Sha Tin Racing Tips: 2020 Hong Kong International Races

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

(6) Master Montaro lines up for his Hong Kong debut here. He couldn’t have been more impressive in his two Australian starts, coming from near last to cruise home by 3.5L at Cranbourne, before bolting in again at Geelong at his second start. He’s had three trials in readiness for his first run in Hong Kong and Purton takes the ride having steered him in all three trials. It can always be a query with these horses having their first start in Hong Kong, but if he runs up to anywhere near his best, he’ll win this.

(2) Sunset Watch should be competitive from the good draw. He’s drawn well in two of his three starts this prep and has been close up in both of them.

(11) Winning Brew has a bit of talent and notably, Moreira jumps on today.

Tip: (6) Master Montaro $2.15 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

(1) Joyful Heart drops in grade today back to a Class 4 and Zac Purton goes straight on, which is notable as he was the last jockey to win on this horse. That was back in February and it came over this track and distance, where he scored by 1.3L. He’s done all his racing in Class 3 since then so the drop back to Class 4 should put him right in the mix today, especially with the good draw. Purton jumps off a couple others to ride him and the horse also gets the winkers back on.

(12) Stunning Impact is another that gets winkers on, first time for him. He looks ready to run a big race. He’s third up today and comes into this having run 3^rd last start, where he didn’t get all that much go his way. He was subject to a huge betting plunge back in April and he should have walked in, but had plenty go wrong and was beaten a neck. Teetan retains the ride and he should give this a shake.

(5) Authentic Champ comes off a good win over track and distance and draws the inside barrier. Should be hard to beat again after his performance last start.

(8) Stay Chill probably ran his best race since arriving in Hong Kong first up. Maybe it took him a season to acclimatise and he might be able to continue improving now.

Tip: (1) Joyful Heart $4.60 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

Tricky race. (3) Enrichment was very brave in defeat last start, sitting wide throughout and still boxing on to be beaten 2L. That was in a Class 2 and he drops back to a Class 3 today for just the second time since arriving in Hong Kong two years ago. Ryan Moore is a positive jockey booking and he draws well in barrier 4 so I expect him to be very competitive today.

(4) Cinquante Cinq has to be included at $16. He was beaten a short-half-head first up at Happy Valley before running 6^th over this track and distance last start, when he started from the widest barrier. Draws much better today in barrier 2 and he’s undefeated from two starts when third up from a spell.

(10) Beauty Angel just keeps winning. He’s now won four in a row but he goes up another 3kg in the weights today which will test him once again. He does get the aid of the inside draw and Purton gets back aboard. He deserves to be favourite but it’s a deep race.

(11) Chevalier Prince won first up and Joao Moreira sticks with him and jumps off Beauty Angel in the process, which is very interesting. He’s only lightly raced and has plenty of upside. He’s also only second up so has room for improvement and I’m not sure the $7.00 will hold up. Expect him to firm up and worth having something on at that price.

(13) Natural Storm was beaten a neck by Beauty Angel last start and gets a small weight swing in his favour so has to be included.

Tip: (3) Enrichment $5.00 Bet365

Value: (4) Cinquante Cinq $16 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

The first of the day’s Group 1s is the Hong Kong Vase over 2400m.

(1) Exultant has been Hong Kong’s best stayer over the past few years. He’s had 10 starts at Group 1 level for five wins and five placings and he’s won four of his six starts at this track and distance. He’s been beaten in both starts this preparation though, finding Furore too good in both. He’s lacked the fight we’re used to seeing from him and he can be thankful Furore isn’t lining up in this race. He looks the best of the locals but I wonder whether he’s as good as what he has been in recent years.

I think he’s vulnerable this year (he got beat in this race last year too) so (7) Mogul goes on top for me. He’s much more lightly-raced and still on the way up, whereas Exultant might be on the decline. Mogul bolted in at Longchamp over this distance two starts back, before running 5^th in the Breeders’ Cup last time out. He gets a small weight relief on the rest of the field and this looks a very winnable race for him.

(4) Columbus County looks best of the rest. He’s set to peak third up and gets Moreira back aboard from barrier 1.

Tip: (7) Mogul $2.35 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

The Hong Kong Sprint is the second Group 1 on the card, and all eyes will be on (1) Classique Legend. If he turns up even 80% of his best, this is all over. He was arrogantly dominant in The Everest, but his only trial since his arrival in Hong Kong left plenty underwhelmed. He was pushed out and looked pretty plain going to the line. He’s had an interrupted preparation for this race and they’ve been behind the eight-ball trying to get him ready. Even with all that in mind though, it’s hard to see him getting beat. He’d have to be pretty flat and well below his best to lose this.

