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

Hong Kong racing is at Sha Tin overnight Sunday at 1 a.m. EDT, Saturday at 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: 4 Circuit Fiery, 1 Night Purosangue, 3 Team Happy, 10 My Flying Angel

Race 2: 3 Jumbo Fortune, 7 Verbier, 1 Only U, 5 Cashiscash

Race 3: 5 Jolly Companion, 1 Blazing Wind, 2 Tai Victory, 9 View All Things

Race 4: 7 Dashing Dragon, 6 Better And Better, 1 Sugar Ball, 3 Raging Rapids

Race 5: 6 Fantastic Fun, 4 Max Que, 1 Ragga Bomb, 5 Aeroinvincible

Race 6: 8 Groovy Feeling, 2 Argento Ocean, 11 Lucky McQueen, 13 Sunny Q

Race 7: 11 Lightness Of Music, 2 Majestic Express, 7 Alsonso, 6 The All Out

Race 8: 1 Tourbillon Golfer, 10 Jubilant Winner, 6 Patch Of Time, 4 Hot Air Ballon

Race 9: 8 Mojave Desert, 6 Solid Shalaa, 10 Mr Energia, 5 Dragon Air Force

Race 10: 9 Master Of All, 3 Winning Gold, 2 Superb Kid, 1 Snowfield

Race 1 Hong Tung Handicap, 1st division

No. 4 Circuit Fiery looks ready to shed his maiden tag after back-to-back placings in Class 5, and this shapes as the right race for him to go one better. No. 1 Night Purosangue failed to hit the frame in seven runs last season but showed signs of progress, and now down in grade and with a trial win under his belt, he looks on the up. No. 3 Team Happy won first-up last season off a higher mark and ran third on his first attempt in Class 5, suggesting a win in the grade is near. No. 10 My Flying Angel has dropped enough in the ratings to become competitive and is not without a chance.

Race 2 Hong Tung Handicap, 2nd division

No. 3 Jumbo Fortune drops into Class 5 for the first time and now with Danny Shum, he’s trialled up nicely for his return. This looks a golden chance to land his second Hong Kong win. No. 7 Verbier maps to find the front with ease and can take running down under Ellis Wong’s claim. No. 1 Only U has a sticky draw in post 12 but gets Zac Purton for his first start under Brett Crawford, and his luckless second placing in this grade three runs back shows he’s capable. No. 5 Cashiscash draws perfectly in post 1 and was edging close to a breakthrough win in this grade late last season. Expect a bold showing.

Race 3 Hing Wah Handicap

No. 5 Jolly Companion is a tricky horse to catch right as a two-time winner from 24 starts with no placings, but both wins have come first-up, and he resumes off an impressive trial win that suggests he’s ready to fire. No. 1 Blazing Wind maps well from post 4, and Zac Purton takes the reins for the first time after trialling him recently. He makes his all-weather debut, but the signs are positive. No. 2 Tai Victory is worth monitoring into his second campaign, and his recent trial showed signs of progression. No. 9 View All Things has moved to Cody Mo’s yard, and his latest trial was much sharper. He’s one to watch at odds to improve on previous efforts.

Race 4 Kwong Fuk Handicap, 1st division

No. 7 Dashing Dragon finally lands a low gate after a string of wide draws since dropping to Class 4. His trials have been sound and he’s one at odds who profiles nicely. No. 6 Better And Better showed steady progress with racing last term, and stepping up in trip on return looks the key to unlocking further improvement. Zac Purton’s decision to stick after trialling him adds confidence. No. 1 Sugar Ball has drawn widest but is a proven operator in Class 4 and can’t be ignored despite the draw. No. 3 Raging Rapids broke through at the end of last season and, like many from the John Size yard, could go on with it now. 

Race 5 Kwong Fuk Handicap, division 2

No. 6 Fantastic Fun backs up seven days after a luckless run over six furlongs, where he was held up late. The step up to seven furlongs looks a plus and he can settle closer in the run. No. 4 Max Que maps to get every possible chance from post 1 after finishing runner-up in four of nine starts last season. His trial was only fair but he can give another honest account. No. 1 Ragga Bomb drops into Class 4 for the first time and brings a recent trial that showed big improvement. He’s capable of turning things around. No. 5 Aeroinvincible has looked in good condition at the trials and, despite the wide draw, he’s well rated and can feature with any luck.

Race 6 Tung Wah Challenge Cup

No. 8 Groovy Feeling is an intriguing runner on the seven-day back-up after winning impressively. Jamie Richards’ yard is firing early this season and, with Purton sticking from a soft draw in post 2, he looks well placed to go back-to-back. No. 2 Argento Ocean showed promise in both runs last season and looks to be heading the right way. He’s one to keep track of. No. 11 Lucky McQueen has trialled well recently, showing noticeable improvement on his three fair runs last season. He could take a step forward. No. 13 Sunny Q returns off two solid trials and can run a race fresh if he gets the right set-up.

Race 7 Mei Tung Handicap

No. 11 Lightness Of Music made an immediate impression when winning on debut over this course and distance in June, putting a two-length margin on his rivals. It's a fresh test up into Class 3, but he shapes as a horse headed higher this season. No. 2 Majestic Express was stylish scoring two runs back and closed the term with a fast-finishing fourth. He’s pattern-dependent but dangerous when things fall into place. No. 7 Alsonso posted three second placings from four course and distance runs last season, including a narrow defeat to close the campaign. He’s close to breaking through. No. 6 The All Out was disappointing in his first Class 3 test at Happy Valley after winning back-to-back in Griffin grade. This will provide a good measure of where he stands.

Race 8 Lok Wah Handicap

No. 1 Tourbillon Golfer looks ready to go one better first-up after back-to-back seconds last season, the latest full of merit when held up. He’s drawn wide in post 12 but gets Zac Purton aboard to negate that. No. 10 Jubilant Winner was consistent without winning last term and has trialled well for his return. A switch from visor to blinkers could do the trick. No. 6 Patch Of Time maps far better than last start, where he was caught wide throughout, moving into post 3 after jumping from gate 10 previously. No. 4 Hot Air Ballon was a solid fourth on debut but faces a tougher ask from post 13. Still, with natural progression, he stays in the mix.

Race 9 Oi Tung Handicap

No. 8 Mojave Desert is a consistent operator over this course and distance, with two wins and two seconds from seven starts. Reuniting with Andrea Atzeni is a plus and he looks primed to run well fresh. No. 6 Solid Shalaa was out of his comfort zone last start over seven furlongs on turf and didn’t get things his way, yet boxed on well. Back to the all-weather over six furlongs suits much better. No. 10 Mr Energia enjoyed a productive season and maps ideally from post 3 to get every chance again. No. 5 Dragon Air Force is effective on this surface, though will need luck from post 1 as he gets back and relies on gaps opening late.

Race 10 Wah Fu Handicap

No. 9 Master Of All maps to find the front without much pressure and looks well placed to notch his first win in the grade. No. 3 Winning Gold won three starts back when racing on the pace over the mile and profiles well back to seven furlongs. No. 2 Superb Kid struck trouble late last start after settling too far back but was a strong winner the run prior when positioned midfield. He’s capable of bouncing back. No. 1 Snowfield has shown noticeable improvement at the trials and can bring that form to the races.

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