Just the eight races for punters to get involved in, on the Sha Tin All-Weather surface, this Wednesday 19th February and it makes for some wide-open/competitive racing.
The back end of the fixture provides two Class 3 events and a Class 2 sprint to close proceedings and punters will have to be on their toes if they have any intention of navigating these three races.
Best Bet: WILL POWER (Race 6)
Value Bet: MEGATRON (Race 5)
A Class 5 sprint gets the meeting underway over the six furlongs and its STRIKING MR C who is picked for first. He disappointed last time out, when reverting to the Turf course after an eye-catching 5,75 lengths victory over this course and distance prior to that. Leung retains the ride from a much better draw here and in this company, he looks a major threat. HAPPY HAPPY STAR looks to be the best of the rest, with some consistent All-Weather form to his name prior to that latest run and with Moreira in the irons he will surely have his followers.
Another Class 5 event greets punters in the second race on the card, this time over the 1650m and it’s the So / Purton combination who should be the ones to follow on SUPER RED DRAGON. He has shown some useful improvement on this surface in his last three outings and despite the wide draw, he should have this fields’ measure this time around. If one looks at the opposition he faces, HIDDEN SPIRIT could be the main threat. He has picked up both of his career victories over this course and distance and appears to have landed on a competitive mark of 30. From a handy draw, he’ll be worth a second look.
IRON KING has his second start on the All-Weather, when he lines up in the third race and he gets the services of Joao Moreira who looks an attractive booking for an improving sort. His most eye-catching recent effort came three starts back, when going to the head of affairs and from gate 2, he should get there easily. The drop in trip will suit and he should be worth following. EXCELLENT DELIGHT won his last start over this course and distance, taking his record over this track and trip to a win and second from just two starts. That is telling form, but the fact that Moreira has opted for the top selection, he may have to settle for the places.
The fourth race takes us to the half-way mark and it’s a Class 4 event over 1200m, a suitable trip for the top selection – ZERO HEDGE. He has gone close to winning on this surface before and with some consistent recent form behind him, he should be the one to follow with Champion Jockey elect Joao Moreira up. From a plum draw, the son of Medaglia d’Oro should be the one to beat. The top-weighted LADY FIRST has his first outing on the All-Weather, but he is certainly well-travelled over this trip and on his latest outing when dropping back into this class, he deserves respect.
The value bet on the card arrives in Race 5, where MEGATRON will look to continue his good recent form on this surface, since rising back into this class. Chadwick retains the mount from a plum draw and that will help him take up the running from his customary handy position. He was caught a furlong out last time and if finding a smoother passage at the start this time, he should be worth following at a decent price.
The very next race presents a great opportunity for punters to have a confident bet, as WILL POWER should be the best bet on the card. The son of Power remains unbeaten, with both victories coming over this course and distance and even though he rises into Class 3 territory now, he finds a decent draw for the first time, Teetan retains and he should have plenty more to come. With the above in mind, the MEGATRON X WILL POWER double could be worth a go.
The seventh race is the second of two Class 3 events on the card and this time they step up to the 9-furlongs. RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE is yet to win on this surface in eight outings to date, but he gave an eye-catching performance last time out when finding traffic and having to check at a late stage. That was the third outing in a row where he has been hampered in running and a smooth path this time will certainly aid his cause. Moreira has stuck with the ride here and he should be tough to beat. The top-weighted HOLY HEART has been knocking on the door for a while now and with the scope for improvement, he should enjoy the extra and deserves some respect despite the wide barrier.
The final event is the headliner, a Class 2 sprint over six furlongs. FORTUNE BOOTH gets the nod for first as he reverts to a surface where he has won and placed third, from four outings. He does have a wide draw to overcome but being the sort that likes to come from off the speed this shouldn’t dent his chances too much. With this being a drop in trip for the son of More Than Ready, he should relish the increased tempo and looks set to win again if things go according to plan.
