Sha Tin (Turf) – Sunday 8 December 2019 – Longines Hong Kong International Races 2019

It’s the race meeting that racing fans have been waiting for, with four Group 1 events to look forward to. With the quality of racing on offer, there is plenty to be excited about. 

WATER DIVINER appears to be the best bet on the card, having found traffic in his last start before boxing on well over the final furlong. Zac Purton takes the ride and he should get the job done, in the penultimate race on the card. MAGIC WAND is tipped to win the 8th race, the Longines Hong Kong Cup Grade 1 over 2000m. An incredibly tough and talented filly, she might not be a 33/1 shot but she will be worth following at a reasonable price. See more below.

Best Bet: WATER DIVINER (Race 9)
Value Bet: MAGIC WAND (Race 8) 

Race 1 – 06:00 – Class 4 – 1400m
Selections: 3 – 13 – 7 – 1 – 6
ALL WONGCHOY gave a good account of himself last time, to follow up on that good win at the second time of asking. He did well to rally late in that run, despite the report of him having blood in his trachea. From a wider draw this time, he has his fourth outing over the same distance and he gets the blinkers fitted this time. Purton takes the mount and he should win the opener. FANTASTIC SHOW has given a solid account of himself in his last two starts, having overcome wide barriers in both. He would’ve needed those runs, considering the long absence he had prior to that and from a much-improved draw for his peak run, he should be right there at a decent price. TRIPLE TRIPLE was seriously unlucky last time out when finding all sorts of traffic problems. He rallied well, finishing just 0,75-lengths off the winner. With that being just his second start here, he will have plenty more to offer. Joao Moreira takes the ride from a wide draw and if finding a smooth passage, he’ll be right there. EMERALD SPUR has picked up two wins in succession, in this class and he has received a 12-point penalty as a result. He has a useful finish and with the quicker tempo expected over this shorter trip, he will be running on strongly. The improved draw will aid his cause and he’ll have a viable chance at picking up the hat-trick of wins here.

Race 2 – 06:30 – Class 3 – 1800m
Selections: 4 – 9 – 10 – 3 – 2 
HAPPY SEBRING found favouritism in his last start when flashing up from well off the speed to miss by just the 2,75-lengths. That was over the 10-furlongs, having received the 6-point penalty for winning over this course and distance in his penultimate start. Drawn wide again, he gets the services of Frankie Dettori who is having the best season of his life. With the favourable 7-pound reversal in the weights with his latest conqueror, he’ll be right on top of them at the business end and should go close to winning. WORLD FAMOUS steps up in trip for his 2nd run for his new stable and he lands a useful draw for this effort. He appears to have dropped to a competitive rating and he gets the blinkers fitted this time. From gate 4, he should get close to finding the run of the race and he’ll be challenging strongly in the closing stages. CINQUANTE CINQ was an unlucky loser on his return to racing last time, after a 6-month absence from the course. He has finished second on all three occasions, since dropping into this class and his regular rider, Matthew Chadwick, will be looking to go one better this time. He finds a tougher draw this time, so luck comes in to play, but he’ll be a major contender it finding some. MONGOLIAN KING finished behind the top selection last time out when dropping into this class. He may have found that a shade on the far side and having gone close over this course and distance prior to this, he’ll love the slight drop in trip. Christophe Lemaire takes the mount from a plum draw and he must be included once again.


Race 3 – 07:05 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 8 – 4 – 14 – 6 – 13 
HIGH RISE SOLDIER overcame a tough draw on his local debut to rally well over the final furlong, for just a 2,75-length beating behind SHINING GEM. That was over this course and distance and he’ll benefit from an improved draw this time. He lines up 7-pounds better off at the weights with the latter on that debut run and that will set him up nicely. Ho retains the ride and with the improvement expected, they look tough to oppose. BEAUTY APPLAUSE was strongly fancied when winning his latest, on his return to racing after a 4-month absence. That showed that the rise in class was no issue for the son of Stratum, adding to that very handy record over this trip. Moreira retains from a wide draw this time and that should make things a lot tougher. If finding a bit of luck in running, he’ll be involved in the finish. PRINCE OF GEMS just ran out of steam last time out, when stepping up to the 7-furlongs for his first start, since rising into this class. He will suit the drop back to the 1200m where he has picked up a win and two seconds, from five attempts. Teetan rode him for the first time last time and he retains the ride after that decent effort. From a wide draw, he will be looking to go handy and with this being just his 7th career outing, he will have plenty more to offer and must be included. ELIGERE needed his local debut and he will strip a lot fitter after that experience. He wasn’t disgraced in that run, having boxed on well over the concluding stages of the race and with the expected improvement over the extra furlong, that should bring him right into the equation.

