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: 4 Lucky Gold, 3 Circuit Fiery, 2 Team Happy, 6 Ninja Derby

Race 2: 4 King Oberon, 8 Spicy Knuckles, 12 Glorious Expert, 9 Super Elite

Race 3: 2 Bravehearts, 6 Gentlemen Legacy, 1 Fallon, 3 Family Jewel

Race 4: 5 Copartner Fleet, 4 Goldentronicmighty, 8 Glorious Kingdom, 7 Better And Better

Race 5: 13 Storm Runner, 6 Double Win, 9 Firefoot, 5 Perfect Pairing

Race 6: 1 Lucky My Way, 12 Solar River, 2 Solid Impact, 7 Conspiracy Witness

Race 7: 9 Fashion Legend, 8 Iconical, 7 Stormi, 11 Meepmeep

Race 8: 2 Wunderbar, 1 Magic Control, 6 Horsepower, 3 Beauty Waves

Race 9: 3 Ka Ying Glory, 2 Riding Together, 4 Audacious Pursuit, 5 Oldtown

Race 10: 7 Kempes, 6 Chill Kaka, 2 Dragon Air Force, 8 New Forest

Race 11: 12 Wave Garden, 3 Ka Ying Attack, 4 Top Dragon, 7 The Red Hare

Race 1, Kam Tin River Handicap

No. 4 Lucky Gold showed little interest from a wide gate on debut in Class 5, but post 2 gives him the chance to be ridden more positively and settle closer. He can improve sharply. No. 3 Circuit Fiery was slow away on his first run in the grade and ran on well for third. With Zac Purton going on from gate 3, he looks ready to win. No. 2 Team Happy is one to follow on the drop in class. He made all in one of his two career wins and with Ellis Wong booked, they may try to take control early. No. 6 Ninja Derby draws well in post 1 and maps to get a soft run. He’s a chance off the right trip.

Race 2, Lam Tsuen River Handicap

No. 4 King Oberon did it tough last start, caught wide without cover from the half-mile point when finishing second on his Class 5 debut. He draws post 2 this time and maps much kinder. He gets a great chance to go one better. No. 8 Spicy Knuckles resumes from gate 1 and looked well in a recent trial. His first run in Class 5 was an improved effort and he’s in the mix here. No. 12 Glorious Expert steps out for a new stable, now with Jimmy Ting, and is an intriguing runner at odds. He’s had no luck in recent starts and could improve in new hands. No. 9 Super Elite resumes with blinkers back on and returns to a more suitable track and trip after five runs that didn’t suit. Capable of running a race fresh.

Race 3, Nam Chung River Handicap

No. 2 Bravehearts closed strongly into fifth last start, making ground against a race shape that suited the leaders. He won’t have to settle as far back here, and with a softer run, he can bounce back for a win. No. 6 Gentlemen Legacy is building toward a breakthrough. He’s posted back-to-back seconds, is fourth-up in Hong Kong, and gets Zac Purton on at the right time. No. 1 Fallon comes through the same race as Bravehearts and had excuses after being badly held up in the straight. Once clear, he hit the line well and can figure with a cleaner run. No. 3 Family Jewel had a tough trip last time, and the run is best forgiven. His prior form is good enough to bring him back into contention.

Race 4, Beas River Handicap

No. 5 Copartner Fleet did plenty of early work to cross and lead from post 12 on debut but stuck on well for second while the winner enjoyed a soft run from gate 1. He’s trialed well since and from post 3, he can go one better. No. 4 Goldentronicmighty is on the quick six-day back-up after racing too keenly and settling too far back last time. His earlier wins are the better guide. No. 8 Glorious Kingdom has taken a step forward with each trial and looks ready to go on debut for the Ricky Yiu stable. No. 7 Better And Better lines up for his third start and after improving second-up, can take another step forward with a low draw in his favor.

