Racing Tips

Sha Tin Racing Tips: Sunday, April 24th

Tim Geers previews Sunday’s card at Sha Tin, featuring three huge Group 1s on the 11-race card.

by
Tim Geers
24 April 2022

It’s a huge day of racing in Hong Kong, with three Group 1s on the 11-race card at Sha Tin!

The Chairman’s Sprint Prize is the first of the majors, followed by the FWD Champions Mile and finally, the FWD QEII Cup.

Tim Geers has previewed all the features, as well as other selections he’s keen on throughout the day!

Find his Sha Tin preview and tips below.

Best Bet: Race 4 – (4) Erimo

Race 1

Oriental Express Hcp (C4) (1200m)
2:25pm (AEDT)

Race 1 Oriental Express Hcp (C4) (1200m) 2:25pm (AEDT)
1. Rhapsody (13) J: J Moreira (60.5kg) T: J J Size		4.6
2. Science Patch (10) J: B Shinn (60.5kg) T: P D O'sullivan		8.5
3. Lucky Quality (1) J: K Chan (59.5kg) T: C Fownes		10
4. All Is Ready (7) J: C Chau (56.5kg) T: P Yiu		71
5. Dream Catcher (2) J: M Yeung (56.5kg) T: K H Ting		71
6. Forever Glorious (14) J: H Bentley (56.5kg) T: K W Lui		41
7. Miracles (5) J: M Chadwick (56.5kg) T: K L Man		41
8. Sight Hero (3) J: A Hamelin (56.5kg) T: D A Hayes		10
9. Brave Dreams (9) J: K Teetan (56kg) T: A S Cruz		2.8
10. Double Show (8) J: L Hewitson (56kg) T: D Whyte		11
11. Fortune Carrier (6) J: M Poon (56kg) T: C S Shum		9.5
12. Fighting Star (4) J: A Badel (55.5kg) T: C H Yip		31
13. Victoria General (12) J: H Mo (52.5kg) T: D J Hall		101
14. Call Me Lu (11) J: H Lai (51.5kg) T: W Y So		151

Race 2

Sacred Kingdom Hcp (C4) (1200m)
2:55pm (AEDT)

Race 2 Sacred Kingdom Hcp (C4) (1200m) 2:55pm (AEDT)
1. Fun N Glory (10) J: Z Purton (60.5kg) T: W Y So		4
2. River Views (7) J: C Chau (60kg) T: T P Yung		34
3. Falcon Turbo (8) J: K Teetan (59kg) T: D Whyte		12
4. Leslie (4) J: J Moreira (58.5kg) T: P Yiu		3
5. Snowalot (11) J: L Hewitson (58.5kg) T: P D O'sullivan		34
6. Kai Xin Dragon (1) J: B Shinn (58kg) T: D A Hayes		10
7. Woodfire Bro (14) J: M Yeung (57.5kg) T: L Ho		13
8. Hei Wongchoy (2) J: K Leung (56.5kg) T: Y S Tsui		126
9. Ho Ho Junior (13) J: L Currie (56.5kg) T: D J Hall		151
10. One Voice (5) J: C Ho (56.5kg) T: F C Lor		3.5
11. Six Best Friends (9) J: M Chadwick (56.5kg) T: K L Man		126
12. Gold Gold Baby (3) J: A Badel (55kg) T: K W Lui		151
13. Sugar Sugar (6) J: L Ferraris (55kg) T: C Fownes		41
14. Iron King (12) J: M Poon (52.5kg) T: C H Yip		101

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 2:59pm (AEDT)

Race 3

River Dancer Hcp (C3) (1600m)
3:25pm (AEDT)

Race 3 River Dancer Hcp (C3) (1600m) 3:25pm (AEDT)
1. Ultra Express (9) J: A Badel (60.5kg) T: A T Millard		14
2. Charity Grace (2) J: M Poon (58kg) T: C S Shum		10
3. Golden Link (7) J: M Chadwick (58kg) T: P Yiu		13
4. Royal Bomb (6) J: B Shinn (58kg) T: C Fownes		4.4
5. Leading Fortune (5) J: Z Purton (56.5kg) T: J J Size		4.4
6. Super Winner (4) J: C Wong (56.5kg) T: C H Yip		11
7. Boom Alliance (3) J: L Hewitson (55.5kg) T: D Whyte		8.5
8. Precise Express (8) J: J Moreira (55.5kg) T: P Yiu		5.5
9. My Ecstatic (1) J: K Leung (53.5kg) T: F C Lor		7
10. Happy Angel (11) J: H Lai (53kg) T: D A Hayes		81
11. Born The Same Day (10) J: M Yeung (52.5kg) T: K W Lui		126

