There are no Group races at Sha Tin this Sunday, but the card looks competitive and there are one or two horses that look to have a bit of value about them.
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Winning Form Tips:
Sha Tin: ow.ly/d0Zk50yYuNj
Gulfstream Park: ow.ly/zrFz50yYuNH
Geraldton: ow.ly/Szyc50yYuOH
Neil Morrice:
Sha Tin: ow.ly/u8zH50yYuPd
Anthony Delpech
Sha Tin: ow.ly/g2uA50yYuPV
Best Bet: PERFECT MATCH (Race 10)
Value Bet: WINNING TOGETHER (Race 4)
For the first time since September, jockey Zac Purton is on top of the Jockeys Championship. Purton rode a double on Wednesday at Happy Valley and is now one winner ahead of Joao Moreira. With a full book of rides, he will be looking to stretch his lead. Another jockey that has been riding at the top of his game and must be followed on all his rides is Grant van Niekerk who rode a treble early on Wednesday evening at the Valley. Punters will have to wait for the last race for the best bet which is PERFECT MATCH who has won his last two starts. He drops in distance today and has a bright chance of notching up his hat-trick.
Race 1
HURRICANE HUNTER showed good signs of a form return when dropping back to this class in his last start. He was crowded at the start, but the manner in which he finished off the race was encouraging. Joao Moreira who has won on the son of Darci Brahma in the past, will be looking to get his day off to a good start. SPICY RALLY has fair recent form to his credit. He has been racing over six furlongs in recent outings and may enjoy the rise in distance today. Karis Teetan rides from pole position and the pair merit healthy respect. KWAI CHUNG ELITE was his own worst enemy last time as he was very slow into stride. He produced some decent form prior to that effort and if jumping on terms today, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. LIVERBIRD STAR’S last start over a mile on this course was decent. He raced from a handy position that day and stayed on well at the finish. If repeating his penultimate run, he should be involved in the fight out to the finish.
Race 2
ABOVE will be the mount of Joao Moreira who has a good chance of winning the first two races on today’s card. He finished runner-up in his last start over this course and distance. This isn’t the strongest of fields and he can go one better today. CHEERFUL STAR’S last three runs have been decent. He received a bump at the start last time, but the manner in which he finished off the race was encouraging. He steps back up in trip today and from his wide draw of twelve, he is likely to be switched off early and asked to do his best work up the straight. GALA NIGHT has won his last two starts, the latest was on the All-weather surface. The slight concern is that he is yet to win from six attempts on this turf course, but he tries the ten furlongs for the first time and can notch up the hat-trick. HAPPY ROCKY showed good signs of a form return in his last start over this course and distance. Grant van Niekerk retains the ride and the pair must be included in all bets.
Race 3
FANTASY has good recent form to his credit. The manner in which he finished off his race last time was eye-catching when finishing just a neck behind the winner. If repeating that effort today, he has a good chance of going one better. GOOD BEAUTY finished behind the top selection in his last start. He should have finished closer that day, but was hampered in the closing stages of the race. From his good draw of two and with a bit of luck in running, he should finish a lot closer to the top choice. HANDSOME BO BO showed good signs of returning to best form on the All-weather surface last time. He is returning from a short break today and it is encouraging that Zac Purton takes the ride. If not in need of the run, the pair should be right there in the run down to the wire. TEAM SPIRIT’S last run can be ignored as he didn’t get the break of breaks. He won his penultimate start when setting the pace. If jumping on terms, he may be hard to peg back in the closing stages.
Race 4
WINNING TOGETHER is the value bet on today’s card. He has had various excuses in his last three starts and is much better than the form suggests. The run that catches the eye is when he won over this course and distance on 11 November last year. From barrier position two and with a bit of luck in running, he should be the one to cause the upset. INCANTO PREPARED is coming back to best form. He just missed out in his last start over this course and distance under today’s pilot, Joao Moreira. Should the top rating fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. IRON KING found one too good in the form of Fantastic Show in his last start. He should have finished closer that day as he didn’t have much luck around the turn. He does have a wide draw to contend with today, but he gets the services of Grant van Niekerk who will give him all the necessary assistance from the saddle. DREAM WARRIORS has raced on the All-weather surface in his last three starts. Vincent Ho is in the irons today and the pair can run into the minor money.
