Sha Tin Preview

Race One – SELF IMPROVEMENT

The selection has yet to win after 4 local starts but came close last season, including over track and trip with Brenton Avdulla. With more upside than his rivals he can get off the mark under Zac Purton.

Race Two – MIRACLES

The son of Better Than Ready gets the vote in this competitive Class 5 heat. He remains a maiden after 14 local starts but found some consistency last season and started the campaign with a neck second to California Vanes on dirt. Recent runs have come on turf and his best effort came two back when runner-up to Maximize Heart over track and trip – he returned to Sha Tin a fortnight later over 1200m but was disappointing and he’s back to optimum conditions on Sunday. Alexis Badel takes the reins from gate 5 off a career low mark. Miracles warmed up for this with a highly encouraging trial under Hugh Bowman where he led under fast sectionals but was caught close home by Rise Brethren. The Australian switches to Sure Joyful – a class-dropper and main threat to the selection.

Race Three – DREAM WINNER (Next Best)

Small fields can throw up shock results but I’ll take the son of Exosphere to remain unbeaten. Its been a rapid ascent for Dream Winner – a facile success on debut and two more salutes under Vincent Ho to earn him a 33Ib hike in the ratings. The step into Class 2 company asks for further improvement but he looks capable following a comfortable victory to sign off last season. Of his rivals, Carroll Steet may provide the stiffest opposition under the excellent, Lyle Hewitson. The straight track of Sha Tin is his métier and he runs well fresh. We Are Hero brought up a C&D hat-trick last season but the handicapper appeared to have ran him down by the season’s end. Whizz Kid has his chance enhanced by Zac Purton, and while Kurpany and Ping Hai Galaxy have to be respected, they look vulnerable to younger legs.

Race Four – FORTUNE MASTER

Its difficult warming to anything in this field but Fortune Master managed to win last season and a consistent sort for this grade. Brenton Avdulla, on target with The Golden Scenery last Sunday, does the steering.

Race Five – COOL BLUE

Yet to open his account but well suited by this surface. Unlucky three back when narrowly denied by Smokey Bear and followed with an excellent fourth behind Colourful Prince. Easy to forgive his latest run back on turf when drawn badly in the 14 gate. Derek Leung keeps the faith.

Race Six – SMILING COLLECTOR

A likeable son of Turn Me Loose, he made the perfect start in Hong Kong with a narrow verdict over Happy Forever. Last season he achieved his second victory when prevailing by a nose over Perfetto. Lesser efforts followed but he signed off with an encouraging fifth to Master Of Fortune. He returns just 2Ib higher than his last success, drawn six with regular pilot, Luke Ferraris, in double winning form at Happy Valley. Hopes are high after an excellent trial behind Carroll Street this month.

Race Seven – JOYFUL HUNTER

Francis Lui has made an excellent start to the season and Joyful Hunter can remain unbeaten under Vincent Ho. The Darci Brahma gelding won on debut when comfortably accounting for Modest Gentleman. That earned him an 8Ib rise but he stormed home three weeks later to nail Colonel on the post. He lines up here off a 6Ib higher mark but drawn nicely in 5 and will appreciate the likely pace, courtesy of Super Fortune. I liked his trial last week when chasing home Captain Win and I prefer him to Dragon’s Luck, Lucky Encounter and Greenwich, who I made my BB on the opening day of the season. The Pierre Ng 4yo bids for compensation but I just have slight reservations a week on from that defeat.

Race Eight – DREAM PURSUER (Best Bet)

Joy Coming was a winning BB at Happy Valley and I’m hopeful that Dream Pursuer can do likewise at Sha Tin. The Manfred Man 6yo very much caught the eye in his latest trial. Hugh Bowman knows him well and was booked 78 days ago when seventh to California Vanes – a beaten favourite on that occasion, he had little chance from the 13 gate but stayed on nicely under a less than vigorous ride. He showed his potential on local debut last December when a close up 4th to Capital Legend and now races off an 8Ib lower mark. From barrier 3 this looks an excellent opportunity to make the breakthrough. There are dangers aplenty, including thrice raced Sunlight Power under Keagan De Melo, who made the perfect start to his fledgling Hong Kong career with victory aboard Valhalla in midweek. The Ricky Yiu 4yo lines up on a recovery mission after failing to justify favouritism twice last season. He holds leading claims. See U Again has a modest 1-19 strike-rate but ended last season with an excellent 3rd over C&D. Gate 13 is the rub but his solitary success was achieved following an 80 day absence so he’s interesting first up with Karis Teetan booked.

Race Nine – OWNERS’ PRAISE / CHAMPION INSTINCT (Each Way)

Zac Purton is reunited with the class-dropper from the Chris So stable. Making the breakthrough over track and trip last season, he cost his supporters dear when failing to justify favouritism the next twice. Ending the season quietly he returns with a leading chance.

The prospects of Champion Instinct are less obvious but he can outrun his odds under Alexis Badel. With a handful of runs he has plenty upside and far from disgraced over track and trip on his penultimate start. Wearing first time headgear last time, he was slow from the lids but kept on after meeting some traffic in the home straight. Down 2Ib with blinkers retained he looks interesting.

Race Ten – MASSIVE ACTION (Each Way)

Drawn 10, the son of Reliable Man isn’t best placed for a front-runner, but he’s useful on his day and I’m hoping E Legend, ideally drawn to employ similar tactics, doesn’t compromise my selection’s chance. With Angus Chung taking 7Ib off he looks attractively weighted and confirmed his wellbeing in a recent trial.