Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.
Race 1 – TVB Charity Fund Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.74 Standard Time: 1:48.40 Course/Class record: 1:47.37 Incredible
Karis Teetan and Pierre Ng kicked the day off in style, teaming up with STARSHIP EIGHTY (AUS 4yo g Into Mischief – Starship Angel) for a comfortable win. The four-year-old was a touch slow into stride, prompting Teetan to slide back from the wide alley and settle at the rear of the field. The Mauritian raced along the inside rail and was able to tack onto the field approaching the 1000m point. He remained along the inside turning off the back and had plenty of luck turning for home, with the field fanning across the track allowing Teetan to slide up the inside and make his run. He was 7-1/4 lengths off the leader with 800m to run but was just 3-3/4 lengths back at the top of the straight with the gaps appearing along the inside. Teetan only had to go around one runner as he joined the leaders with 100m to go. He gained the upper hand with 50m to run and was far too strong late, getting away to win by 1-1/4 lengths. DIAMOND WINNER was also a little slow into stride and raced toward the back of the field. Antoine Hamelin was able to push his way off the inside rail rounding the home turn and got into the open at the 300m point to make his charge. He ran to the front at the 150m point with the gelding digging deep inside the closing stages. The winner zoomed up the inside to take the win with Diamond Winner unable to fend him off, but he did cling on for second. GREEN LASER was just edged out on the post for second after making a sustained run down the outside. He ran to the lead alongside Diamond Winner but couldn't stick his nose in front over the closing stages, finishing in third position in a photo finish.
Race 2 – TVB Tung Wah Celebrity Show Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.58 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
David Hayes unearthed a promising debutant in the second, with CHATEAUNEUF (AUS 3yo g Fastnet Rock – My Sabeel). Zac Purton pinged the gelding out of the barriers and pressed forward to get across from the wide draw, slotting into the one-out-one-back position in the run. The gelding trucked up to the leaders in the straight and ran to the front when Purton pushed the button approaching the furlong pole. He was still learning what it's all about once he hit the front, but he held on well enough to get the job done on debut,
winning by a half-length on the line. GREAT SPIRIT settled midfield after getting away on terms for Karis Teetan. The pace was genuine through the middle stages and Teetan was already urging his mount along from the 600m point. The Mauritian gradually moved toward the middle of the track to remain in clear air, running on strongly down over the final furlong. He was taking ground off the leader late in the run but had too much ground to make up. SEIZING THE MOMENT settled back in the field around Great Spirit and made their runs together in the straight. He and Great Spirit weren't able to be split down to the wire, with only a photo finish splitting the pair on the line.
Race 3 – TVB Yan Oi Tong Charity Show Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.41 Standard Time: 1:22.10 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
It was a bit of an upset in the third as ONLY U (NZ 4yo g Proisir – Princess Raaj) ran over the top to win narrowly at $21. The gelding was slowly away from barrier eight, though Chau showed good initiative to press on from the draw, slotting in a touch worse than midfield. Chau always seemed to be niggling at his mount in the run, as the pair moved off heels and into the clear turning into the straight. The four-year-old took a little while to wind up, but he came with his run inside the final furlong. There was a wall of horses who were all winning chances close to home, with the son of Proisir only sticking his nose in front when it mattered most, getting the job done by the barest of margins. UNPRESUMING hadn't been far away from Only U in the run, settling just in front of the winner throughout the event. Antoine Hamelin stuck to the inside rail turning for home as he made his challenge. He eventually switched into the clear at the furlong pole and ran to the lead inside the final 50m. His lead didn't last long however, with Only U getting his head down on the wire to steal the victory away from Unpresuming. WINNING GOLD came with a massive run right down the outside. He jumped a $118 chance but snuck into the placings, only beaten a neck.
