Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing at Sha Tin and Auteuil.
Other international racing tips for Sunday:
Bendigo
Kalgoorlie
Sha Tin – Winning Form
Sha Tin – Anthony Delpech
Neil Morrice Tips
Race 1: No4 – ENJOYABLE SUCCESS
Trainer: Michael Chang – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
With in-form jockey Hamelin on board, ENJOYABLE SUCCESS can notch a first win of the season in an admittedly trappy looking heat. The gelded son of Frankel has been competitive in his last four starts, including a short-head defeat at Happy Valley where he posted his only career win. But today he is well gated to enjoy the run of things. Zac Purton is an eye taking booking for KING PRINT who the Australian rides for the first time. In truth, there’s not much to obviously recommend the five-year-old, but he can only get better for the change. Looking for the lead will be AEROFLASH who has an in form pilot doing the steering from one off the rail, and they can set the rest a target.
Prediction: 4-9-2
Race 2: No9 – DUBLIN STAR
Trainer: Manfred Man – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
DUBLIN STAR is a rock on whom plenty have perished on one or more of his five starts in Hong Kong. An early equipping of blinkers might have been an ominous sign, but on more than one occasion he’s attracted plenty of support only to fall short. That said, it’s hard to find one to beat him on the book, while unless DR EQ is useful it’s unlikely that one of the newcomers will beat him. If he can turn back the clock, COMFORT LIFE is one that’s capable of having a say, and this one has to be considered.
Prediction: 9-5-4
Race 3: No3 – HAVE FUN TOGETHER
Trainer: Caspar Fownes – Jockey: Jerry Chau
If he can show that a more than 300-day break is no handicap to fitness, HAVE FUN TOGETHER could be the answer with the red hot Jerry Chau taking off 10 lb and looking to make it a third win on only his fifth ride in Hong Kong. The selection was having just a third start for his trainer when opening his account over this course and distance and remains a horse with scope for further improvement. The booking of Joao Moreira for SPEEDY DRAGON takes the eye. This two-time winner hasn’t shown much of late but is back to his winning mark. JUDY’S STAR has found the woodwork on three of his eight races and been breathing down the necks of the main protagonists the last twice. He has it in him to win soon.
Prediction: 3-6-9
Race 4: No4 – HEZA BEAUTY
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Joao Moreira
This is a good invitation for HEZA BEAUTY to live up to his name with all the boxes ticked for the lightly-raced and unexposed four-year-old. He should find plenty of racing room from his good gate under Moreira, and in each of his four races has shown promise. Also well gated is CLASSIC POSH, who off a light campaign and workable mark should also enjoy the run of the race under Purton. SUPER WINNER takes the prize for sheer consistency, but is on his twelfth attempt without success and may again have to settle for minor pickings.
Prediction: 4-2-11
Race 5: No3 – CASA DE FORCA
Trainer: Tony Cruz – Jockey: Karis Teetan
CHEVALIER PRINCE shaped with a deal of promise when third on debut over 1200 metres, and on this step up in trip is going to attract the lion’s share of the handle. With Purton up and improvement guaranteed he rates the one to beat but for value CASA DE FORCA is just preferred. It’s easy to knock the 18-start maiden who has to circumnavigate most of the field, but he’s got it in him to do well from a dropping mark. BEST FOR YOU goes in by way of two successes here. Antoine Hamelin gelled with him last time and retains the mount.
Prediction: 3-6-9
Race 6: No6 – WAR OF COURAGE
Trainer: Manfred Man – Jockey: Chad Schofield
If hat-trick seeker GOOD VIEW CLARICO has entered the assessor’s grip then this could fall to the game and consistent WAR OF COURAGE. The Declaration Of War gelding counts two successes from his four starts this season and has never been out of the first three in a total of just six career runs. He has built up a fine understanding with his jockey, and the combination look sure to take home a cheque of some kind. DIAMOND BRILLIANT keeps falling short while running well, but with Joao Moreira back in the plate on a first visit to the straight 1000 metres things could easily turn out differently. This looks a race to play confidently around the three horses mentioned.
Prediction: 6-9-11
Race 7: No6 – GIFT OF LIFELINE
Trainer: Tony Millard – Jockey: Chad Schofield
In one of the trickiest races on the card, the value could lie with GIFT OF LIFELINE on the assumption he’s better than his recent stats indicate. He’s been on my radar for his last three starts in which he’s managed just one frame finish but been beaten an aggregate of just three and three-quarter lengths. For consistency it’s hard to fault CHEERFUL LEADER who has taken home a cheque in each of the last seven of his eight career starts but is taking another step up the class ladder. Sure to attract plenty of support is TUNG WAH GLORY, who gets a handy amount of weight from the rest of the field with Karis Teetan in the irons.
