Horse Racing Picks and Analysis
Christmas Eve racing in Hong Kong. Hopefully, Tom and Rich can give the gift of winners!
Sha Tin Racecourse Tips (Free Sha Tin Past Performances)
Race 6 – Ivy Handicap
Race 7 – The Yan Chai Trophy Handicap
Race 8 – Pine Handicap
Race 9 – Spruce Handicap
Race 10 – Poinsettia Handicap
Sha Tine Horse Racing Picks and Analysis
22 to 1 Tom’s Sah Tin Tips
Race 6
13 – Wonder Years – Barrier 5
He only has one career win but ran an ok race running 3rd, going 2200m in a similar class.
Both races that he has done well in are with a good to a fast pace
He won going 2200m in April and placed in a 2200m too
He was asked to go with 1000m left in the race and stay on
Improvement? Maybe enough to beat this group
10 – Red Elysees – Barrier 12
The last two races for this 9yo have resulted in a 4th at 2200m and 5th at 1800m with ok overall results.
He ran toward the front of the group and had shown speed in the past.
While this old guy has never won at today’s distance, he has six starts and five placings, and he is good at getting a placing overall doing this 21 times from 80 starts.
I looked at the rest of the field and felt that with some speed, he will have a chance to hang around at the end.
Barrier position is a concern.
2 – Kungfumaster Panda
He is coming into this race off a barrier trial running back of the field.
He won in October at Happy Valley at 1800m in a similar class.
He has a good record at the distance of 11 starts 3 wins, 2 placings.
The switch from Happy Valley is an interesting move.
Race 7
11 – Dinkum – Barrier 1
His first 2 starts in Hong Kong were not great in the results but the comment line of both gives me hope.
1st start was made minor progress in the straight.
In his next start, he made decent progress in the races running from midpack.
I think he needed the starts after coming from Australia.
From 5 starts he has 2 wins and 1 placing in maiden and class 1 races in Australia.
Time to show up here.
2 – Brilliant Way – Barrier 8
After a layoff, he ran a disappointing 9th in the last start at this level, show no progress in the running.
He ran 2 barrier trials prior to that start.
His wins are at this distance and level in May.
After those wins, he went off-form.
He’s won before 3rd UP.
Needed last races and gets jockey change to top HK riders – Zac Purton
Don’t be surprised if he wins.
7 – Speedy Mouse – Barrier 7
2 winning efforts in his barrier trials and then 2 not so good races at 1000m and 1200m, running 4th and 7th, but he has trouble in both races.
In the last one, he lost his right front shoe at 800m.
Not much in the last 12 months from 3 races but maybe with some better racing luck, he will show better improvement today.
His a 5yo who’s raced 15 times with 2 wins and 3 placings.
I think he is good in the money play here.
Race 8
2 – Ivy League – Barrier 1
The first start in Hong Kong was not very good sitting in the back of the field after problems at the start, moved inside and saved the group on the turn but didn’t have anything in the final 400m. Needed race.
Add blinkers today and see if that will make the necessary improvement
Placed in Ireland in group 3 and tried group 1 company twice and showed little.
The second start may be just the tonic for a win here with last time odds of 156-1
11 – Golden Artie – Barrier 4
A good 4th last out, making progress forward at the end from 6L back.
The First Hong Kong start was a dull effort with no finish at the end after sitting behind the leader on the rail.
He’s won once at Doomben in a 2yo race but showed little in a listed race at Gold Coast.
His first start in Hong Kong was the first start with not much 11th.
Better last should see more progress in this start.
14 – Let’s Do It – Barrier 8
He’s run two reasonable efforts in the last two races, with a 2nd at lower level and a 3rd last time out, but with issues, the jockey dropped the left rein with 100m to go.
He didn’t have clear running on the turn but was able to find some late.
He’s not won in 12 months, but from 12 runs, he’s placed six times.
A jockey switch again (which has been typical in the last five races) and looks to be good enough for a placing here.
Race 9
6 – Snaffles – Barrier 12
After more than a 1-year break, he’s come back with a troubled trip in his first start in Hong Kong, running last and then running a much better 4th in the next start at a higher-class level on the turf. Improving with each start?
He didn’t threaten the top 3 in that race but showed more than before.
He’s a winner on the all-weather at Dundalk as a 2yo in a listed race.
He’s also won on the turf.
But is he really an all-weather specialist, it’s possible.
He was big odds in his first 2 starts so it will be interesting to see what they are today.
1 – Chancheng Prince – Draw 6
He’s won on both surfaces, but in recent form, he’s been better on the all-weather.
A bad effort last out at a slightly higher level on the turf. The slow pace and wide on the turn.
But the two races before on the all-weather, he ran 1st and 2nd slowing speed in one race and sat behind the leaders in the other race.
He has 10 starts on the AW with 3 wins and 3 placings.
4 – Handsome Twelve – Barrier 1
Won last time out on the all-weather after a layoff at this distance. He settled mid-pack and caught the tiring leader even drifting in a bit.
He won a barrier trial as prep for the last race.
Keep him in at the right class level, and he does just fine on the all-weather.
His record is 8 starts 4 wins 1 placing on the AW
Race 10
9 – Beautyverse – Barrier 3
A disappointing performance last out (the jockey was questioned after the race) after winning his first start in Hong Kong.
He ran 7th after moving forward late and then was under pressure and went the wrong way. He was the favorite in that race.
Before shipping into Hong Kong from Australia, he won two races in a row at Morphettville in group 3 and group 1 company.
I am tossing the last race and feel he will return to form and winning ways in this race.
Zac Purton picked this horse over the number 10 horse to ride.
10 – Packing Treadmill – Barrier 1
A winner in his last 2 races, moving up in class a bit. Both wins by over 1L.
He had a break in between those races and use a barrier trial win as a prep.
His Career record is 7 starts, 5 wins, and 1 placing, and these were all at Sha Tin.
He’s been at the top of his game in all his races except one when he had a wide draw. The jockey in that race was asked by the stewards.
3 – Keefy – Barrier 13
A winner last out at the 110-85 level in a handicap race. Sat up front in the race and moved from 4th win asked to go.
The race before, he was narrowly beaten.
I think the longer distance will only help this horse and in the race he ran 4th in, he had the widest draw 14.
The draw hurts because I would have put him on top in this race but in form and will be running late.
Rich’s Ranks
Race 6 – Ivy Handicap
5 – Right as rain
7 – Vincy
8 – Circuit Elite
4 – Bright Kid
Race 7 – The Yan Chai Trophy Handicap
5 – Majestic Knight
2 – Brilliant Way
1 – Flagship Warrior
12 – Gluck Racer
Race 8 – Pine Handicap
1 – Erimo
12 – Marado
4 – Majestic Colour
11 – Golden Artie
Race 9 – Spruce Handicap
4 – Handsome Twelve
6 – Snaffles
12 – Everyone’s Victory
7 – Copartner Elites
Race 10 – Poinsettia Handicap
6 – All for St Paul’s
10 – Packaging Treadmill
3 – Keefy
9 – Beautyverse
