Hong Kong Saturday night: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Race 1: 11 Starship Eighty, 14 Just Great Two, 4 Fiery Flying, 2 Arthur’s Kingdom

Race 2: 9 All Is Ready, 7 Miracles, 8 Happy Tango, 11 Super Joy 

Race 3: 13 Yee Cheong Warrior, 8 Righteous Doctrine, 5 Mission Bravo, 7 Lucky Banner 

Race 4: 7 Mr Maestro, 6 Ka Ying Rising, 1 Telecom Dragon, 12 Strathpeffer 

Race 5: 4 Flying Dragon, 1 Euro Rocks, 2 Greenwich, 3 Everyone’s Victory 

Race 6: 5 Majestic Star, 7 Youthful Deal, 8 Campione, 3 Chancheng Prince 

Race 7: 6 So We Joy, 11 Red Aclaim, 4 Adefill, 2 Fiery Diamond

Race 8: 8 Must Go, 5 Sparkling Knight, 1 Flying High, 2 Pleasant Endeavor 

Race 9: 6 Meepmeep, 1 Ka Ying Cheer, 2 Holy Lake, 3 Chilli Baba 

Race 10: 1 Awesome Fluke, 3 Never Too Soon, 8 Golden Samurai, 11 Pins Prince

No. 11 Starship Eighty has been knocking on the door for quite some time. He’s in superb form and his two runs on the dirt this season have seen him finish within a length of winning. One to beat. No. 14 Just Great Two has a suitable draw and no weight on his back. He was sound last start and looks well placed to improve from that. Take an each way ticket on him. No. 4 Fiery Flying is in the right vein of form having placed either second or third in all four of his last runs. No. 2 Arthur’s Kingdom makes the dip in grade. Keep safe.

No. 9 All Is Ready was nothing short of impressive last time out when winning. He can take another step forward following that effort, especially from a suitable draw. No. 7 Miracles will find the front and most probably play catch me if you can under Zac Purton. He’ll take some catching, just as he has done in the past. No. 8 Happy Tango is in sound form. He continues to race well and just needs to overcome the wide draw this weekend. No. 11 Super Joy closed off nicely last start. He slots in light and appears to have some ability

No. 13 Yee Cheong Warrior is racing in superb form this season. He slots in light and is in the right vein of form to be winning here, even though he’s yet to race on dirt. He’s worth taking a chance on to surprise. No. 8 Righteous Doctrine knows what it’s all about and remains a threat in this grade and on this surface. No. 5 Mission Bravo is the likely leader. He’ll take a bit of reeling in as long as he finds his customary front-running position with ease. No. 7 Lucky Banner is always a threat on dirt. Next in line.  

No. 7 Mr Maestro makes his debut. He’s trialed well on the turf and will benefit from a suitable draw first time out. He looks to have some ability but a smooth run in transit should be what ensures his chance. No. 6 Ka Ying Rising also steps out for his first start. He’s done nothing but impress at the trials, however, he may find a fair bit of company jostling for the lead. No. 1 Telecom Dragon roared to a tidy win last time out. He remains in Class 4 which is suitable. No. 12 Strathpeffer can make his presence felt. Don’t discount. 

No. 4 Flying Dragon is the one to beat. He has the apprentice up and the inside draw should ensure he finds the lead. He’s a three-time dirt track winner at Sha Tin and can easily add another to his haul this weekend. No. 1 Euro Rocks placed over the course and distance in the grade above earlier this season. He has a bit of a class edge. No. 2 Greenwich should roll forward under champion jockey Zac Purton. The inside gate is an advantage. No. 3 Everyone’s Victory is a classy operator on dirt. The wide draw is an slight issue.

No. 5 Majestic Star draws perfectly and has the form on the board to be winning this one. He’s suited on dirt, especially as a Class 1 winner over this course and distance. He looks fit, ready and capable of winning again. No. 7 Youthful Deal makes an ideal drop in distance. He’ll be able to showcase his best. No. 8 Campione can lead this group under the featherweight impost. He could take a bit of running down if he manages to get his own way. No. 3 Chancheng Prince has to be included. He loves the dirt.

No. 6 So We Joy has an ideal draw and is suited here. He can improve out of sight second-up, especially from gate one as a course and distance winner previously. One to beat. No. 11 Red Aclaim slots in light. He will be much better suited on dirt as a winner on the synthetic pre-import. Zac Purton’s booking catches the eye. No. 4 Adefill is classy on this surface and he pairs favorably with James McDonald. The wide gate is a slight hindrance, however. No. 2 Fiery Diamond knows what to do. Next in line.

No. 8 Must Go makes his first appearance at the races in Hong Kong. He clearly has above average ability, especially if he is going to make his first start this quick for John Size. Big watch. No. 5 Sparkling Knight should hit the front and try to pinch this contest. He’s a tough on-pacer, who should once again make good account of himself. No. 1 Flying High has a stack of class over this track and trip. He’ll be fighting out another finish, especially as the form from his last defeat stacks up. No. 2 Pleasant Endeavor is next best.

No. 6 Meepmeep was super impressive when second on debut. He can improve following that effort and his pairing with Zac Purton bodes well for this race. One to beat. No. 1 Ka Ying Cheer needs to overcome the wide draw but he does have his fair share of ability. The five pounds comes off back with Angus Chung engaged. No. 2 Holy Lake is chasing back-to-back wins. He has an ideal draw and his latest win was solid. Expect further improvement. No. 3 Chilli Baba is racing well and will be closing late again.

No. 1 Awesome Fluke makes his Hong Kong debut. He has a suitable draw and the class to perform very strongly first-up, especially over this trip. He’s worth taking a chance on at odds. No. 3 Never Too Soon is chasing a hat-trick of wins. He remains in Class 3 which is a plus and he has the closing speed to overcome this group. Big threat. No. 8 Golden Samurai draws awkwardly. He needs to overcome the widest of 14 barriers. No. 11 Pins Prince was a solid winner two runs back and will appreciate returning to seven furlongs. Keep safe.

Declan Schuster grew up loving the sport and doing the form after Pierro won the 2012 Golden Slipper. His love for racing in Asia and the puzzle of finding winners took him to Hong Kong, where he is employed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. His favorite racecourse is Happy Valley. Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.