Selections and analysis for Monday’s (27 Dec) fixture at Sha Tin.
Race 1: #1 Winwin Thirtythree, #5 Easy Fortune, #3 Brilliant China, #9 Brave Power
Race 2: #5 Fox Cheunger, #7 Sparkling Star, #13 Dragon Pride, #4 Sunny Baby
Race 3: #6 Enjoying, #3 Berlin Tango, #5 Senor Toba, #4 Flying Quest
Race 4: #2 En Pointe, #3 Ice Legend, #5 Country Boy, #9 Amigos Giggle
Race 5: #9 Circuit Seven, #5 Scotch Tycoon, #4 Galaxy Witness, #2 Forte
Race 6: #10 Courageous Knight, #2 Soaring Tower, #1 Pins Prince, #8 Go For Tea
Race 7: #7 Super Oasis, #1 Be Ready, #2 Beauty Champ, #13 Nearly Fine
Race 8: #8 Peak To Peak, #12 Chater Pins, #2 Sight Spirit, #5 Flying Sword
Race 9: #1 Cordyceps Six, #10 Super Fortune, #6 Kumasi, #5 Special M
Race 10: #2 Master Hero, #7 Arthur's Kingdom, #1 Maldives, #5 Horsesain Bolt
Race 1: Swimming 1400m Handicap
#1 Winwin Thirtythree makes a welcome return to Class 5. His last run in this grade returned a win and with even luck he is the one to beat. The wide gate is the only concern. #5 Easy Fortune has more ability than his record suggests. Expect improvement with the blinkers for the second time. #3 Brilliant China has claims but does tend to mix his form. He's competitive on his day. Gate one helps. #9 Brave Power is after back-to-back wins. He remains in Class 5 which suits as does the light weight.
Race 2: Cycling 1400m Handicap
#5 Fox Cheunger is in solid form and he should relish a return to the turf here after finishing fourth on the dirt last time out. Strong booking of Vincent Ho signals intent from the Francis Lui stable. #7 Sparkling Star mixes his form but there is more ability there than his record lets on. Expect a fast-closing effort. #13 Dragon Pride returned first-up last start to finish third at Happy Valley. Sha Tin's lengthy straight should help. #4 Sunny Baby gets Joao Moreira up. Gate three suits.
Race 3: The Hong Kong Sports Institute 30th Anniversary Cup Handicap
#6 Enjoying is a two-time Group 2 winner prior to import from Australia. He has class and his latest trial effort at Conghua was solid. Expect improvement once more now with two runs under his belt and health concerns a thing of the past. #3 Berlin Tango performed well at the top-level last start. This is a sharp step back to Class 2 and he should relish this grade. Big watch. #5 Senor Toba is progressing nicely. Expect another strong hit-out as he gets out over further. #4 Flying Quest is next best.
Race 4: Badminton 1200m Handicap
#2 En Pointe looks like a very sharp talent. He was strong on debut for third and improvement off that run is expected here. #3 Ice Legend has mixed his form but the inside gate gives him his chance. He's capable in this grade. #5 Country Boy is after back-to-back wins. Fresh following a midweek four-timer, Joao Moreira hops up here and he should get his chance remaining in Class 4. #9 Amigos Giggle has mixed his form but he's shown that there's definitely something. Don't discount.
Race 5: Boccia 1000m Handicap
#9 Circuit Seven found some form last start, narrowly missing over this distance at Happy Valley. Suspect he can transfer that to Sha Tin and with the stand-side draw he is favoured. #5 Scotch Tycoon steps out on debut. He moved very well in a trial and is also favoured having drawn on the stand-side of the course, which is where the group usually sides. #4 Galaxy Witness comes out of the same trial. Not much to separate these two but the booking of Joao Moreira on debut looks a plus for this guy. #2 Forte has claims. Expect a bold showing first-up.
Race 6: Fencing 1400m Handicap
#10 Courageous Knight was awfully unlucky last start with Joao Moreira in the saddle. He's since trialled well at Happy Valley and he's the one to beat with luck, especially from gate two. #2 Soaring Tower has class and his last-start runner-up effort showed that. Strong booking of Vincent Ho has him shaping as a leading player here. #1 Pins Prince has hit the ground running across two starts, boasting one win. Expect another strong showing. #8 Go For Tea draws well and can make an impact on debut.
Race 7: The Hong Kong Elite Athletes Cup Handicap
#7 Super Oasis has dropped to a competitive mark. The return to this distance appears incredibly suitable also and from gate four he shapes as the one to beat. #1 Be Ready steps back in grade and pairs with Vincent Ho. Top weight a slight concern but his class will carry him a long way. #2 Beauty Champ steps out on debut following a nice trial down the straight. Expect a strong showing. #13 Nearly Fine slots in light. He has a powerful finish when required.
Race 8: Table Tennis 1400m Handicap
#8 Peak To Peak's last run was a total forgive as he travelled wide throughout and thus, he was entitled to fade out. He's since trialled well and looks capable of bouncing back. #12 Chater Pins is steadily finding his feet. The light weight ensures him his shot. #2 Sight Spirit is chasing back-to-back wins. The inside gate suits and he appears capable of taking the next step. #5 Flying Sword is in superb form. He has claims in this grade as a winner two starts ago.
Race 9: Equestrian 1000m Handicap
#1 Cordyceps Six was a touch unlucky in the straight last time out. Suspect he can atone for that effort here, especially if he finds his best form which saw him down Nervous Witness two starts ago. #10 Super Fortune can bounce back to form here. He was sublime on debut and the booking of Joao Moreira bears close watching. #6 Kumasi steps out on debut following a solid hit-out down the straight. He looks well placed with the stand-side draw. #5 Special M is next best. He's after back-to-back wins.
Race 10: Karate 1400m Handicap
#2 Master Hero caps a seriously strong book of rides for Joao Moreira. He's a two-time winner from his past three starts and at his best he is more than capable of bossing his rivals here. #7 Arthur's Kingdom should be a price in the finale. There's more class there than his record suggests, so, with a bit of luck he should be able to defy market expectations. #1 Maldives is racing well and should be in with a chance close to the speed. #5 Horsesain Bolt is next best.
