It is regarded as the ‘Turf World Championships’, and finally, International Day at Sha Tin is here, with the four big Group l races highlighting a stellar card of racing to rival any race day in the world. Australia will be represented by Criterion, who is at the moment the best galloper Australia has to offer. He will line up in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
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Race One: Silent Witness Handicap (Class 3) 1400m:
Back Me: Enormous Honour (Best Odds: $10.00) drops back to the 1400m after running over the mile here a fortnight back where he charged home to run an eye catching second to Classic Emperor. Little query with the distance drop, but Nash is on, and if he can overcome the tricky draw, he is the one to beat.
Big Danger: Run Forrest (Best Odds: $3.80) resumes here for the Shum yard. He hasn’t raced since May when winning over this track/distance in Class 4. Rises in class, but his trials leading in have been sharp and Moreira, who rode the horse in two trials, rides.
Roughie: Laugh Out Loud (Best Odds: $10.00) hasn’t raced in a month since running a fading sixth to Terrific Master, beaten 2.5L. I really like the fact that Mosse is on, and from gate one, he’ll be near the speed and doing no work.
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Race Two: Fantastic Light Handicap (Class 3) 1800m:
Back Me: Sempiternal (Best Odds: $34.00) for me at value. He has been given a seven week break since sitting wide no cover over 2000m here behind Premium Champion. Recent trial here was encouraging and Brett Prebble and his riding style will really suit this horse, who only has one gear, but will keep at it all day.
Big Danger: Good Choice (Best Odds: $12.00) returns to Sha Tin after several runs at Happy Valley. His form on the main track doesn’t read great, but his recent trial here was pretty good and D Whyte is on from a good draw.
Roughie: Ashkiyr (Best Odds: $8.50) has been a real tease in recent times, and he has burned holes in the pockets of punters, the latest over this track/distance when held up a touch, but he didn’t really finish it off. Bowman is on, and on his best form, Ashkiyr would spank these.
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Race Three: J J The Jet Plane Handiap (Class 3) 1200m:
Back Me: Team Fortune (Best Odds: $3.00) has looked very good in both career outings, both resulting in wins aided by peach steers from Moreira, the latest coming a month back over 1000m where he was huge considering he came down the centre of the track, which isn’t the spot to be in straight races at Sha Tin. Better suited at 1200m IMO and Moriera sticks.
Big Danger: Winston’s Lad (Best Odds: $2.60) was awfully impressive at his Hong Kong debut when showing an electric turn of foot to win over this track/distance. Prebble sticks and he has the barrier draw advantage, so he should sit closer and take some beating.
Roughie: Diego Kosta (Best Odds: $8.00) was given a lovely ride by Moreira to win over this track/distance five weeks back, and though he was aided by slow sectionals, it was impressive. Liked his recent trial here and Craig Williams jumps on.
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Race Four: Longines Hong Kong Vase 2400m:
Back Me: Flintshire (Best Odds: $2.60) for me here. He looks spot on for another win in this race after running second to Golden Horn in the Arc, where he tried hard, but was simply no match for that world class horse. Bit easier here and should take a power of beating.
Big Danger: Highland Reel (Best Odds: $6.00) is a Coolmore runner for Aidan O’Brien who tried very hard in the Cox Plate but was no match for Winx, and had to settle for third, beaten a fair way, but he was the best of the on speed runners. He smashed Preferment in that race, yet is nearly double the price of the Chris Waller runner. Highland Reel will be better at 2400m also.
Roughie: Dominant (Best Odds: $10.00) was a real eye catcher first up, then was dreadful next time out, but there was plenty of merit in his fifth to Military Attack in the Jockey Club Cup (2000m) where he was closing off well near the inside, which wasn’t exactly the spot to be. He won this race at 2013, and he looks be ticking along nicely to run well again.
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Race Five: Longines Hong Kong Sprint 1200m:
Back Me: Gold-Fun (Best Odds: $2.10) looks the clear horse to beat here. Trotted up when winning the Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), with Soumillon giving the Richard Gibson trained gelding the dream sit off the pace before taking control in the straight and going on to win comfortably. He ran a brave second to Able Friend in the Mile last year, but since being trained as a Sprinter, he has been the form speedster in Hong Kong. With normal luck, he wins.
Big Danger: Peniaphobia (Best Odds: $6.00) attempted to lead all the way in the race mentioned above, but he was just simply no match for Gold-Fun. Can he turn the tables? Hmm…if he gets a cheap lead, he can, but there looks to be good speed engaged here. He is going well, and should run well, but I just don’t think he can hold out Gold-Fun.
Roughie: Lucky Nine (Best Odds: $21.00) is a greybeard who bounced back to form with an eye catching third to Gold-Fun a fortnight back, working home strongly to finish just over a length from the winner. His best years are behind him, but despite that, he wasn’t far off Gold-Fun and is currently at around the $34 chance, which seems big overs.
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Race Six: Eishon Preston Handicap (Class 2) 1600m:
Back Me: Werther (Best Odds: $11.00) looks one of the better bets on the program. For our Australian followers, this is the horse that won the Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) before running a narrow second in the Queensland Derby (2200m). Now in Hong Kong with John Moore, and gee he has looked sharp in a couple of barrier trials. The negative is that Moreira, who rode the horse in the trials, isn’t sticking here, but the horse loses nothing with Bowman steering.
