SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday May 20th)

RACE 1: #1 Bullish Glory, #6 Audacity, #9 King Bountiful, #2 Cloud Nine

RACE 2: #13 Snowhooves, #6 Golden Cannon, #9 Otouto, #5 Triumphal Trumpet

RACE 3: #2 Solar Patch, #8 Top Beautiful, #3 Volitation, #6 Lady First

RACE 4: #1 Starship, #3 Leisured Feet, #14 Top Ace, #4 Bossiee

RACE 5: #3 Montreal, #2 Mr Lumieres, #1 Money Boy, #8 Wayfoong Vinnie

RACE 6: #2 Kiram, #4 Vital Spring, #14 Magic Success, #5 Absolucool

RACE 7: #2 Goodluck Goodluck, #7 Mighty Maverick, #12 Multimax, #4 Team Spirit

RACE 8: #1 Green Energy, #10 Intrepic, #2 Baba Mama, #3 Taking Aim

RACE 9: #2 Handsome Bo Bo, #4 Star Shine, #1 Attention, #8 Midnight Rattler

RACE 10: #4 Rise High, #3 Morethanlucky, #1 Citron Spirit, #8 Doctor Geoff

RACE 1: ALEXANDRITE HANDICAP

#1 Bullish Glory is his own worst enemy in that he can often miss the start badly, but he’s at a mark where his talent should get him a win regardless. As long as he doesn’t end up too far back, this is a very winnable race and he’s a leading player. #6 Audacity failed last time after a string of good efforts. If he can return to form, then he is a contender. #9 King Bountiful is a quirky customer but still is capable on his day. He’s another who will only beat himself, but he deserves respect. #2 Cloud Nine is likely to go to the lead here and can stick on for a placing.

RACE 2: AQUAMARINE HANDICAP

#13 Snowhooves improved significantly at his first run for new trainer Chris So, running on well for second at Happy Valley last start. He should be even better suited at this course and distance and a win here looks very possible. #6 Golden Cannon does plenty wrong in his races but he clearly has the ability to win off his current rating if he races tractably. #9 Otouto carries no weight with Victor Wong aboard and he again is some chance. #5 Triumphal Trumpet gets blinkers for the first time and deserves respect.

RACE 3: THE RACING CLUB 10TH ANNIVERSARY CUP

#2 Solar Patch has surprised somewhat with what he has shown in two runs in Hong Kong. He appeared exposed in Australia, but he has gone to a level that suggests he will make it in Class 2 at the very least in his new home. This race is not overly strong and he has every chance to make it two from three here. #8 Top Beautiful had disappointed in recent runs, but his last effort was very sound and he should get another chance to get into the finish. #3 Volitation is racing well and should be somewhere around the mark. #6 Lady First is still acclimatising but clearly has talent.

RACE 4: GARNET HANDICAP

#1 Starship returns to Class 4 here. His record in this grade has been good and he doesn’t need as much to go his way to be able to figure. He’ll be rattling home late. #3 Leisured Feet has been good at his last two runs at Happy Valley. Returning to the Sha Tin 1400m is some query, but on paper it should suit him, so he can’t be overlooked. #14 Top Ace has been a disappointment overall in Hong Kong. He is right on the cusp of the drop into Class 5, but he does have claimer Victor Wong aboard which means he only has to carry 105 pounds. A better run wouldn’t shock. #4 Bossiee has another wide gate but is racing well enough to place.

RACE 5: LAPIS LAZULI HANDICAP

#3 Montreal ran a terrific race on debut in Hong Kong, sticking on for fourth. He will only have improved fitness-wise for that effort and, with the blinkers on, he should prove very hard to beat. #2 Mr Lumieres disappointed last time out but his two runs before that were very good over this course and distance, including a win first time out. He can run another bold race here. #1 Money Boy backs up after sticking on well enough for fourth at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. He rarely runs a bad race over this course and distance and he can’t be ruled out. #8 Wayfoong Vinnie won last time out. He’s not the type to put two together, but he’s not without a hope.

RACE 6: GARNET HANDICAP

#2 Kiram is yet to miss the board from five starts in Class 4 but he just hasn’t quite been able to break through. He’s running well enough though and, while his course and distance record isn’t stellar, perhaps a switch to the Sha Tin 1400m can be the change he sorely needs to gain another victory. #4 Vital Spring is racing very well and still looks capable of being competitive on his current mark. He does have an awkward gate, though. #14 Magic Success is nearing a drop in grade but his recent trial was OK. He has a raft of gear changes and can perhaps improve now. #5 Absolucool debuts here. A graduate of last year’s Hong Kong International Sale, his most recent trial caught the eye and suggests he’s not entirely hopeless at start one.

RACE 7: ONYX HANDICAP

#2 Goodluck Goodluck was sent off a short price on debut and couldn’t go on, but he took a big step forward to finish second last time out behind Nice Fandango – who then came out and won on Wednesday night at Happy Valley. Goodluck Goodluck should appreciate the step up to 1200m, while the booking of Zac Purton is a positive sign. #7 Mighty Maverick has to overcome an awkward gate but has shown at two of his last three starts that he is nearing a win again. He’s on an attractive mark and he can’t be overlooked. #12 Multimax’s career has been on a downward spiral ever since he won twice in consecutive starts in mid-2016, including a short-head defeat of eventual G1 winner D B Pin in Class 4. He has no weight in here and there have been hints of a turnaround recently, so he can’t be dismissed. #4 Team Spirit ran well on debut and can take a step forward.

RACE 8: DIAMOND HANDICAP

#1 Green Energy has been mixing his form but he deserves plenty of attention at his first run for new trainer Danny Shum. It won’t take much for him to find the winners’ circle. #10 Intrepic has found form at his last two starts and the booking of Joao Moreira is a strong pointer. He must be respected. #2 Baba Mama is always a chance in these sorts of races but he does need everything to go his way. #3 Taking Aim is slowly finding form and is not far away from scoring a first Hong Kong victory.

RACE 9: OPAL HANDICAP

#2 Handsome Bo Bo has had an easy lead at his last three starts and has been able to win comfortably on each occasion. He’s still a query when things don’t go his way but he might be able to sneak a win here before he gets up to Class 2. #4 Star Shine ran on well enough behind Handsome Bo Bo last time out, albeit a long way from the winner. He has an 11-pound swing on that horse here and can’t be dismissed. #1 Attention had some handy Australian form around the likes of Prized Icon, Winning Rupert, Black Heart Bart, Tosen Stardom and Redkirk Warrior. He has trialled satisfactorily and, with Victor Wong’s 10-pound claim, he is well-weighted. #8 Midnight Rattler is getting down to an attractive rating.

RACE 10: TOURMALINE HANDICAP

#4 Rise High was a very impressive winner last time out. He looks capable of heading higher and potentially making it into Group company and he can take another step towards those races here. #3 Morethanlucky hasn’t raced since struggling to see out 1800m in the Classic Cup in February, but the start before that, he was a good third to Nothingilikemore and Singapore Sling over this trip. That form reads well for a race of this nature and he’s right in contention. #1 Citron Spirit gets a weight break with the 10-pound claim of Victor Wong. He can’t be dismissed. #8 Doctor Geoff ran well enough last time out and deserves consideration with the weight turnaround on Rise High.