Race 5
GRADE ONE’S last two starts in stronger company have been fair. He was pushed three-wide in his last start and understandably didn’t quite go on with his effort. He does take a drop-in class today and with Zac Purton doing duty, the pair could find their way back into the winner’s enclosure. JADE PHOENIX has produced three decent efforts thus far. He was unlucky not to have won his last start as he was bumped at the 200m mark and crowded in the dying stages of the race. Joao Moreira knows the son of Per Incanto well and they should pose a big threat to the top choice. XPONENTIAL stayed on well at the business end of his last race over this course and distance. Matthew Chadwick retains the ride and the pair can run into the money. TEAM POWER was a tad disappointing in his last start after producing a cracking debut. From his deep barrier draw, he should be mowing down the frontrunners in the closing stages.
Race 6
DESTIN has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He raced three wide in his last start, but stayed on well at the business end. Derek Leung knows the son of Duporth well and from his good draw of two, he may be the one to side with here. JUNEAU PARK just notched up his first victory last time over this distance. He is drawn in pole position today and should pose a big threat to the top selection. SAM’S LOVE should have won his last start as he was blocked at the 400m mark. Zac Purton rides from a positive barrier position and with a bit of luck in running, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. THE RUNNER is slowly coming back to best form. He moved up like a winner last time, but was caught in the last 100m of that race. He gets the services of Chad Schofield today who may hold him up for just a little bit longer as they turn for home.
Race 7
LARSON’S last two runs have been good. He stayed on well at the business end of the race last time after racing three-wide. He finished 0.75 lengths behind ALLIED AGILITY in his penultimate start and is better off at the weights today. Karis Teetan rides him for the first time and he may be able to coax that little extra out of the son of Better Than Ready where it matters most. WAR OF COURAGE finished 0.25 lengths in front of the top selection but is worse off at the weights today. Chad Schofield who has finished second once and third once from as many outings aboard this son of Declaration Of War does duty today. ALLIED AGILITY kept on well to win his last start over this course and distance. He finished ahead of both the top and second selection that day. He does not get the services of a claiming apprentice today which gives the other two the upper hand on paper. HEART CONQUERED finished fourth in the race referred to above. He stayed on well at the business end of that race and gets the services of a claiming apprentice today, which should help his cause.
Race 8
SUERICH has been taking on stronger in recent outings. He was slow into stride last time, but the manner in which he finished off the race was good. He drops in class this afternoon and with Zac Purton doing duty, he could find his way back into the winner’s enclosure. HARDLY SWEARS had his first run on this course last time. He was bumped at the start, but stayed on well at the business end. Derek Leung retains the ride and on best form shown, the pair should be right there in the run down to the wire. PICKEN has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He stayed on well at the finish that day and with Joao Moreira in the saddle once again, he should be able to earn another cheque. BEAUTY ICON is coming back to best form. He had to check at the start last time, but finished his race off well. Vincent Ho rides from a good draw and the pair merit obvious inclusion.
Race 9
LOBO’S LEGEND was unlucky not to win his last start over seven furlongs on this course. He was eased at a crucial stage in that race and finished off his race strongly after the incident. He steps back up to the mile today and with a bit of luck in running from his wide draw, he should be the one they all have to beat. MONICA has good consistent formlines to his credit. He was pushed to race three-wide last time and finished he race off well. Should the top choice fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. SMART PATCH’S last race over this course and distance was good. He ran on strongly that day and was just beaten by a neck at the line. He is drawn in pole position today and merits healthy respect. BAND OF BROTHERS should have finished closer in his last start over seven furlongs on this course. He had to check at the 150m and was blocked at 100m. Zac Purton who has won four times and finished second once from six rides on the 5yr old gelding steps back into the saddle.
Race 10
PERFECT MATCH is the best bet on today’s card. He handled the rise in class in his last start and notched up his sixth career victory despite reported to have had blood in his trachea. He does have another wide draw to contend with, but he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle thanks to Zac Purton. The hat-trick is very much on the cards. DUKE WAI has very good form to his name. He dashed late in his last start and was just beaten a neck. His regular pilot Karis Teetan will try and get the best out of this son of Per Incanto and the pair should pose a threat to the top choice. GUNNISON moved up like a winner in his last start, but was caught in the dying stages of the race. Matthew Poon retains the ride and if repeating that last effort, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. HONG KONG BET was caught at the last 40m in his last start over this distance at Happy Valley. He has a good draw of three today and can run into the minor money.
