Hong Kong Sunday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs
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Race 1: 5 Loyal Ambition, 6 Starship Eighty, 3 Splendid Star, 8 Ring Bells
Race 2: 7 Country Dancer, 5 Ruby Sailing, 2 Sparkling Dolphin, 6 Speedy Smartie
Race 3: 7 Prince Chiswick, 5 Ka Ying Warrior, 8 I Give, 3 All Are Mine
Race 4: 5 Always Fluke, 2 Leslie, 1 Top Top Tea, 10 King Of The Court
Race 5: 4 Forerunner, 10 Super Wise Dragon, 8 Noble Pursuit, 13 Young Horizon
Race 6: 1 California Voce, 6 Snaffles, 11 Ensued, 2 Packing Hurricane
Race 7: 4 Money Catcher, 3 Beauty Eternal, 1 California Spangle, 7 Straight Arron
Race 8: 2 Lucky Encounter, 7 Enterprise Attack, 9 Cotton Fingers, 4 Sinba
Race 9: 6 Joyful Hunter, 2 Taj Dragon, 3 Brave Dreams, 11 Big Red
Race 10: 1 Packing Treadmill, 2 Nordic Dragon, 4 Flying Ace, 10 Goko Win
Race 1: Wo Che Handicap
No. 5 Loyal Ambition gets a handy 10 pounds removed with the apprentice aboard. He’s racing well and can improve third-up over an ideal distance. No. 6 Starship Eighty has a positive draw and he’s in the right vein of form. He’s found the right rating and does pair favorably with Vincent Ho this weekend. No. 3 Splendid Star was nothing short of impressive last start. Zac Purton retains the ride and the step up in distance won’t be an issue. No. 8 Ring Bells slots in light and can find the front. He’ll take catching.
Race 2: Shek Mun Handicap
No. 7 Country Dancer makes his debut. He’s moved well in recent barrier trials and does appear forward enough to make a big impression first-up. It’s been a slow start for the stable, however, fortunes can change here. No. 5 Ruby Sailing is aiming to snap a luckless run. He gets Zac Purton aboard once more, who will ensure the horse’s best chance this weekend. No. 2 Sparkling Dolphin won well last time out. He’s a major player. No. 6 Speedy Smartie mixes his form but the ability is there. Keep safe.
Race 3: Sun Chui Handicap
No. 7 Prince Chiswick can improve following his debut effort last season. He’s been trialing well and does look forward enough to score first-up, especially with Vincent Ho aboard. One to beat. No. 5 Ka Ying Warrior is lightly raced but has the ability to be winning very soon. The inside gate is suitable with Zac Purton retaining the ride. No. 8 I Give has turned into a winning machine. He’s after a hat-trick of wins and he should give them something to run down. No. 3 All Are Mine can improve. Don’t discount.
Race 4: Sun Tin Wai Handicap, 1st section
No. 5 Always Fluke was super impressive when scoring last start. He can take his racing to another level here and does shapes as an improving type for an in-form Francis Lui. No. 2 Leslie gets a handy seven-pound apprentice claim. He closed off well last start and he can build on that effort this weekend. He might be value. No. 1 Top Top Tea makes a favorable class-drop. His last run in this grade returned a win. No. 10 King Of The Court still doesn’t seem to have shown his best in Hong Kong. Keep safe.
Race 5: Sun Tin Wai Handicap, 2nd section
No. 4 Forerunner impressed first-up and he can advance forward following that effort. He knows how to win and his best form holds him in very, very good stead for this weekend. One to beat, even against an evenly matched group. No. 10 Super Wise Dragon caught the eye first-up when surging from the tail of the field into fifth spot. Expect improvement. No. 8 Noble Pursuit can improve once more second-up this season. The ability is there but his setbacks have proven costly. No. 13 Young Horizon is next in line.
Race 6: Sha Kok Handicap
No. 1 California Voce is a nice horse and he can advance following his tidy first-up. He has a powerful finish and Hugh Bowman’s retention is a plus. One to beat. No. 6 Snaffles is so close to a first win in Hong Kong. He’s in the form of his life and another competitive effort is expected. No. 11 Ensued makes his debut over nine furlongs for trainer John Size. Zac Purton’s aboard, so he’s worth keeping an eye on. No. 2 Packing Hurricane gets 10 pounds taken off with the apprentice up. He’s worth consideration.
Race 7: Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (G2)
No. 4 Money Catcher could get the run of the race. He can either lead or sit close in the run and at the best of times he’s tough to get past. He can continue his improvement this season. A win wouldn’t shock. No. 3 Beauty Eternal is the horse on the rise and he’s trialed smartly ahead of his return. He’s the likely favorite and the inside draw is a plus. No. 1 California Spangle can find the front and give them something to catch. He’ll need to do a fair bit of work early from the draw. No. 7 Straight Arron will continue to step up.
Race 8: Lung Hang Handicap
No. 2 Lucky Encounter is chasing a fourth career win. He’s a serious talent and he appears more than capable of overcoming the wide draw for Karis Teetan. One to beat, especially following his almighty first-up win. No. 7 Enterprise Attack is aiming to maintain his unbeaten record. He was super impressive on debut and draws ideally for his second run. No. 9 Cotton Fingers performed well for second on debut. He can improve this weekend. No. 4 Sinba needs to overcome the wide draw. He has his fair share of class.
Race 9: Mei Tin Handicap
No. 6 Joyful Hunter is a classy horse who was only beaten by bad luck last start. He can atone for that effort here as he bids to recapture his winning thread. No. 2 Taj Dragon draws ideally and he can improve following his first-up effort. Expecting he can overcome the hefty impost with Zac Purton in the plate. No. 3 Brave Dreams would love a fast pace as he tends to run on late. He’ll be finishing fast. No. 11 Big Red has some quality and he should make his presence felt here. He’ll be winning soon.
Race 10: Lek Yuen Handicap
No. 1 Packing Treadmill is the class runner of the field and he is capable of shouldering top-weight against this group. He returned in style first-up and should have taken plenty of improvement out of that effort. No. 2 Nordic Dragon has the right draw and he can improve second-up. Expecting a better effort this weekend. Hugh Bowman sticks aboard. No. 4 Flying Ace was super on resumption. He’ll be rattling home again under Zac Purton. No. 10 Goko Win is largely underestimated. Expecting he can soar above expectations here.
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.
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