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

There's a Triple Crown on the line in Hong Kong in the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin, beginning overnight at 12:30 a.m. EDT, 9:30 p.m. PDT. Voyage Bubble, an Australia-bred gelding, has captured the Stewards' Cup (G1) and the Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) this year, setting him up for this historic run. Only one other horse, River Verdon in 1994, has won the Hong Kong Triple Crown. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 1 Quick Money, 8 Babieca, 4 Light Years Glory, 10 Hyannis Star

Race 2: 7 Invincible Ibis, 10 Goldentronicmighty, 3 Call Me Gorgeous, 2 Awesome Treasure

Race 3: 10 Loveisintheair, 9 Honest Witness, 1 Giddy Up, 6 Copartner Fleet

Race 4: 1 Packing Hermod, 2 Young Champion, 6 Dancing Code, 7 Mickely

Race 5: 3 Super Love, 1 Meowth, 6 Ka Ying Glory, 4 Monarch County

Race 6: 6 Mister Dapper, 7 Wrote A New Page, 5 Fortune Boy, 11 Special Hedge

Race 7: 3 Shamus Storm, 4 Max Que, 1 Spirit Of Peace, 10 Galvanic

Race 8: 1 Voyage Bubble, 2 Dubai Honour, 4 Ensued, 10 Bundle Award

Race 9: 10 Justifying, 4 Celestial Hero, 13 Alsonso, 2 Stellar Express

Race 10: 8 Gold Master, 1 Bravehearts, 6 Winning Wing, 7 Liveandletlive

Race 11: 11 Super Express, 7 South Star, 8 Top Dragon, 5 Silvery Breeze

Race 1, Pakistan Star Plate

No. 1 Quick Money remains the one to beat after a strong debut second to The All Out, then going one better with a soft win second up. The rise to six furlongs now looks ideal, and he’ll be hard to hold out. No. 8 Babieca has performed well in both starts to date, finishing third on debut to The All Out before running a close second to Quick Money. He’s still racing greenly, so there’s plenty of improvement to come, and the key jockey change to Zac Purton adds plenty of confidence. No. 4 Light Years Glory debuts from the inside draw and looks well prepared off several pass-mark trials. He can give a good showing. No. 10 Hyannis Star was well beaten into fourth on debut, 6 3/4 lengths off The All Out, but has trialed well since and can take a step forward second up.

Race 2, Viva Pataca Handicap

No. 7 Invincible Ibis is a 3-year-old newcomer for the Mark Newnham stable who has trialed well enough ahead of his debut to suggest he’s in with a chance. He’s drawn ideally in post 2 while key rivals have drawn wide, so he should receive a favorable run in transit which boosts his chances. No. 10 Goldentronicmighty shed his maiden tag in style last start with an easy two-length course and distance win, and having drawn low again in what looks a moderate race, he’s right in the frame to go back to back. No. 3 Call Me Gorgeous has his second attempt in Class 4 and can make his mark despite drawing post 11. His first run in the grade was a passable fourth and he can build on that. No. 2 Awesome Treasure resumes off a freshen-up and drops in grade, where he boasts a strong record. He should race prominently and give a solid sight under the seven-pound apprentice claim.

Race 3, Makarpura Star Handicap

No. 10 Loveisintheair finally gets to the bigger track at Sha Tin where his chances of breaking through for a first win look to be seriously boosted. He’s been turning in a series of get-back, run-on efforts at Happy Valley and has consistently caught the eye. It's hard to hold out with more room to wind up here. No. 9 Honest Witness is now third up, and both his fourth-place finishes have been sound. He’s since trialed impressively, winning his heat, and maps to race on speed where he gets every chance. No. 1 Giddy Up returned to Class 4 two starts ago with a close-up second and was sent out favorite last time where he ran a fair sixth. He’s drawn ideally in post 3 to settle closer and bounce back at a better price. No. 6 Copartner Fleet debuts from a horror draw in post 12, but his trials have been sharp with Zac Purton aboard. He’s one to watch for a promising effort that will pave the way to better things.

Race 4, River Verdon Handicap

No. 1 Packing Hermod is hard to oppose even sitting at the top of Class 2 with a heavy impost. The talented five-time winner from nine starts was last seen bouncing back in a big way with blinkers on for the first time. He’s trialed sensationally ahead of his return and puts a perfect 2-for-2 first-up record on the line. No. 2 Young Champion was less than a length off Packing Hermod two starts ago. He was only moderate last time when taken back early from a wide draw, but this looks a good race for him to bounce back into the money. No. 6 Dancing Code drew post 11 last start and was forced to settle further back than usual, but hit the line strongly into sixth, beaten by only 1 1/2 lenghts in an on-pace dominated race. He’s yet to win in Class 2 but has turned in enough promising efforts to be given another shot. No. 7 Mickely is a hard horse to catch, with a local record of one win and zero placings from 10 starts, but he enters off an encouraging fast-finishing fourth behind Hong Lok Golf and could be working into the finish again.

Race 5, Russian Emperor Handicap

No. 3 Super Love drew wide in his first seven-furlong test last start, was taken back to find cover, and found the line well into sixth. He now comes into post 3, which gives Karis Teetan the chance to settle him closer in the run, as he has shown the ability to do in prior starts. No. 1 Meowth drops back into Class 4 where he’s 1-for-1, and a jockey upgrade to Hugh Bowman from an inside gate signals strong improvement. Expect better. No. 6 Ka Ying Glory pulled up a roarer on debut when well beaten as a very short-priced favorite, but his trials since have been excellent, and a better showing second-up is anticipated. No. 4 Monarch County can settle much closer from post 4 after being taken back too far last start, where he finished strongly into third. That effort followed his maiden win at his prior run, and he still looks to have more to offer.

