Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Sha Tin on 17 December 2023.
VALUE BET – SMOKEY BEAR ridden by K. de Melo
BEST BET – KARMA ridden by C. Ho
07:00 – Race 1 | Class 5 | 1400m
Selections: 7/9/10
The South African-bred APEX TOP was given a peach of a ride to win his last start under Luke Ferraris and will be looking to make it quick back-to-back wins. BEAT HOLLOW finished 2.2 lengths behind the top selection last time. He is 2kgs worse off at the weights and may have to settle for the same result in this opening contest.
07:30 – Race 2 | Class 4 | 1200m
Selections: 12/9/8
The Caspar Fownes-trained DAILY TROPHY was beaten a length by ACA POWER in his last start. He comes in at the bottom of the weights and can turn the tables on his recent conqueror. SMART FOLKS was beaten a neck on the All Weather course last time and he may be the biggest danger in this line-up.
08:00 – Race 3 | Class 4 | 1000m
Selections: 5/3/10
SUPER COMMANDER is a speedy type and he only tired late on International Jockeys’ Championship day. He is nicely weighted with apprentice Chung aboard and is likely to adopt frontrunning tactics once more. MULTISUPER will appreciate racing back on the turf. He is better than his below-par last effort on the All Weather course and can return to best form.
08:35 – Race 4 | Class 5 | 1800m
Selections: 2/5/7
TURTLE AGAIN finished best of all at Happy Valley last time. He remains in Class 5 and can go back-to-back. GOLD STERLING showed good improvement in his last start when runner-up behind the top selection. He is 3.5kgs better off at the weights and there shouldn’t be too much separating the pair in the run down to the line.
09:05 – Race 5 | Class 3 | 1200m
Selections: 3/7/1
SMOKEY BEAR won his last start by a couple of lengths. He is unbeaten on the All Weather and definitely represents good each-way value for Hong Kong racing pundits. TORONADO PHANTOM has been racing on the turf recently but has a creditable victory on this surface. He is nicely handicapped and should give the top selection a run for his money.
09:40 – Race 6 | Class 4 | 1400m
Selections: 9/6/4
CELTIC TIMES has finished second in his last two starts under Matthew Chadwick and can go one better. OWNERS’ PRAISE finished 1.5 lengths behind the top selection last time. The pair meet on similar weight terms and there shouldn’t be too much separating the pair in the run down to the line. WAR OF COURAGE was beaten the narrowest of margins in his last start and must be included.
10:10 – Race 7 | Class 2 | 1000m
Selections: 3/7/6
WHIZZ KID finished a length behind CARROLL STREET in his last start. He is 3kgs better off at the weights which should be enough to turn the tables. INVINCIBLE SAGE is taking on stronger rivals but he is in a good space. He is going for a hat-trick of wins and the booking of Zac Purton to ride is a big plus.
10:40 – Race 8 | Class 4 | 1600m
Selections: 2/5/1
AESTHETICISM won his last start well defeating Celtic Times and it will be intriguing to see if the form line is done any favors in Race 6. LUCKY ETERNITY was beaten just under a length in his last start over this C&D. He jumps from the same barrier position and can give another good account of himself.
11:15 – Race 9 | Class 3 | 1600m
Selections: 6/7/5
KARMA followed up his recent win well when beaten just under a length behind subsequent winner Chill Chibi. He is a decent sort and looks one of the better bets on the card. BEAUTY FIT has been finishing off his races well under Antoine Hamelin and the combination merit healthy respect.
11:50 – Race 10 | Class 3 | 1200m
Selections: 11/9/10
WUNDERBAR has won both of his starts on this course and looks to be a progressive type. He should love the rise to six furlongs and it is encouraging that James McDonald has kept faith in the ride. MODULECONSTRUCTION finished just over a length behind MUGEN last time. He is 3kgs better off at the weights and must also be strongly considered in the lucky last!