Race 4 – 07:40 – The Longines Hong Kong Gold Vase Grade 1 – 2400m
Selections: 1 – 10 – 4 – 5 – 13
EXULTANT comes into this race as a really big talking horse after that impressive win in the Jockey Club Cup Gr2, 3 weeks ago.  The son of Teofilo is a course and distance specialist and certainly no stranger to this level of opposition, having picked up 3 wins and 2 seconds at Group 1 level. Purton retains the ride from a wide gate, but he has the class to nullify the draw and he’s the likely winner here. The Japanese star, DEIRDRE is a dual Group 1 winner and the five-year-old mare now steps up to a trip where she has finished in 4th place in her only attempt. She enters the fray on the back of a solid effort in the Champion Stakes Gr1 at Ascot in her latest effort when finishing just behind MAGICAL and a repeat of that effort will bring her right into this, with Oisin Murphy up. SOUTHERN LEGEND finished just 2,50-lengths behind the top selection last time out, but he now lines up a full 5-pounds worse off at the weights on that run. Sanna retains the ride from a wider draw, for his first attempt over this ground, but the son of Not A Single Doubt has some useful form and if staying the trip, he rates a major threat. YOUNG RASCAL is a five-time winner from just 9 career outings and he arrives in Hong Kong on the back of some useful form in the UK. He is a specialist over this sort of trip and if overcoming gate 10 with Dettori up, he will be right there at the business end.

Race 5 – 08:20 – The Longines Hong Kong Sprint Grade 1 – 1200m
Selections: 14 – 4 – 10 – 9 – 11
AETHERO has been exceptional so far and he looks like a champion sprinter in the making. A five-time winner from just the six starts so far, he is back at his favourite track and trip for his first attempt in Group 1 company. From gate 10, Purton retains the ride and he appears to have a big chunk of this field held on that latest win in the Gr2 Jockey Club Sprint. He gets a 9-pound allowance as a 3-year old and he looks the likely winner. HOT KING PRAWN gave a solid account of himself when finishing right behind the top selection on his return to racing this year. He would’ve needed that run desperately after colic put an end to his last campaign and there is little doubt that he will return a stripped horse this time. Teetan takes the ride from a plum draw and with his exceptional record so far (12:9-2-0), he must be included. SEASON’S BLOOM came from last to pick up an epic Group 2 victory in his last start, over this course and distance. He has been a revelation since dropping to this trip in his last two starts. Considering the fact that he will be dropped out at the off, the wide barrier should be of little concern and with this being his peak run after the recess, he will be cherry-ripe for this run. He is a Group 1 winner over further, so he is certainly not outclassed here and should be worth including with van Niekerk retaining the ride. WISHFUL THINKER finished behind the top selection last time out. He is an 8-time winner from 25 career starts, with 6 of those victories coming in Hong Kong. He was well beaten in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in his last attempt at this level, but if overcoming gate 9, he should have a good each-way chance with Christophe Soumillon in the irons.

Race 6 – 08:55 – Class 3 – 1400m
Selections: 2 – 9 – 13 – 3 – 2 
SUPER STAR has given a solid account of himself in both starts, since returning from a 5-month absence. He was tasked with overcoming a wide barrier in both of those runs, but followed up that good win first up with a decent run last time. Drawn well here, Moreira takes the ride and they will line up 6-pounds better off with the winner of that last start. He is a consistent performer over this course and distance and with two wins from four starts in this class, he should be tough to beat this time. MONICA finished just in front of the top selection last time out, when also negating a tough draw. He was forced to rally wide and ran on strongly in the closing stages. A three-time winner from thirteen starts over this track and trip, but he is yet to win in this class. He has his peak run here and despite the fact that he will be 4-pounds worse off at the weights with the top selection on that latest run, he must be included. CLASSIC POSH has dropped to a competitive rating and he will be looking to benefit from a much-improved draw this time. Chadwick takes the ride and on the back of some threatening recent form over this course and distance, he still has the scope for further improvement and must be included. WINNING DELIGHT overcame a wide barrier last time and endured a tough trip throughout when having the blinkers fitted for the first time. Drawn 1 this time for a return to the same course and distance, Purton regains the ride and he looks hard to knock. With the expected improvement to come, he looks a major contender.