Race 6, Helene Super Star Handicap

No. 6 Mister Dapper was given an ill-judged ride last start when asked to lead, so his fifth-place finish was better than it reads. He draws well in post 4 and, with a more measured steer, can bounce back in a big way. No. 7 Wrote A New Page is a progressive three-year-old who continues to improve with racing and put the writing on the wall last start with a strong second at his first attempt over this course and distance. He looks ready to break through. No. 5 Fortune Boy notched his first win at start six last time out, defeating Wrote A New Page, and as another three-year-old still on the rise, he should have more to offer and is worth following up. No. 11 Special Hedge should roll forward from post 10 and settle prominently. Since his second win five starts ago, he’s remained in form with three placings all over this course and trip and deserves respect again.

Race 7, Exultant Handicap

No. 3 Shamus Storm looks set to get one of the runs of the race from post 2, and that bodes well for his chances to finally break through for a maiden win after going close in all four starts, including a narrow head defeat last time out. No. 4 Max Que enters this race off back-to-back runner-up finishes, and his latest second to Dazzling Fit reads well, especially given he suffered interference in the straight. He’s ready to win and shapes as one of several strong hopes in the field. No. 1 Spirit Of Peace has shown plenty of ability in six starts, but was set an impossible task last time from post 12 where he was never really in contention. He’s better than that and is capable of rebounding here. No. 10 Galvanic is now third up and should be nearing peak fitness after two fair efforts this prep. He draws ideally in post 1, and having placed twice from six starts over this course and trip, he’s a genuine contender at a price.

Race 8, The Champions & Chater Cup (G1)

No. 1 Voyage Bubble will bid to become just the second Hong Kong Triple Crown winner after victories in the Stewards’ Cup (G1) and Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1). He has stamina to prove at this trip, but horses shouldn’t be penalized for what they haven’t yet tried. He gets the nod of approval here from his good gate. No. 2 Dubai Honour is a two-time Group 1 winner over 1 1/2 miles, most recently taking out the Tancred Stakes (G1) at Rosehill. He’s proven at Sha Tin, having finished second in the Hong Kong Vase last December, and any rain would only boost his prospects. No. 4 Ensued is capable of running a cheeky race. He was close up in fourth in the Vase and looks well suited stepping back up to this trip. No. 10 Bundle Award was brilliant when winning the Queen Mother Memorial Cup  (G3)last start, but that race was run more like a sprint in a small field, and a more genuine staying test here could be a different story.

Race 9, Indigenous Handicap

No. 10 Justifying was disappointing last start when beaten as a $1.20 favorite, after creating a big impression on debut with a sizzling all-the-way win. There weren’t any clear excuses on the day aside from perhaps immaturity and the sharp rise in the handicap second-up. If his trial between runs is any guide, he may be ridden with a sit this time to help him finish off better. No. 4 Celestial Hero has trialed up well on several occasions leading into his Hong Kong debut. He brings with him solid Australian form, clearly has some ability, and looks a horse to follow, though winning straight up is never easy. No. 13 Alsonso has been threatening to break through with back-to-back second-place finishes at this course and distance at the top of Class 4. Now back into Class 3 with a light weight, he looks well placed. No. 2 Stellar Express has his second run back in Class 3 here and returns to this course and distance where his record is strong, following a solid third to Seasons Wit over the minimum trip at Happy Valley last time out.

Race 10, Vengeance of Rain Handicap

No. 8 Gold Master is poised to secure one of the runs of the race from his low draw, which can prove vital in this highly competitive field. Last start, he jumped from post 10 and was solid holding second throughout, missing by only a nose in a tight finish. He can go one better here. No. 1 Bravehearts will find this much easier than his last assignment and gets Zac Purton in the saddle for the first time, which is a notable switch. Third-up now and not beaten far in either run this prep, he’s well placed over this trip with strong course and distance stats. No. 6 Winning Wing broke through impressively two starts ago on his fifth local run after a string of luckless efforts,and held form well last time rising to 1 1/4 miles, finishing strongly into third in a slowly run race. No. 7 Liveandletlive doesn’t draw ideally as he chases back-to-back wins, but he may still find the front with relative ease like last time when defeating both Gold Master and Winning Wing, and he must be considered again.

Race 11, Oriental Express Handicap

No. 11 Super Express is a talented 3-year-old with a future. After a dominant debut win, he was narrowly beaten into second after jumping from gate 11 and sitting second in a fast-run race. He now steps into Class 3, which presents more depth, but his trial win between runs suggests he's in fine fettle for the challenge. No. 7 South Star is another promising three-year-old on the rise, chasing a hat-trick of wins after an ultra-impressive performance on his first attempt in Class 3 last start, and he's right in the mix again. No. 8 Top Dragon rebounded strongly from a luckless run to win his maiden impressively by over two lengths last time. Zac Purton sticks with him as he steps into Class 3 and looks set to continue progressing. No. 5 Silvery Breeze found the line strongly into fourth first-up after settling too far back. He’ll strip much fitter now, but post 14 may again force him to be ridden for luck. He has the closing speed to feature if things go his way.

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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