Prediction: 6-10-8
Race 8: No4 – ENRICHMENT
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
Hamelin takes over from Moreira on ENRICHMENT who is struggling to shake of the bridegroom tag. Under the Magic Man he’s finished runner-up on the last two of four occupations of that placing. There is a definite kink in his armour that possibly a new jockey can iron out, and that will need to happen because Moreira hasn’t moved onto BUTTERFIELD for scant reason. The latter had Enrichment well behind when scoring here in early February and has the clear beating of him on the book, but I’m prepared to chance the placings getting turned round as plenty of water has passed under the bridge subsequently. On first start for Ricky Yiu and with Purton up and blinkers added, SUPER OASIS is also well worth inclusion.
Prediction: 4-1-2
Race 9: No2 – TAKING AIM
Trainer: Doug Whyte – Jockey: Zac Purton
I hope it’s more than just gut instinct that Dougie White’s booking of Purton turns out being significant on TAKING AIM. The Choisir gelding debuts for the stable and seeks a first triumph since December 2018. But what makes him tasty is the superb record Purton has on him, consisting of that success and a second to the top class Waikuku early last year from only three mounts on the gelding. Possibly more than for any other runner on the card, the market will provide a good direction. PICKEN is reunited with Moreira for the first time since scoring in late March and needs respecting, while HIGH RISE SOLDIER came back with a genuine bad luck story when getting hampered in his run three weeks ago, meaning he’s also a must include.
Prediction: 2-6-5
Race 10: No3 – INNER FLAME
Trainer: Doug Whyte – Jockey: Joao Moreira
From the rail PRESIDENT’S CHOICE is going to be a popular order in his hat-trick attempt, and as this is just a fifth career start for the Michael Chang-trained gelding he could easily pull it off as he steps into Class 3. He’s there to be shot at, however, and one that could spoil the party is another prolific scorer in INNER FLAME. A wide gate doesn’t help Joao Moreira’s mount but if his howling run when last seen ten weeks ago is forgotten he has a strong argument to bring to the table with three previous successes here. Furthermore, this is only a sixth career outing for the selection, who could have more to offer. At probable longer odds SUPERICH goes in. He gets Purton for a third race in succession and can earn if obtaining racing real estate in the home stretch.
Prediction: 3-11-2
Auteuil Best Bets
Race 4: No3 – KAPDAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Arnoud Chaille-Chaille – Jockey: P Dubourg
Since his brace of victories here last spring KAPDAM has competed well in better company, placing in four Graded chases including a fine second to Figuero in a Grade 1 here last November. He carries plenty of clout reverting back into a handicap and will be fitter for his promising comeback run. The Golden Boy has won off a break far longer than the 77 days from which he returns today. Therefore fitness should not be an issue for the top weight, who won over hurdles at Pau in January before following up over fences here at the beginning of March. Shakapon is a three times scorer since his hurdling triumph at Toulouse last November including a Listed Chase and a Graded Chase at Pau, making him a serious threat to the selection.
Prediction: 3-2-1
Race 5: No8 – PRINCE DES VALOIS
Trainer: Guillaume Macaire – Jockey: James Reveley
There’s nothing to go on regarding public form for the majority of the field, but I can pass on a positive vibe for PRINCE DES VALOIS who is in the right hands to make an early impact on the juvenile hurdling scene. He’s impressed in his work and schooling and may prove the match of fellow newcomers BIMBO HAS and NOBLE, who also represent top connections and are sure to have been well prepared.
Prediction: 8-11-7
Race 6: No6 – ROAD SENAM
Trainer: Francois Nicolle – Jockey: Angelo Zuliani
ROAD SENAM can take the measure of the penalised duo KING EDWARD and DREAM WISH in a fascinating Grade 2 Chase. He has work to do on both those rivals who between them have beaten him three times, but at revised terms over a longer trip things can change. Dream Wish will in fairness improve for his third in the race in which Road Senam was fourth, while King Edward took out a Grade 3 on his seasonal return and might well be a popular favourite on the back of that.
Prediction: 6-1-2
Race 7: No6 – L’AUTONOMIE
Trainer: Francois Nicolle – Jockey: Angelo Zuliani
It’s going to take something special to stop L’AUTONOMIE, whose impressive five-race unbeaten sequence stamps her as super smart. She’s started 2-1, 4-5, 4-5 and 4-7 for the last four of those smooth successes, and is an eight race winner from eleven career outings who can exhibit every trick of the trade round this course. Cotee Sud has chased the shadow of the day’s Nap in two of her last three runs and again looks booked for minor honours, and one that could step up to menace at longer odds is ENJEU D’ARTHEL. He took out a Listed chase here last autumn, and when returning from a break finished second in a Grade 3 handicap chase here.
Prediction: 6-7-11
Race 8: No1 – WANT OF A NAIL
Trainer: Guillaume Macaire- Jockey: Felix de Giles
Macaire launches a twin-pronged attack on this Grade 2 hurdle and WANT OF A NAIL is much preferred to For Fun. The selection went from strength and strength at the end of her first season’s jumping by completing a fine hat-trick. She was most impressive on her final start over fences, and is not going to want for lack of fitness on her return. Moises Has is looking to continue his progression after finishing second in a Graded hurdle on return in March. He appeals as the main threat to the main pick, with Gant De Velours another improving type that is a name to conjure with and one to put in.
Prediction: 1-5-6
