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

Race 1: 7 Family Fortune, 10 Casa Legend, 9 Chateau Le Peche, 1 Accolade Start

Race 1 Castle Peak Handicap

No. 7 Family Fortune has been building toward a win since sliding into Class 5. After closing off nicely for third over seven furlongs on turf two starts ago, he backed it up with another strong finish into second over the extended mile on the all-weather. In a race where many others need to show big improvement on recent form, he holds solid claims to break through. No. 10 Casa Legend was disappointing at Happy Valley, weakening into 10th after settling third in the run, but his best form has always come at Sha Tin and over this course and distance—which boosts confidence for a rebound. No. 9 Chateau Le Peche won well last start, though that came over 1 1/4 miles, so the drop back in trip is a query, but given his current form, he remains in the mix. No. 1 Accolade Start has been disappointing overall, unplaced from 17 local starts, but drops into Class 5 for the first time. His last run was better than it reads—settling at the rear before closing off well enough into seventh—and this downgrade may be what he needs to show something.

Race 2 Chai Wan Road Handicap

No. 6 Lahore is one of many chances in this wide-open contest. There was plenty to like about his debut effort where the three-year-old finished just a neck away in fifth. He struck trouble at a few stages—blundering at the 1/4-mile mark and being hemmed up in traffic late—so there was strong merit to the run. He has trialed impressively since and looks a horse to follow. No. 1 Alsonso comes out of the same race, finishing a head away in second behind Parents’ Love. He had every chance in the run and showed that a breakthrough win in this grade is close. No. 11 Winning Diamond makes his debut and is hard to overlook, having trialed well on several occasions. He looks to have his share of ability and could simply be too sharp first-up. No. 7 Moon Rocket also comes out of that strong form race as Lahore and Alsonso, debuting with an eye-catching fourth—just a neck off Parents’ Love. A solid trial between runs suggests he’ll improve second-up and should be finishing well again.

Race 3 Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap

No. 1 Flash Current was caught wide last start and wasn’t much of a threat from his midfield position in an on-pace dominated race. He now looks ready for the rise to seven furlongs for the first time, and a sharp trial between runs suggests he can bounce back and secure a second career win in a race lacking depth. No. 12 Zetta Force is improving and edging closer to his first win. His second placing to Super Express two starts ago reads strongly, and a similar effort here sees him right in contention. No. 2 Riding Together is unplaced from six local starts but has been close-up on several occasions. This is his second go in Class 4 and he’ll be up on the speed making his own luck, which gives him a solid chance to land in the money. No. 8 Lucky Statement failed to fire in his two starts back in December and February, but recent post trials have shown some promise, and he may show improvement now under race day conditions.

Race 4 Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School Handicap

No. 1 G Liner returns to Class 4 where he should prove far more competitive, especially rising to a distance where he’s a two-time winner from five attempts. This is a deep race, but if he can settle handy—similar to when he last won five starts ago over 1 1/8 miles—he’ll be well positioned to strike. No. 11 Meepmeep appears to have found his niche on the all-weather, having raced exclusively on the surface in his last three starts, yielding an unlucky fourth, a close-up third, and a smart maiden win last start. While that win came in Class 5, the rise in grade and drop in weight brings him into contention again. No. 8 Fashion Legend broke through at this course and distance two starts ago before drawing wide in post 12 last time out, where he covered ground early and didn’t have the smoothest run. He can bounce back with a better trip. No. 13 Lucky Impact is unplaced from eight starts but took a big step forward last time with a chequered run, coming from last to finish fourth, beaten only a length. He’s a chance to build on that effort.

Race 5 Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School Handicap

No. 1 Patch Of Stars is an improving three-year-old who has taken a few runs to put it all together. After picking up his first placing on the all-weather two starts ago with a closing second to Rising Force, he returned to this course and distance for a third time and finally put it all together, edging out the promising Super Express by a head. No. 7 Star Brose debuted over six furlongs at Happy Valley from post 11, began awkwardly, settled at the rear, raced greenly, but closed off strongly into sixth, beaten just over two lengths. Rising to seven furlongs second-up looks a better fit, and although he’ll benefit from further racing, he’s open to sharp improvement. No. 3 Lucky Fionn will be much better suited dropping back to seven furlongs after rising to the mile last start following a maiden win over this trip the run prior—he’s better placed here. No. 2 Never Too Soon hasn’t won for some time, but this marks his fifth try in Class 4, and off the back of a close second last start, rising to seven furlongs puts him right in the mix as a genuine contender.

