Hong Kong Sunday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs
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Hong Kong racing begins on Sunday at 1 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: No. 3 Hinokami Kagura, no. 1 Kaholo Angel, no. 7 Joyful Prosperity, no. 2 Super Bonus.
Race 2: No. 8 Daily Beauty, no. 3 Chiron, no. 5 Sun Of Makfi, no. 1 High Cloud.
Race 3: No. 6 The Golden Scenery, no. 1 Beauty Joy, no. 4 Circuit Stellar, no. 5 Encountered
Race 4: No. 2 All Are Mine, no. 7 Mission Bravo, no. 3 Fast Buck, no. 6 Bear Slam.
Race 5: No. 9 Always Fluke, no. 7 Speedy Fortune, no. 3 Go Hero, no. 1 Island Golden.
Race 6: No. 1 Pleasant Endeavor, no. 10 Cotton Fingers, no. 8 Cheval Valiant, no. 5 Flying High.
Race 7: No. 1 Flagship Warrior, no. 3 Taj Dragon, no. 9 Yellowfin, no. 2 Brave Dreams.
Race 8: No. 7 Noble Pursuit, no. 12 Strongest Boy, no. 1 Green N White, no. 4 Can’t Go Wong
Race 9: No. 8 Snaffles, no. 10 Big Red, no. 5 Happy Together, no.1 California Ten.
Race 10: No. 10 Bundle Of Charm, no. 6 Flying Ace, no. 2 Nordic Dragon, no. 1 Master Eight.
Race 1: HKU Libraries Handicap
No. 3 Hinokami Kagura makes his debut. He’s trained well in the lead-up to his first start and does appear forward enough to win this one. The booking of Karis Teetan warrants respect. No. 1 Kaholo Angel gets 10 pounds taken off his back with the apprentice up. He’ll take reeling in from out in front. No. 7 Joyful Prosperity can take a big step forward this season. He’s shown his ability and he may well improve as he continues to get up in distance. No. 2 Super Bonus should get the run of the race. Keep safe.
Race 2: HKU Faculties Of Law And Medicine Handicap
No. 8 Daily Beauty is better than his first effort suggests. Expecting he can improve from that run and he should do so on the dirt, especially with Karis Teetan retaining the ride. No. 3 Chiron has an ideal draw and is a major threat in this grade. He’ll get a sweet run from the ideal gate. No. 5 Sun Of Makfi gets his chance here, if he manages to overcome the awkward barrier. He’s found a winning rating and gets the ideal rider. No. 1 High Cloud makes his debut in the bottom grade. Keep safe.
Race 3: Celebration Cup Handicap (G3)
No. 6 The Golden Scenery slots in light and has conditions to suit here. He’s a winner already this season and his fitness holds him in very, very good stead. He has a chance to pinch a feature race here. No. 1 Beauty Joy has the class edge over this group, however, he’ll need to offset top weight. No. 4 Circuit Stellar is nothing short of consistent and he can continue this trend this season. Zac Purton takes the ride first-up in this contest. No. 5 Encountered continues to improve. He’s taking all of the right steps forward.
Race 4: HKU Faculties of Dentistry and Social Sciences Handicap
No. 2 All Are Mine can improve in this grade. The draw is a slight knock on his chances, however, he has experience racing on synthetic surfaces and his latest trial on the dirt at Sha Tin was impressive. He’s worth taking a chance on. No. 7 Mission Bravo can find the front and play catch me if you can, just as he has done successfully in the past. No. 3 Fast Buck has an ideal draw and his sole effort on the dirt under race conditions was superb. No. 6 Bear Slam can figure in this grade. He’s next in line.
Race 5: University Hall Handicap
No. 9 Always Fluke is lightly raced but definitely has his fair share of ability. He’s trained well ahead of his return and this looks like a suitable starting point for him this season. No. 7 Speedy Fortune is the likely leader and it wouldn’t surprise to see him pinch this one. He’ll take some reeling in. No. 3 Go Hero has a touch of quality. He did well on debut and appears capable of taking further steps forward this campaign. No. 1 Island Golden has the right draw and should get every opportunity racing up on the pace.
Race 6: HKU Business School and Faculty of Engineering Handicap
No. 1 Pleasant Endeavor races well fresh and gets his chance here. He has the right draw and a handy 10 pounds taken off with the apprentice engaged. One to reel in. No. 10 Cotton Fingers is an intriguing runner ahead of his debut. Take an each way ticket on him, especially following several encouraging barrier trials. He should be decent odds. No. 8 Cheval Valiant is consistent and does do his best racing over this course and distance. No. 5 Flying High loves the straight course at Sha Tin. He’ll be fighting out the finish.
Race 7: HKU Alumni Association Challenge Cup Handicap
No. 1 Flagship Warrior is a nice horse and he can take advantage of a low draw with Ellis Wong’s 10 pound apprentice claim in use. He has several rating points still to climb and this distance is ideal. One to beat. No. 3 Taj Dragon returns and also seems ready to further ascend the handicap. Zac Purton’s on and he ticks a lot of boxes. No. 9 Yellowfin has consistency on his side and steps out under a favorably low weight here. No. 2 Brave Dreams can continue his red-hot run at the tail-end of last season here. Keep safe.
Race 8: HKU Faculties of Architecture and Science Handicap
No. 7 Noble Pursuit has the talent and was troubled in his debut, when he found traffic and was subsequently squeezed out of a race that he was doing very, very well in. Nevertheless, he returns here and Hugh Bowman’s booking suggests that he’s ready to fire first up. No. 12 Strongest Boy has a bit of class and slots in light here. No. 1 Green N White continues to improve and Zac Purton’s pairing here catches the eye. No. 4 Can’t Go Wong appears to be on the right track. Next in line.
Race 9: HKU Faculties of Arts and Education Handicap
No. 8 Snaffles caught the eye first out. He can improve following that effort, which saw him encounter minor interference in the home straight. He’s ready to win now. No. 10 Big Red continues to defy market expectations and perform very well. He’s doing plenty right and shapes as a good chance for Lyle Hewitson. No. 5 Happy Together is a nice horse. He looks ready to make his move up the handicap now. No. 1 California Ten has a wide draw and top weight to contend with, however, the class-drop is a big bonus.
Race 10: HKU Foundation Handicap
No. 10 Bundle Of Charm has the runs on the board and he slots in light here for Karis Teetan. He looks ready to make his ascent up the handicap and this contest is winnable. No. 6 Flying Ace continues to raise the bar and he should have improved across the summer. No. 2 Nordic Dragon is chasing a fourth straight success. He’s improving each time he races and he only needs to offset the wide draw to be a factor here. No. 1 Master Eight steps down in grade for the first time in a while. Next in line.
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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