Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, April 20, 2025)
Race 1: #12 So Awesome, #2 Meepmeep, #10 Family Fortune, #11 Silver Destiny
Race 2: #3 Top Dragon, #2 Gallant Epoch, #11 Strathpeffer, #8 Jubilant Winner
Race 3: #1 Solid Shalaa, #7 Golden Friendship, #8 Fun N Fun Together, #2 Natural High
Race 4: #8 Fortune Boy, #4 Mister Dapper, #1 Etalon Or, #9 Raging Rapids
Race 5: #1 Chill Kaka, #8 Run Run Timing, #3 Fashion Legend, #12 Phantom Cyclone
Race 6: #7 Bundle Award, #2 Helene Feeling, #8 Steps Ahead, #5 Winning Dragon
Race 7: #2 Beauty Waves, #4 Bottomuptogether, #6 Sing Dragon, #1 Copartner Prance
Race 8: #3 Must Go, #6 Dragon Air Force, #12 Mr Energia, #1 Gummy Gummy
Race 9: #2 Triumphant More, #9 Majestic Express, #10 Moduleconstruction, #4 Pakistan Legacy
Race 10: #11 South Star, #2 Another World, #1 Juneau Pride, #10 New Forest
Race 1 - LUK WU HANDICAP
#12 So Awesome was used up on the pace last start but only felt the pinch late, checking in less than two lengths away in fourth. It’s been a while between drinks, but from barrier 2 he should be able to secure a sweet run in transit, which gives him his chance. #2 Meepmeep is edging closer to a maiden win since dropping into this grade, which he tackled for the first time last start over 1800m at this course. He didn’t get the clearest of runs in the straight on that occasion, so there was good merit to the placing, and he can take a step forward at his second attempt in the cellar grade. #10 Family Fortune ran his best race yet when resuming with a third behind the in-form Regency Happy Star, following a solid trial. He’s on the improve. #11 Silver Destiny has switched stables from Dennis Yip to Frankie Lor, though there’s been no trial since. He’s put in some good efforts since sliding into Class 5 and is one who can surprise.
Race 2 - TSING LUNG TAU HANDICAP
#3 Top Dragon stepped up to 1400m last start, but it’s a run best forgotten given he had plenty of excuses in transit. After being caught wide early, he was restrained and settled at the rear to avoid covering extra ground, and near the 400m he was hampered when taken wider by another runner. He’s trialled well since and can improve sharply with Zac Purton jumping aboard from barrier 3. #2 Gallant Epoch also comes off a disappointing effort where he led and weakened into last at Happy Valley, but a return to this course and distance suits better and he can prove hard to run down. #11 Strathpeffer has drawn wide in recent runs and hasn’t had much go his way, yet continues to finish close up—he’s one to include as he should map much kinder from barrier 7 this time. #8 Jubilant Winner is edging closer to a breakthrough. He resumed with a strong late burst into third over 1200m and has produced solid efforts over 1400m previously.
Race 3 - CHEUNG SHAN HANDICAP
#1 Solid Shalaa looks like he’ll get the race run to suit his get-back, run-on pattern given the amount of early speed on paper. He resumed off a lengthy break with a fast-finishing second, which sets him up nicely for a promising second-up performance. #7 Golden Friendship lines up for his fourth career start and has been performing well without placing. Since his last run, he’s turned in a strong trial at this course and distance where he was ridden more patiently—those tactics may be adopted again, giving him a chance to improve into the money. #8 Fun N Fun Together gets a gear change with the cheekpieces off and blinkers going on for the first time. He’s a nine-start maiden but has shown glimpses of promise, and barrier 3 with Zac Purton aboard gives him every chance to figure. #2 Natural High shapes as a pace influence depending on how he steps from barrier 10. He won well two starts ago before fading late into fourth after being used up early from gate 11.
Race 4 - KOWLOON TSAI HANDICAP
#8 Fortune Boy turned in his best performance yet when flashing home late into third behind Super Express over 1400m. He won a trial easily between runs wearing cheekpieces, which are applied here, and he looks ready to break through stepping up to the mile. #4 Mister Dapper scored impressively two starts ago on his second run for the David Eustace yard, but last time he was badly held up at the turn before being crowded for room and didn’t finish off thereafter. Forget that run and give him another chance. #1 Etalon Or is also up to the mile for the first time after going close to shedding his maiden tag on multiple occasions over 1400m. There was plenty of merit to his last-start second placing behind Mr Cool, who’s a nice horse on the rise. #9 Raging Rapids is an improving four-year-old and took to 1400m well last start when finishing a close-up fourth. The rise to the mile could unlock further improvement.