Race 4 – TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.04 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Jerry Chau and Benno Yung made it a race-to-race double as JAMES TAK (AUS 3yo g Headwater – Patois) continued the good start to his career. The race favourite was quickly away from an inside alley and settled on the back of the leader as they sorted their order
out. Th pace slowed mid-race with the field bunching through the middle stages, but the three-year-old travelled comfortably despite the drop in tempo. He managed to stick with the leaders turning for home as they tried to kick away, but Chau was held up slightly early on in the straight. The gap appeared with 200m to run and the gelding shot straight through to take the lead and pulling away from his rivals. Chau put the whip away over the final 50m, with James Tak winning comfortably by three-quarters of-a-length. YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING settled in last position after being taken back from the wide draw. Angus Chung remained at the rear around the home turn, edging his way into the clear at the 400m point and making his run down the middle of the track. He just kept coming under the urgings of the apprentice, getting to within a length of the winner, but he was just too far back to get the job done. The same could be said for SKY TRUST who raced at the back of the field alongside You're My Everything. That pair made their runs together in the straight, with Sky Trust finishing 1-1/2 lengths off the winner in third.
Race 5 – TVB Po Leung Kuk Gala Spectacular Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.03 Standard Time: 1:38.80 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
Karis Teetan made it a double on the day as he guided G LINER (GB 6yo g Siyouni – Toi Et Moi) brought up back-to-back wins. The Jamie Richards-trained gelding didn't have it all his own way early on, with a number of runners pressing on to try and lead. He was able to hold the advantage around the first turn though and slow the pace right down as they travelled through the middle stages. A mid-race move came to challenge for the lead, but again Teetan fended off his rival to remain a clear leader around the home turn. He was over a length in front at the top of the straight and again was challenged at the 200m point by a rival. He wouldn't lay down though, responding to everything Teetan threw at him. Even though he wandered up the track under pressure, he was pulling away from his rivals late in the race as he crossed the line a three-quarter-length winner. MAYHEM had stalked the leader throughout the race after settling on the back of G Liner from the inside alley. Keith Yeung couldn't have asked the race to pan out any better through the middle stages, holding his spot along the inside and not spending a penny in the run. He cruised forward to remain within striking distance around the home turn and laid down the gauntlet in the straight. He was bumped by G Liner who shifted out when the pair squared off, but he couldn't match it late in the race. BEAR SLAM rattled home from well back in the run to finish off in third.
Race 6 – TVB Tung Wah Charity Show Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.83 Standard Time: 1:08.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
Brenton Avdulla picked up his first win of the afternoon, steering home FAST BUCK (AUS 4yo g Al Maher – Pentimento) to his second win in three starts. There was plenty of pace on offer early as runners went in search of the lead, allowing Avdulla to sit just off the speed. He was racing three-wide as they turned off the back but did have cover throughout as he tracked that runner into the race. After a beautiful run in transit, Avdulla peeled out into the clear, getting the gelding to work through his gears down the centre of the course. He ranged up to take the lead inside the final furlong and shot away. A rival was coming at him late in the race, but he was doing it easily on the line as he won by a half-length. HINOKAMI KAGURA drifted back from a wide alley to be at the back of the field on settling down. He was urged along passing the 600m point, but the gelding was responding as Harry Bentley continued to build into the race wider out. He sustained the long run down the outside and wasn't stopping in the closing stages, but he just had too much ground to make up in the straight. TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR stuck on well in the run to the line, running on from beyond midfield to finish in third.
Race 7 – TVB Pok Oi Charity Show Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:08.86 Standard Time: 1:08.50 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
VICTORY MOMENTS (AUS 4yo g Spieth - Tris) notched up his maiden victory at his first try on the all weather surface, scoring comfortably in the end. The gelding showed speed from out wide as Matthew Chadwick pressed on from barrier 10. Chadwick was unable to slot into the running line after pressing on, being caught wide and without cover throughout the event. Despite the wide run, the Frankie Lor-trained gelding moved up strongly at the top of the straight and took the lead approaching the 200m point. He took the lead and dashed away from his rivals, quickly putting up a length advantage and getting away for a very easy win, with the final margin being 1-1/2 lengths. GOOD BUDDY was another who was caught extremely wide on the track throughout, racing four-wide and facing the breeze throughout. He was pushed even wider on the course as they turned for home but was sticking on strongly early in the straight. He showed plenty of strength t run into second position, holding off his rivals in a photo finish to be runner up. SMOKEY BEAR followed Good Buddy into the race turning for home and made his run alongside the runner up in the straight. He kept on well to the line but couldn't stick his nose in front of Good Buddy and settled for third.
