day

An exciting ten-race programme is scheduled for Sha Tin on Sunday which includes three Group 1 races, The Chairman’s Sprint Prize, The FWD Champions Mile, and The FWD QEII Cup.

The best bet on the day is GOOD LUCK FRIEND in Race 3. He won in just his second career start and looks to have plenty of scope. After riding a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday, Zac Purton is now within one winner of Joao Moreira on the National Jockeys Championship log. Racing is very competitive today and there should not be much separating the two after this meeting.

Best Bet: GOOD LUCK FRIEND (Race 3)
Value Bet: CITY LEGEND (Race 1)
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Race 1 
CITY LEGEND is the value bet on today’s card and showed good signs of returning to best form in his last start over this course and distance. He settled near the rear of the field that day and rallied well up the straight. Karis Teetan, who has ridden him three times for two second-place finishes, retains the ride. He does have a wide barrier position to overcome, but he is likely to be switched off at the back of the field and mow down the frontrunners in the run down to the finishing post. CHARGE ON won his first race at the fourth time of asking over this course and distance. The manner in which he ran on at the finish that day was eye-catching. Derek Leung remains in the saddle today and the pair should give the top choice a run for his money. CHAIRMAN LO’S last two outings have been decent. He has a fair course and distance record having finished second four times and third twice from eleven attempts. Joao Moreira rides and he will be hoping to get the son of Sidereus over the line in front. SPRINT FORWARD returns from a much-needed three-month break. He has a handy draw of five and is likely to race up with the speed. If not in need of the run, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 2
KA YING LEGEND got back to winning ways in his last start under a brilliant ride by Vagner Borges. He pounced on the lead at the 500m mark and drew clear up the straight. He has recorded a win, a second and a third-place finish from six starts over this course and distance. If repeating his last outing, he may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. CALIFORNIA TURBO has not finished too far off the winner in his last two starts. He stayed on well at the business end of his last race when finishing third over this course and distance. Joao Moreira does duty for the first time and he may be able to coax that little bit extra out of the son of Fastnet Rock where it matters most. WAR OF COURAGE has very good consistent form lines to his credit. He just got up to win his last start over the minimum trip on this course. Chad Schofield has a good record on him having won once, finishing second once and third once from as many outings. The slight concern today is whether he will see out the extra furlong on offer. WAR ROOM didn’t enjoy racing at Happy Valley in his last start. He produced three decent efforts prior to that outing on this course. Zac Purton is in the saddle for the first time today and the combination cannot be ignored.

Race 3
GOOD LUCK FRIEND is the best bet on today’s card. He showed good pace and kept going well to win his last start over this course and distance. He takes on the same class of field this afternoon and there looks to be a lot more to come from the son of Swiss Ace. Zac Purton retains the ride which is encouraging. RHAPSODY is an unraced son of Hinchinbrook from the John Size stable with Joao Moreira doing duty. He has had a few decent barrier trials coming into this race and looks to have some class about him. If he is not too green today, he could throw out a big challenge to the top selection. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to his chances. CASA DE FORCA has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He stayed on well at the finish of his last start over this course and distance. In-form Chad Schofield does duty this afternoon and the combination should be right there at the finish. HONEST WAY showed good signs of returning to best form in his last start over this course and distance when dropping back to this class. If confirming his recent improvement, he should be able to earn a cheque in this line-up.

Race 4
This is a competitive contest and caution is advised. The narrow first selection goes to CHEERFUL LEADER who has very good consistent form lines to his credit. He is yet to be unplaced over this course and distance with a record of one win, one second, and three third-place finishes. His last effort was the first time he stepped up to this class and he handled it well. It is encouraging that Joao Moreira keeps the ride and the pair should be the ones to side with here. SUCH A HAPPINESS showed good signs of returning to best form in his last start over seven furlongs on this course. He should have finished closer that day as he was hampered at the 700m marker. All three of his career victories have come over this course and distance. Should the top selection fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. LAKESHORE EAGLE got back to winning ways in his last start over this course and distance. He made his dash down the inside rail and picked up the lead in the last 50m. Karis Teetan keeps the ride aboard the son of Master Of Design and the pair merit healthy respect. JOYFUL HEART had to do things the hard way last time when racing three-wide around the turn. The manner in which he finished off his race up the straight was encouraging. Zac Purton, who has ridden him three times for two victories, steps back into the saddle this afternoon. With a bit of luck in running today, he should have a decent chance of fighting out the finish.

Race 5: The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr1) – 1200m
The Chairman’s Sprint Prize is a Group 1 event over six furlongs. HOT KING PRAWN was unlucky not to have won his last start as he was blocked for a run at the 300m mark. He ran on strongly in the closing stages, but it was a little too late. He finished 0.75 lengths behind VOYAGE WARRIOR that day, but with a bit of luck in running, he should turn the tables with his conqueror. AETHERO was crowded at the start last time and didn’t settle around the turn. That was his first run after a break and he should strip a much fitter horse this afternoon. He has won three times and finished third twice from six attempts over this distance. Should the top choice fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. THANKS FOREVER also didn’t have much luck in running in the race referred to above. He was bumped at the 900m mark and the 500m mark. He manner in which he finished off his race was encouraging and with Blake Shinn retaining the ride, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post. VOYAGE WARRIOR showed good guts and determination when showing good speed to win his last start. There were a few horses with hard-luck stories that day and they will be looking to get the better of this son of Declaration Of War. However, if having his own way in front once again, he may be hard to peg back in the closing stages.

