SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday February 25, 2018)

RACE 1: #4 Hong Kong's Folks, #10 Harbour Century, #13 Winner St Paul's, #12 Formula Galore

RACE 2: #2 Easy Go Easy Win, #3 Simply Invincible, #4 Lockheed, #6 Spicy Sure

RACE 3: #8 Sweet Bean, #7 My Gift, #2 Savannah Wind, #1 Rock The Tree

RACE 4: #3 Hinyuen Swiftness, #1 Golden Dash, #13 Bingo, #7 My Winner

RACE 5: #2 Gamechangers, #12 Lean Perfection, #7 Voyage King, #3 Big Fortune

RACE 6: #8 Multigogo, #14 The Show, #11 Royale Elegance, #6 Ka Ying Brilliance

RACE 7: #14 Triumphant Light, #9 Red Elysees, #3 Desmios, #4 Compassion Star

RACE 8: #1 Time Warp, #3 Pakistan Star, #2 Werther, #4 Seasons Bloom

RACE 9: #6 Fifty Fifty, #4 Beat The Clock, #1 Helene Paragon, #11 Pingwu Spark

RACE 10: #1 Encouraging, #14 Super Missile, #12 Royal Mojito, #4 Sleep Education

RACE 11: #10 Lady First, #14 Everest, #3 New Elegance, #5 Fearless Fire

RACE 1: CITI MOBILE BANKING HANDICAP

#4 Hong Kong's Folks makes his debut here. He has trialled well in preparation for this and he looks to have ability. He may be worth following here. #10 Harbour Century hasn’t performed too badly in two runs to date over this course and distance. From a good draw, he should enjoy a nice run in transit and can run at them late. #13 Winner St Paul's has looked a rejuvenated galloper in three starts for new trainer Frankie Lor, winning twice at 1200m and finishing runner-up over 1400m. He moves up into Class 4 now but this is not overly strong and he can figure. #12 Formula Galore is able to figure with a light weight.

RACE 2: CITI PRIORITY HANDICAP

#2 Easy Go Easy Win is performing strongly currently, already putting together a nice body of form as a mid-season three-year-old – something that is rare in Hong Kong, particularly for a new import. If setting a 2019 Derby market now, he would be at the head of the betting. He’s struck an ideal race for him here and he should be hard to beat. #3 Simply Invincible ran well last week with no weight on his back. The step up in trip should suit and he looms as a danger. #4 Lockheed looks held by Easy Go Easy Win on form, even though he meets his younger rival four pounds better this time around. He needs to produce a strong effort here to push on to the Derby. #6 Spicy Sure will be out in front and may prove hard to run down.

RACE 3: CITIGOLD HANDICAP

#8 Sweet Bean is the epitome of a Class 5 stalwart – he’s no star but he’s consistent in staying races in this grade. Many of his leading rivals have drawn wide here so he should get every chance to score another victory here. #7 My Gift has run well enough this season. He returns to Sha Tin now and with even luck, he can get into the finish. #2 Savannah Wind and #1 Rock The Tree have drawn the outside two gates. They both have a lot of weight to carry, but if the race is run to suit, both can finish around the mark.

RACE 4: CITIGOLD PRIVATE CLIENT HANDICAP

#3 Hinyuen Swiftness backs up after finishing midfield last week. He had a few excuses but probably would not have finished a great deal closer. Still, he deserves consideration from a good gate this week. #1 Golden Dash won nicely over the straight 1000m on debut before running well over that same and course and distance last start. He steps up to 1200m now and he looks a chance if he doesn’t face too much pressure. #13 Bingo should sit just behind the speed. He has no weight to carry and he looms as a threat. #7 My Winner has trialled well enough to suggest he can show up on debut.

RACE 5: CITI ULTIMA CARD HANDICAP

#2 Gamechangers has performed well in most of his Hong Kong starts to date, although he has only stepped out on the Sha Tin turf once. He should get a good run from his favourable gate and he can break through. #12 Lean Perfection is unbeaten from two starts and has won handsomely on both occasion. He steps up to Class 3 now but there’s no reason he can’t continue to progress. #7 Voyage King, who won three races in Queensland when known as Pure Luck, has trialled well and looks to have upside. #3 Big Fortune had a better race record Down Under, placing at G2 level when named Feng Chu. He may still be acclimatising but he can figure.

