Hong Kong Sunday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin is back 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: 8 Lightness Of Music, 1 Aurora Patch, 12 Amazing Galaxy, 4 Grand Nova

Race 2: 3 Storm Runner, 4 Leather Master, 5 Chateau Le Peche, 2 Escape Route

Race 3: 2 Lo Pan Spirit, 9 Lucky McQueen, 5 Goldentronicmighty, 12 All’s Well

Race 4: 4 Fortune Boy, 1 Mister Dapper, 14 Pearl Of Pang’s, 13 Fight Time

Race 5: 5 Invincible Ibis, 6 Flowing Riches, 2 Blazing Wukong, 4 Voyage Boss

Race 6: 6 Packing Hermod, 1 Beauty Eternal, 5 Patch Of Theta, 3 Invincible Sage

Race 7: 3 Do Your Part, 8 Prestige Hall, 12 The Auspicious, 5 Fun Together

Race 8: 4 Ensued, 10 Bundle Award, 8 Pray For Mir, 11 Californiatotality

Race 9: 4 Super Infinity, 3 Lucky Eight, 13 Jumbo Treasure, 11 One Man Show

Race 10: 10 Morgan Success, 8 Flash Current, 5 Pope Cody, 9 Magnificent Nine

Race 11: 9 Super Express, 6 Dazzling Fit, 11 Lucky Twin Stars, 7 South Star

Race 1 - Ruby Handicap

No. 8 Lightness Of Music can win on debut. The Chris So-trained three-year-old has looked sharp in three local trials, all under Zac Purton, and also showed promise in two trials back in New Zealand before arriving. No. 1 Aurora Patch piques interest. This is only his second class 4 start and since his last run he’s been switched to the Manfred Man stable, which could bring about some improvement. No. 12 Amazing Galaxy is unplaced from six starts, though he had excuses last time when held up for most of the straight. One at odds who can feature. No. 4 Grand Nova resumes and might run a race fresh after trialling well for his return. This marks his third run back in class 4 after finding it tough in class 3.

Race 2 - Spessartine Garnet Handicap

No. 3 Storm Runner can go one better after putting in his best showing yet with a strong second over 1 3/8 miles at Happy Valley. He’s only a 3-year-old and that effort suggests there’s more to come. No. 4 Leather Master was the winner of that race by over two lengths. His form has turned sharply since moving to the Manfred Man yard and he might not be done yet. No. 5 Chateau Le Peche can bounce back after breaking through over this track and trip two starts back, before being unsuited when dropping back to the mile last start. No. 2 Escape Route can be followed on the downgrade and off the back of a good-looking trial win.

Race 3 - Diamond Handicap

No. 2 Lo Pan Spirit is a class-dropper to side with. In 12 runs this season he’s drawn no lower than post 9 in all but one, yet has still managed to pick up four placings. He slides back into class 4 here with a record of two wins from three in the grade, and he’s a key chance. No. 9 Lucky McQueen drew wide on debut, mapped three-wide with cover and closed in nicely for fifth. It was a good effort and, judging by his trials, he can map handier from a better draw. No. 5 Goldentronicmighty chases a hat-trick of wins and his latest success over Invincible Ibis looks a strong form reference. No. 12 All’s Well tries Sha Tin for the first time and gets conditions to suit after two runs over five furlongs where he got back and ran on well. One at odds to consider.

Race 4 - Topaz Handicap

No. 4 Fortune Boy picked up his first win at just his second try over the mile last start, scoring over Wrote A New Page who has since franked the form. He’s only a 3-year-old who’s coming to hand and looks to have a few points up his sleeve. No. 1 Mister Dapper chases back-to-back wins and a third from six runs since transferring to David Eustace’s stable. He maps well and has strong claims. No. 14 Pearl Of Pang’s slots in light and off a third behind Ping Hai Comet, he gets his chance to break through. No. 13 Fight Time does qualify for class 5 on his 40-rating but remains in class 4 at the foot of the weights and Wong’s 10lb claim. He’s a 16-start maiden, though his back-to-back thirds behind Dazzling Fit and Mister Dapper bode well.

