The turf course, on which all Sunday’s races will be run, is fairly flat and galloping in nature, with a gradual rise in the home straight. You need to be able to get home at Sha Tin.
Here is the Racing Post’s view on the seven best races on the card.
HONG KONG RACING FROM SHA TIN SCHEDULE AND BETTING TIPS
6.45 Lai Kok Handicap (6f)
The pace angle could well be Handsome Bo Bo, the mount of champion rider Zac Purton. He made the running when last seen in December, from a wider stall than he will break from here. Purton was the horse’s regular rider early in its career and the two have a record of three wins from eight starts together. All three wins were all-the-way successes.
Fantasy has been favourite for four of his last five starts and the chances are he will be again. He was neck second over course and distance 15 days ago and now reunites with Joao Moreira.
Last time, Fantasy was forced to challenge out wide and can be marked above the result in those terms. However, he also looked inclined to hang to his right and it is worth noting that he has three times this winter come off narrowly worst in close finishes. The more straightforward Handsome Bo Bo looks more solid.
7.15 So Uk Handicap (Div I) (7f)
Plenty of these arrive in ordinary form, so this race looks to be all about the Moreira-ridden Incanto Prepared.
The selection is unexposed in the terms of this field and remains a maiden, although he was only beaten a short head upped in distance to 7f last time on his first time being partnered with Moreira.
He is up against quite a few who are dropping in the weights, so he may not look as demonstrably well handicapped as some, but his profile is one of a horse that is more likely than most to take the necessary step forward.
If there is a doubt, it is over the draw. He is in stall 9, much wider than last time. But many of his form rivals are similarly wide, including possible leader Care Free Prince.
8.40 So Uk Handicap (Div II) (7f)
A similarly lowly contest in which the form picks, Juneau Park and Sam’s Love, have both been handed good draws. The former has early speed but is rarely asked to stride on, so Moreira’s task from stall 1 will be to take a good position rather than force things.
Sam’s Love could be counted as unlucky last time, as he had to force his way through in a way winner Great Treasure did not. The latter swept down the outside to win by a short head. The form has not worked out all that well, however.
In between the pair in stall 2 will be Destin, who is an interesting runner. His record stands at two wins from 36 runs, but he is down to a mark from which he has won before and can be marked up on recent starts. He appeared not to quite stay a mile here on his penultimate run and then went wide to challenge last time when fourth to a runaway winner. He has been dropped another 2lb and enters calculations.
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9.10 Cheung Sha Wan Handicap (5f)
A burn-up on the straight 5f course. Here, a high draw is generally of greater benefit than a low one. Once again one of the form picks, War Of Courage, has got a good spot in stall 12.
He is fast. He led from stall 5 last time, only to edge towards the stands rail. His early exertions and inability to stay straight were probably the difference with the re-opposing Allied Agility, who went an even pace and stayed true all the way to the line, winning by half a length.
With only two on his inside this time, it is easy to see War Of Courage bagging the rail and never seeing another rival.
The interesting runner from a British and Irish perspective is Corrienthes. He won his sole start as a two-year-old last year, on Dundalk’s Polytrack by a convincing margin from a horse that has won since.
On that basis alone, Corrienthes is of serious interest here. There is a question mark over how he might have adapted to life in Hong Kong, but the booking of Grant Van Niekirk suggests some confidence in him on his debut at Sha Tin.
9.40 Nam Shan Handicap (7f)
When Horsesain Bolt (then Karasi) left Michael Halford he was still improving, winning a handicap over a mile at the Curragh off 83 on his final start. He is yet to hit those heights for Doug Whyte, the former top jockey who is making a name for himself as a trainer. However, there have been good reasons for that.
He went off at a little bigger than 8-1 for his debut in January over C&D, when he showed ample pace. Next time, at Happy Valley, he did not seem nearly so comfortable and was well held. Returning to Sha Tin should see him in a better light, while the addition of blinkers is a welcome one over a trip that might just be on the sharp side for a horse bred to stay 1m2f or further in Europe.
The danger could be Toycoon, who rather exceeded expectations when beaten just a length in fifth at odds of 43-1 on his second run last time. He still looked a little green and can be expected to improve. A little bit like Horsesain Bolt, a slightly longer trip would have increased confidence even more. Let us hope for a good early gallop.
10.15 Pak Tin Handicap (1m)
If, as is hoped, Neil Callan is just out of luck on Toycoon, he can make amends on Monica. This gelding has improved significantly over the winter, seldom running a bad race. He has kept on an upwards trajectory, building on a career-best effort to win over C&D in February with another personal best when second in bidding to repeat that win.
It is interesting that Joao Moreira switches from Monica to the Doug Whyte-trained Enzemble, whom he has never ridden before. On recent evidence, a mile looks a little on the sharp side for that five-year-old, while Monica is clearly improving for the trip having only stepped up two starts back.
The main threat could instead come from the Zac Purton-ridden Band Of Brothers. He has only raced 11 times in all and, while he may have hit something of a plateau, ran well enough on his return from a short break last time to suggest that his turn is coming round once more. That last run was over 7f, too, while his best form is over the 1m trip, so it is easy to see him take a step back in the right direction.
10:50 Chak On Handicap (6f)
The feature race on the card is a Class 2 handicap which, according with its status, has attracted a field containing plenty of in-form sprinters. Perfect Match is certainly in form, he won a Class 1 when last seen in January, but is he truly a sprinter? He has been ridden with plenty of dash the last twice, but both times have been over 7f and it is up for question whether he will still have the pace to boss useful sprinters from stall 11.
Early pace will be less of an issue for Duke Wai, who is a consistent slow starter. He was extremely progressive in the autumn and winter, mostly over 5f but he has clearly shown him as proficient over 6f since reaching this sort of grade.
On his last two starts, he has been forced wide both times. He shaped best of all over this trip in February, when just touched off in a photo finish with Gold Chest. Granted a slightly kinder draw this time, he should be right there once more.
Winner of Duke Wai’s last race was Computer Patch, who is respected as an improving horse who should benefit from this return to 6f. The feeling is that things could not have gone much better for him last time, he was able to hold a good position on the rail and got the gaps at the right time, so the chances are that Duke Wai may well get his revenge this time.
ALL ABOVE PRICES ARE CORRECT AS OF 12:30 28/03/2020 AND ARE SUBJECT TO FLUCTUATIONS
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