Race 5 - MA TAU KOK HANDICAP
#1 Chill Kaka now sits at the top of Class 4 after breaking through stylishly over this course and trip last start, scoring a facile three-and-three-quarter length win. The progressive four-year-old looks capable of repeating the dose. #8 Run Run Timing should receive the gun run from barrier 1, and his last-start second placing behind Chill Kaka on his first go around this course and distance gives him every opportunity to make his presence felt here. #3 Fashion Legend has taken time to find his feet in Hong Kong, but a drop in the ratings and a switch to this course and distance last start saw him break through easily by over a length. David Eustace sticks to the winning formula, and back-to-back successes look well within reach. #12 Phantom Cyclone turned in his best effort yet last time, closing hard into third from off the pace behind Chill Kaka on his first spin around this circuit. That run suggests further improvement is likely on his second attempt.
Race 6 - THE HONG KONG LIONS CUP (HANDICAP)
#7 Bundle Award was a very good run in the Hong Kong Derby, coming from back in the pack to finish seventh against the race shape. Prior to that, he was an electric winner over this distance, and the lightly-raced four-year-old has plenty more to offer. With a nice inside draw in barrier 3, he can bounce back to winning form. #2 Helene Feeling has been in strong form all season, with one win and four placings from nine starts. His last-start second behind Voyage Samurai over the mile was full of merit in a small field, and he will handle the rise to 1800m without issue. #8 Steps Ahead also comes out of the Derby where he jumped from barrier 13, was ridden for luck, and closed off well into ninth, not beaten far. Three starts ago he won well at this distance from a forward position, and depending on how he jumps from barrier 10, those tactics could be back in play. #5 Winning Dragon is the dark horse in the race—always capable of surprising, and barrier 1 brings him right into calculations.
Race 7 - KOWLOON BAY HANDICAP
#2 Beauty Waves takes a massive drop in class after competing at Group level in his last six starts, and he now tries Sha Tin’s all-weather surface for the first time—though he has always trialled well on it. While this is a highly competitive contest, it shapes as his race to get back to winning ways. #4 Bottomuptogether is a talented four-year-old who has been mixing distances this season and also tries the all-weather under race conditions for the first time. His tactical versatility will serve him well, and his last-start second to Fast Network is a strong form reference. #6 Sing Dragon is a four-time winner from seven at this course and distance, and his last-start fifth is best overlooked as he was never on the track from barrier 11. He can improve sharply from an inside draw. #1 Copartner Prance also has his first go on the all-weather under race conditions. He drops back into Class 2 where he is a three-time winner from six, and after a fair fourth in Group 2 company behind Ka Ying Rising, his on-pace profile gives him every chance to feature.
Race 8 - SIU MA SHAN HANDICAP
#3 Must Go continued his rich vein of form this season with a dominant win last start by one and a half lengths. He’s trialled just as well between runs and remains the benchmark runner to beat, especially with the in-form Andrea Atzeni aboard and a kind draw in barrier 4. #6 Dragon Air Force has twice finished runner-up to Must Go since the rise to Class 3 and looks ready to go one better, though barrier 11 isn’t ideal. #12 Mr Energia resumes and has trialled well for his return. He kicks off at this course and distance where he boasts a win and a second from two attempts, putting him right in the mix at his second try in Class 3. #1 Gummy Gummy hasn’t saluted for over a year and a half but has rediscovered form in his past two runs at this course and trip, finishing second and third. He gets another chance to feature with Zac Purton taking over.
Race 9 - NGAU TAU KOK HANDICAP
#2 Triumphant More is a nice four-year-old who has built a strong record of three wins from six starts and brings in some of the best form lines here. He beat Lifeline Express two starts ago before a game second to Invincible Shield last time out, which marks him clearly as the one to beat. #9 Majestic Express flashed home into third in that same race behind Invincible Shield and has trialled well between runs. He’s not a prolific winner but looks a solid each-way chance. #10 Moduleconstruction had excuses when eighth first-up after racing wide without cover, then drew barrier 12 last start, worked forward early and stuck on well for fourth in a fast-run race. He’s a knockout hope at odds third-up with any luck from gate 10. #4 Pakistan Legacy has barrier 11 to overcome but is close to a breakthrough win, having finished runner-up in two of three Hong Kong starts, most recently to Lady’s Choice—another strong form reference for this.
Race 10 - HO CHUNG RIVER HANDICAP
#11 South Star is a nice three-year-old on the up and takes on Class 3 for the first time after breaking through for his maiden win last start at his third attempt. He showed plenty of determination, overcoming barrier 10 by punching forward behind a tearaway leader under fast early splits and winning well by over a length. He is a nice horse going places. #2 Another World was backed off the map last start and duly saluted for his third win from seven career starts. He still has more to give as a four-year-old and should be making his way into Class 2 in due course. #1 Juneau Pride has been a model of consistency for the John Size yard, targeting a hat-trick of wins and a fourth win from five starts. He now finds himself atop Class 3 under top weight with barrier 10 to overcome, which is a test. #10 New Forest is an improving type who hasn’t been beaten more than three lengths in four local starts. He was sent out favourite on the all-weather last time for a late-fading fourth and can take up the lead here to give a bold sight.