SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday May 27th)

RACE 1: #6 Super Model, #4 Ruletheroost, #7 Romantic Bonanza, #5 Speed Vision

RACE 2: #1 Triumphant Jewel, #2 Complacency, #12 Lunar Zephyr, #5 Charity Grand

RACE 3: #8 Good Choice Ahead, #6 Sunny Power, #3 Heroic Guru, #1 Red Elysees

RACE 4: #8 Fabulous One, #2 Lucky Bubbles, #3 Winner's Way, #1 Thewizardofoz

RACE 5: #13 Sunny Orient, #5 Have Fun Together, #8 Gracious Ryder, #3 Relentless Me

RACE 6: #1 Happy Sebring, #8 Emerald Spur, #12 Triumphant Light, #7 Empire Star

RACE 7: #6 Marzouq, #1 Consort, #5 Patriot Hero, #13 Sky Melody

RACE 8: #1 Pakistan Star, #2 Chemical Charge, #5 Exultant, #3 Gold Mount

RACE 9: #6 California Archer, #2 Raging Storm, #1 Lucky Hero, #7 Eagle

RACE 10: #9 Sacred Ibis, #4 Amazing, #3 Shamport, #11 Falcon Turbo

RACE 11: #13 Hezthewonforus, #11 Dances With Dragon, #4 Rattan, #2 Fast Most Furious

RACE 1: LIBERATOR PLATE

#6 Super Model has his first start here. Sold for HK$5.2 million at the Hong Kong International Sale in March, he has trialled well and he should perform strongly on debut. #4 Ruletheroost has also caught the eye in his trials. He has drawn the outside gate in the field of seven but he can win with the right run. #7 Romantic Bonanza ran well enough on debut and should take a step forward for that effort. #5 Speed Vision was disappointing second-up but should relish the step up to 1200m.

RACE 2: PACKING WINNER HANDICAP

#1 Triumphant Jewel has been on a downward spiral this season, only placing once in 14 starts this term. His last three runs have been good, though, although he no longer has the speed he once did and now generally finds himself outpaced over 1000m. Still, he has been finding the line and with the right run, he’s able to win now that he’s back down in Class 4. #2 Complacency has disappointed in two runs since winning nicely over this course and distance. He has drawn awkwardly again but he can charge home. #12 Lunar Zephyr ran well last time, just missing out, and he can figure. #5 Charity Grand looks best of the debutants.

RACE 3: MIGHTY HIGH HANDICAP

#8 Good Choice Ahead has always shown the potential to be able to win in this grade. Perhaps now that he has broken through, he can make the leap up to winning in Class 4. Certainly, if he replicates his last run, he’ll be right in the mix. #6 Sunny Power has run well without winning in four starts. He should relish the step up to 1600m and he’ll be hard to beat from a soft draw. #3 Heroic Guru drops into Class 4 for the first time since June, 2015. Joao Moreira jumps aboard this temperamental galloper and he’s capable of winning once again. #1 Red Elysees can bounce back here.

RACE 4: G3 SHA TIN VASE

#8 Fabulous One has been mixing his form. However, he’s the type of horse who could steal a race like this if he gets it easy enough on the lead, especially with 113 pounds on his back. #2 Lucky Bubbles has been a disappointment this season. He’s heading towards a 1400m Group 3 next month, but he’s more than capable of winning a race like this if the real Lucky Bubbles shows up. #3 Winner's Way will also find this a little short but the form around Beat The Clock and Mr Stunning rates highly. #1 Thewizardofoz needs 1400m these days but he can place.

RACE 5: HELENE SUPER STAR HANDICAP

#13 Sunny Orient has his first run since November. He has made a habit of missing the start, but if he can jump on terms, he could be right in contention fresh. #5 Have Fun Together has been racing well enough without winning. From a better gate, he should be a chance once again. #8 Gracious Ryder has performed well in recent starts and he should be able to sprint well again if he gets a pace scenario to suit. #3 Relentless Me is a place chance in this spot.

RACE 6: MR MEDICI HANDICAP

#1 Happy Sebring quickened nicely to win second-up, once the gap appeared. He gets another shot in Class 4 and he is going to be very hard to beat again. #8 Emerald Spur ran home well at his Hong Kong debut. If he’s taken a step forward, he’s able to challenge. #12 Triumphant Light is racing well and should be in the mix somewhere if he holds his form. The same goes for #7 Empire Star, who struggles to draw a gate but he’ll be there when the whips are cracking.

RACE 7: BLAZING SPEED HANDICAP

#6 Marzouq has improved with every run in Hong Kong. He looks to have struck a suitable race and it won’t take a lot for him to be able to break through against this company. #1 Consort has been around the mark this season without winning. For the first time since he arrived in Hong Kong, he has physically caught the eye in recent weeks and he’s drawn to take advantage. #5 Patriot Hero ran well in Class 2 over this course and distance. He’s in contention. #13 Sky Melody is finding form and he’s worth consideration.

RACE 8: GROUP 1 STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP

A small field for the final Group 1 of the season, but also a classy line-up. #1 Pakistan Star has this race at his mercy. A tactical renewal could bring him undone, although he has been showing that he is more tractable now. To be fair, on his QEII Cup win, the only thing that can beat him is himself – if he stops mid-race, then he might be conquered. This race has a habit of bringing short-priced favourites down but most of them are at the end of their season, whereas Pakistan Star is only just reaching his peak now. #2 Chemical Charge, the first international galloper to tackle this race, might be the danger if the favourite has an off day. His run in the Hong Kong Vase was solid and he has the tactical versatility to race handy. Don’t discount him. Pakistan Star’s stablemates #5 Exultant and #3 Gold Mount are next best.

RACE 9: VIVA PATACA HANDICAP

#6 California Archer has had issues but he also has talent too. He will need luck but it might be worth chancing him in this spot. #2 Raging Storm was a terrific winner last time out and looks a horse potentially headed to Class 2 and beyond. He has received a 12-point penalty for that two and a half length win and, while he is capable of winning again, he might be worth taking on if he is too short. He is the one to beat. #1 Lucky Hero ran well at his first two starts before two fair efforts at his last two. He can figure. #7 Eagle will be around the mark with a quieter ride.

RACE 10: CALIFORNIA MEMORY HANDICAP

#9 Sacred Ibis has been racing well in recent starts but has been unable to break through in Class 3. He returns for the first time in almost three months and this should be a chance for him to break through. #4 Amazing has been finding his feet in three runs over the Happy Valley 1200m. He should appreciate the extra trip now and he deserves respect. #3 Shamport has performed well in three of his four Hong Kong starts to date. Joao Moreira jumps aboard and he’s sure to have his admirers. #11 Falcon Turbo ran on well last time out and is worth including.

RACE 11: VENGEANCE OF RAIN HANDICAP

#13 Hezthewonforus had shaped impressively at his first start in Hong Kong when finishing second to Win Beauty Win and he lived up to that form when reversing the result with Win Beauty Win last time out. He should be suited up in Class 2 with no weight and this is not the strongest race. #11 Dances With Dragon has been mixing his form. It’s hard to know what distance will prove his optimal trip but he’s a chance in this spot. #4 Rattan was outclassed in the Classic Cup and the Derby, but should be well-suited here. The trip might be a little bit short but he’ll be steaming home. #2 Fast Most Furious has won nicely at Happy Valley. He creates interest here although he finds himself in the middle of Class 2 quickly.