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

Race 1: 12 So Awesome, 2 Meepmeep, 10 Family Fortune, 11 Silver Destiny

Race 1 Luk Wu Handicap

No. 12 So Awesome was used up on the pace last start but only felt the pinch late, checking in less than two lengths away in fourth. It’s been a while between drinks, but from post 2 he should be able to secure a sweet run in transit, which gives him his chance. No. 2 Meepmeep is edging closer to a maiden win since dropping into this grade, which he tackled for the first time last start over 1 1/8 miles at this course. He didn’t get the clearest of runs in the straight on that occasion, so there was good merit to the placing, and he can take a step forward at his second attempt in the cellar grade. No. 10 Family Fortune ran his best race yet when resuming with a third behind the in-form Regency Happy Star, following a solid trial. He’s on the improve. No. 11 Silver Destiny has switched stables from Dennis Yip to Frankie Lor, though there’s been no trial since. He’s put in some good efforts since sliding into Class 5 and is one who can surprise.

Race 2 Tsing Lung Tau Handicap

No. 3 Top Dragon stepped up to seven furlongs last start, but it’s a run best forgotten given he had plenty of excuses in transit. After being caught wide early, he was restrained and settled at the rear to avoid covering extra ground, and near the quarter pole he was hampered when taken wider by another runner. He’s trialed well since and can improve sharply with Zac Purton jumping aboard from post 3. No. 2 Gallant Epoch also comes off a disappointing effort where he led and weakened into last at Happy Valley, but a return to this course and distance suits better and he can prove hard to run down. No. 11 Strathpeffer has drawn wide in recent runs and hasn’t had much go his way, yet continues to finish close up—he’s one to include as he should map much kinder from post 7 this time. No. 8 Jubilant Winner is edging closer to a breakthrough. He resumed with a strong late burst into third over six furlongs and has produced solid efforts over seven furlongs previously.

Race 3 Cheung Shan Handicap

No. 1 Solid Shalaa looks like he’ll get the race run to suit his get-back, run-on pattern given the amount of early speed on paper. He resumed off a lengthy break with a fast-finishing second, which sets him up nicely for a promising second-up performance. No. 7 Golden Friendship lines up for his fourth career start and has been performing well without placing. Since his last run, he’s turned in a strong trial at this course and distance where he was ridden more patiently. Those tactics may be adopted again, giving him a chance to improve into the money. No. 8 Fun N Fun Together gets a gear change with the cheekpieces off and blinkers going on for the first time. He’s a nine-start maiden but has shown glimpses of promise, and post 3 with Zac Purton aboard gives him every chance to figure. No. 2 Natural High shapes as a pace influence depending on how he steps from post 10. He won well two starts ago before fading late into fourth after being used up early from gate 11.

Race 4 Kowloon Tsai Handicap

No. 8 Fortune Boy turned in his best performance yet when flashing home late into third behind Super Express over seven furlongs. He won a trial easily between runs wearing cheekpieces, which are applied here, and he looks ready to break through stepping up to the mile. No. 4 Mister Dapper scored impressively two starts ago on his second run for the David Eustace yard, but last time he was badly held up at the turn before being crowded for room and didn’t finish off thereafter. Forget that run and give him another chance. No. 1 Etalon Or is also up to the mile for the first time after going close to shedding his maiden tag on multiple occasions over seven furlongs. There was plenty of merit to his last-start second placing behind Mr Cool, who’s a nice horse on the rise. No. 9 Raging Rapids is an improving 4-year-old and took to seven furlongs well last start when finishing a close-up fourth. The rise to the mile could unlock further improvement.

Race 5 Ma Tau Kok Handicap

No. 1 Chill Kaka now sits at the top of Class 4 after breaking through stylishly over this course and trip last start, scoring a facile three-and-three-quarter length win. The progressive 4-year-old looks capable of repeating the dose. No. 8 Run Run Timing should receive the gun run from post 1, and his last-start second placing behind Chill Kaka on his first go around this course and distance gives him every opportunity to make his presence felt here. No. 3 Fashion Legend has taken time to find his feet in Hong Kong, but a drop in the ratings and a switch to this course and distance last start saw him break through easily by over a length. David Eustace sticks to the winning formula, and back-to-back successes look well within reach. No. 12 Phantom Cyclone turned in his best effort yet last time, closing hard into third from off the pace behind Chill Kaka on his first spin around this circuit. That run suggests further improvement is likely on his second attempt.

