SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday February 18th)

RACE 1: #5 Ever Strong, #3 Newswire Free, #2 Kwaichung Brothers, #4 Winning Controller

RACE 2: #1 Avellino, #4 Brilliant Dream, #13 Vital Spring, #3 Super Eighteen

RACE 3: #1 Let Us Win, #6 Such A Happiness, #11 Ever Laugh, #8 Electric Lightning

RACE 4: #2 Lucky Volatility, #9 Silver Fig, #1 Nice Kick, #10 Magic Success

RACE 5: #10 Raging Storm, #3 Speedy King, #4 Have Fun Together, #9 Pleasant Guy

RACE 6: #9 Mr Lumieres, #2 Dragon Master, #10 Master Albert, #6 Massive Pocket

RACE 7: #4 Citron Spirit, #3 Prawn Baba, #11 Victory Boys, #6 Rocketeer

RACE 8: #1 Jolly Banner, #8 Simply Invincible, #2 Booming Delight, #3 Dundonnell

RACE 9: #1 Nothingilikemore, #3 Singapore Sling, #2 Exultant, #4 The Golden Age

RACE 10: #3 Wishful Thinker, #12 Roman Odyssey, #1 Bullish Smart, #4 Lucky Hero

RACE 11: #2 Simply Brilliant, #11 Sacred Ibis, #7 Roundabout, #6 Super Hoppy

RACE 1: YUE YEE HANDICAP

#5 Ever Strong was well-covered but still ran home nicely enough for fourth on New Yea’s Day. He’s a horse that should still get over further but with a nice draw once again, he can begin the Year of the Dog a winner. #3 Newswire Free ran well last time out back in November and 1400m should only prove more suitable. He doesn’t win out of turn but another win is near. #2 Kwaichung Brothers didn’t have the clearest of runs last time out and closed off fairly. He shouldn’t have the same problem from gate 12 and he’s a chance. #4 Winning Controller is racing well enough and can’t be overlooked.

RACE 2: PROSPERITY HANDICAP

#1 Avellino has had two runs back from a long lay-off now. Third-up, he should be ready to fire and this looks his chance to find the winners’ circle again. #4 Brilliant Dream could arguably have won his last two starts if things had gone his way, but he’s still run very well. He is tactically versatile and should find himself somewhere around the mark. #13 Vital Spring peformed well at his second run for Francis Lui last time out. If he continues to improve, he’s a chance. #3 Super Eighteen has the outside gate but he should also appreciate the step up to 1400m.

RACE 3: RED PACKET HANDICAP

#1 Let Us Win was bought as a Hong Kong Derby contender, but the G2 winner has not performed up to expectations in Hong Kong and now finds himself in Class 4. Before his last start, he’d been indicating a win was near and he does get the blinkers on again from a goo draw, so this is his chance to break through. #6 Such A Happiness is quirky and needs everything to go his way to deliver, but he might just get that here. Don’t underestimate him. #11 Ever Laugh has an awkward gate, but he’s one who should appreciate 1800m. He can figure. #8 Electric Lightning has a plum draw and should be around the mark.

RACE 4: LUCKY STAR HANDICAP

#2 Lucky Volatility did well to win on debut over the straight 1000m when drawing the wrong side of the track. He shouldn’t be dismissed stepping up to 1200m and can repeat here. #9 Silver Fig makes his debut. The son of Hard Spun, out of a half-sister to American G2 winner Kantharos, has looked good in his trials here and he should be able to come to hand quickly. #1 Nice Kick is racing well enough and can figure in a race of this nature. #10 Magic Success didn’t have the best of luck last time out but still didn’t finish overly strongly. Nevertheless, the return to 1200m looks a positive with him, especially with blinkers going on.

