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

Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin is Saturday night at 11:45 p.m. EST. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 2 Sight Hermoso, 5 Cap Liner, 11 Smart Golf, 12 Viva Firecracker

Race 2: 3 Colourful Winner, 7 My Flying Angel, 4 Bling Bling Genius, 10 Ka Ying Power

Race 3: 9 Glaciated, 3 Thunder Prince, 2 Rezeki, 12 Winning Machine

Race 4: 1 Ever Luck, 7 Majestic Valour, 11 Enjoy Golf, 3 Golden Dream

Race 5: 5 Audacious Pursuit, 8 The Golden Knight, 9 Smart Fat Cat, 6 Gloriastar

Race 6: 1 Mr Energia, 6 Blazing Wind, 4 Super Joy N Fun, 2 Must Go

Race 7: 3 Sagacious Life, 4 Steps Ahead, 2 Hong Lok Golf, 5 Lo Rider

Race 8: 3 Lady’s Choice, 2 Magic Control, 12 Crimson Flash, 4 Colourful King

Race 9: 3 New Future Folks, 6 Super Strong Kid, 5 Alpha Strike, 12 Lightness Of Music

Race 10: 12 Blazing Wukong, 1 Beauty Bolt, 7 Dazzling Fit, 6 Uranus Star

Race 1 - Five-Furlong Handicap

No. 2 Sight Hermoso took a big step forward from his debut sixth to score impressively second-up by a length. The John Size-trained four-year-old looked progressive in the way he lengthened late and continued through the line. He has ratings in hand. No. 5 Cap Liner, who finished third to him on debut, has trialed well since and draws a far more favorable part of the track. That gives him every chance to turn the tables or at least make his presence felt. No. 11 Smart Golf debuts for the Frankie Lor yard and is one of eight newcomers in this field. His trials have all been tidy enough to suggest he can be competitive straight away. No. 12 Viva Firecracker is another first-starter who may be overlooked in the market but has shown enough in his work to indicate he can run a race fresh.

Race 2 - Seven-Furlong Handicap

No. 3 Colourful Winner finally gets conditions to suit. He has been battling wide draws all season, and now steps into class 5 for the first time with post 3 and a key upgrade to Purton. This is his best chance yet to break through. No. 7 My Flying Angel won well three starts back and has since been forced to concede ground from wide gates, yet has still been finishing off well. A soft draw brings him right back into the mix. No. 4 Bling Bling Genius has been well supported at the foot of class 4 and now finds a far more suitable assignment dipping into class 5. He is well placed to improve sharply. No. 10 Ka Ying Power finally struck gold at start 21 and the likely race shape gives him another chance to run into the finish.

Race 3 - Six-Furlong Handicap

No. 9 Glaciated profiles well on the quick seven-day turnaround. He stuck on well for fourth in a genuinely run seven furlongs on turf off a hot speed, and his prior third at this track and trip reads even better for a return to the all-weather. No. 3 Thunder Price is knocking on the door since joining Jamie Richards, posting two placings and again drawing for every chance to convert if he is up to the task. No. 2 Rezeki continues trending the right way since easing down the ratings into class 4, producing two encouraging runs, and third-up with James McDonald aboard is a fair upgrade. No. 12 Winning Machine needs luck from post 12 but his recent efforts have been sound and he gets one last look at class 4 on a light weight before dipping into class 5.

Race 4 - Six-Furlong Handicap

No. 1 Ever Luck produced one of the standout debut wins of the season, still putting them away despite skidding wide around the bend. He looks a genuine talent and with post 1 handing him the perfect rails run second-up he is well placed to remain unbeaten. No. 7 Majestic Valour debuts for Pierre Ng with Zac Purton aboard. His trials have been sharp and professional, showing he is forward enough to make an impact first-up. No. 11 Enjoy Golf improved sharply when ridden cold last start, closing strongly into fifth over five furlongs, and stretching to six furlongs from a kind draw gives him another chance to progress. No. 3 Golden Dream appeals coming to Sha Tin after a fast-finishing seventh on debut at Happy Valley where the race shape offered him no help. He should take a step forward with that experience.