Big Danger: Apollo’s Choice (Best Odds: $4.80) is getting closer to peak fitness after three runs back from a break, the latest when a close up second to Multivictory. D Oliver on from a good draw and there is a stack of upside left, so he has to rate as a threat.
Roughie: Photon Willie (Best Odds: $15.00) has really gained his best form in recent times, and he really hasn’t raced better since his days with Chris Waller in Sydney. He looked in an impossible spot over this distance at Happy Valley last start but he produced an unbelievable finish to win. Has to do it on the big stage now, but I am confident he can acquit himself well.
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Race Seven: Longines Hong Kong Mile 1600m:
Back Me: I’m very confident in the Japanese runner here in Maurice (Best Odds: $3.80). He was just so dominant in winning the Mile Championship (1600m) at Kyoto, aided by a gem of a steer from Ryan Moore, who had the horse three wide with cover before peeling clear 400m out and the horse did the rest. He ran 1:32.8 for the 1600m, and that is over half a second quicker than what Able Friend has produced. I think the price gap between the pair is too great, so I’ll happily take $5 for a last start Group l winner.
Big Danger: Able Friend (Best Odds: $1.70) is the peoples champ in Hong Kong, but he let his supporters down as a short priced elect in the Jockey Club Mile (1600m). I think Moreira was just a victim of circumstances; The horse wasn’t great away and he was forced to sit near last on the rail. In saying that, I was a touch disappointed with his final 100m or so, because I would have liked to have seen him attack the line a bit better. Still, he has many, many credits in the bank, and he is the clear best of the locals.
Roughie: I think the other Japanese runner Fiero (Best Odds: $21.00) shouldn’t be ignored. He was the unlucky runner when second to Maurice at Kyoto, getting held up at a crucial stage when looking as though he was going to be a serious threat. He is nearly three times the odds of Maurice, which is tremendous overs considering that they were the same price at Kyoto. He ran sixth to Able Friend in this race last year, but looks to be going better.
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Race Eight: Longines Hong Kong Cup 2000m:
Back Me: You find it hard to ignore Criterion (Best Odds: $5.50). The globetrotting superstar for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig was the clear unlucky runner in the Melbourne Cup (3200m), getting badly held up at the top of the straight when appearing to be bolting in the run. I think had he got out, he probably wins the race. Fabulous record at 2000m, Craig Williams rides the horse so well and the horse looked in fantastic order on Saturday in a track gallop.
Big Danger: Designs On Rome (Best Odds: $5.00) resumed in the Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and he worked home strongly from the back to run sixth to surprise winner Beauty Flame. He produced a similar run in Jockey Club Cup (2000m) last year before going on to win this race. He has a stack of upside, he is the best of the locals and the speed looks as though it will be ideal for him.
Roughie: There is forecast for showers on the morning of the race, so the cushion in the track should suit classy mare Lucia Valentina (Best Odds: $15.00), who was given a peach by Oliver to win the Matriarch (2000m) on Stakes Day at Flemington. The depth and strength of that form is questionable, but prior to that, she had taken on the best horses in Australia for 12 months and was far from disgraced. 2000m is perfect for her and she looms a knockout runner.
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Race Nine: Flying Dancer Handicap (Class 1) 1400m:
Back Me: Sun Jewellery (Best Odds: $2.80) might be known as the horse that Moreira steered when he produced his magic trick, but make no mistake he is well above average. His effort in that race when second to Dashing Fellow was very good, and I loved his trial here since. He should win with luck from the gate.
Big Danger: Lucky Bubbles (Best Odds: $3.20) looks the main and perhaps only serious threat to Sun Jewellery. He has been excellent at his past two outings, winning on both occasions over 1200m. Gives the impression he will handle the 1400m and though drawn awkwardly, he’ll take some beating.
Roughie: Returning to the turf could spark improvement from Exciting Dream (Best Odds: $16.00), who was specked to beat Hong Kongs best dirt horse, Gun Pit, but he was very disappointing. That was off the back of an impressive trial, so from gate one here with Tommy Berry riding, he could improve.
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Race Ten: Lord Kanaloa Handicap (Class 2) 1200m:
Back Me: Taking a chance on Friends Of Ya King (Best Odds: $9.00), who makes his Hong Kong debut here. For our Australian followers, this horse is Almalad, who was one of the better three year olds around this time last year and was considered good enough to run in the Cox Plate. He has clearly been the pick of the triallers in recent times, and he should prove awfully hard to beat.
Big Danger: Fabulous One (Best Odds: $3.20) has been outstanding in recent times, winning three on the bounce, all of which have come at this track/distance. Moreira and Purton have jumped off, but this horse loses nothing with Craig Williams, he draws well and should be in it for a long way.
Roughie: Almababy (Best Odds: $61.00)is another Aussie that makes his Hong Kong debut. He is Eclair Big Bang, and we know that, potentially, he could have been a Group l winner. Looked sharp in a recent 1200m trial win here and when he raced with Philip Stokes, he was near unbeatable when produced fresh.
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BEST BET: Race Seven Number 2 Maurice
NEXT BEST: Race Six Number 6 Werther
VALUE: Race Ten Number 11 Almababy
Quaddie Tips (Races Seven Through To Ten):
Leg One: 1, 2
Leg Two: 1, 3, 4, 5, 13
Leg Three: 10, 12
Leg Four: 2, 3, 6, 8, 11
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