Race 7 – 09:30 – The Longines Hong Kong Mile Grade 1 – 1600m
Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 7 – 3 
WAIKUKU was far too impressive last time out when defeating the champ BEAUTY GENERATION and he has to be considered good enough to follow up, if repeating that run. A mile specialist, he will be looking to sit just off the speed once again, with Moreira retaining the ride and despite the unfavourable 5kg turn around at the weights, he’s the one to beat. The latter may have a gone a bit too hard in the early stages last time out and that seemed to cost him in the final furlong. He finds another useful draw and as mentioned above, he has a favourable 5kg swing at the weights with the former. Purton retains the ride and it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back to winning ways. KA YING STAR finished right behind the top selection in that latest effort, when finishing strongly from another handy position. He has been knocking on the door for a big victory in recent times and with this being his first attempt at Grade 1 level, he should be right there again. Teetan won’t be giving up this ride very easy and they should be right there once again. SIMPLY BRILLIANT was just beaten by 2-lengths in his last start when finishing behind the top three selections. That was just his second run back this term and he will strip a fitter horse here. Badel retains the ride and they have a very good place chance.

Race 8 – 10:10 – The Longines Hong Kong Cup Grade 1 – 2000m
Selections: 7 – 6 – 5 – 3 – 4 
The final Gr1 race on the card looks like a tantalising affair. MAGIC WAND is a beautifully bred daughter of the legendary sire, Galileo, with 16 Group 1 starts in six countries for 11 top-four finishes. She finished 2nd to BRICKS AND MORTAR in the Arlington Million Gr1 earlier in the year, before following that up with a close 2nd to MAGICAL in the Irish Champion Stakes Gr1. Ryan Moore has ridden her on 12 occasions for 3 victories and he should get the best out of her, from a useful draw. She loves this trip and looks tough to oppose in this small field. FURORE was just beaten by EXULTANT over this course and distance last time out, in the Gr 2 Jockey Club Cup. Hugh Bowman knows him well, having won twice on him from 5 outings and he retains the ride from a plum draw. He has a useful record over this course and distance and he should be the major threat to the top selection. RISE HIGH finished just behind the former last time out, when jumping from gate 8 and he lands a very handy draw for his peak run this term. He will be cherry-ripe for this run and having gone down by under 1,5-lengths over this course and distance and in this class prior to this, he must be included. TIME WARP will once again set a frantic early speed, but he too has his peak run here and he will line up a much fitter horse this time. He finds another useful draw and the two-time Group 1 winning son of Archipenko will be staying on strongly in the closing stages. It is always hard to utilize his race tactics with much success, but he is a talented sort and he must be included for minor money.

Race 9 – 10:45 – Class 2 – 1200m
Selections: 6 – 10 – 7 – 11 – 4 
WATER DIVINER has been in solid recent form and he certainly likes this course and distance. He bolted home last time out, when having to check at the 900m before making a late dash for 2nd. Drawn well again, he gets the services of Zac Purton who makes for an attractive jockey booking here and the consistent son of Equiano should be very tough to beat this time. MR CROISSANT beat the top selection last time out, when given a smart ride by the retained rider. That was his first run since rising to this class and he clearly has more to come. With that said, he does line up 5-pounds worse off at the weights with the former, on that last run and that will make things tougher this time. He still has plenty more to come and with him being the course and distance specialist he is, he must be included. RAGING STORM finished behind the former last time out, when overcoming yet another tough draw. He finds another tough draw here, but off his reduced rating he deserves another chance. Ryan Moore takes the mount and with a bit of luck in running, he could go very close. MR LUMMIERES received a 7-pound penalty for that smart win last time out, in this class. He lands a similar draw here and steps up a furlong to a trip he is yet to win over. Poon retains the ride and if he lets him go at the right time, he’ll be involved in the finish.

Race 10 – 11:50 – Class 2 – 1600m
Selections: 1 – 10 – 13 – 9 – 5 
NOT USUAL TALENT finds a tricky draw for his peak run this term, on the back of a solid effort in Group 2 company last time. That was a run full of merit, over this course and distance and with two wins from four starts in this class, he looks a real threat. The draw will raise a challenge for Hugh Bowman, but if finding a bit of luck, he will be hard to beat. STAR PERFORMANCE has been knocking on the door after picking up a win on his local debut. Drawn well again he gets an attractive jockey booking in the form of Frankie Dettori and on his recent form, he is more than capable of winning here. ENRICHMENT has slipped in the ratings and he is starting to look threatening off his current mark of 83. Grant van Niekerk jumps aboard the son of Teofilo and he will relish the drop back to the mile this time. He has gone close over this course and distance prior to this and having won before in this class, he must be included here. ENJOYING finished behind the second selection last time out, on his local debut over this course and distance. He would’ve needed that run and with his record of 4 wins from 8 outings, he won’t take long to win here. He lands a plum draw for his second run here and with the expected improvement, he will be worth including.