(2) Hot King Prawn was back to his best last start, taking out the Jockey Club Sprint despite sitting three-wide the trip. He should get a good run today and he looks the biggest test to Classique Legend.

The Japanese pair (5) Danon Smash and (6) Tower Of London are both capable at Group 1 level but the Japanese sprinters tend to be a class below the best Aussie/Hong Kong sprinters.

Tip: (1) Classique Legend $2.60 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

(7) Super Football ran a good race on his Hong Kong debut, coming from back in the field to run 5^th, recording the fastest final 400m of the race. Zac Purton goes on today and he draws barrier 1, so he’s going to get his chance and at $6.50 it’s a decent price.

(1) Heza Beauty is flying, with two wins and two 2nds from four starts this preparation. He rises another 3.5kg in the weights so it’s another test, but he just keeps improving with each run so you wouldn’t rule out him winning again.

(5) Lucky Patch won first up and then ran 3^rd to Heza Beauty last start, but I thought the run of Heza Beauty was better and I’m not sure Lucky Patch can turn the tables on him.

(10) Pure Legend was fairly good first up and can improve, but he does draw awkwardly.

Tip: (7) Super Football $6.50 TopSport

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

The third Group 1 is the Hong Kong Mile, where (2) Golden Sixty will be aiming to make it 11 straight wins, and 14 from 15 overall. He’s just gone from strength to strength this preparation and has accounted for everything thrown his way with ease. Should sit midfield or worse from barrier 7 and with clear running, he’ll be winning again.

(3) Admire Mars won this race last year and comes into this race having been beaten less than a length by Gran Alegria in Japan last start. He’s won six of his nine starts over the mile and looks the biggest danger to Golden Sixty.

(6) Waikuku is a smokey. He comes into this first up. He ran 2^nd in this race last year, splitting Admire Mars and Beauty Generation, before winning the Stewards’ Cup at G1 level six weeks later. He went off the boil after that but if he turns up at his best, he will be very competitive.

(10) Order Of Australia brings plenty of intrigue, coming off a surprise victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup in America. Draws well in barrier 1 you always have to respect the Aidan O’Brien runners when he brings them to Hong Kong.

(1) Beauty Generation looks past his best but it would be a special story if he was somehow able to win.

Tip: (2) Golden Sixty $1.65 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

The final Group 1 is the Hong Kong Cup over 2000m and what a cracking race it is!

(2) Danon Premium returned with a 4^th placing behind Almond Eye, which looks a very strong form line. He’s got an outstanding record first up from a spell so I don’t know if there’s much improvement but with that said, he did have 21 weeks off, so maybe he could improve. I really respect the Japanese form in races like this so at the prices, he goes on top.

(7) Magical beat Ghaiyyath three starts ago and has placed at Group 1 level in her past two starts. Her overall record at Group 1 level is outstanding, with seven wins and eight placings from 20 starts. Draws the inside and is clearly the horse to beat here.

(4) Furore is the best of the local brigade but I’m a bit surprised he’s the second favourite, ahead of Danon Premium. He’s certainly gone to a new level this prep but he’s been beating Exultant over distances short of Exultant’s best, and I’m not sure that form is as good as the likes of Magical’s or Danon Premium’s.

Tip: (2) Danon Premium $5.50 Bet365

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

(3) Winning Dreamer is one of the most exciting horses in Hong Kong. He’s undefeated from five stars now and I reckon his last start win was probably the best of his career. He stepped up to Class 2 company and went to a new level, winning comfortably by 1.5L. He rises 2kg in the weights today but he gets the inside draw and with even luck I think he’ll win again.

(6) Sky Field is another highly promising horse, with three wins from six starts. He was narrowly beaten last start by Mighty Giant, who is going around in Group 1 company today. His record over this track and distance is outstanding and this stable/jockey combination are airborne, so he looks the obvious danger.

The $9.50 about (1) Duke Wai isn’t a bad price. He ran 2^nd to Winning Dreamer last start and meets him 3kg better at the weights today. He’s drawn a bit awkward in barrier 11 but he’s got a terrific record at the track and distance and goes well third up.

Tip: (3) Winning Dreamer $2.50 Bet365

Value: (1) Duke Wai $9.50 Sportsbet

Odds Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 12:53am (AEDT)

Great race to finish the day. (5) Shadow Hero made his Hong Kong debut last start and it was a pass mark. He was sluggish out of the gates, got left flat-footed when they quickened, and then ran into trouble in the straight, but he still went OK. He should improve up to 1600m and he’s undefeated from three starts when second up from a spell. With even luck today, he should go very close to winning.

(9) Tourbillon Diamond was a huge run on his Hong Kong debut, coming from well back in the field to be beaten just over a length. He will really appreciate getting up to the mile second up and if he can settle closer, he can go well again.

Tip: (5) Shadow Hero $3.10 Bet365