SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday May 12th)

RACE 1: #8 Victorious Leader, #7 Speedy Dragon, #9 Shimmer And Shine, #12 Lunar Zephyr

RACE 2: #3 Mi Blanco, #5 Rock The Tree, #1 Golden Kid, #4 Sweet Bean

RACE 3: #1 Giddy Giddy, #10 Flying Godspell, #11 Starlot, #7 Elusive State

RACE 4: #7 Yee Cheong Pegasus, #6 Golden Four, #2 Sunny Power, #4 Experto Crede

RACE 5: #3 Photon Willie, #7 Strathspey, #5 Desmios, #12 Presidentparamount

RACE 6: #3 Cheerfuljet, #9 Winning Supreme, #4 Generous Heart, #1 Winning Vangogh

RACE 7: #2 Marzouq, #4 Famous Warrior, #3 New Elegance, #5 Go Beauty Go

RACE 8: #3 The Golden Age, #12 Calculation, #4 What Else But You, #1 Joyful Trinity

RACE 9: #1 Archippus, #2 House Of Fun, #11 Gunnison, #6 Baltic Whisper

RACE 10: #7 Ultimate Glory, #10 Invincible Fresh, #5 Chung Wah Spirit, #3 Shamport

RACE 1: MACAU-TAIPA BRIDGE HANDICAP

#8 Victorious Leader makes his Hong Kong debut here. He has trialled smartly and, with Zac Purton aboard and the advantage of the outside rail, he should have every chance to make a winning debut. #7 Speedy Dragon has also looked nice in his trials and his trackwork ahead of his first start. The brother to zippy Melbourne filly Chloe In Paris is primed for this race. #9 Shimmer And Shine ran well at his second start and can only improve, although he may need further than 1000m. #12 Lunar Zephyr creates interest returning to the Sha Tin straight.

RACE 2: GUIA HILL HANDICAP

#3 Mi Blanco returns to the turf here for the first time since New Year’s Day, with his last five starts on the Sha Tin dirt. The son of Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco should appreciate this trip and he is racing well enough to get his maiden victory with even luck. #5 Rock The Tree is one-paced but he’s always a chance in these sorts of races. He’s usually a price, too. #1 Golden Kid has found his form now and it will be interesting to see him up to 2200m for the first time – it should suit him. #4 Sweet Bean is honest and can’t be dismissed, particularly with the 10-pound claim of Victor Wong.

RACE 3: FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE HANDICAP

#1 Giddy Giddy is a fairly easy horse to figure out in that he will race on or near the speed. He’s been racing well this campaign and he is well-suited in this spot. He’ll be in the mix. #10 Flying Godspell doesn’t win out of turn but he’s at a mark where he should prove competitive and he does have the services of Zac Purton. He might find himself just outside Giddy Giddy and may prove the primary danger. #11 Starlot is hard to catch and has drawn awkwardly but he’s not without a chance. #7 Elusive State can’t be overlooked with only 111 pounds to carry after the allowance.

RACE 4: SAI VAN BRIDGE HANDICAP

#7 Yee Cheong Pegasus settled further forward last time out and stuck on well enough. That might be a tougher task from gate 10 but if he can get into any sort of position under Zac Purton, he’s one to respect here. #6 Golden Four ran well enough at his first start behind all-the-way winner Handsome Bo Bo, who has since won again by a big margin up in Class 3. The step up in trip suits Golden Four and he can’t be overlooked. #2 Sunny Power has run well at each of his three starts. The form around him looks solid too and a win doesn’t look too far away. #4 Experto Crede returns to this course and distance, where he has a good record without winning. He’s some hope.

RACE 5: LOTUS BRIDGE HANDICAP

#3 Photon Willie ran fairly at his first run ever down in Class 4. He gets up to a mile now and with even luck, he should be right around the mark. #7 Strathspey is sure to have plenty of supporters after a strong effort at his last run in April. Once he puts it all together, he’s sure to get higher than his current mark of 51. He can’t be dismissed. #5 Desmios has started to find his feet. He has to contend with another awkward gate but he should be heading back anyway. He’ll be finding the line. #12 Presidentparamount has come to life in his last couple of runs. He might have another tough trip from gate 11 but if he can get in, he’s not without a hope.

RACE 6: TAIPA HANDICAP

#3 Cheerfuljet makes his dirt debut here. His dam Bright Abyss was a nine-time dirt winner in California and Pennsylvania and was also stakes-placed on the surface, while the family traces back to 1986 Preakness winner Snow Chief. Given Cheerfuljet’s recent run of form and his pedigree, he makes an attractive proposition at his first time on the Sha Tin dirt. #9 Winning Supreme is an unassuming galloper, but he’s been very good at two runs on this surface. He is able to settle handy and just go through his gears on the dirt, a big asset that doesn’t belong to many horses in Hong Kong. He won’t get much higher than his current mark but he’s capable of scoring here. #4 Generous Heart and #1 Winning Vangogh have both produced good runs on the surface this year and deserve consideration.

RACE 7: COTAI HANDICAP

#2 Marzouq was touted as a horse to watch when he arrived in Hong Kong, but his barrier trials and his first effort suggested that the wraps were unjustified. He was better last time out, though, and the step up to a mile will only help him. If he’s come on for his last effort, then there’s every chance he’ll be in the finish here. #4 Famous Warrior gets blinkers for the first time. He’s been coming along well and this looks the perfect spot for him. He’ll be hard to beat. #3 New Elegance returned to form last time out and if he can hold that mark, he’s in contention. #5 Go Beauty Go should push forward. He’ll be there when the whips are cracking.

RACE 8: THE HONG KONG MACAU TROPHY

One of the more unique races on the Hong Kong calendar, where some of Macau’s best horses cross the Pearl River Delta to tackle similarly-rated Hong Kong gallopers. #3 The Golden Age cuts back in trip after running a good fifth in the Hong Kong Derby over 2000m. The 1400m is short of his best but he will push forward to offset the outside gate. He may not be able to outspeed a couple of the Macau horses but he should be right on their tail and his stamina may prove a strength in the closing stages. #12 Calculation probably would have won on dirt last week if not for a mad mid-race tempo. He has no weight and he can’t be dismissed from a good draw. His stablemate #4 What Else But You has gone to another level this season. He can continue his good run in this spot. #1 Joyful Trinity is not the same horse he once was but even half as good will see him right in contention here.

RACE 9: MACAU HANDICAP

#1 Archippus has seemingly finally reached his mark – finally – after the honest galloper made his way up to a triple-figure rating. Ten-pound claimer Victor Wong may not be the right rider for him, but he’s drawn to lob in the right spot and if he gets a race to suit, he’ll be hard to beat. #2 House Of Fun has, for the most part, raced consistently this season but hasn’t been able to break through. This might be the right race for him to finally get that win. His stablemate #11 Gunnison had nothing go right last time out and faded away. Back to 1000m might prove a good move and he can run into this late. #6 Baltic Whisper was a big winner last time out and now steps up to Class 2. He can’t be dismissed, even carrying the big penalty at his first start in this grade.

RACE 10: COLOANE HANDICAP

#7 Ultimate Glory has put up a number of strong course and distance efforts of late. He’s clearly at a mark where he can break through and, from a low draw, he might get his chance here in an open race. #10 Invincible Fresh is second-up from an injury-enforced break. In fact, little niggles and issues have restricted this galloper to only six starts in the last two seasons. Still, he ran well a month back and if he’s taken any improvement at all, he’s capable in this spot. #5 Chung Wah Spirit has a good draw and can improve off a last-start effort where he ended up too far back. #3 Shamport overraced last time out and couldn’t finish off.