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 3:29pm (AEDT)

Race 4

Able One Hcp (C4) (1400m)
3:55pm (AEDT)

Race 4 Able One Hcp (C4) (1400m) 3:55pm (AEDT)
1. Gallant Waking (11) J: C Ho (60.5kg) T: K W Lui		21
2. Light Of Wanshi (10) J: M Chadwick (60kg) T: W Y So		7
3. Circuit Mighty (14) J: A Badel (59.5kg) T: K L Man		41
4. Erimo (12) J: J Moreira (59kg) T: J J Size		2.4
5. Maximize Heart (9) J: C Chau (58kg) T: C H Yip		15
6. Rockpaperscissors (7) J: M Poon (57kg) T: F C Lor		91
7. Concerto (8) J: A Hamelin (56kg) T: K H Ting		126
8. Fiery Flying (5) J: K Leung (56kg) T: A T Millard		67
9. Sparky Star (2) J: Z Purton (56kg) T: T P Yung		3.6
10. Star Contact (6) J: B Shinn (56kg) T: D A Hayes		11
11. Island Shine (13) J: V Borges (55.5kg) T: P Yiu		126
12. Casa Legend (4) J: H Bentley (54.5kg) T: C S Shum		10
13. Hearty Wish (1) J: L Currie (54.5kg) T: D Whyte		21
14. Kung Fu Tea (3) J: L Hewitson (53.5kg) T: D J Hall		26

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 4:00pm (AEDT)

(4) Erimo looks the best of the day here. The John- Size-trained four-year-old has had two career starts and been terrific in both. He was beaten a nose on debut before sitting three-wide the trip last start and going down 0.5L. He draws sticky again today out in barrier 12 but with a touch more luck than he got last start, he’ll be awfully hard to beat.

Tip: (4) Erimo $2.60 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN Erimo

Race 5

Bullish Luck Hcp (C2) (1600m)
4:25pm (AEDT)

Race 5 Bullish Luck Hcp (C2) (1600m) 4:25pm (AEDT)
1. Beauty Joy (3) J: Z Purton (60.5kg) T: A S Cruz		2.6
2. My Sugar (6) J: C Chau (60.5kg) T: K H Ting		9.5
3. Savaquin (4) J: J Moreira (58.5kg) T: J J Size		7
4. Turin Redsun (8) J: A Badel (58.5kg) T: D Whyte		6
5. Beluga (10) J: L Currie (58kg) T: D J Hall		9.5
6. California Ten (9) J: K Teetan (57.5kg) T: A S Cruz		11
7. Circuit Three (11) J: H Bentley (57kg) T: T P Yung		13
8. Soulmate (1) J: K Chan (57kg) T: P Yiu		8
9. Flying Quest (5) J: H Mo (56kg) T: D J Hall		34
10. All For St Paul's (7) J: M Poon (53.5kg) T: F C Lor		41
11. Bourbonaire (2) J: V Borges (53.5kg) T: J J Size		16

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 4:30pm (AEDT)

Tipping (1) Beauty Joy to bounce back today. He’s got six wins from 10 career starts but was turned over as the short-priced favourite last start. Zac Purton said the other day that he’d missed some work leading into that race, but he looks back on track with two trial victories leading into today. Has to lump top weight here but gets a soft draw and at his best I think he’ll win.

Tip: (1) Beauty Joy $2.90 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Beauty Joy

Race 6

The Chairmans Sprint Prize (1200m)
5:00pm (AEDT)

Race 6 The Chairmans Sprint Prize (1200m) 5:00pm (AEDT)
1. Sky Field (6) J: B Shinn (57kg) T: C Fownes		5.5
2. Wellington (8) J: A Badel (57kg) T: Richard Gibson		2.7
3. Lucky Patch (10) J: C Chau (57kg) T: K W Lui		13
4. Stronger (7) J: C Ho (57kg) T: D Whyte		14
5. Hot King Prawn (3) J: J Moreira (57kg) T: J J Size		5.5
6. Sight Success (2) J: Z Purton (57kg) T: J J Size		4.8
7. Super Wealthy (5) J: L Currie (57kg) T: D A Hayes
8. Computer Patch (1) J: M Chadwick (57kg) T: K H Ting		26
9. Lucky Express (9) J: A Hamelin (57kg) T: J J Size		26
10. Kurpany (4) J: L Ferraris (57kg) T: C Fownes		91

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 5:04pm (AEDT)

The first Group 1 of the day is The Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

We might see (6) Sight Success able to turn the tables on (2) Wellington here. There was 0.3L in Wellington’s favour when they met in The Sprint Cup three weeks ago, but Purton goes on Sight Success today and gets an ideal draw in barrier 2, whereas Wellington will be forced to go all the way back from barrier 9.

