Hong Kong Saturday morning: Picks, analysis, PPs for Sha Tin

Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin is Saturday morning at 4 a.m. EDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 13 Winning Champion, 2 The All Out, 1 Quick Money, 4 Motor

Race 2: 4 Celtic Times, 1 Beautiful Win, 7 Family Fortune, 3 Viva Chaleur

Race 3: 9 Sea Sapphire, 3 Rainbow Seven, 7 Winning Diamond, 4 Aerovolanic

Race 4: 8 Robot Knight, 1 Fun N Fun Together, 7 Meepmeep, 6 Magniac

Race 5: 12 Special Hedge, 8 Star Brose, 1 Winning Data, 5 Truly Fluke

Race 6: 3 Ping Hai Comet, 9 Double Win, 2 Midori Giant, 12 Kingly Demeanor

Race 7: 1 Harold Win, 13 Lakeshore Hero, 2 Aeroinvincible, 10 Noble Fans

Race 8: 1 Raging Blizzard, 2 Bottomuptogether, 3 Wunderbar, 10 Harmony N Blessed

Race 9: 7 Gentlemen Legacy, 6 Liveandletlive, 4 Packing Turbine, 2 Enthralled

Race 10: 12 Rising Force, 5 Solid Shalaa, 2 Packing Bole, 1 Gummy Gummy

Race 11: 5 Patch Of Stars, 13 Master Of All, 3 Armour War Eagle, 6 Victory Sky

Race 1, HKU Faculties of Arts and Education Plate

No. 13 Winning Champion was luckless on debut and made good late ground. He is drawn the right part of the track and is an each-way play at odds. No. 2 The All Out was an impressive debut winner but scratched at the gates on his intended second start. He resumes here after trialing well twice. No. 1 Quick Money finished second to The All Out on debut and franked the form with an easy second-up win before another honest effort when narrowly beaten third-up. No. 4 Motor did not get much room last start but was close up in fourth and is another to consider.

Race 2, HKU Faculties of Law and Medicine Handicap

No. 4 Celtic Times makes his first Class 5 appearance and has trialed well. He looks ready to show something for the stable since the move three runs back. No. 1 Beautiful Win will get a sweet run from post 4. He ran well in his first Class 5 run, a close up third, and can be thereabouts again. No. 7 Family Fortune was better than it looked last start after racing too keenly. His prior form holds up but post 13 is the query. No. 3 Viva Chaleur is a 29-start maiden but can sneak in at this level on his first Class 5 start.

Race 3, HKU Heritage Handicap

No. 9 Sea Sapphire found his first win for David Eustace two back and ran well again when second to Little Paradise last time. He will lead and take catching. No. 3 Rainbow Seven will be doing the chasing. He proved his big debut second was no fluke and can figure again having drawn ideally in post 3. No. 7 Winning Diamond caught the eye on debut closing into fifth. The rise to six furlongs should suit as Zac Purton takes the ride. No. 4 Aerovolanic has trialed well and looks ready to run a race on debut under in-form apprentice Ellis Wong.

Race 4, HKU Faculties of Dentistry and Social Sciences Handicap

No. 8 Robot Knight found form with blinkers on last start when a strong third. More pressure here gives him a genuine chance to finish over the top, especially from a low gate. No. 1 Fun N Fun Together has also improved with blinkers and is chasing back-to-back wins. He will face more early pressure this time however which is the query. No. 7 Meepmeep is racing well over longer trips from wide draws and will be one to watch late. No. 6 Magniac is down in the ratings and stepping back to his preferred distance, which brings him into contention.

Race 5, University Hall Handicap

No. 12 Special Hedge draws to get a decent run on the pace from post 4. His recent string of placings over the mile has him in fine form and the step back to seven furlongs looks ideal.  No. 8 Star Brose steps up to seven furlongs which looks key to his chances. He has drawn wide in both starts but has been eye-catching late. No. 1 Winning Data was first-up off a long break and did not feature over a trip short of his best. Conditions suit him better here. No. 5 Truly Fluke is progressing well and can take another step forward third-up after finishing second last start.

