14/12/2025 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Sha Tin, Hong Kong Cup day

One of the great days on the racing calendar world wide is International Day at Sha Tin and the 2025 edition this Sunday shapes up to be a beauty, headlined by Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior.

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10 Rising Phoenix (Bet Now:  $SP.00) on top and on a day where the card is stacked, this is one race that looks a complete bludger re quality/depth. He ran a few weeks ago over 1200m at Happy Valley where he got back to near last in the run and made up good headway late in the piece without threatening. Maps to settle much closer in the run and gets Purton to steer.

9 California Star (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1400m after racing over the mile on the dirt here. He got a fair way out of his ground but made up decent ground and was good in defeat when second to Supreme Agility. Likely spots them a start but will launch late.

4 Red Brick Warrior (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a Gold Standard gelding that is on debut for Dave Eustace. He has had extensive trial work to get ready for start one and for the most part hasn’t been too bad to my eye, so I’d watch market and see what it does.

3 Geneva (Bet Now:  $SP.00) can resume a winner for David Hall. He hasn’t raced since May 25 over 1400m here when back off speed and made up decent ground without threatening behind Top Dragon. Looks to have trialled up very well for the return. Just needs luck from the tricky draw to be around the mark.

1 Circuit Grand Slam (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks a three year old with real talent. Has been freshened up since a first up track/distance win on Nov 9, giving them a start and a beating in an electric performance to score. Tick over trial was good, he’ll likely get back but be strong at the end.

12 Young Arrow (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been freshened up since Nov 5 when down the track at Happy Valley, getting back from the wide gate and was never a factor. Has a barrier to settle much closer in the run and be effective at the end.

6 Jubilant Star (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is bursting to win a race and I think he gets his chance here. He ran three weeks ago over 1200m here when dragged back from the wide gate, spotting those in front a tidy start but was quite good late when third to Mabulu. If within range, I think his finale will be too much.

3 Packing Phoenix (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been hit and miss in two career outings. He was a narrow but strong on speed winner on debut before a really plain effort on Oct 19 when on speed and tired late to run fifth. Freshened up and good lead for mine is that Purton sticks.

8 Cool Boy (Bet Now:  $SP.00) was an eye catcher on debut several weeks back at this track/distance, He got into a reasonable spot from an inside gate and did try hard but couldn’t quite get there when third. Tick over trial was pretty good and despite a tricky gate, commands respect.

I am going to take a chance with 1 Los Angeles (Bet Now:  $SP.00). He is hit and miss but the stable have a great record in the race and this guy, I think, was a total forgive in the Arc when finding very testing ground and he couldn’t pick his feet up late. He does fly on the fresh side, 2400m is ideal and if he brings his best, he will run a beauty at odds.

Have to give 2 Al Riffa (Bet Now:  $SP.00) another chance. Forgive/forget the Melbourne Cup run. He was set an impossible task, getting back to near last in the run but did work home really well and his late splits were strong. 2400m is fine, firmer footing and has class. He’s a key chance.

4 Goliath (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is nearly top seed with his best. Just not sure where he is at given he was quite plain in the Breeders Cup, beating a beaten horse a fair way out and was terrible vs prior efforts. He is a top class animal when right and from all reports, he has handled Hong Kong nicely, so watch betting.

I wasn’t a believer in 1 Ka Ying Rising (Bet Now:  $SP.00) and the comparisons with Black Caviar. She was perfect…but this guy is the level just below perfection. He is an absolute beast. He wasn’t 100% but he spanked them in The Everest and then his Jockey Club Sprint win…my god it was something else. Just sit back and watch greatness.

I think the bet here is 2 Satono Reve (Bet Now:  $SP.00) to place. He is a world class sprinter in his own right, and ran so well in this race last year. He has been around the world in 2025, including a trip here in the Autumn. He then went to Royal Ascot, ran well there, and resumed with a solid fourth back home in Japan. He’ll run a positive race yet again.

The gloss/shine came off 11 Tomodachi Kokoroe (Bet Now:  $SP.00) in the Jockey Club Sprint but I think he had excuses. He was quite keen in the run and had nothing left for the straight when down the track. If he does everything right, he is a good chance to finish top three.

