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

If you're still looking for some top-class racing after the Derby, Hong Kong racing is on at Sha Tin, overnight at 12:30 a.m. EDT., Saturday 9:30 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: 4 Quick Money, 1 The All Out, 6 Babieca, 8 Win Method

Race 2: 2 Fairy Horse, 11 Speedy Smartie, 5 Flying Romantic, 4 Circuit Victory

Race 3: 1 Call Me Gorgeous, 4 Better And Better, 7 Lucky Symphony, 3 Dashing Dragon

Race 4: 8 Pray For Mir, 5 Hong Lok Golf, 4 Steps Ahead, 3 Mickley

Race 5: 2 Crossborderpegasus, 3 Super Fortune, 9 Ballistic Win, 6 Ka Ying Attack

Race 6: 7 Wrote A New Page, 3 Etalon Or, 2 Gallant Epoch, 6 Carry On Smiling

Race 7: 6 Shamus Storm, 3 Mr Cool, 5 Ka Ying Superb, 11 Autumn Delight

Race 8: 6 Bravehearts, 3 Winning Dragon, 4 Bundle Award, 5 Noisy Boy

Race 9: 5 Dazzling Fit, 1 Spirit Of Peace, 11 Amazing Run, 4 Max Que

Race 10: 2 Family Jewel, 7 Winning Wing, 9 Gold Master, 3 Enthralled

Race 11: 2 The Boom Box, 1 Brilliant Express, 9 Yuen Long Elite, 7 Super Infinity

Race 1 - Tsim Sha Tsui Plate

No. 4 Quick Money was strong late into second behind the raging odds-on favorite The All Out on debut, and he looks worth siding with here as only a head separated them on the line. No. 1 The All Out looked to have the race won with ease as the $1.20 favorite but just held on late. He’s again drawn the right part of the track, which always helps in these Griffin races. These youngsters are all open to plenty of improvement. No. 6 Babieca was third to The All Out and Quick Money on debut, racing greenly throughout, but his raw ability saw him finish close up. He should come on well for that experience and present more professionally. No. 8 Win Method has just the one trial leading into his debut: it was a pass mark, and while he’ll need time, he looks capable of being somewhere in the mix.

Race 2 - Jordan Handicap

No. 2 Fairy Horse is still in search of a maiden win after 16 starts, but his form has been on the up this season, notching four placings from 10 outings. He now drops back into class 5 after two solid runs at the bottom of class 4 from wide draws, and coming into a better gate this time gives him his shot. No. 11 Speedy Smartie was trapped wide without cover last start and was entitled to weaken as he did. His prior run, a close-up third at this course and distance, is a much better guide. A similar effort can be expected. No. 5 Flying Romantic made contact with the gates on jumping last start and settled too far back as a result, though he was eye-catching late into fifth. His run prior was sound when he sat handy and stuck on well for second at this track and trip. Second-up here, he can show more. No. 4 Circuit Victory resumes off a promising trial win, which brings him right into contention on his third attempt in class 5, a chance at odds.

Race 3 - Hung Hom Handicap

No. 1 Call Me Gorgeous drops into class 4 and looks ready to put his best foot forward after showing potential in class 3. Two starts ago he finished a close-up fourth after being held up for a portion of the home straight, and last time he drew wide in post 12 and was trapped without cover, a run best forgiven. No. 4 Better And Better makes his debut for the Frankie Lor stable and has shown enough in trials to suggest he can be competitive straight up. His two latest trials with Zac Purton aboard showed clear improvement. No. 7 Lucky Symphony is on the verge of breaking through for his first win. His last two runner-up efforts have been promising: two back behind Magnifique, who has since climbed the ratings, and last time to Crossborderpegasus, after being forced wide at the 3 1/2 furlongs and left without cover. No. 3 Dashing Dragon resumes for his second attempt in class 4. While there’s no form on paper just yet, his recent trials have shown improvement and he may be ready to bring that to race day.

Race 4 - Hillwood Handicap

No. 8 Pray For Mir was solid in his first class 2 test, finishing a head away in third to Californiatotality over 1 1/8 miles. He has the option to lead this field if desired, and he’s a tough horse to get past when conditions suit. Back to his winning distance enhances his prospects. No. 5 Hong Lok Golf has been a revelation for the Chris So yard this season, winning four from five, including his last two since stepping up to seven furlongs. He’s chasing a hat-trick here as he again enters new territory, class 2 and the mile for the first time. No. 4 Steps Ahead has been a consistent standout four-year-old this season and comes through the same race as Pray For Mir, finishing second to Californiatotality. He’ll be up on the pace for a long while and hard to leave out of the finish. No. 3 Mickley has been hard to catch, but with Zac Purton in the saddle for the first time, he may be able to recapture some of his earlier form in a race of this nature.

Race 5 - Gascoigne Handicap

No. 2 Crossborderpegasus was a good thing beaten last start after racing wide without cover throughout, but he fought strongly to miss by the barest of margins on the wire. He’s trialed well twice since that second placing and looks set to bounce back in a big way here. No. 3 Super Fortune profiles as the likely leader and may receive a soft enough run on the pace to give a bold sight. No. 9 Ballistic Win can be forgiven for his last-start no-show over seven furlongs: he raced too keenly back in the pack and lacked a finishing effort. His prior form holds up well in this grade, and the drop back in distance is in his favor. No. 6 Ka Ying Attack is a three-year-old on the rise who resumed off a four-month break making his class 3 debut last start over seven furlongs, where he faded late into seventh behind Hong Lok Golf. Second-up and back in trip, he looks primed to improve.