Race 5 - One Mile Handicap

No. 5 Audacious Pursuit announced himself as a coming winner after his first mile run, where he was beaten only a head by The Auspicious. He maps far more cleanly from an inside draw this time and looks primed to go one better. No. 8 The Golden Knight continues to trend the right way. He has been getting back and closing strongly in both runs this season, and third-up rising to the mile ticks boxes. No. 9 Smart Fat Cat draws perfectly in post 2 and gains Purton, which looks ideal after several encouraging seven furlongs runs where he has lacked clear air late. He is ready to improve with a softer trip. No. 6 Gloriastar has shown talent in two starts and is progressing well, but post 12 is a genuine map knock. He still has claims with luck.

Race 6 - Six-Furlong Handicap

No. 1 Mr Energia is far better judged on his prior six-furlong form. Nothing went right over a mile and 44 yards last start where he blundered and pulled up with lacerations. Back to his proven trip, drawing post 2, and mapping for the perfect run brings him right back into the conversation. No. 6 Blazing Wind shapes as the main danger. He draws the pole, will settle handy, and has already shown his liking for this track and trip with a win and a close second to Mr Energia. No. 4 Super Joy N Fun produced a boilover on his first attempt at this course and distance, but it was no fluke. He gets another suitable race shape to run on late. No. 2 Must Go maps ideally stalking the speed and continues to race well enough to be given a chance in this company.

Race 7 - The Chevalier Cup

No. 3 Sagacious Life announced himself as a Derby prospect with that shock debut win, and everything since points toward him backing it up. His trial between runs was excellent, while his draw is ideal with a genuine tempo expected. He gets every opportunity to confirm he is the real deal. No. 4 Steps Ahead is better for getting back to the mile and his run two back behind Sagacious Life carried real merit given the extra work he did on the pace. A softer run puts him right in the finish. No. 2 Hong Lok Golf has not quite hit the mark in two runs this campaign but has not been beaten far. Barrier 1 hands Harry Bentley options, likely quieter tactics. No. 5 Lo Rider returns to Sha Tin after two Valley runs, first a strong win then an excuse-ridden second-up run. Freshened, he can bounce back.

Race 8 - Five-Furlong Handicap

No. 3 Lady’s Choice is fascinating dropping to five furlongs for the first time. His six furlongs formlines are elite, splitting Tomodachi Kokoroe first-up before a late-fading fourth to Patch Of Stars. With gate speed he can use post 14 to advantage. No. 2 Magic Control gets plenty in his favor: a class drop, a return to his preferred course and distance, and James McDonald taking over. Barrier 13 also puts him in the sweet lane. No. 12 Crimson Flash resumed with authority over this track and trip and, while class 2 is a fresh test, he looks a nice horse with more to come this season. No. 4 Colourful King has put up two excellent seconds this term and can figure again, though post 2 is not the ideal draw down the straight and he may need early luck to stay in the right lane.

Race 9 - Six-Furlong Handicap

No. 3 New Future Folks is worth another look with the tongue tie back on and pacifiers added. He overdid it on the speed over seven furlongs last start and compounded, while the booking of James McDonald catches the eye. No. 6 Super Strong Kid is a talented four-year-old on an upward curve. Barrier 1 sets him up perfectly to go one better after a game second on his first six furlongs attempt where the slow tempo was against him. His trial since was decent and he gets every chance. No. 5 Alpha Strike impressed winning down the straight on debut and should enjoy a soft run second-up stretching to six furlongs from an inside draw. No. 12 Lightness Of Music pulled up with blood in the trachea when beaten soundly first-up at odds-on. Forgive that run and expect a much bigger price on a horse who was widely tipped to head higher this season.

Race 10 - One Mile Handicap

No. 12 Blazing Wukong appeals on the quick back-up, rising to the mile and coming into a low draw. He was never in the hunt from a wide draw last week in an on-pace dominated race, yet his late surge into sixth, beaten only half a length, was one of the runs of the meeting. No. 1 Beauty Bolt is a progressive four-year-old heading firmly toward the classic series. After several fitness-builders and luckless runs, he finally put it together with an impressive win and looks set to continue climbing. No. 7 Dazzling Fit is another with classic series ambitions. He strips fitter for the first-up run and should appreciate the mile, though post 14 looks the query. No. 6 Uranus Star made improvement second-up when leading throughout to score at Happy Valley. Back to Sha Tin with post 1, he can give another honest account.

Luke Middlebrook is a contributor at Idol Horse. After blogging about the sport for years, he spent eight years in Singapore as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing form and editorial content for racing in Hong Kong and Singapore. Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.