Race 5, Ng Tung River Handicap

No. 13 Storm Runner steps back up to Class 4 after consecutive runner-up finishes in Class 5. He backs up quickly off six days, but drops sharply in weight and shapes as a genuine winning chance. No. 6 Double Win gets the right set-up to finally break through, with Zac Purton jumping on from post 1 after a string of encouraging runs. No. 9 Firefoot maps to roll forward from gate 4 and looks set to control the pace, which boosts his chances of running out the trip. No. 5 Perfect Pairing was never in the hunt over 1 1/8 miles last time, so the return to 1 1/4 miles gives him the chance to rebound.

Race 6, Beas River Handicap, div 2

No. 1 Lucky My Way broke through stylishly for his maiden win last start and, staying in Class 4, looks well placed to repeat the dose. No. 12 Solar River maps to settle handy from gate 3 with little pressure on paper. He’s yet to win from nine starts but is trending the right way after back-to-back thirds. No. 2 Solid Impact steps into Class 4 for the first time at start 44. He returned to form last start and gets a key push with Zac Purton booked, placing him right in the mix. No. 7 Conspiracy Witness has shown little in two outings but has improved in his trials leading into this fresh run and could take a step forward.

Race 7, Sha Tau Kok River Handicap

No. 9 Fashion Legend maps to get the right run from post 3 and looks ready to strike again, having won a similar race five starts back under near-identical conditions. No. 8 Iconical is untried on the all-weather but has trialed well on the surface. He’ll roll forward from the inside draw and give a sight. No. 7 Stormi gets a much-improved gate and has the blinkers applied for the first time. He’s fallen to a winnable mark and now gets his chance to deliver. No. 11 Meepmeep is stuck with another wide draw but continues to race well. He found six furlongs too sharp last time, so stepping back up in trip suits where he’s best performed.

Race 8, The Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup

No. 2 Wunderbar returned to form in style last start over six furlongs, claiming his first win since October. He was only edged out by Magic Control the last time they clashed over this course and distance, and there’s little between them again. No. 1 Magic Control drops back to his preferred track and trip after tackling Group company and strong six-furlong races behind Ka Ying Rising and Helios Express. He’s much better placed here. No. 6 Horsepower steps into Class 1 and is better judged on his strong form over this trip. Last start over six furlongs can be forgiven. No. 3 Beauty Waves makes his stable debut for Tony Cruz and gets relief after tackling tougher races at Group level.

Race 9, Shan Pui River Handicap

No. 3 Ka Ying Glory made good improvement at his second start with blinkers on, crossing from a wide gate to lead and sticking on well for second. He draws ideally in post 1 this time and maps to get every chance to break through. No. 2 Riding Together also maps well from gate 4 and looks close to a win after sliding down the ratings. His last-start third was full of merit after being hampered late. No. 4 Audacious Pursuit ran an encouraging fourth on debut over six furlongs and looks well suited stepping up in trip second-up. No. 5 Oldtown wasn’t far away on debut and should come on from a trial between runs.

Race 10, Shek Sheung River Handicap

No. 7 Kempes is drawn better than several key rivals and is a likely improver stepping onto the Sha Tin all-weather for the first time, following a much-improved fifth behind Masterofmyuniverse. No. 6 Chill Kaka was game in defeat when runner-up on Class 3 debut chasing a hat-trick of wins. He’s holding his form but will need luck from the widest draw. No. 2 Dragon Air Force beat Chill Kaka when trying the extended mile for the first time and looks to have more to offer. He’s a proven performer on the dirt and remains on the up. No. 8 New Forest was dominant last start, leading all the way from post 14, and is capable of repeating the dose if he finds the front again.

Race 11, Tan Shan River Handicap

No. 12 Wave Garden draws a soft gate and steps up to a more suitable trip, both key factors that could spark a form reversal. Forget his last run, where nothing went right. No. 3 Ka Ying Attack jumps from post 12 but has the pace to roll forward. He’s lifted since the blinkers went on, running third to Crossborderpegasus before stepping back up to seven furlongs and clearing out to win by two lengths. No. 4 Top Dragon is a smart 3-year-old on the rise aiming for a hat-trick, but post 14 makes things tricky. No. 7 The Red Hare is another who needs luck from out wide but has closed off well in both runs over six furlongs. He’s trending in the right direction and the step up to seven furlongs third-up looks a good set-up.

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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