There isn’t much between the Hong Kong sprinters and quite often it comes down to who gets the best run.

I wouldn’t discount the chances of (3) Lucky Patch at double figure odds. He started $3.20 favourite for the Hong Kong Sprint in December when involved in the awful four-horse fall. He hasn’t started since, but he’s undefeated first up from a spell and now he’s $13 against a similar field?

Tip: (6) Sight Success $4.80 Ladbrokes

Value: (3) Lucky Patch $13 Ladbrokes

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units WIN Sight Success, 0.5 units WIN Lucky Patch

Race 7

Fairy King Prawn Hcp (C3) (1200m)
5:35pm (AEDT)

Race 7 Fairy King Prawn Hcp (C3) (1200m) 5:35pm (AEDT)
1. Setanta (5) J: B Shinn (60.5kg) T: D A Hayes		6.5
2. California Concord (7) J: C Chau (59.5kg) T: A S Cruz		21
3. Nicconi County (3) J: K Teetan (57kg) T: C Fownes		4.4
4. Ready To Win (4) J: K Leung (56kg) T: F C Lor		16
5. Texas Moon (1) J: L Currie (56kg) T: T P Yung		16
6. Beauty Mission (6) J: J Moreira (54.5kg) T: F C Lor		2.3
7. Pins Prince (14) J: A Badel (54.5kg) T: J J Size		21
8. Solid Impact (10) J: Z Purton (54.5kg) T: D J Hall		18
9. Kumasi (9) J: C Ho (53.5kg) T: K W Lui		12
10. Secret Vision (11) J: H Bentley (53.5kg) T: C S Shum		34
11. Trust Me (13) J: C Wong (52.5kg) T: C H Yip		81
12. Ace One (8) J: V Borges (52kg) T: D Whyte		34
13. Classic Moon (2) J: M Chadwick (51.5kg) T: W Y So		19
14. Reve Parisien (12) J: M Yeung (51.5kg) T: P D O'sullivan		71

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 5:35pm (AEDT)

Race 8

The Fwd Champions Mile (1600m)
6:05pm (AEDT)

Race 8 The Fwd Champions Mile (1600m) 6:05pm (AEDT)
1. Golden Sixty (2) J: C Ho (57kg) T: K W Lui		1.35
2. More Than This (1) J: K Teetan (57kg) T: C S Shum		21
3. Waikuku (3) J: V Borges (57kg) T: J J Size		17
4. Mighty Giant (8) J: K Leung (57kg) T: P Yiu		101
5. Healthy Happy (4) J: B Shinn (57kg) T: F C Lor		101
6. Champion's Way (6) J: A Hamelin (57kg) T: J J Size		26
7. Excellent Proposal (7) J: J Moreira (57kg) T: J J Size		31
8. California Spangle (5) J: Z Purton (57kg) T: A S Cruz		3.5

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 6:09pm (AEDT)

The Group 1 FWD Champions Mile looms as a fascinating race.

(1) Golden Sixty bounced back to his brilliant best last start, ridden with more intent out of the gates rather than being happy to give them all a head start. From the low draw again today we can expect a similar ride to put him into the race early. He should have these covered, but there is one runner he’s yet to face before that adds interest to this race.

That runner is the four-year-old (8) California Spangle, who comes out of the four-year-old series. He ran an enormous race in defeat in the HK Derby. He had to work across to find the lead early from the wide gate, he copped pressure mid-race, had to come off the rail in the straight in search of better ground, wandered around like he was lost, and still had the audacity to go toe-to-toe with Romantic Warrior who had the cold sit on him. The four-year-old classic series form sometimes doesn’t hold up in open company, but this is a smart horse and it will be interesting to see how Zac rides him against Golden Sixty.

Tip: (1) Golden Sixty $1.40 Bet365

Betting Strategy: No bet

Race 9

The Fwd Qeii Cup (2000m)
6:40pm (AEDT)

Race 9 The Fwd Qeii Cup (2000m) 6:40pm (AEDT)
1. Russian Emperor (5) J: B Shinn (57kg) T: D Whyte		2
2. Ka Ying Star (9) J: L Ferraris (57kg) T: A S Cruz		31
3. Tourbillon Diamond (2) J: A Badel (57kg) T: C S Shum		26
4. Columbus County (6) J: J Moreira (57kg) T: C Fownes		17
5. Panfield (7) J: A Hamelin (57kg) T: A T Millard		71
6. Reliable Team (1) J: K Leung (57kg) T: F C Lor		91
7. Savvy Nine (8) J: M Chadwick (57kg) T: D Whyte		17
8. Romantic Warrior (4) J: K Teetan (57kg) T: C S Shum		2.3
9. Cheerful Days (3) J: Z Purton (57kg) T: K W Lui		16
10. Zebrowski (10) J: C Ho (57kg) T: C Fownes		31

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 6:44pm (AEDT)

Another fascinating contest here in the FWD QEII Cup.