Host of these are on trial for the Hong Kong Derby, one of those being 3 Pope Cody (Bet Now:  $SP.00). He ran two weeks ago over the mile here. He got a fair way out of his ground and while he was never really threatening, he kept chasing and was really good in defeat I thought behind Dazzling Fit. Racing like 1800m suits and hopefully can use the inside gate to advantage.

2 Gentleman Legacy (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1800m after racing over 2000m here three weeks ago. He landed in a plum spot from the good draw and did try hard but the end of 2000m seemingly found him out. That tough 2000m run holds him on for this.

9 Panacea (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has to do something positive here if they are thinking he’s a Derby horse. He has done nothing in recent times but does get to an ideal trip this time around and maps to get a soft trip in transit. If he has something under the hood, he has to show it here.

1 Soul Rush (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks the each way bet here. He is a star from Japan who does boast a win over Romantic Warrior in Dubai. Total forgive in the Mile Championship last time when jumping well but when trying to find cover, he couldn’t get it and ended up wide throughout. I think with a soft trip in transit, he can sit back and launch late.

5 Galaxy Patch (Bet Now:  $SP.00) got an all time ride by J Mac to win the Jockey Club Mile, getting back in the run but saved ground nearer the inside, didn’t go around a horse and drove hard late to finish best and score. He’s bounced back to winning form and he can certainly go on with it.

If they overdo it in front, 7 Happy Together (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is the closer. He was very good late in the Jockey Club Mile when third to Galaxy Patch, but it was the bob of the head separating him from second. He has really come to life in recent times and will be strong at the end.

We’ll be watching greatness with Ka Ying Rising earlier in the day and we will be doing it here with 1 Romantic Warrior (Bet Now:  $SP.00). He has won this race three years in a row and looks like he will make it four after his Jockey Club Cup win, his first run since the Saudi Cup. He’s a world class horse, and in my eyes, the best in the world. He should be too good, far too good, for these.

If there is to be an upset, it will come via 2 Bellagio Opera (Bet Now:  $SP.00), a multiple Group l winner from Japan who is first up since June but does thrive when racing on the fresh side. He will be out of trouble near the speed and will be strong at the end of 2000m. He needs to find a bit to beat Romantic Warrior, but does command respect.

4 Galen (Bet Now:  $SP.00) lacks the class of some of these but does have the Joseph O’Brien factor and a good racing style of settling forward, as seen recently when runner up in the Bahrain Trophy. I highly doubt he wins but with his on speed pattern, he can pinch first four.

3 Star Rise (Bet Now:  $SP.00) steps up to 1400m and I am quite keen on her prospects after racing over 1200m here three weeks ago. He got a fair way out of his ground but loved the way he closed his race off in defeat behind Sky Joy when fourth. 1400m looks ideal, can settle closer and be extremely hard to hold out.

2 Everyone’s Star (Bet Now:  $SP.00) ran third over this track/distance three weeks ago when off speed and tried hard but just couldn’t quite get there behind Riding Together, beaten a lip in a total blanket finish. Racing well and should be around the mark.

1 Juneau Pride (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a few weeks between runs since racing at this track/distance when off speed, with cover, and loomed to be some sort of threat but just couldn’t quite get involved. Tick over trial was good and his best is clearly good enough to be dangerous.

14 Mid Winter Wind (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is the each way play in the get out. He is several weeks between runs since racing at this track/distance. He got a fair way out of his ground but really liked the way he closed off in defeat behind Light Years Charm, who I think is Stakes class, so the form reads well, he’ll be strong late…only runs well.

12 Public Attention (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is three weeks between runs since making his Hong Kong debut over 1200m here. He landed in a good spot near the speed and did try hard but just couldn’t quite see it through when second to Sky Joy. Tick over trial last week was strong and despite 1400m being a slight query, he commands respect.

7 Young Champion (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1400m after racing over the mile here. He didn’t get the best of runs in transit but that said, i thought he was entitled to do a bit more behind Hong Lok Golf. 1400m is fine and is dangerous with his best.

BEST BET: Race Nine Number 3 Star Rise

NEXT BEST: Race Three Number 6 Jubilant Star

LONG SHOT: Race Four Number 1 Los Angeles

Quaddie (Races Seven Through To Ten):

Leg One: 1, 2, 5, 7, 10

Leg Two: 1

Leg Three: 3

Leg Four: 7, 12, 13, 14

$50 Investment = 250% of the dividend if successful.

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