Sha Tin - 04/02/24

Hong Kong Classic Mile and Centenary Vase events are here!

Going to be another quality day of racing in Hong Kong

R1 - Primula Handicap - 1200M - C5

4 - Daily Trophy - Hugh Bowman

Sha Tin kicks off on the AWT and I've landed on the winless Casper Fownes 4yo out of New Zealand tackling the AWT for the 5th time this term the stable seems to want to make this his calling, Last start track and distance he jumped well but settled too far back, The horse in stride looks like it loves the surface and if he settle's off pace 3rd/4th I think he can win.

Danger - Fingers Crossed

Selection - 4 - 9 - 10 - 6

R2 - Peony Handicap - 1000M - C4

3 - Lifeline Express - James McDonald

This is a wide open race with 3 debutants as well, I've landed with last time backed Lifeline Express who at bigger odds than what we will see here today was sensational just couldn't catch the likes of Super Commander he gets another crack here on the straight and we get a specialists jockey on him this time around. Big chance.

Danger - Jolly Champion

Selection - 3 - 2 - 4 - 9

R3 - Peach Blossom Handicap - 1200M - C3

1 - I Give - Andrea Atzeni - Best Bet

No surprise here, I Give is a very gifted horse and has absolutely been shining with Andrea on board, hard to not be on him here and grabs the best bet for the day as well. He will be his heaviest he has been since the step up to C3 but he has shown that's not a concern before.

Danger - Ka Ying Victory

Selection - 1 - 6 - 3 - 2

R4 - Gladiolus Handicap - 1400M - C4

7 - Chater Gold - Alexis Badel - Each Way

No shame in his last start 3rd place be it some lengths off the leading pair the rest of the field was covered gets a claim with Badel and with the jump out power we have already seen don't want to see him hustle for the lead like last start I think he needs to be either on the rail with cover or 2 wide. Can win vs this field.

Danger - Gold Tack

Selection - 7 - 9 - 1 - 12

R5 - Daffodil Handicap - 2000M - C3

3 - Simple Hedge - Zac Purton - Next Best

Was brilliant last start and his 1st win this term was stolen by Fallon, gets every chance here again to get a win and has already put most of the field here to the test and beaten them all. Cant look beyond SH here will take a lot to see him get beat from a good barrier and distance that suits. My Next Best for the day.

Danger - Billionaire Secret

Selection - 3 - 10 - 5 - 11

R6 - Cineraria Handicap - 1000M - C3

7 - Victory Moments - Matthew Chadwick - Each Way

Best barrier draw this horse has had all term and looks the goods to deliver on it, both last 3rd place positions were solid progressive runs and I think he is ready for the win today. A bit less weight today, not much but enough to make a difference as well. Shadow Roll and Tongue Tie all remaining on again seems to be helping.

Danger - Rubylot

Selection - 7 - 13 - 5 - 2

R7 - Hong Kong Classic Mile - 1600M

3 - Helene Feeling - Zac Purton

8 - Fallon - Keith Yeung

All about trying to get Helios Express beat in the Mile, Helene Feeling is the one for me, although more of a Happy Valley specialists with only 1 win here, Zac Purton who ran him all last term and didn't finish outside the top 3 gets his chance back on for a success here in the Mile. Fallon has devastating 200M speed that I just cant ignore the 3rd time around and he gets put in as well.

Danger - Fallon

Selection 3 - 8 - 1 - 6

R8 - Centenary Vase - 1800M - G3

12 - Nimble Nimbus - Andrea Atzeni

Comes back to G3 after no luck in both G1 and G2, Andrea seems very suited on this horse and has had some good runs on him in all his attempts, distance seems to suit, I think he has a good chance to win here and may be at a good value price once the market is out. Happy to be on him for that reason too.

Danger - Happy Together

Selection - 12 - 6 - 11 - 1

R9 - Gladiolus Handicap - 1400M - C4

10 - Patch Of Time - Luke Ferraris

Was very impressive last time out here, jumping very well from barrier 11 to lead just couldn't keep on to challenge the leading pair, gets a better chance here with the barrier and if leads again can see him have a bit more speed this time around to hold on for a win.

Danger - Master Tornado

Selection - 10 - 5 - 3 - 8

R10 - Azalea Handicap - 1200M - C2

7 - Xponential - Karis Teetan - Each Way

I mean if you wanted a hard last race of the meeting this it is, C2 - All weather, it really is just like blindly throwing your dart and hoping its a bullseye. All four of my selections below could win this and even those out of it, I've gone wide and stuck with Xponential he will have some work to do from here but I think it may just work out his way of for him to take the win. Anyone's race this one.

Danger - Gummy Gummy

Selection - 7 - 10 - 11 - 4

GL Punters