International Racing: Sha Tin (Turf / All-Weather) – 29 December 2019

Ten races are carded this Sunday 29 December, for the final meeting in Hong Kong of 2019. Headlined by the Gr 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy over 1000m on Turf, in the 7th race.

In that race, REGENCY LEGEND appears to be one of the better bets to side with. He’ll enjoy the drop in trip and in class and should be tough to beat. The value bet on the card comes a bit earlier, in the form of CALIFORNIA LEVEE, in the 5th. He is going to relish the extra furlong and on his recent form lines, he might have found the right field here.
 
Best Bet: REGENCY LEGEND (Race 7)
Value Bet: CALIFORNIA LEVEE (Race 5)

Race 1 – 06:15 – The Griffon Trophy (Restricted Race) – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 3 – 6 – 2 – 7 – 8 
LUCKY QUALITY gave a good account of himself on debut when going down narrowly in third. That was over the 1200m and the son of Medaglia d’Oro should relish the step up to 1400m now. He took a bump at the start last time, so if getting away on better terms this time he should have the natural improvement to just about win this. INVALUABLE ran on strongly last time when having the tongue tie fitted. That will be removed for the blinkers now, as he returns to the same course and distance from a better draw. He found some outside support in the betting last time and with the expected improvement to come, he should go close here. RICH AND LUCKY finished just under 2-lengths in front of the former last time, when showing big improvement over the extra furlong. Zac Purton rides him from an improved draw now and if building on his latest effort, he should go close once again. KING DRAGON finished behind the former last time when showing good improvement from a better draw. He took a bit of a hold in that run and de Sousa will be tasked with getting him to settle a bit better this time. If doing so, he should also have the scope for further improvement and must go in to consideration.

Race 2 – 06:45 – Class 5 – 1650 (All-Weather)
Selections: 10 – 1 – 12 – 3 – 8
MASTER BERNINI has been thereabouts in his last three starts, since changing stables and returning from a rest. He finds a much-improved draw this time, having landed wide barriers to overcome in all three of those efforts. Moreira retains the ride and looks the one to beat. SUPER RED DRAGON is a class dropper after two good efforts on this surface. He drops back to the 1650m this time, after finding favouritism over the 1800m last time and he did well to box on in the closing stages of that run. He lands a much-improved draw this time and despite carrying top-weight, he should be right there at the finish. WINNING CIRCLE finished behind the top selection last time out and they meet on similar terms here. The blinkers go on this time and the son of Duporth will be looking to build on that already promising course and distance record, where he has managed a 2nd and 4th from 2 attempts. He is likely to put in a big run here and must be included in all bets. CORRE RAPIDO has dropped in the ratings and he will be looking to make amends for that disappointing latest when fading out late. He steps up to a trip where he has finished second in his only attempt over this course and distance and if overcoming the wide barrier, he should be right there.

Race 3 – 07:15 – Class 4 – 1200m (Turf)
Selections: 3 – 7 – 11 – 10 – 2 
DESTINE JEWELLARY gave a useful account of himself on debut when rallying well over the final 250m. That effort was over this course and distance and he will have to overcome a wider draw this time. Moreira retains the ride and with a bit of luck in running, he will be looking to make this effort a winning one. SPARKLING STAR flashed home late on debut when going down by just 1,75-lengths in third place. That too was over this course and distance and from a similar draw, an even better run can be expected and he must be included. BRILLIANT was running on strongly last time out when finishing just a length back in third. That was over this course and distance, having dropped further in the ratings and he now lines up from a plum draw here. Leung retains the ride and with scope for more improvement, he should be right there again. OVERSUBSCRIBED went close to winning from a wide draw last time out, at just the third time of asking. He now steps up to the 1200m, where he is expected to relish the extra ground. Drawn well, the son of Reward for Effort looks well placed to make a big impression here.