(1) Russian Emperor was the dominant winner of the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup two starts ago, but it poured rain leading into that race and he relished the conditions. He’s undefeated on wet ground, with just the one win from 16 starts on good ground. That’s a big query.

He faces the Hong Kong Derby winner (8) Romantic Warrior today, who has suffered just the one career defeat. He draws ideally in barrier 4 here. The four-year-old classic series form sometimes doesn’t hold up against the open class horses, but I really don’t think there’s a great deal for him to beat in this race.

(5) Panfield is a knockout chance at huge odds here. He did win first up last preparation in a Group race. His recent form doesn’t read great but he comes into this fresh and we know he likes this distance. $71 is over the odds.

Zac riding (9) Cheerful Days is a good jockey change.

Tip: (8) Romantic Warrior $2.30 PlayUp

Value: (5) Panfield $71 PlayUp

Betting Strategy: 0.25 units E/W Panfield

Race 10

Vengeance Of Rain Hcp (C3) (1400m)
7:15pm (AEDT)

Race 10 Vengeance Of Rain Hcp (C3) (1400m) 7:15pm (AEDT)
1. Circuit Stellar (6) J: K Teetan (60.5kg) T: A S Cruz		8
2. Beauty Live (14) J: J Moreira (60kg) T: F C Lor		4.6
3. Maldives (10) J: B Shinn (59.5kg) T: D J Hall		13
4. Pegasus General (11) J: H Bentley (59kg) T: K H Ting		91
5. Seattle Choice (5) J: L Ferraris (58.5kg) T: A T Millard		41
6. Shadow Mission (4) J: C Chau (56.5kg) T: Y S Tsui		126
7. Golden Empire (7) J: Z Purton (56kg) T: K W Lui		2.6
8. Storm Legend (3) J: L Currie (55.5kg) T: C Fownes		26
9. Dragon Fortune (2) J: K Leung (55kg) T: F C Lor		11
10. Smoothies (8) J: M Poon (55kg) T: C S Shum		14
11. Jolly Ruler (13) J: C Ho (54.5kg) T: P Yiu		34
12. Super Ten (1) J: L Hewitson (54.5kg) T: D Whyte		14
13. Country Boy (12) J: A Badel (53kg) T: J J Size		26
14. Millennium Falcon (9) J: M Chadwick (51.5kg) T: T P Yung		9.5

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 7:20pm (AEDT)

Race 11

Silent Witness Hcp (C2) (1200m)
7:50pm (AEDT)

Race 11 Silent Witness Hcp (C2) (1200m) 7:50pm (AEDT)
1. Duke Wai (11) J: M Chadwick (60.5kg) T: P D O'sullivan		18
2. Trillion Win (13) J: A Badel (58.5kg) T: K L Man		18
3. Blaze Warrior (2) J: J Moreira (57kg) T: J J Size		4
4. Cordyceps Six (10) J: B Shinn (57kg) T: Richard Gibson		3
5. Winning Dreamer (9) J: C Ho (56kg) T: F C Lor		20
6. Majestic Star (12) J: C Chau (54.5kg) T: C S Shum		18
7. Keep You Warm (8) J: Z Purton (53.5kg) T: K W Lui		8.5
8. Red Desert (3) J: V Borges (53kg) T: J J Size		34
9. The Runner (5) J: C Wong (51.5kg) T: F C Lor		81
10. Rock Ya Heart (1) J: M Yeung (51.5kg) T: K W Lui		11
11. Lucky With You (6) J: K Teetan (51.5kg) T: D A Hayes		6.5
12. King Land (7) J: M Poon (51.5kg) T: T P Yung		19
13. Metro Warrior (4) J: H Lai (51.5kg) T: D A Hayes		61

Odds Last Updated: April 24, 2022, 7:55pm (AEDT)

Tim Geers

A trip to Hong Kong quickly had Tim hooked to the racing caper, maintaining the best place anywhere in the world on a Wednesday night is Happy Valley. He holds a strong interest in the Hong Kong form, along with the metropolitan racing in Sydney and Melbourne. He’s a fan of dry tracks, Zac Purton and takes particular interest in identifying patterns in the form. Tim wears many hats, juggling the roles of form analyst, jockey manager and racehorse owner.