By Adam Cusworth
The final race meeting of the 2023/24 Hong Kong racing season is upon us and we are in Sha Tin on Sunday for an 11-race programme. Here is our preview of the meeting.
Race 1
This is a tough race to start with the Class 5 riders in action in the 1200 meters. CHEER FOR THE SOUTH (7) could come close to his first career win and will move up to maintain the pace of start 10. He settled in well before holding on to 4th place last time out in the 1200m. GOOD VIEW GLORY (5) is a winner of the last start in the 1000m at Happy Valley and had no luck in the 1200m here before that. He enjoys the race from starting block 4. CERVIN- (1) has not shown much in his five career starts, but he has been dropped to Class 5 and should have an easier time there. SUPER JOY (10) pulls wide and will continue running.
Selections: 7-5-1-10
Race 2
CALL ME GLORIOUS (5) are shaping up as a major early contender for Franci Lui in the Trainers Premiership. He is one win behind Pierre Ng going into the last meeting and can draw level with his promising youngster, who has won three of the five. The son of No Nay Never scored from more than six lengths clear last time out when he led all the way to beat Gracious Express. He is moving up in class but is on the rise and will need some catching up with Zac Purton to ride. BEAUTY WAVES (7) is one of two runners for Ng, next to DUKE WAI (2). Beauty Waves looked well placed at Class 2 level last time out when he was 3rd in the 1000m at Happy Valley. He has done well at Sha Tin in the past and will finish just behind them in the attractive draw. Duke Wai returned to form on the track and stumbled on his most recent start when he was an unlucky second to Copartner Price and is in the mix. JAMES TAK (6) is a winner who can start at the last moment and make his mark.
Selections: 5-7-2-6
Race 3
Interested in the experienced racehorses, INVINCIBLE MISSILE (1)in Race 3. The eight-year-old drops to Class 5 and has finished in the top four in his last three starts, two of which he has taken. He was slow to get away last time out as he made his way to 4th behind Mission Voice and he simply needs to make a better start. PERFECT PEACH (7) will be looking to break a drought that has lasted almost two years and has come close five times this preparation, finishing second to Harmony N Home on his most recent start. The five-year-old has performed well on the track and the trip. SPEEDSTAR (10) saves ground from the inside barrier and finished 3rd in the same race as Perfect Peach, also in terms of time. MEDICAL ELITE (9) will continue.
Selections: 1-7-10-9
Race 4
It looks like this is an open bet. FOREVER GLORIOUS (3) was a Happy Valley winner three starts ago and is third over 1800m at that venue after a last start. He may be able to force himself to settle in and is a previous track and trip winner. GOOD GOOD (9) was an improver on his most recent start when he first reached the 1800m, finishing a close exacta horse behind Joy Of Spring. The winner of that went on to win the race in which Forever Glorious finished 3rd. Monitor betting for STORM WINNER (10). He comes out of a two-month break and set a personal best on what was his fourth start when he finished 3rd in the 1800m at Happy Valley in May. The three-year-old pulls well in barrier 4. VOLCANIC SPARK (4) is the second best.
Selections: 3-7-10-4
Race 5
FIRST LOVE (4) can improve on his debut effort, which saw him finish 5th on the track on July 1 and stumble. The Pierre Ng-trained rider settled in the midfield in a race that developed into a sit sprint and landed two lengths behind Parterre. He pulls perfectly into barrier 2 with Purton on board. PACKAGING ANGEL (6) is a debutant in strong form and could be a threat. KA YING WARRIOR (1) draws widely but has shown promising results in his four starts, finishing second twice. He is another recent trial winner. YOU ARE EVERYTHING (9) is a rougher variant worth throwing in exotics.
Selections: 4-6-1-9
Race 6
BRILLIANT EXPRESS (7) should be poised to take the first win of his career. The John Size-trained runner has had two career starts and has moved on to fill the minors behind Glory Elite on June 15. He can sit on the rail three times after drawing the inside and only needs the gaps to open up in the straight. HAPPY DAILY (12) pulls better than recent runs and was posted wide without cover on July 1, but remained on track to finish 4th behind Forerunner. CONFIRM (13) is a likely leader who will be fitter after a fourth place in his first run of his current preparation OWNERS PRAISE (1) is the second best.
Selections: 7-12-13-1
Race 7
STEPS FORWARD (2) could break through in Race 7. The Francis Lui-trained racehorse has placed in all three of his career starts and has come up against some promising types. He settled down well last time out before hanging on to land a length from Greenwich and should be done with the three runs to his name. TOP PEAK (1) is going for a hat-trick of wins and just needs to get over the wide barrier. The four-year-old could be a factor if he doesn’t burn too much fuel early on. FAMILY JEWEL (4) was solid on his debut with a 4th on June 15 and should improve further thanks to that run. CIRCUIT POWERFUL (6) is worth pursuing after showing improvement to finish second on his last start.
Selections: 2-1-4-6
Race 8
This is the highlight of the day with the Class 1 gallopers in action. CHANGCHENG KLORY (4) returns to the 1600m and is enjoying the journey. He narrowly missed the exciting Galaxy Patch on the track and journey two starts ago before finishing fourth in the 1800m behind that horse last time out. A winner of five from eight over the Sha Tin mile, he will be hard to beat from barrier 2 with Purton to steer. MOMENTS IN TIME (1) is a possible leader who was widely posted at Happy Valley last time when he was 3rd behind Outgate. Not entirely sure ATTULIBIGEAL (7) reaches the 1600m but his form is good enough to be a factor. The five-year-old will settle into midfield and run further. THE GOLDEN LANDSCAPE (6) is one of the first four contenders.
Selections: 4-1-7-6
Race 9
Good work by PACKAGING HERMOD (12) on his first start to score in dominant fashion at Happy Valley on June 26. The three-year-old is a major prospect for Francis Lui in the Trainer’s Premiership and was backed in the betting that night before winning by more than two lengths from Prime Mortar. He can continue. SILO (5) sparks interest. The former Singaporean rider joins after three straight victories and recently won a trial for Outgate. Monitor betting. REWARD SMILE (2) could close in from the better barrier this time and could be an improver. He was a last start 4th behind Copartner Prance at Happy Valley. FRUIT MOUNTAIN (10) adds value to exotics and multiples.
Selections: 12-5-2-10
Race 10
Go with I CAN (14) for Pierre Ng in Race 10. The four-year-old has finished in the top two on his last three starts and closed the exacta behind Setanta at Happy Valley on June 26 over 1650m, with the pair opening up a big gap to the rest. He rises on the gradient but loses 7.5kg and will bide his time from the wide barrier. SATIRICAL FAN (9) is one of the drivers who has to make sure there is enough speed in this race. He won two starts ago, but eventually dropped back to fifth place. HOLY LAKE (1) Disappointed last time in the 2000m, but can still improve in terms of distance. PRAY FOR MIR (7) is a former two-time Queensland winner who is set to compete in Hong Kong for the third time.
Selections: 14-9-1-7
Race 11
BEAUTY HALF (2) can end a great season for Zac Purton with a win. The former Irish rider is yet to win this season but has been closing in on him recently, narrowly missing Rubylot on June 23. Purton will be looking to secure a midfield spot from box 10 and the duo should be strong in the closing stages. THOUSAND ON (8) saves ground from the inside barrier and drops back to the 1200m. He was 4th over the 1400m behind King Miles on his most recent start and should have finished much closer after being held up and controlled. SEARCH (13) And BEAUTY PASS (3) There are a few winners who start last and pull well and should be in the mix at the end of the race.
Selections: 2-8-13-3