Race 4 – 07:45 – Class 4 – 1650 (All-Weather)
Selections: 1 – 8 – 4 – 7 – 11 
CLEAR CHOICE drops into this class and reverts back to the All-Weather surface after a decent effort on Turf last time. All three of his wins have come in this class and he has featured prominently in his four outings over this course and distance, despite not winning. From a good draw, Zac Purton jumps aboard the son of Rebel Raider and he will be looking to find the winners box. CALIFORNIA LEGEND has finished third in both of his last two efforts, on the All-Weather track. He looks competitive off his current mark of 49 and from a better draw this time, he will be looking to go handy once again. With the 10-pound claiming Chan back in the irons, he is very well in at the weights and deserves plenty of respect on current form. DRAGON COMMANDER finished just in front of the former last time and he will have another tough draw to negate here, having landed two wide draws in his last two attempts. He is improving as he drops further in the ratings and with Callan retaining the ride, he will be looking to fight out the finish and must be included. GOOD FIT has also been slipping in the ratings and he is starting to look competitive off his current mark. He is a regular contender over this course and distance, having landed 4-wins from 17 outings and from a plum draw this time, Karis Teetan should go close on the son of Encosta de Lago.

Race 5 – 08:15 – Class 3 – 1200m (Turf)
Selections: 7 – 2 – 3 – 9 – 8 
CALIFORNIA LEVEE has finished just behind some useful sprinters in his two local starts to date. Both of those runs have come over the 1000m and considering he made late headway last time out, he is going to relish the extra furlong this time. Karis Teetan jumps back aboard and with the expected improvement, he looks the one to beat at a decent price. BE READY showed good improvement last time out when capitalising from a much better draw. Both of his efforts to date have come over this course and distance and he finds himself drawn out wide again. Moreira takes the mount with the cheekpieces fitted this time and with a bit of luck in running, he’ll be right there. FIRST RESPONDER has been in good competitive form in recent times, over this trip. He returns to the Sha Tin 1200m for this run and he has a tough draw to overcome, but on his recent form, he will be involved in the finish. SHINING GEM finished behind the second selection last time out when overcoming a wide draw to make late headway over the final furlong. From barrier 6 this time, he should be able to settle a lot closer to the front and on similar weight terms with the latter, he is likely to fight this out once again.

Race 6 – 08:50 – Class 4 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 4 – 3 – 10 – 12 – 1 
MIGHTY GIANT was just caught 100m from home last time out when going handy from a much-improved draw. That was when stepping up to this course and distance with the blinkers on. With the expected improvement to come from a similar draw this time, he looks hard to knock and should win this. BRIGHT KID has been right there in his last few starts and he too enjoyed the step up to this trip last time. He is still a maiden in Hong Kong after 15-outings, but on his current form and off his current mark he looks a big threat and must go in. WINNING TOGETHER showed good improvement last time, when stepping out for his 4th career effort. That was his second run after a short rest and he knows lines up for his peak run.  From pole position, he should find the run of the race and with scope for further improvement, he cannot be discounted. FANTASTIC SHOW has slipped in the ratings in recent times, although he was penalised 2-points for his latest effort when finishing 2nd. That was from an improved draw and he finds another fair barrier to launch his challenge from here. Grant van Niekerk takes the mount and he will be flashing home from off the pace once again. If finding a smooth passage, he should go right into contention. 

Race 7 – 09:20 – The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Handicap) Gr 3 – 1000m (Turf)
Selections: 1 – 6 – 3 – 7 – 5  
The headline race on the card and it’s a race full of speedsters, over the 1000m straight course. REGENCY LEGEND drops slightly in class, after a modest finish to his latest effort in Group 1 company. In fact, he was beaten at a stronger level in his penultimate effort and he should find things a lot easier under these conditions. He likes to race fairly handy, so the drop to 1000m should suit. With the blinkers fitted for the first time, Purton jumps back aboard and the son of Pins will be cherry ripe for this. He is the best bet in the card. CALIFORNIA WHIP has been in good recent form at Class 2 level and despite the fact that he faces tougher now, he has won at this level from three attempts. Drawn wide over the 1200m in his last three efforts, he has done well to finish where he has and he will be looking to make a good impression over this shorter trip, down the straight. Teetan retains and with a very useful galloping weight to shoulder, he must be included. JOLLY BANNER was just touched off last time out, in this class. That was over this course and distance when flashing home after having to check 750m out. He looks very well suited to this trip and Callan seems to get along well with the son of Lonhro, having notched up 3 wins from 9 outings. On his latest effort, he must go in. BIG PARTY is a useful sort, with a very light mass to shoulder here. He is never far off the action and with a preference for going handy over the 1200m, he looks suited to this reduced trip. Moreira retains after a winning effort in Class 2 company last time out and despite the step up to this level now, he must be considered.