Race 6, HKU Faculties of Architecture and Science Handicap

No. 3 Ping Hai Comet gets an ideal gate in post 2 as he chases a hat-trick of wins on the quick back-up and is the one to beat after a dominant mile win last time. No. 9 Double Win draws well after having post 12 to overcome last start. He is knocking on the door and has improved with blinkers. He just missed last start and looks a danger. No. 2 Midori Giant may be better suited returning to Sha Tin after two 11-furlong runs at Happy Valley, where he didn’t disgrace. No. 12 Kingly Demeanor will roll forward despite his wide gate and is a pace influence who can sneak into the money if the race shape works out.

Race 7, The Hong Kong University Alumni Association Challenge Cup

No. 1 Harold Win drops back to Class 4 and returns to a better trip following an unsuited run over the extended mile last start at Happy Valley. His prior form at this track and trip reads well with four placings on end. No. 13 Lakeshore Hero closed strongly first-up over six furlongs from a wide draw. The step to seven furlongs suits this improving 4-year-old. No. 2 Aeroinvincible was back in Class 4 last start but six furlongs is short of his best. He can improve second-up to seven. No. 10 Noble Fans is an improving 3-year-old who was strong late first-up and will enjoy the extra furlong.

Race 8, HKU Business School and Faculty of Engineering Handicap

No. 1 Raging Blizzard resumes with two sharp trials under his belt. He gets the right race set-up here with a few going forward and will be finishing strongly late. No. 2 Bottomuptogether is a model of consistency and one of the on-pacers who will take running down under Zac Purton. No. 3 Wunderbar was first-up off a four-month break last start when fading to eighth. He has the ability but there are some queries around his form given his injury history. Still, post 1 will ensure every hope. No. 10 Harmony N Blessed is another pace influence and even at eight years old he remains in top form. He will give a sight under the light weight.

Race 9, HKU Foundation Handicap

No. 7 Gentlemen Legacy looks ready to break through third-up after flashing late into second over the mile. The rise to 1 1/8 miles suits based on his pre-import form. No. 6 Liveandletlive should lead easily enough from post 1. He broke through two back and was collared late last start. Lack of pressure here helps his chances. No. 4 Packing Turbine had excuses over 1 1/4 miles last start. Back to nine furlongs suits and he can improve with a smoother trip. No. 2 Enthralled is building a handy record and can take another step forward with Zac Purton aboard.

Race 10, HKU Jockey Club Student Villages Handicap

No. 12 Rising Force is a 3-year-old on the rise. He won impressively on debut and was only beaten a length as favorite last start. He drops in weight on the class rise and can measure up here. No. 5 Solid Shalaa is chasing a hat-trick of wins. He will get the race to suit his get-back pattern and looks a serious player. No. 2 Packing Bole is the likely leader but does mix his form. A well-rated ride will see him hard to peg back. No. 1 Gummy Gummy disappointed last start as favorite but his prior form was promising. Winless in two years but he deserves another chance.

Race 11, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships Handicap

No. 5 Patch Of Stars is thriving. He has won his last two starts in Class 4 impressively and should handle the rise in grade. One to beat. No. 13 Master Of All may get a soft lead here from post 1 which stands him out and with the rail out in the C+3 position he could prove hard to run down. No. 3 Armour War Eagle resumes and can run a race. His prior form was strong but luckless and he just needs a clean jump to boost his chances. No. 6 Victory Sky has been knocking on the door with three straight placings at Happy Valley. He rates well but post 13 poses a tactical challenge.

Luke Middlebrook is a Contributor at Idol Horse. After catching the Hong Kong racing bug, Luke spent several years blogging about the sport before relocating to Singapore in 2016. There, he spent eight years as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing all form-related and editorial content for horse racing in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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