RACE 5: LUCKY STAR HANDICAP

#10 Raging Storm steps out for the first time. The son of Fastnet Rock, out of G1 winner Carry On Cutie, has trialled the house down for champion trainer John Size and all appears in order for him to debut a winner. #3 Speedy King still does little things wrong in his races but there is talent there. He’s drawn kindly and if he can take advantage, he’ll be right in the mix. #4 Have Fun Together is another one who is talented but still hasn’t quite put it together. He’s a chance if the penny drops. #9 Pleasant Guy was adequate on debut and can’t be overlooked if he’s progressed.

RACE 6: GOOD FORTUNE HANDICAP

#9 Mr Lumieres makes his Hong Kong debut here. His wins in Australia came at the country tracks of Wagga Wagga and Leeton, not usually places associated with producing Hong Kong winners. However, he has trialled well and he arrives on a fair mark, so he is capable on debut here. #2 Dragon Master tends to find Class 2 a little tough but he’s always a chance in Class 3 over this course and distance. #10 Master Albert is yet to finish out of the top four, but he’s also disappointed as he had big wraps on him early. Perhaps the Sha Tin 1000m can spark him to life. #6 Massive Pocket goes in after drawing 14 at his first Hong Kong start here.

RACE 7: FAT CHOI HANDICAP

#4 Citron Spirit steps up to 2000m for the first time. He was luckless at his one try at 1800m at Happy Valley and he should be able to see out this trip. He looks well-placed here. #3 Prawn Baba is racing well. He needs this sort of trip these days – he is dour but he’s talented. He’s a major player here. #11 Victory Boys has found his mark up in Class 2 but he’s still racing well with no weight and he’s a chance again. #6 Rocketeer is improving with racing this preparation and can take another step forward.

RACE 8: THE CHINESE NEW YEAR CUP

#1 Jolly Banner started his season strongly with a Class 1 win over this course and distance and a G2 third to Hong Kong Mile winner Beauty Generation. However, his preparation then fell by the wayside. He has always performed well fresh and he should be hard to beat here off a two-month lay-off. #8 Simply Invincible has not shown a lot in his last three runs but he gets into this race with no weight. He can’t be dismissed. #2 Booming Delight has been off the scene for almost three months. He will need further but he’s not without a hope. #3 Dundonnell is not the horse he once was but he is a two-time runner-up in this race and he is a fringe chance.

RACE 9: THE HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP

#1 Nothingilikemore is the standout four-year-old in what is not the strongest classic crop seen in Hong Kong. His Hong Kong Classic Mile win confirmed his dominance, and even though he is a query over an extra furlong, it is far from a tough 1800m and his class should shine through here. #3 Singapore Sling was second in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. He should enjoy a nice run from gate two and there is every chance he leads the chasing pack home again. #2 Exultant should enjoy the added trip and should run home strongly again ahead of his main target, the BMW Hong Kong Derby. His stablemate #4 The Golden Age will be out in front and can stick around for some minor money.

RACE 10: KUNG HEI HANDICAP

#3 Wishful Thinker ran home well enough on debut and he should take a step forward for that. The former Katsuro has trialled well since and he shapes as a contender here. #12 Roman Odyssey has run poorly in two efforts over this course and distance but he’s produced a number of nice efforts otherwise. He deserves consideration. #1 Bullish Smart will race on speed with five-pound claimer Dylan Mo aboard. He is racing well and he will be in front for a long way. None of the debutants really appeal here, but perhaps #4 Lucky Hero – who raced as Fiery Trail in Australia – can get into the finish. He has trialled OK in preparation.

RACE 11: KUT CHEONG HANDICAP

#2 Simply Brilliant is yet to win from four Hong Kong starts, but he’s yet to disappoint either. He has performed well at his last two behind John Size’s emerging talents Ping Hai Star and Conte and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the same upward spiral here. He can break through. #11 Sacred Ibis is a likeable type in the way that he finds the line. Drawing out may not be a bad thing for him as he’ll go back anyway, and he should be charging home late. #7 Roundabout is honest and can finish around the mark. #6 Super Hoppy gets blinkers for the first time and deserves consideration.