Race 6 Hong Kong Lions Cup

No. 7 Bundle Award was a very good run in the Hong Kong Derby, coming from back in the pack to finish seventh against the race shape. Prior to that, he was an electric winner over this distance, and the lightly-raced four-year-old has plenty more to offer. With a nice inside draw in post 3, he can bounce back to winning form. No. 2 Helene Feeling has been in strong form all season, with one win and four placings from nine starts. His last-start second behind Voyage Samurai over the mile was full of merit in a small field, and he will handle the rise to 1 1/8 miles without issue. No. 8 Steps Ahead also comes out of the Derby where he jumped from post 13, was ridden for luck, and closed off well into ninth, not beaten far. Three starts ago he won well at this distance from a forward position, and depending on how he jumps from post 10, those tactics could be back in play. No. 5 Winning Dragon is the dark horse in the race and is always capable of surprising. Post 1 brings him right into calculations.

Race 7 Kowloon Bay Handicap

No. 2 Beauty Waves takes a massive drop in class after competing at Group level in his last six starts, and he now tries Sha Tin’s all-weather surface for the first time, though he has always trialed well on it. While this is a highly competitive contest, it shapes as his race to get back to winning ways. No. 4 Bottomuptogether is a talented four-year-old who has been mixing distances this season and also tries the all-weather under race conditions for the first time. His tactical versatility will serve him well, and his last-start second to Fast Network is a strong form reference. No. 6 Sing Dragon is a four-time winner from seven at this course and distance, and his last-start fifth is best overlooked as he was never on the track from post 11. He can improve sharply from an inside draw. No. 1 Copartner Prance also has his first go on the all-weather under race conditions. He drops back into Class 2 where he is a three-time winner from six, and after a fair fourth in Group 2 company behind Ka Ying Rising, his on-pace profile gives him every chance to feature.

Race 8 Siu Ma Shan Handicap

No. 3 Must Go continued his rich vein of form this season with a dominant win last start by one and a half lengths. He’s trialed just as well between runs and remains the benchmark runner to beat, especially with the in-form Andrea Atzeni aboard and a kind draw in post 4. No. 6 Dragon Air Force has twice finished runner-up to Must Go since the rise to Class 3 and looks ready to go one better, though post 11 isn’t ideal. No. 12 Mr Energia resumes and has trialed well for his return. He kicks off at this course and distance where he boasts a win and a second from two attempts, putting him right in the mix at his second try in Class 3. No. 1 Gummy Gummy hasn’t saluted for over a year and a half but has rediscovered form in his past two runs at this course and trip, finishing second and third. He gets another chance to feature with Zac Purton taking over.

Race 9 Ngau Tau Kok Handicap

No. 2 Triumphant More is a nice 4-year-old who has built a strong record of three wins from six starts and brings in some of the best form lines here. He beat Lifeline Express two starts ago before a game second to Invincible Shield last time out, which marks him clearly as the one to beat. No. 9 Majestic Express flashed home into third in that same race behind Invincible Shield and has trialed well between runs. He’s not a prolific winner but looks a solid each-way chance. No. 10 Moduleconstruction had excuses when eighth first-up after racing wide without cover, then drew post 12 last start, worked forward early and stuck on well for fourth in a fast-run race. He’s a knockout hope at odds third-up with any luck from gate 10. No. 4 Pakistan Legacy has post 11 to overcome but is close to a breakthrough win, having finished runner-up in two of three Hong Kong starts, most recently to Lady’s Choice, another strong form reference for this.

Race 10 Ho Chung River Handicap

No. 11 South Star is a nice 3-year-old on the up and takes on Class 3 for the first time after breaking through for his maiden win last start at his third attempt. He showed plenty of determination, overcoming post 10 by punching forward behind a tearaway leader under fast early splits and winning well by over a length. He is a nice horse going places. No. 2 Another World was backed off the map last start and duly saluted for his third win from seven career starts. He still has more to give as a four-year-old and should be making his way into Class 2 in due course. No. 1 Juneau Pride has been a model of consistency for the John Size yard, targeting a hat-trick of wins and a fourth win from five starts. He now finds himself atop Class 3 under top weight with post 10 to overcome, which is a test. No. 10 New Forest is an improving type who hasn’t been beaten more than three lengths in four local starts. He was sent out favorite on the all-weather last time for a late-fading fourth and can take up the lead here to give a bold sight.

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.