Race 8 – The TVB Cup (Handicap), HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.07 Standard Time: 1:21.55 Course/Class record: 1:20.28 Fantastic Treasure
Brenton Avdulla is beginning to find his groove in the Asian city, notching up a double with an impressive ride aboard ATULLIBIGEAL (AUS 5yo g Street Boss – Kellys Ocean Jewel). The five-year-old jumped on terms and settled about midfield as they sorted their order out. The pace was solid early before slowing through the middle stages of the event. As the race began to unfold turning for home, the Australian hoop was able to slide along the inside and make his run up along the rail, pushing through a gap at the 200m point to charge after the leader. He shot through inside the final 100m to take the lead and he drew away over the closing stages, winning easily in the end by three-quarters of a length. SUPERB BOY jumped well and positioned himself on the back of the leader under Alexis Badel, enjoying a cosy run in transit stalking the speed. Approaching the home turn, Badel moved away from the inside as he tried to obtain clear running, getting off heels and making his run early in the straight. The gelding quickened well when asked to take the lead midway down the straight. He laid in a touch under pressure and couldn't hold off the winner over the final stages who burst through late. DROMBEG BANNER stuck on well after dictating proceedings through the middle stages, finishing 1-3/4 lengths off the winner in third.
Race 9 – TVB Miss Hong Kong Pageant Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:48.22 Standard Time: 1:47.60 Course/Class record: 1:46.18 Glorious Forever
PACKING HURRICANE (GB 5yo g Mondialiste – Storming Sioux) bounced back to winning ways in impressive fashion for Harry Bentley and Caspar Fownes. The five-year-old jumped on terms and used the inside barrier to his advantage, holding a forward spot in the opening stages and landing on the back of the leader. He travelled beautifully throughout with what was just an even tempo, and looked to have plenty to offer as the Englishman pulled him into the clear at the top of the straight. He let down powerfully to take the lead with 150m to run and showed plenty of strength in the closing stages, pulling away from his rivals and winning by 2 lengths on the line. SIMPLY MAVERICK has been in superb form this campaign and ran another great race as he stepped out to 1800m for the first time. After being caught a little wide early on, Andrea Atzeni pressed on to sit on the outside of the leader approaching the 1100m point. Turning for home, the gelding looked to have plenty of gas left in the tank and quickened as though he would run away from his rivals. He couldn't shake Packing Hurricane though who came off his back to take the lead late in the race. He tired over the closing stages did Simply Maverick, but he held on for second in a photo finish. THE BEST PEACH was closing strongly from beyond midfield and made a late dive at Simply Maverick, but missed on the line and was forced to settle for third.
Race 10 – TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – All Weather – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.67 Standard Time: 1:38.25 Course/Class record: 1:36.79 True Legend
Since switching to the All Weather surface over a year ago, ADEFILL (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Dijonnaise) has never finished worse than fourth, improving on his already impressive record with another win in the closer today. It was Antoine Hamelin's first ride on the gelding, but he rated him well after getting away on terms from a sticky alley. The Frenchman was able to slot in midfield with cover, sitting off what was a solid pace in the early stages. He has the back of one of his main dangers in the run and stalked him throughout the middle stages. Around the home turn, Hamelin continued to track his rivals before pulling Adefill out to make his run down the middle of the track. He worked through his gears impressively down the centre of the track to take the lead close to home and get away from his rivals, winning by three-quarters of-a-length. MASSIVE ACTION burned across to take up the running, leading the field throughout the event. He controlled the race through the second half of the event and kicked clear of his rivals as they turned for home, showing a nice turn-of-foot. He proved tough to catch in the straight, with Adefill only gaining the upper hand in the closing stages, with Massive Action holding on for second. YELLOWFIN had a nice run just off the pace throughout the event and was the horse that Adefill had been tracking throughout. The win was his for the taking if he was good enough, but there was just a couple better on the day.
