Hong Kong Sunday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing at Sha Tin is Sunday 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: 7 Modest Gentleman, 12 Timestorm, 2 King Oberon, 11 Flying Phantom 

Race 2: 5 Lunar Dash, 3 Wonderstar, 10 Pejibaye, 8 Team Team Folks

Race 3: 2 Cashiscash, 4 Young Horizon, 1 Only U, 3 Lucky Gold

Race 4: 4 Etalon Or, 3 Times Table, 13 Ping Hai Comet, 5 California Sun

Race 5: 1 Dancing Classics, 5 Lahore, 3 Moon Rocket, 4 Cheval Valiant

Race 6: 7 Max Que, 10 Quick Contribution, 1 Enjoy Golf, 9 Ka Ying Radiance

Race 7: 7 Light Years Charm, 3 Drombeg Banner, 6 Dancing Code, 4 Invincible Shield

Race 8: 13 Super Unicorn, 1 Brilliant Express, 7 Eighty Light Years, 10 Glorious Success

Race 9: 2 La Forza, 9 Sparkling Fellow, 11 Parents’ Love, 8 Metro Power

Race 10: 10 Ahren, 8 Little Paradise, 2 Lifeline Express, 1 Moduleconstruction

Race 1, Chak On Handicap

No. 7 Modest Gentleman is an interesting runner having his first look at Sha Tin on his 37th start. Unlike many in this race, he’s a winner, two times, in fact, and comes off an encouraging second placing. Post 2 gives him the right run. No. 12 Timestorm has been sliding down the ratings and hasn’t had much go his way from wide draws in recent runs. He’s been finding the line well and, drawn slightly better in gate 10, is capable of surprising. No. 2 King Oberon makes his Class 5 debut and his Class 4 form stands up well for a race like this. One to follow. No. 11 Flying Phantom is hard to catch but was sound last start when third and now gets his chance to break through at attempt 22 in a typically open Class 5.

Race 2, Kwong Tin Handicap

No. 5 Lunar Dash is a newcomer for the Mark Newnham stable and the 3-year-old has caught the eye in his trials with Zac Purton aboard in all three hit-outs. He finds a moderate Class 4 on debut and can get on the board straight away. No. 3 Wonderstar has tumbled down the ratings and, since a stable switch to Me Tsui, is trending in the right direction. He was sent out favorite last time and ran a close-up second, putting the writing on the wall. He maps to lead comfortably and may prove hard to catch. No. 10 Pejibaye steps out third-up and has shown promise. Blinkers go on now, and his trial in the gear suggests the change will be effective. No. 8 Team Team Folks disappointed on debut when failing to make inroads, but his trial win since hints at improvement.

Race 3, Chung On Handicap

No. 2 Cashiscash made his Class 5 debut last start and showed sharp improvement with a fast-finishing second. The three-year-old is only having his ninth start and looks capable of going one better with natural progression. No. 4 Young Horizon returns to his preferred track and trip on his second run back in Class 5. The conditions suit and he can figure. No. 1 Only U drops into Class 5 for the first time following a strong third placing in Class 4 behind Shamus Storm. Zac Purton takes the ride, he’s drawn to get every chance from gate 3, and his claims are clear. No. 3 Lucky Gold has no recent form to speak of but dips into the cellar grade now. His recent trial was quiet but encouraging and he could surprise.

Race 4, Lam Tin Handicap

No. 4 Etalon Or continues his run of good performances from wide posts and is overdue for a win. With a change of luck in running moving into a low draw, this 3-year-old can get his nose in front. No. 3 Times Table has drawn horribly in all three runs since dropping into Class 4 and while he hasn’t featured, he has been catching the eye. An inside gate may see him settle closer and finish in the money. No. 13 Ping Hai Comet can’t be ignored from post 1 under Zac Purton, though the drop back to a mile after a 1 3/8-mile win 11 days ago shapes as an interesting set-up. No. 5 California Sun was unwanted in the betting on debut but outperformed expectations with a closing fourth after racing in tight room in the straight.