Race 6 Hong Kong Riding for the Disabled Association 50th
Anniversary Cup

No. 2 Little Paradise was ultra impressive on debut, jumping from gate 13, finding the front, and never being headed. A sharp trial between runs—ridden with patience and closing strongly to win going away—has him primed to go back-to-back. Given the abundance of early speed on paper, those more patient tactics could be employed again. No. 7 Pejibaye showed some greenness on debut but finished off with promise. He may still be a run or two away from fully putting it together, but a forward showing here wouldn’t surprise. No. 1 Enjoy Golf is long overdue this season, finishing in the placings in six of eight runs—including five straight runner-up finishes. He was no match for Ahren last time, but that form reads well and he maps to get another good run. No. 3 Mount Everest made an instant impression on debut, then backed it up with a strong third behind Top Throne, which has since proven a good form race. He too has trialled well since and remains in the mix.

Race 7 Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap

No. 1 Talents Ambition resumes off a 59-day break after three runs on turf, including a tilt at the Classic Series where he finished a close-up ninth in the Classic Mile. His chances improve significantly returning to this course and distance where he thrives, and an impressive recent trial win suggests he’s primed for a strong return. No. 9 Chill Kaka puts his perfect course and distance record on the line as he shoots for three straight wins, though he now leaps into Class 3. No. 7 Dragon Air Force rises to this distance for the first time after a string of strong efforts over six furlongs. Last start, he drew post 11 and settled last before rattling home to finish just a head behind Must Go—plenty of merit to the performance. No. 4 Never Peter Out is a four-time winner over this course and trip and can’t be overlooked. There was good merit in his last-start second, making strong late ground in a slowly run race to miss by a head.

Race 8 Lung Mun Road Handicap

No. 2 Light Years Charm started from post 11 at this course and distance last start and was unable to slot in, which left him trapped wide without cover throughout. Despite that, he was still strong late and only went down by a head on the wire to Hong Lok Golf, who franked the form by winning again last week. The progressive four-year-old can bounce back in a big way with a more economical run in transit. No. 1 Juneau Pride also brings strong form to the table, having finished a half-length second to South Star last time from gate 10. He carries the same weight despite going up three points in the handicap, and the ultra-consistent three-year-old—who’s never missed the frame from eight starts—remains right in the mix. No. 4 Another World began only fairly last time and raced keenly in the middle stages, which left him without a strong finishing effort, though he was only one and a quarter lengths away in fourth. No. 10 New Forest was taken on up front last time, and given the fast tempo, was entitled to weaken. He maps for a much softer run this time and can rebound.

Race 9 Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap

No. 5 One More can show big improvement second-up after turning heads on debut when finishing a luckless eighth over five furlongs. Beaten just over three lengths, he never had a clear crack at them after being held up through the early stages. He’s trialled well between runs—making all in his heat—and those same positive tactics look likely to be adopted here. No. 9 Ahren is a promising three-year-old on the rise and steps into Class 3 after a facile breakthrough win at start three, overcoming post 12 and sprinting clear late. He’s one to follow. No. 2 Lifeline Express will settle off the pace as he usually does and launch late. If the race is run to suit, he gets his chance to reel in the leaders and go one better than his last-start second to Geneva. No. 3 Aeris Nova is starting to hit his straps—after a strong win two back over Crossborderpegasus, he ran on well for third last time despite settling further back than ideal. He remains in solid form and can figure.

Race 10 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap

No. 1 Fast Network did try his hand in the Classic Series and, while he didn’t disgrace himself, the mile looked every bit his limit. After a close-up fourth in the Classic Mile, the decision was made to bypass the remaining legs, and Dennis Yip dropped him back to six furlongs, reapplied the blinkers, and he’s since posted two impressive wins to see his rating soar beyond 100. No. 5 Invincible Shield chases four straight and was impressive in his first Class 2 run last start, handling the rise to seven furlongs smartly. He now drops back in trip, but the race shape should suit, and he’ll be closing in hard late. No. 2 Bottomuptogether was four lengths second to Fast Network two starts ago before boosting that form with an all-the-way win on the all-weather. With more early speed on here, it could test the on-pacers, but he’s shown tactical versatility in the past and doesn’t have to lead. No. 4 Gorgeous Win had little chance from a wide draw last start, settling at the rear in a race controlled by the front-runners, yet he closed off strongly against the shape. This looks more suitable with genuine tempo expected.

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.