23/2/2025 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Sha Tin, Hong Kong Gold Cup day

A bumper ten race card has been set down for Sha Tin on Sunday, headlined by the Group l Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

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7 Shamus Storm (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks a good thing to my eye to start the meeting. He debuted at this track/distance on Dec 29 when off speed and worked home with real purpose late in the piece when second to Endeared. Tick over trial was a good piece of work, has a gate to use, settle closer…he takes beating.

2 Etalon Or (Bet Now:  $SP.00) hasn’t done much wrong in a six start career and is knocking on the door. He ran over this track/distance last time when back off the speed and kept chasing with purpose in a good effort in defeat behind Forerunner. Tricky draw, but hard to beat if he can overcome it.

8 Manaphy (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a son of Rich Enuff that is on debut. This guy has had extensive trial work to get ready for start one and each time he has got better and better, and good lead that B Shinn is booked to steer, so I say watch the market and see what it does.

3 Full Credit (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is unknown at 1000m but he’ll be strongest late and has a touch of quality about him. He ran two weeks ago over 1200m here when attempting to lead throughout and gave a decent kick from the front but was nabbed late by Capital Delight. Back in trip is fine, drawn the right part of the track…appeals.

2 Bottomuptogether (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is the short course specialist and appeals against these. Latest run was Jan 15 over this trip at Happy Valley, getting the beaut run in behind and finished best to score. He is unbeaten at the track/distance and the tick over trial was quite good. Hard to beat.

6 James Tak (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has the track/distance record that can threaten. He hasn’t raced since Jan 5 over 1200m here when off speed and was just fair late in the piece behind Raging Blizzard. He does tend to save his best for the track/distance so don’t dismiss him.

2 Sky Jewellery (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a good horse with talent and getting to Sha Tin for the first time, I am keen to see how he goes on the bigger track. He ran over 1200m at Happy Valley last time where he got back to near last from the wide gate, was held up at times but kept finding the line and was quite good in defeat. If he gets clear air, a drag into the race, confident he’ll finish over the top.

7 Lucky Sam Gor (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a key threat. He debuted at this track/distance when back near last in the run and made up good headway late in the piece behind Gallant Epoch when fourth. The gate is tricky but similar to Sky Jewellery, just needs a drag into the race to be effective at the end.

6 Celestial Patch (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a Time Test gelding that is on debut for David Eustace. He has had several trials in readiness for start one, and has got better with each hitout to my eye. Not sure he is sharp enough to win on debut but can pinch a first four spot.

2 Alluring Laos (Bet Now:  $SP.00) for me. He hasn’t raced for a few weeks since racing over 1000m here where he got too far back off the speed but kept finding the line and was good in defeat behind Magnifique. The rise to 1200m should suit and the tick over trial was quite good. Hard to beat I say.

6 Blazing Beam (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a son of Reward For Effort that debuted at this track/distance several weeks ago where he got off speed and while he was never a winning threat, he kept finding the line and was pretty good in defeat I thought. Better for the run under the belt, he appeals.

5 Beauty Formula (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a big improver here I say. He debuted down the straight here over 1000m where he was raw and new to the caper, failing to fire when down the track. Better for the run, the rise to 1200m suits and the tick over trial was quite good.

I think if the WBS gets beaten in Hong Kong, it’s here and with that, I think 4 Helio’s Express (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a moral to run top three and is the each way bet. He ran behind the champ in the Sprint Cup and was badly held up when second. I like him up to 1400m… hopefully the gate can be used to advantage.

1 Ka Ying Rising (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is rated as the best sprinter in the world but he now has to stretch his brilliance to 1400m. He loses Zac, he draws wide, speed underneath…he could easily blow this field away again and clearly has to be respected but for mine, he’s not a betting proposition.

3 Beauty Eternal (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1400m after racing over the mile in the Stewards Cup where he was pretty good in defeat but was never really a factor behind Voyage Bubble. Like him back in trip and drawn soft, he’s a must for exotics.