Race 6 - The Centenary Cup

No. 7 Wrote A New Page has shown glimpses of ability in three starts so far. The three-year-old is clearly improving with race experience, and the rise to the mile for the first time could unlock further progression. No. 3 Etalon Or is ready to win when things fall into place. He hasn’t had much luck from wide posts, his last two runs included, where he’s been ridden for luck out the back and closed off strongly into the placings. Once again he draws wide in gate 11 and will likely be ridden similarly, leaving him with plenty to do and dependent on tempo and luck. No. 2 Gallant Epoch will press forward as he usually does despite drawing out in post 12, and while no match for Top Dragon last start when beaten just over two lengths, it was a game effort and he remains competitive. No. 6 Carry On Smiling broke through at long odds two starts ago and backed it up with a better run than it reads into seventh last start, checked at the 1/8th pole when building momentum. Back up to the mile suits and he’ll run his usual honest race from there.

Race 7 - Cox's Handicap

No. 6 Shamus Storm finished third to Mr Cool last start and had things go wrong, racing keenly early before copping interference at the furlong pole. Zac Purton now takes the reins, and with a post advantage this time, he gets every chance to turn the tables. No. 3 Mr Cool is a promising three-year-old headed higher. He ran on strongly into third on debut over an unsuitable six furlongs at Happy Valley, then took to this course and distance second-up and, despite drawing wide in post 11, was still too good late, winning like a horse going places. He should only improve with racing, though post 13 is a challenge. No. 5 Ka Ying Superb weakened to finish 11th last time after being used up early on the lead, but the run prior, ridden more patiently, saw him close off well for third. He’s improving since the class drop and looks ready to rebound with a more measured ride. No. 11 Autumn Delight should appreciate the step up to seven furlongs second-up after a sound fifth over six furlongs on the all-weather where he was beaten three lengths.

Race 8 - The Queen Mother Memorial Cup

No. 6 Bravehearts boasts a strong second-up record with two wins from three attempts and now rises to Group company for the first time in Hong Kong. He looks a knockout chance at the weights relative to his rivals while stepping up to a more suitable distance after a fair sixth over 1 1/8 miles first-up. No. 3 Winning Dragon isn’t without hope after several solid efforts over staying trips this season. He can be hard to catch but maps well in the small field and can give a sight. No. 4 Bundle Award is an intriguing runner. He’s shown plenty of ability to suggest he has a bright future. Following a midfield finish in the Derby, he was strong from the back in an on-pace dominated class 2 over 1 1/8 miles. The 1 1/2 mile trip is a query, but his class could carry him a long way. No. 5 Noisy Boy was disappointing in both the Classic Cup and the Derby, but prior to that strung together wins over 1 3/8 miles and 1 1/4 miles. He’ll need to improve on recent efforts, though a good trial since suggests he’s tracking well.

Race 9 - Cox's Handicap, div 2

No. 5 Dazzling Fit is a progressive three-year-old, third-up and ready to fire stepping up to seven furlongs after two runs over six furlongs. Drawn wide on debut and catching the eye late into sixth, he once again settled at the rear second-up and charged into second behind Top Throne. He moves into a mid-draw here and is hard to beat. No. 1 Spirit Of Peace knuckled badly and lost significant ground at the start last time out, yet still stormed home from last into third, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths, a massive effort under the circumstances. He can bounce back, but post 12 does make things tricky. No. 11 Amazing Run is in the midst of a horror run of wide draws which haven’t helped his chances. There was solid betting support for him last start, and while he finished 12th, it was a run full of excuses, losing ground at the start and unable to be fully tested late. He shapes as a knockout chance at odds. No. 4 Max Que put the writing on the wall last time with a narrow second behind With A Smile, his second runner-up finish from six starts. He’s improving with racing and remains in the mix.

Race 10 - Chatham Handicap

No. 2 Family Jewel is very intriguing on the seven-day back-up after winning first-up over the mile with ease, drawing clear by nearly two lengths. At his only try over 1 1/4 miles four runs ago, he jumped from post 12, was steadied early, and launched late into second behind Bravehearts—so there are no queries about the trip. No. 7 Winning Wing finally broke through for a well-deserved first Hong Kong win over 1 1/8 miles last start after several encouraging efforts. The four-year-old looks to be headed higher and can be followed up on that win, especially with post 1 on his side. No. 9 Gold Master, on the other hand, draws out in post 10 but was a head away in second to Winning Wing in that race, his first attempt in class 3, and now meets him better at the weights. He too is a handy type with more to give and is firmly in the mix. No. 3 Enthralled steps back up to his winning distance, having saluted three runs back before two solid efforts over 1 1/8 miles. Any luck from post 11 and he can bounce back into the frame.

Race 11 - Austin Handicap

No. 2 The Boom Box is looking to put two third-place finishes behind him and post a fourth career win after having a checkered run last start when beaten just under a length as the odds-on favorite, hampered about 50 yards from the finish. He warrants another chance here with an expected cleaner passage from post 8. No. 1 Brilliant Express was the winner of that same race, ringing up his third career win in resounding fashion after racing wide without cover throughout. No. 9 Yuen Long Elite adopted different tactics last start by leading and was only nabbed late into second behind Another World. He doesn’t have to lead again here, but being prominent won’t be a disadvantage given the lack of early speed on paper. No. 7 Super Infinity is closing in on a class 3 breakthrough after recording his third runner-up finish in the grade from six attempts last time out. This also marks his second attempt over seven furlongs. His first came in July last year when a close-up fourth, beaten only half a length.

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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