RACE 6: CITI GLOBAL BANKING HANDICAP

#8 Multigogo won three starts back at Happy Valley over 1650m. From what he has shown over that trip, he should be suited by the Sha Tin 1400m if he can get near the lead. He deserves another chance. #14 The Show is sure to have plenty of admirers with Joao Moreira maintaining the mount. He’s able to figure back up in trip. #11 Royale Elegance is racing well and only needs a sliver of luck to get into the finish. #6 Ka Ying Brilliance performed well on debut and can be somewhere around the mark.

RACE 7: CITI GLOBAL BANKING HANDICAP

#14 Triumphant Light can lead if need be but he should be able to settle just behind the speed here. He’s come to life at his last couple and he can score a win before dropping in class. #9 Red Elysees should be suited back up to 1600m with a good draw. He’ll be around the mark. #3 Desmios showed a hint of form last week over 1800m when not having the clearest of runs. The step back in trip may not suit but a win is nearing. #4 Compassion Star has won his last two starts and still appears to be on an upward spiral.

RACE 8: G1 CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP

#1 Time Warp won December’s G1 Hong Kong Cup comfortably by dictating throughout. He looks to get as soft a lead here and his last start should be completely forgiven. He will be hard to run down, His stablemate #3 Pakistan Star makes his return to the races for the first time since he simply stopped mid-race in June’s G3 Premier Plate over 1800m. His issues have been well-documented but he has looked outstanding at the trials and he has not been missed on the training track. He may need this one to bring him on, but a first-up win wouldn’t shock as he appears the most talented horse in training in Hong Kong currently. #2 Werther gets blinkers back on, which should suit, but he still looks at something of a tactical disadvantage. He’s a chance on his day, though. #4 Seasons Bloom looks more a miler but can finish in the placings up to 2000m once again.

RACE 9: G1 QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP

#6 Fifty Fifty has risen through the grades to earn a spot among Hong Kong’s elite sprinter-milers this preparation. He ran a solid second in the G1 Stewards’ Cup over 1600m last time out, coming off the back of a good win in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at this course and distance on New Year’s Day. A replica of those two runs will see him right in the finish here. #4 Beat The Clock has emerged as a big-race player this season with placings in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup and the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at 1200m. He appears better over the shorter route, but with even luck, he can challenge. #1 Helene Paragon has not won since taking this race last year. He looked primed to run a big race in the Stewards’ Cup last time out but disappointed. He remains a question mark, but if he bounces back, there’s no doubting his ability against this field. #11 Pingwu Spark is the biggest horse in training in Hong Kong. This is his first test against stakes company, but he shapes as though he will measure up at some point and he deserves consideration here.

RACE 10: CITI MORTGAGE SERVICES HANDICAP

#1 Encouraging performed poorly on debut when missing the start by many lengths, but improved significantly for third last time out. If he takes another step forward here, he can win. #14 Super Missile has plenty of talent but is still putting it together. He’s the type worth taking on until the penny truly drops with him, although he is obviously a tantalising prospect with only 114 pounds to carry. #12 Royal Mojito has been running well at recent starts and appears likely to break through shortly. He’s worth inclusion. #4 Sleep Education is also improving and will be around the mark.

RACE 11: CITI INSURANCE SERVICES HANDICAP

#10 Lady First has improved with every run. He ran a good race up to a mile last time out and with a kinder gate, he should get his chance to break through and even possibly emerge as a late Derby candidate. #14 Everest finally got up into Class 3 after winning at big odds last time out. He’s missed a run since, but he looks well now and perhaps the blinkers sparked him to life. He can run well with no weight on his back. #3 New Elegance had a tough trip last time out and still ran well. He can bounce back here. #5 Fearless Fire is still acclimatising but can finish in the placings.