Sha Tin – Best Bets & Tips – Saturday 13 March 2021

Ten races are scheduled at Sha Tin on Saturday. There are two Class 1 races on the programme which sees some top quality thoroughbreds taking their place including Hot King Prawn from the powerful John Size stable. 

Joao Moreira is currently 22 winners ahead of Zac Purton in the Jockey’s Championship and with a full book of rides, he will be looking to add to that tally today.  

BEST BET – HONG KONG PRAWN (Race 7)

VALUE BET – SIGHT HERO (Race 1)

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BIPOT SELECTION 

RACE 1

SIGHT HERO from the David Hayes stable is the value bet on today’s card. He is much better than his last effort as he was bumped at the start and never got into the race. His penultimate run when finishing third over this course and distance catches the eye. He has had two barrier trials coming into this race which have been very good. Chad Schofield takes the ride today and he may be the one to cause the upset. JADE PHOENIX has decent recent form to his credit. He is returning from a short break, but has finished second once and third once when racing first up. The drop in trip is a slight concern, but he gets the services of a claiming apprentice which should help his chances. BALTIC WHISPER is better than his recent form against stronger company. All four of his victories in Hong Kong have come over this track and trip. Joao Moreira takes the ride and he may be able to coax that little bit extra out of him where it matters most. 

RACE 2

The first Class 1 contest is a competitive one and the narrow first selection is MORE THAN THIS from the Francis Lui stable. He showed good signs of a form return in his last start over 1400m on this course. He settled near the rear of the field last time, but the manner in which he finished off his race was encouraging. Alexis Badel takes the ride from pole position and he can get back to winning ways. KA YING STAR finished 0.25 lengths behind the top choice last time. He is 3.5kgs worse off at the weights today and may battle to turn the tables. FAST MOST FURIOUS’ last two starts have been good. The manner in which he ran on at the finish last time was encouraging. Joao Moreira takes the ride and he may be able to coax that little bit extra out of him where it matters most.

RACE 3

UNITE SPIRIT’S last four starts on this surface have been decent. He finished 0.75 lengths behind DOUBLE TAKE in his penultimate effort. He is 2kgs better off at the weights today and that should be enough for the tables to be turned. From his good draw of four, he can get back to winning ways. DOUBLE TAKE has good consistent form lines to his credit. He settled near the rear of the field last time and finished his race off strongly. Karis Teetan retains the ride and should the top choice fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. CROWN AVENUE ran a decent race when finishing third on the turf last time. He finished 1.5 lengths behind the second choice in his penultimate effort. He is 0.5kgs better off at the weights today and should finish closer as a result.

RACE 4

APOLAR WARRIOR showed good improvement in his last start when finishing fourth over 1400m. He should have finished closer to the winner that day as he was blocked for a run at the 400m mark. It is encouraging that Derek Leung retains the ride and with a bit of luck in running, he should have more to come. REGENCY GEM’S last two starts have been decent, the latest of which was over this course and distance. Jockey Zac Purton has ridden the son of Showcasing seven times for one win, one second and two thirds from seven starts. DAILY CHARM was unlucky not to have finished much closer last time as he was blocked at the 350m mark and hampered at the 200m mark. He is drawn in the deep end this afternoon, but this is not the strongest field and he is capable of running into the money. 

RACE 5

This is a competitive Class 2 Handicap and caution is advised. The tentative first selection is GUY DRAGON from the Caspar Fownes stable. He ran a good race when finishing second in his last start over 1200m on this course. The manner in which he finished off that race suggests he will enjoy the extra furlong on offer. Joao Moreira takes the ride and he should get the best out of the son of Dark Angel. BAND OF BROTHERS is much better than his last start suggests. He has won four times and finished second twice from ten starts over this track and trip. With a bit of luck from his wide draw, he should give a good account of himself. CALIFORNIA RAD’S last start can be ignored as he was reported to have blood in his trachea. His form prior to that outing was good. Ruan Maia takes the ride and the combination should be right there.

RACE 6

VALIANT DREAM has very good recent form to his credit. He has won twice, finished second six times and third three times from 14 starts over this course and distance. Karis Teetan has finished second on him in the past and the combination should find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. HARMONY N BLESSED ran a good race when finishing second over 1200m last time. He moved up well that day, but was caught in the latter stages. The drop in trip should suit him well and he should pose a threat to the top choice. BRILLIANT FORTUNE makes his Hong Kong debut for the Caspar Fownes stable and Joao Moreira does duty. He won his only start in Australia before relocating. The betting market must be closely followed with regards to his chances.

RACE 7

The second Class 1 race sees HOT KING PRAWN take his place. He was ultra-impressive when winning a Group 1 contest in his last start over this course and distance. He has won five times, finished second five times and third once from 15 starts over this track and trip. The 6yo gelding has not lost his zest for racing and should notch up his 13th career victory. REGENCY LEGEND finished 1.75 lengths behind the top choice last time. He has won four times and finished second once from seven starts over this course and distance. Zac Purton steps back into the saddle and the pair merit healthy respect. BIG PARTY also finished behind the top selection in the race referred to above. Karis Teetan sticks with the ride and he should run into the money once again. 

RACE 8

This is a competitive Class 4 Handicap and caution is advised. The narrow first selection is SUPER WINNER from the Dennis Yip camp. His last two starts on this course have been good. Despite getting bumped at the start last time, he moved up like a winner before getting caught in the latter stages. He does have a wide draw to overcome, but gets the services of Joao Moreira who will give him all the necessary assistance from the saddle. VUKAN won a very good race in his last start over this course and distance. He is still lightly raced and looks to have plenty of scope. Should the top choice fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. DANDY YEARS won a nice race last time despite racing wide around the turn. He jumps from pole position and has every chance of following up with another victory. 

RACE 9

PING HAI TREASURE finished 1.75 lengths behind BEAR SLAM last time. He is 3kgs better off at the weights today and that should be enough for the tables to be turned. Joao Moreira has been aboard the son of Oasis Dream in both his Hong Kong victories to date and the combination merit healthy respect. BEAR SLAM won a good race in his last start over 1800m on this surface. Blake Shinn retains the ride and the combination should throw out a big challenge to the top pair. HONGKONG GREAT’S last two starts have been good. He set the pace last time, but was caught in the latter stages. Zac Purton takes the ride and he may be able to coax that little bit extra out of him where it matters most. 

RACE 10

ROMANTIC COMBO has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He did not get off to the best of breaks last time, but kept on well at the business end. He jumps from pole position and if getting away on terms, he should get his first win in Hong Kong. TEMPEST EXPRESS won his last two starts over this course and distance well. He took the lead at the 200m mark last time and won easier than the margin suggests. He has another wide draw to overcome, but Antoine Hamelin knows him well and the combination can notch up the hat-trick. INVINCIBLE MISSILE showed good signs of a form return in his last start. He was bumped at the 1350m mark that day and blocked at the 350m mark. He runs well for Zac Purton and with a bit of luck in transit, he should have a say in the outcome out this contest.