Hong Kong overnight: Picks, analysis, PPs for Sha Tin

Hong Kong racing happens at Sha Tin a day early this week. The overnight card begins Saturday at 1 a.m. EDT, Friday 10 p.m. PDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 7 Viva Chaleur, 6 Verbier, 2 Spangle Fortune, 3 Yoda’s Choice

Race 2: 1 Only U, 2 Circuit Fiery, 11 Brave Of Friends, 3 My Flying Angel

Race 3: 5 Fashion Legend, 3 Fighting Machine, 1 Precision Goal, 14 View All Things

Race 4: 12 Strathpeffer, 1 Fun Together, 5 Absolute Awakened, 8 Young Bravo

Race 5: 14 Ruby Sailing, 6 Lahore, 2 Rezeki, 10 Same To You

Race 6: 4 Etalon Or, 1 Beauty Glory, 10 Better And Better, 13 Fight Time

Race 7: 6 Fast Responder, 4 We Are Hero, 7 Metro Power, 1 Stellar Express

Race 8: 12 Mojave Desert, 4 Soleil Fighter, 7 Talents Ambition, 5 Telecom Fighters

Race 9: 3 Bulb General, 5 Jumbo Treasure, 2 The Boom Box, 4 Infinite Resolve

Race 10: 3 Joy Of Spring, 4 Gentleman Legacy, 8 Wrote A New Page, 2 Cambridge

Race 1, Tung Chung Handicap

No. 7 Viva Chaleur profiles well from an inside draw, now with Tony Cruz and having trialed well twice in preparation. A 30-start maiden in Hong Kong, he gets another crack at class 5, only his second try in the grade, and shapes as ready to strike. No. 6 Verbier raced keenly and did too much work early when resuming, which left him without a finishing effort. From post 2, he can control the pace more comfortably and give a better account. No. 2 Spangle Fortune drops back to class 5, where he boasts a strong record, and the booking of Zac Purton is timely. He’s third-up, so has ample race fitness. No. 3 Yoda’s Choice is another class-dropper to respect and maps to get every chance from the inside alley.

Race 2, Nam Sang Wai Handicap

No. 1 Only U moves into a much better draw after starting from a wide gate first-up when storming home into third at his first start for Brett Crawford. That effort suggested a win isn’t far away, and a kinder map from post 2 gives him every chance. No. 2 Circuit Fiery has drawn widest but there isn’t a stack of early pressure here, so he should be able to work across into a forward position. Zac Purton sticks after steering him into back-to-back seconds. No. 11 Brave Of Friends ran on strongly into fourth from post 13 first-up and now moves into gate 3, which should allow him to settle much closer and improve again. No. 3 My Flying Angel finally broke through at start 20 and, staying in class 5, he remains well placed to be competitive.

Race 3, Sai Kung Handicap

No. 5 Fashion Legend had excuses when first-up on a rain-affected all-weather track from a wide post, where he was caught deep throughout and never featured. A softer draw, and the return of Zac Purton all point to sharp improvement second-up. No. 3 Fighting Machine is having his second run back in class 4 and maps to settle closer from gate 2. He gets back to his preferred course and trip where he's placed in five of eight starts. No. 1 Precision Goal led all the way to score comfortably first-up and may have been flattered by the wet track, but he maps to lead again and will give a sight. No. 14 View All Things was a sound fourth over six furlongs fresh off a stable switch to Cody Mo. Drawn to get every chance from post 3 and the step up in trip could bring further improvement.

Race 4, Pak Tam Au Handicap

No. 12 Strathpeffer didn’t enjoy the smoothest of runs first-up but found the line well behind Max Que, with that form holding up. Barrier 1 is a big help to his cause and gives him the chance to settle much closer in the run. No. 1 Fun Together has looked well in trials since joining Michael Chang’s yard. He’s drawn wide in post 10 but is a natural on-pacer who can press forward and make his own luck. No. 5 Absolute Awakened improved with the rise in trip first-up, running on into fourth from post 14. Now drawn much better in gate 3, he can take another step forward. No. 8 Young Bravo was held up late on debut and wasn’t disgraced despite the unplaced result. His trial for return was quiet, but he moved well enough to warrant a market watch second-up.