Race 6
WELLINGTON is unbeaten in three starts over six furlongs on this course. The last two victories have been in this class. The manner in which he has won suggests that he will enjoy the extra furlong on offer today. Zac Purton retains the ride and he will be looking to help this son of All Too Hard keep his unbeaten record intact. HIGH RISE SOLDIER has shown good signs of returning to best form in his last two starts. He has finished second once and third once in as many starts over this course and distance. He does have a wide draw to contend with today, but he should use his early gate speed to get across without using up too much energy. TOYCOON has shown good improvement in each of his outings to date. He had every chance of winning his latest outing over this course and distance, but just missed where it matters most. Neil Callan rides from pole position and the combination should run into the money once again. BEAUTY SMILE produced a promising debut effort when finishing runner-up over this course and distance. He was unlucky not to have won that day as he was crowded at the 300m mark and then he hung in the closing stages. The son of Free Eagle would have come on from the run and he should make natural improvement today.

Race 7: The FWD Champions Mile Gr1 – 1600m 
The second Group 1 event of the day is The FWD Champions Mile. Last year’s winner, BEAUTY GENERATION has a very good chance of retaining his title this afternoon. The manner in which he has won his last two starts has been impressive. He has had the perfect prep coming into this race and will be looking to notch up his 21st career victory. SOUTHERN LEGEND ran a very good race when finishing third behind the top selection in his last start. He raced from a handy position that day and stayed on well at the business end. If repeating that effort today, he should be one of the leading contenders for the placings. WAIKUKU was very disappointing in the race referred to above. He raced from a handy position that day but lacked a strong finish up the straight. However, his form prior to that outing was very good. If repeating his penultimate run when beating the top choice, an exciting finish to this race can be expected. KA YING STAR almost caused a huge upset in his last start when finishing second at long odds. He set the pace before getting caught in the shadow of the post by the top selection. If repeating that run this afternoon, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 8: The FWD QEII Cup (Gr1) – 2000m
The final Group 1 event on the day is The FWD QEII Cup. EXULTANT who, finished second in this race last year, will be looking to make amends in the 2020 running. He has very good consistent form lines to his name. He was his own worst enemy in his last start as he didn’t settle in the early stages of the race. If regular pilot Zac Purton is able to switch him off early, he may be very hard to beat today. PLAYA DEL PUENTE moved up very well in his last start, before getting pipped by Golden Sixty who has a lot of class about him. Blake Shinn retains the ride today and if repeating that run, he should pose the biggest threat to the top selection. TIME WARP beat the top selection in his last start over this course and distance. He set the pace that day and kept on well to win. He is likely to adopt the same tactics from barrier four this afternoon and the son of Archipenko may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. FURORE was not disgraced when finishing 1.75 lengths behind Beauty Generation in his last start. He jumps from pole position this afternoon and should be able to run into the minor money once again.

Race 9
COMPUTER PATCH has some good recent form to his credit. He had to ease at the start last time but finished his race off well when runner-up. He has a good record over this distance having won once, finishing second twice and third once from five attempts. Joao Moreira does duty for the first time today and with a bit of luck in running, he may be the one they all have to beat. GOLD CHEST settled in a mid-field position in his last start and ran on well to finish just a neck behind the top selection. He was receiving an apprentice claim that day but gets the services of Zac Purton this afternoon. The son of War Front looks to be the biggest danger to the top choice. GLORIOUS SPECTRUM’S last start can be ignored as he lost his balance at the 900m mark and was not preserved with. He produced two good efforts prior to that when finishing runner-up. In-form Antoine Hamelin does duty and if able to overcome the wide barrier position, he should be involved in the run down to the finishing post. SHINING ACE beat the top selection in his last start over this course and distance. He has a very good record over this distance having won five times, finishing second four times and third on four occasions from fourteen outings. He merits healthy respect in this contest.

Race 10
PRECIOUSSHIP was unlucky not to have won his last start as he was bumped at the start. He finished his race off strongly to end up half a length behind the winner. Jockey, Vincent Ho, has ridden six times for four wins and a second-place finish. With a bit of luck in running, he should get back to winning ways. MONICA has very good consistent form lines to his name. He jumps from pole position this afternoon with Matthew Chadwick in the saddle. Should the top selection fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. BUTTERFIELD was unlucky not to win his last start as he was unbalanced at the 900m mark and bumped at the 350m mark. It is encouraging that Joao Moreira retains the ride this afternoon and if things go according to plan, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. CORDYCEPS is much better than his last start over seven furlongs. He has won twice, finished second twice and won once from eight attempts over this distance. He does have a wide draw to contend with this afternoon, but he should use his early gate speed to get across without using up too much energy.