Race 5 - Diamond Handicap, div 2

No. 5 Invincible Ibis will be hard to hold out second-up. He ran a huge race on debut despite going under as the red-hot favourite. He wasn’t the quickest away, copped some interference at the 3 1/2 furlong point, and was close to three lengths off the eventual winner at the quarter pole, but reeled him in to be beaten only a head on the line. No. 6 Flowing Riches acquitted himself well for second on debut and can take another step forward. He did some early work from post 10 to sit outside the lead, while the winner enjoyed a soft run from post 1. No. 2 Blazing Wukong was strong late winning on debut from the rear of the field. He showed an impressive turn of foot and there’s more to come. No. 4 Voyage Boss was also a first-up winner and did it on the pace. The tempo suited that day, and a different race shape here presents a new test.

Race 6 - The Premier Cup

No. 6 Packing Hermod is hard to tip against. He’s been a standout 4-year-old this season and since the blinkers went on two starts ago, he’s gone back-to-back in style. This is another test up in grade, but he’s ready to take the step. No. 1 Beauty Eternal can bounce back as he returns to seven furlongs. Four runs ago he closed off well for fourth behind Ka Ying Rising over this trip, and last start he returned to the placings at this level. No. 5 Patch Of Theta looks suited rising to seven furlongs following his strong-closing third behind Helios Express over six furlongs. No. 3 Invincible Sage is a query at the distance, though his narrow defeat to Helios Express last time reads well and gives him a chance.

Race 7 - Emerald Handicap

No. 3 Do Your Part can be followed after his breakthrough win where he pulled clear by two lengths. He’s taken time and a drop in rating to find his feet in Hong Kong, but now looks to be on an upward trajectory. No. 8 Prestige Hall can take another step forward after finishing second on debut over six furlongs. He raced keenly and struck interference mid-race, so there was merit to the run. No. 12 The Auspicious has had no favours with post draws, but he’s been catching the eye since his long-odds win five starts ago. No. 5 Fun Together will push forward and make his own luck. He hasn’t won for a while, though his last-start second to Dazzling Fit reads well.

Race 8 - The Premier Plate

No. 4 Ensued was a tough watch last start after enduring a torrid run in the Champions & Chater Cup. He was posted deep and worked hard throughout, yet still fought on bravely for sixth. He’s looked sharp in a recent trial and back in trip suits. No. 10 Bundle Award comes through the same race where he got back too far. He closed off strongly for fifth and the step back in distance is key. No. 8 Pray For Mir notched his first Group race win last start with an audacious all-the-way effort. He doesn’t need to lead again, but his on-pace style fits this map. No. 11 Californiatotality is best forgiven for his last-start failure on the all-weather when found lame. He’s a three-time winner from four course and distance runs and is capable of bouncing back.

Race 9 - Lapis Lazuli Handicap

No. 4 Super Infinity is better than the fifth-place finish last start suggests. He was held up inside the final sixteenth and still only finished a length and a half off the winner in what looks a strong form race. He finds the right set-up here to return to the winners’ list. No. 3 Lucky Eight was trapped wide without cover from post 11 last time and had little chance. Prior to that he strung together back-to-back runner-up finishes and that’s the form to go on. No. 13 Jumbo Treasure rises to class 3 without a win but drops 14lb in the weights and looks the likely leader. He’ll roll forward and give them something to chase. No. 11 One Man Show debuts for the Frankie Lor stable and his trials suggest he can measure up.

Race 10 - Sapphire Handicap

No. 10 Morgan Success looks ready to win. He returned to form last start with another second placing and from post 3 he maps to get the run of the race. No. 8 Flash Current has won two from five and was solid last time stepping up to seven furlongs. He now tackles the mile and rises to class 3, which presents a different test, but he’s progressive and has more to come. No. 5 Pope Cody hasn’t had a gate yet and once again faces a task from post 14, but he continues to catch the eye with strong finishes, including two recent fourths from wide draws. The rise to the mile suits and he’s ready to figure. No. 9 Magnificent Nine is finding it tough to win in this grade, though his consistent record over the course and trip keeps him in the conversation.

Race 11 - Amethyst Handicap

No. 9 Super Express is one of a few 3-year-olds with better things to come next season. He went down narrowly to Top Dragon last start in his first run at class 3 and looks ready to go one better. No. 6 Dazzling Fit is chasing a hat-trick and puts his unbeaten course and distance record on the line. He’s on the rise, but Super Express will be ahead of him in the run and will be the one to peg back. No. 11 Lucky Twin Stars is heading the right way. He caught the eye over five furlongs second-up and the rise to seven furlongs looks much more his go. His trial between runs was solid. No. 7 South Star stuck on for third behind Super Express last time after having every chance. He gets a similar set-up here.

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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