Race 5, South Bay Handicap

No. 14 Ruby Sailing will look to pinch this from the front with no weight on his back under Britney Wong’s claim, just as he did three runs back. If he’s to strike in this grade, this shapes as a winnable race. No. 6 Lahore backs up quickly after placing third for the third time in five starts. The step to six furlongs appears well timed and he’s knocking on the door. No. 2 Rezeki is yet to hit the frame from six local runs but his first outing in class 4 was an improvement and he continues to slide in the ratings. No. 10 Same To You caused a big upset first-up but maps for a soft run again from an inside gate.

Race 6, Pak Tam Au Handicap, div 2

No. 4 Etalon Or has proven costly as an eight-time placegetter from 13 starts, but he won’t find many better opportunities than this. He’s drawn post 1, having often been dealt wide gates, and has looked well in two trials for his return. No. 1 Beauty Glory can revert to a more forward position second-up after being forced to settle back from a wide draw last time, closing off well for fifth. This is his third run back in class 4 and is ready to win again. No. 10 Better And Better stuck on gamely for fifth first-up in a fast-run race after racing on speed. He is an improving type and Purton sticks with him. No. 13 Fight Time steps back up to class 4 after a soft win in class 5 and has previously been competitive at this level. With no weight, he can run a cheeky race.

Race 7, The Association of Hong Kong Racing Journalists 40th Anniversary Cup

No. 6 Fast Responder should get the race run to suit with plenty of pace engaged, and his first-up second placed run indicated he’s come back in good order. Drawn the rail for the straight course, he can charge through late. No. 4 We Are Hero also profiles well for the straight-track set-up and looks ready to go fresh following a pair of strong trials. He’s chasing back-to-back wins and maps ideally. No. 7 Metro Power backed up a much-improved off-season trial with a convincing first-up win at his fourth time of asking and looks to have more to come. No. 1 Stellar Express has come up with the wrong part of the track but, depending how the race unfolds, he’s more than capable of figuring in a field like this.

Race 8, High West Handicap

No. 12 Mojave Desert slots in nicely at the weights for his first crack at class 2. He’s third-up and race-fit, and comes off a sharp course and trip win that suggests he can take the step up. No. 4 Soleil Fighter can roll forward and make his own luck again. His only try over this course and distance saw him narrowly denied from a wide gate and he again breaks from a tricky draw, but he’s tough. No. 7 Talents Ambition thrives over the 1650m at Sha Tin and looked sharp in a recent trial alongside My Wish. Barrier 2 helps him settle closer than usual and he’ll be finishing off strongly. No. 5 Telecom Fighters should lead from gate 1 and may get it soft in front if left alone. The tempo will dictate his chances late.

Race 9, Tung Lung Chau Handicap

No. 3 Bulb General is a progressive type for Jamie Richards and remains the one to beat despite drawing post 12. He resumed with back-to-back wins in strong style and has trialed well since, indicating he’s held his form. No. 5 Jumbo Treasure set too strong a tempo when fading behind Bulb General first-up but strips fitter now and can improve with a more measured ride. No. 2 The Boom Box returns fresh and will appreciate getting back to six furlongs, though his pattern leaves him with work to do. Still, he’ll be hitting the line late. No. 4 Infinite Resolve had vet excuses first-up and is capable of bouncing back having shown some ability in just three local runs.

Race 10, Nam Long Shan Handicap

No. 3 Joy Of Spring resumed in good order when third over seven furlongs and now rises to 1 1/8 miles, a distance he's won over four times. With several key rivals resuming, his fitness edge could prove pivotal. No. 4 Gentleman Legacy showed promise across four starts last season, culminating in his first Hong Kong win. He maps well from post 4 and has points in hand this season. No. 8 Wrote A New Page chases a fourth straight win and, while the step to nine furlongs is a new test, he’s an untapped 4-year-old who continues to raise the bar. No. 2 Cambridge came good late last season once he found his rhythm and should take another step forward this term, though he does need to improve on his Sha Tin record.

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.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.