SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday July 1, 2018)

RACE 1: #1 Top Ace, #7 Soccer Brave, #11 Jimson The Famous, #9 Lucky Win Win

RACE 2: #2 Bumble Baby, #3 Gentle Breeze, #2 Goko, #6 Fame And Fortune

RACE 3: #5 Sangria, #2 Fiama, #4 New Elegance, #9 Good Days

RACE 4: #1 Star Of Patch, #2 Honest Way, #5 Victory Power, #7 Absolucool

RACE 5: #2 Chater Thunder, #11 Elusive State, #6 Gouten Of Garo, #13 Lucky Shiny Day

RACE 6: #6 Picken, #9 Care Free Prince, #1 Royal Mojito, #7 Viva Council

RACE 7: #9 Mission Tycoon, #12 Raging Storm, #5 Seven Heavens, #8 Fantastic Eight

RACE 8: #2 California Gungho, #1 Cruising, #13 Little Bird, #11 My Power

RACE 9: #7 Goldfield, #11 Remarkable, #9 Nuclear Power, #3 Cheerful Star

RACE 10: #11 Invincible Fresh, #5 Comfort Life, #3 Baba Mama, #6 Diamond King

RACE 1: RACING GOES ON 1650M HANDICAP

#1 Top Ace drops to Class 5 for the first time at his 31st Hong Kong start. The Italian Group 3 winner has run okay on this surface before and the booking of Joao Moreira is a positive move. He should be hard to beat. #7 Soccer Brave won for the third time in Hong Kong last time out, once again at a big price. His best performances have come over this course and distance and Victor Wong’s claim ensures that he’s still at a decent spot in the handicaps. He can run well again. #11 Jimson The Famous is hard to follow with any confidence but Zac Purton sticks solid and he is likely to be around the mark. #9 Lucky Win Win ran a better race last time out down in grade. If he is able to settle in a better position from the inside gate, he could make it into the placings.

RACE 2: WORLD-CLASS LEADERSHIP 1000M HANDICAP

#2 Bumble Baby produced a terrific run at his first effort in nearly a year, only just falling a neck short. He’s drawn to take advantage once again and he should be hard to beat this time around. #3 Gentle Breeze, racing in the famed Sacred Kingdom colours, ran boldly on debut. He won’t have to have improved much to figure. #2 Goko was beaten by both Bumble Baby and Gentle Breeze last time out, but he still ran well enough and he’ll be in the mix here. Debutant #6 Fame And Fortune has shown enough at the trials to figure.

RACE 3: UNCOMPROMISING INTEGRITY 2000M HANDICAP

#5 Sangria is not particularly suited by the small fields he is tackling currently, but he is racing in great form and another win doesn’t appear far away. This is not the strongest race and he has no weight with Matthew Poon taking five pounds off his back, so he is a major player in this spot. #2 Fiama disappointed last start, but he could never get involved in a pace-dominated race. He’s heading for Class 2 and he can make a step towards that grade here. #4 New Elegance steps up to 2000m for the first time. This trip should suit and Joao Moreira takes the mount, so he deserves close attention. #9 Good Days returns to the Sha Tin 2000m, where he is one for one. He can’t be dismissed.

RACE 4: SERVING THE COMMUNITY 1200M HANDICAP

#1 Star Of Patch makes his return from a tendon injury here, racing for the first time in nine months. He has ability, but he has had plenty of problems that have not allowed him to fulfil his full potential. If he is ready to go, then he should be able to win this even after such a period on the sidelines. #2 Honest Way still isn’t the complete package but the penny is starting to drop. He is sure to be somewhere around the mark. #5 Victory Power has a good draw for his Sha Tin debut and he won’t be far away. #7 Absolucool disappointed as favourite on debut. He has a wide gate but he can improve.

RACE 5: CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT 1650M HANDICAP

#2 Chater Thunder has won twice and finished second once from five course and distance attempts. He’s drawn well and he should be very hard to beat in this spot. #11 Elusive State is always capable of bobbing up in races like this. Joao Moreira takes his first ride on the four-year-old and he deserves respect. #6 Gouten Of Garo looked the winner for much of the straight last start, but he fell into a hole late. Still, he’s a chance if circumstances are more favourable here. #13 Lucky Shiny Day has little form of which to speak, but this course and distance could see noticeable improvement.

RACE 6: RIDING HIGH TOGETHER 1400M HANDICAP

#6 Picken has trialled well and looks well-prepared for his debut. He’s drawn well and it won’t take much for him to be winning against this field. #9 Care Free Prince has come around at his last two starts, leading comfortably before finishing third on both occasion. Expect him to be in front at some point again here. #1 Royal Mojito drops to Class 4 for the first time. He’s run some creditable races up in grade and Zac Purton is a positive jockey change coming down in grade. #7 Viva Council is racing well and should be around the mark again.

RACE 7: THE HONG KONG REUNIFICATION CUP

#9 Mission Tycoon won nicely two starts back before just falling short last time out in a strong Class 2. Joao Moreira sticks solid over Raging Storm and he’s tough to beat. #12 Raging Storm has won three of his first five starts. He’s looking more and more professional at each start and he’s right in contention here. #5 Seven Heavens ran well last time out behind Hot King Prawn and he’s likely to be around the placings again. #8 Fantastic Eight returns from a freshen-up and he may be suited back to the Sha Tin turf now.

RACE 8: THE GUANGDONG-HONG KONG CUP

#2 California Gungho was an impressive winner of two starts in France when named Less Pire. He’s still coming to hand but he looks to have ability and he creates interest at his Hong Kong debut. #1 Cruising ran a bold race on debut, just falling short behind Alcari. If he’s come on for that effort, he’ll be hard to beat. #13 Little Bird raced clear to win by almost four lengths last time out. With no weight on his back, he is a chance once again. #11 My Power gets Zac Purton aboard for his Hong Kong debut. He’s one to watch.

RACE 9: STRIDING ON TOGETHER 1650M HANDICAP

#7 Goldfield was a Group 1 winner on dirt in Argentina pre-import, winning that country’s Derby, the Gran Premio Nacional, over 2500m at Palermo in 2016. He might find this too sharp, but with blinkers on for the first time, he creates interest here and he might be worth a bet. #11 Remarkable has won three from four on dirt. He might be on his mark now, but even luck will see him somewhere around the mark. #9 Nuclear Power has placed at all three course and distance runs, but he has not been able to win. He has no weight here thanks to Matthew Poon’s claim and he’s a chance. #3 Cheerful Star had trialled well leading into his debut, but was abysmal at his first start here. Zac Purton is an intriguing booking, though, and makes him one to keep safe.

RACE 10: SPORTING EXCHANGE 1400M HANDICAP

#11 Invincible Fresh has had his fair share of problems but he’s racing well currently and a second Hong Kong win is near. It could come here. #5 Comfort Life sprinted nicely last time out. He should get a nice run again and he is capable of winning once more. #3 Baba Mama needs so much to go right in his races but he’s not without a hope on his current mark. #6 Diamond King won well fresh and he deserves respect again.

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