Race 8 – 09:50 – Class 3 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 11 – 13 – 5 – 1 – 9 
EVERYONE’S JOY looks competitive off his current mark of 66 and he has been delivering some useful performances as a result. He has finished just off them since stepping up to this class and in trip. Having experienced a few hard-luck stories in his last few efforts, he gets the services of Joao Moreira this time and the cheekpieces go on for the first time. Drawn well, he has plenty of scope for more and he rates the one to beat. FALCON TURBO finished in front of the top selection last time when stepping back into this class. He has some good consistent form prior to that run and over this course and distance, he has done everything but win. From gate 9, Teetan will look to get him handy and he’ll have a nice chance here. SEERITE DRAGON has slipped 8-pounds in the ratings in his last four starts and he has shown signs of improvement since coming back from a rest in his penultimate run. He has his peak run now and he finds a very tough draw to start from, but Zac Purton takes the mount and that will give his followers a bit more confidence. With a bit of luck, he will be boxing on for the places. NAMJONG PLUS returns from an 8-month absence and he will be looking to start off this term on a promising note. Drawn well for his comeback run, the 1400m may be a touch on the sharp side but he has won from just two attempts over this trip. The son of Zacinto has won and finished third in two attempts when returning from a rest and he’ll be worth including first up here.

Race 9 – 10:25 – Class 2 – 1650 All-Weather
Selections: 11 – 6 – 2 – 1 – 5 
BUDDIES gave a good impression last time when making his Class 2 debut. That was when having his 2nd run back this season and he looks perfectly prepped for his peak run back. He has picked up three wins from five starts over this course and distance and he is yet to miss the first two. Drawn out wider this time, he should have the gate speed to take up the running as he likes to and with van Nierkerk retaining he looks the one to beat in a competitive race. GLORIOUS ARTIST returns to the All-Weather surface where he has picked up three wins and two second-place finishes, in eight outings. He has a handy record over this course and distance and from pole position Zac Purton has a nice opportunity to fight this one out on this son of Zoffany. GUNNISON has slipped in the ratings and he looks competitive in this class, off his current mark of 98. He has competed against much tougher before his last two starts where hasn’t been disgraced either. Back on the All-Weather where he has featured well in three out of four attempts so far, Moreira takes the mount from a good draw and he must be included. ELUSIVE STATE is better off on this surface and he has the record to back up that claim. He has a solid record in this class and the son of All American is going to relish returning to the All-Weather, after facing tougher on Turf last time. De Sousa retains the ride and he looks a likely contender in this open event.

Race 10 – 11:00 – Class 3 – 1650 (All-Weather)
Selections: 5 – 8 – 6 – 2 – 7 
A tough race to close the meeting and the likes of HOLY HEART appears to have the form and scope to get the better of this field. He has gone well in his last two starts since stepping back on the All-Weather surface and he finds a much-improved draw now for his second attempt over this course and distance. He enjoyed stepping up to this trip last time and if building on that effort, he should go close to winning this. MONGOLIAN LEGEND followed up that win in his penultimate start with a very good attempt last time. Both runs came over this course and distance and he has shown that he is better off on this surface. Drawn well again, he has a nice opportunity to capitalise off his current rating. VOLPINO has been knocking on the door of the winners’ box in his last few starts. He finished right behind the top selection last time and he lands an even better draw this time. Purton takes the mount and despite the fact that he is yet to win in Hong Kong from 17 appearances, he deserves inclusion here. ENDEARING boxed on well in his last start when stepping up to this trip and trying this surface again. He also finished right behind the top selection last time out, when running on strongly in the closing stages. Drawn out even wider here, Callan retains the ride and he is worth throwing into the equation.