Race 5, Lai On Handicap

No. 1 Dancing Classics backed up a series of promising trials by creating a big impression on debut, winning easily at this track and trip in good time. He can win again having drawn the right part of the track. No. 5 Lahore was only a neck away in third to Moon Rocket last time on his second career start and has a better gate than that rival here as well as a gear change with blinkers going on. No. 3 Moon Rocket improved sharply from his debut fourth to win smartly second-up. The 3-year-old has upside and can go on with it. No. 4 Cheval Valiant maps as the likely leader under Britney Wong’s 10lb claim and, while he mixes his form, he can stick on for a place if rated well.

Race 6, Mei Tin Handicap

No. 7 Max Que is knocking on the door, finishing second in his last three starts. His formlines read strong as two runs ago he chased home Dazzling Fit and last start his runner-up finish to Shamus Storm carried plenty of merit given he was held up for much of the straight. No. 10 Quick Contribution improved sharply two starts back when stepping up to this distance for the first time. Last time out he drew widest, settled near last in an on-pace dominated race, and couldn’t get into it, though his late splits were fast. With a better trip, he can improve. No. 1 Enjoy Golf has been in consistent form without winning this season, placing seven times from nine outings. He should be in the mix again. No. 9 Ka Ying Radiance will need plenty of luck from post 14, but he’s one to keep an eye on first-up as he steps to seven furlongs for the first time, which looks key to his chances.

Race 7, Lee On Handicap

No. 7 Light Years Charm steps into Class 2 following his second Hong Kong win, which he earned the hard way after a fair getaway and striking trouble in the straight before getting up narrowly. He’s a horse with more to offer, and this shapes as a good test against seasoned Class 2 performers. No. 3 Drombeg Banner resumes and is a noted fresh performer with three wins from six first-up attempts. He’ll lead comfortably and prove hard to run down. No. 6 Dancing Code also has early speed, as seen when leading and only collared late by Packing Hermod, which stands up as a solid form reference. No. 4 Invincible Shield has shown plenty of promise with three wins from five local starts, and although disappointing last time when dropping back to six furlongs, he’s worth another chance to bounce back.

Race 8, Ping Tin Handicap

No. 13 Super Unicorn had his first start for the Mark Newnham stable last time and things didn’t really go to plan. He was restrained mid-race and raced keenly, though he still finished only two lengths away in fourth. At a price, he appeals as a value each-way chance. No. 1 Brilliant Express was caught wide without cover from gate 13 last start and did well to stick on for sixth. He’s drawn the same gate again but deserves another look. No. 7 Eighty Light Years has placed behind some handy types of late, including Brilliant Express, and if he can roll forward, he should be right in the mix. No. 10 Glorious Success resumes and has been hinting at a win. His trial was encouraging and this looks a suitable race for him to feature.

Race 9, On Yam Handicap

No. 2 La Forza is building a handy record with three wins from five starts and resumes chasing a hat-trick after winning his last two by a combined margin of over three lengths. He’s looked sharp in two recent trial wins and is clearly the one to beat. No. 9 Sparkling Fellow was badly held up two back when third to Dream Winner over this track and trip, then was set a task from post 12 at Happy Valley last start. He’s a knockout chance at odds. No. 11 Parents’ Love will roll forward and looks to get control in a race lacking early pressure, which sets it up for him to give a good sight. No. 8 Metro Power turned in a solid debut when second to Stellar Express at this course and trip and looks a natural improver with that experience under his belt.

Race 10, Tin Wan Handicap

No. 10 Ahren was sent off odds-on in his first Class 3 run last time and closed strongly for second, missing by just a head. It was a solid effort considering the leader controlled the race with soft splits, and he looks ready to go one better. No. 8 Little Paradise is unbeaten from two starts in Class 4, both from wide posts and showing tactical versatility. Class 3 is a new test but he’s clearly a horse on the rise. No. 2 Lifeline Express will relish a stronger tempo given his get-back style. From post 11 last start he got too far back in a slowly run race but still finished off strongly. No. 1 Moduleconstruction has defied wide draws in his last two to win from on-pace positions and he’s hard to fault, especially from post 3 this time.

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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