4 Gold Master (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has got that win under the belt and he can go on with it. That win came on Jan 19 over this track/distance where he gave them a start and a beating, and got better as the race went on to win and win well. Tick over trial was good, he’s an improver and strikes a winnable race.

3 Mighty Strength (Bet Now:  $SP.00) ran third to Gold Master in the race mentioned above. He got too far out of his ground and while he was never a winning threat, he kept finding the line and was pretty good in defeat I thought. Liked the way he went in a tick over trial win and hopefully can settle closer in the run.

7 Only U (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is one that could pinch a first four spot at a price. He ran over this track/distance last time out where he got back off the speed and made up minimal headway when down the track behind Sunstrider. His best is good enough so I wouldn’t dismiss him.

1 Voyage Bubble (Bet Now:  $SP.00) will go around a short price but he does look to have a fair bit on these. Lot of class/quality about his Stewards Cup win when given a 12/10 by J Mac and he was much too good. 2000m is fine, he lands in a plum spot…is he the heir apparent to Romantic Warrior? I say yes.

2 Galaxy Patch (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is the key and only threat, if any. He ran second in the Stewards Cup. He got off speed and was held up at times but kept finding the line in defeat. If he can get a more positive ride, he will be around the mark.

4 Ensued (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a two time track/distance winner that should be suited up in trip after racing over 1800m last time when off speed and kept chasing when third. He’s nit good enough to win but is a must for exotics.

8 Juneau Pride (Bet Now:  $SP.00) seems the straight bat play. He ran two weeks ago at this track/distance when near the speed and fought hard but had no answers late for Light Years Charm, who I could end up being Stakes class by the end of the year. That was his first run in a month so with upside/improvement, happy to be in his corner.

14 Mr Energia (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has that winning feeling and he can go on with it. He hasn’t raced since Jan 19 when giving them a start and a beating to win and win well. The tick over trial win last week was sharp and despite the rise to Class 3 grade, I think he can measure up.

5 Joy Of Spring (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a son of Deep Field that resumes for Casper Fownes. He is first up, having not raced since July 4 when a strong winner over 1800m at Happy Valley, making it two wins on the bounce before being spelled. He has trialled up really well to my eye…better suited over further but watch the market.

11 Brilliant Express (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a few weeks between runs for John Size since a track/distance win where he gave them a start and a beating in an electric performance to win and win well. Given a quiet time in a tick over trial last week and although he’ll spot them a start, I think he’ll get a drag into the race and launch over the top.

10 Yuen Long Elite (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is in a purple patch after a win here on Australia Day at this track/distance. He got into a decent spot off the speed before being given clear air by Purton and away he went, showing decent change up speed. Good test here but think he can measure up.

1 Superb Boy (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a threat if he gets front end control. He attempted to lead throughout at this track/distance last time and gave a decent kick from the front but tired late to finish down the track behind Patch Of Cosmos. If he can get a cheap furlong or two, he’ll take catching.

8 Lifeline Express (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks a great bet to end the card. He ran last Sunday at this track/distance and was a real eye catcher late from the back, working home with real purpose late in the piece behind Invincible Shield when a close up second. If he can use the inside gate to advantage, I think good luck beating him.

5 Pakistan Legacy (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been kept on ice since Jan 5 when making his Hong Kong debut. He landed on speed at this track/distance and tried hard but just couldn’t quite get there when a close up second to Super Legends. He’ll have good upside/improvement to come and the recent trial was quite good.

1 Young Superstar (Bet Now:  $SP.00) can run an improved race. He was plain here on Jan 31 when attempting to lead throughout but didn’t fire late and was a bit on the plain side late in the piece behind Mid Winter Wind. I think with a more economical run in transit, he’s dangerous.

BEST BET: Race Seven Number 1 Voyage Bubble

NEXT BEST: Race Ten Number 8 Lifeline Express

LONG SHOT: Race Five Number 4 Helio’s Express

 

Quaddie Tips (Races Seven Through To Ten):

Leg One: 1

Leg Two: 1

Leg Three: 1, 3, 10, 11

Leg Four: 8

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