Is it Saturday night or Sunday morning insomnia racing at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. A couple of big ones on the card including the Hong Kong Classic Mile and The Centenary Vase. Tune in to see which horses Tom and Rich pick.
Sha Tin Racecourse (Free Sha Tin Past Performances)
Race 4: GLADIOLUS HANDICAP
Race 5: DAFFODIL HANDICAP
Race 6: CINERARIA HANDICAP
Race 7: THE HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE
Race 8: THE CENTENARY VASE
Race 9: GLADIOLUS HANDICAP
Race 10: AZALEA HANDICAP
Sha Tin Horse Racing Picks
22-1 Tom’s Tips
Race 6
9 – Ma Comet – Draw 11
He was imported from Australia with eight starts, one win, three seconds, and three thirds. He has had six barrier trials with three wins and three placings and has had pressure on him and asked for speed. He should show some speed. Get top jockey Zac Purton and watch the odds because I don’t think he will be a big price.
4 – Stellar Express – Draw 14
A French import that has shown up at the with intense races, winning three races and won at this distance at St. Cloud. He has had four barrier trials in Hong Kong, placing in three of them. He has shown speed in all thought races. Post-position 14 is ok in this type of race, and James McDonald will have him in front at the start.
3 – California Deeply – Draw 4
He’s rerunning the same distance, but his last race was at Happy Valley, but now down the straight. He ran fifth last out and made-up ground late in the race. His races before were nothing special. He didn’t get out of the starting gate in tough races very well. Last time, he did. Signs of life and this will make a placing.
Race 7
6 – Chancheng Glory – Draw 4
He appears to be the only speed in the race and on the front except in the last two races, but he is close to the pace. He’s won five out of 10 races and he is four wins from five races at 1600m. I think he will set the pace and take the race because I don’t see anyone pushing him because is a race packed with late runners.
1 – Helios Express – Draw 6
His last race was first time at 1600m, and he won by 2 3/4L. The race before, he had a troubled trip and was farther back than usual and could only manage third. With Hugh Bowman riding, he will be the favorite in this race.
5 – Beauty Crescent – Draw 2
He’s never won in Hong Kong but can finish in the money with a record of ten starts and six placings. He comes late and just missed the last time by a head. Maybe adding distance will make the difference.
Race 8
1 – Straight Arron – Draw 3
After not much in two group 1 races, he drops back to a group 3 level at a distance he has won, and he won a group 2 race. He will set off the pace and pounce at the end to win.
6 – Happy Together – Draw 2
He won his last two races at Happy Valley; the last was against group 3 horses at this distance. He has been moving up the ladder and winning except in one of his last six races; he ran third. He was too close to the pace in that race. He comes from the back of the field and will be the favorite in this race.
12 – Nimble Nimbus – Draw 5
No match for the winner last time out (who’s running in this race) in a group 3 running fourth. He had no chance in a group 1 race vs. Romantic Warrior. Back to this level, he should run in the money.
Race 9
4 – Top Scorer – Draw 12
With only two races in his career, he’s run second twice. In both races, he had some issues at the start but moved up quickly and was in the race. Will the outside post help or hurt? This time he will break good and finish strong.
3 – Ariel – Draw 1
The rail for this race should help this speed horse travel at a good trip and reasonable pace. He ran a good race last time, running second by half a length. In the last two races, he showed speed for the first time. A slower pace will benefit this horse.
11 – Sunlight Power – Draw 7
He just missed by a neck last out running from twelfth to run second. He improved from his other races were not great but always coming from the back of the field. They made some equipment changes last time and that appeared to help.
Race 10
2 – Seasons Wit – Draw 10
I tried a group 3 horse out last time, started awkwardly, bumped, and never recovered. On his first try on the AWT, he ran second at this distance and the same level. I am looking at the AWT race, and that was a nice race. He also won at Happy Valley of the Turf. Maybe he likes Happy Valley Turf and Sha Tin AWT? Will see.
3 – Ping Hai Galley – Draw 4
He has shown speed in the past but is unable to hang on. Why here? He’s better on the AWT, but not in the last two races at this level. From four starts, he won two times. I think, based on this field, he will get a place.
4 – Changcheng Prince – Draw 5
His record on the AWT is 19 starts, four wins, four seconds, and three thirds. He didn’t show much early in the last race but was only two lengths or less. He didn’t move forward but not backward, either. He drops back in the distance, which should help for a better finish.
Rich’s Ranks
Race 4: GLADIOLUS HANDICAP – 1:30 AM Eastern
4 – Sky Heart – typical 2nd race improvement might be more than enough here
5 – Ballistic Win – faster by almost a second in his last race
2 – Foolish Heart – maybe benefits from cut back in distance, won a barrier trial the last time he shortened up
1 – I Can -was much better in his last and could continue up the ladder in 3rd up
Race 5: DAFFODIL HANDICAP – 2:00 AM Eastern
1 – Elliptical – distance isn’t a problem and has the most back class – rebounds here?
3 – Simple Hedge – steadily getting better and almost always runs a good race
4 – Ka Ying Generation – definitely will be running hard at the end, bomb
2 – Awesome Fluke – resume says he should be better in the 2nd up
Race 6: CINERARIA HANDICAP – 2:35 AM Eastern
4 – Stellar Express – if he is ready, he is the class of the field
1 – Flying High – has a recent case of seconditis, highly consistent performer
9 – Ma Comet – another coming off an extended rest, distance 4/0-3-1
2 – Pleasant Endeavor – one of those that runs well in bunches, won his last, so another good one here
Race 7: THE HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE – 3:05 AM Eastern
3 – Helene Feeling – always going to put forth a quality start – see if he can beat the even money favorite
1 – Helios Express – is the even money favorite – lifetime 7/5-1-1, track 6/4-1-1
2 – Howdeepisyourlove – who doesn’t like the Bee Gees? I like that this one will be closing and benefits from some extra distance today
6 – Chancheng Glory – like the track, the only place he has raced 10/5-0-2, distance in the key 5/4-0-0
Race 8: THE CENTENARY VASE – 3:40 AM Eastern
2 – Encountered – will be closing – upped his speed figure in the last 4
1 – Straight Arron – won two of three at distance
3 – Money Catcher – should be on the pace
12 – Nimble Nimbus – has some back class for sure – 2nd four back, dropping from a trio of Group Stakes
