Hong Kong season opener: Free PPs, picks & analysis

Hong Kong racing is back with the season opener of the first of 88 racing cards, starting late Saturday night, pre-dawn Sunday at 1 a.m. EDT in North America.  Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. 

Sha Tin selections

By Declan Shuster

Race 1: No. 3 Winning Steed, No. 14 This Is Charisma, No. 2 Star Of Glory, No. 1 Regency Master.

Race 2: No. 4 Strive For Glory, No. 7 The Good Deal, No. 9 The Jolly, No.14 Zacian.

Race 3: No. 1 The Hulk, No. 6 Son Pak Fu, No. 7 Country Treasure, No. 14 Melbourne Hall.

Race 4: No. 10 Trillion Win, No. 1 Sky Field, No. 9 Lucky Sweynesse, No. 2 Lucky Patch.

Race 5: No. 1 Sparkling Dolphin, No. 8 Wayfoong Legend, No. 3 We Are Hero, No. 13 Jack Win.

Race 6: No. 11 Adefill, No. 6 Pride Of Eight, No. 5 Beauty Tycoon, No. 4 Amazing Victory.

Race 7: No. 4 Super Fortune, No. 3 Drops Of God, No. 5 Oriental Smoke, No. 9 Brilliant Life.

Race 8: No. 9 Blissful Star, No. 12 Stunning Impact, No. 5 Wide Blue Yonder, No. 3 Leather Vanguard.

Race 9: No. 2 The Golden Scenery, No. 5 Sauvestre, No. 9 Spirited Express, No. 1 Californiadeepshot.

Race 10: No. 1 Circuit Stellar, No. 12 Storm Legend, No. 2 Captain Win, No. 4 Never Too Soon.

Race 1: Mount Parker Handicap, 1 a.m. EDT

No. 3 Winning Steed trialed very nicely for trainer Dennis Yip and jockey Silvestre de Sousa. Silvestre can kick off his Hong Kong stint with a win here as the Hinchinbrook gelding looks wound up and ready to fire fresh. No. 14 This Is Charisma isn’t a winner yet, but his consistency deserves consideration here. Expect a competitive first-up effort with Zac Purton engaged. No. 2 Star Of Glory should find the front. He’s aided by a crucial 10-pound claim, which sees him get in very, very well at the weights. No. 1 Regency Master draws well and has claims. Strong booking of Karis Teetan holds him in good stead.

Race 2: Kowloon Peak Handicap, 1:30 a.m. EDT

No. 4 Strive For Glory caught the eye with an impressive, first-past-the-post trial recently. He’ll need to offset the wide draw but looks very, very well placed to perform here. Not much between the top two and No. 7 The Good Deal, who also appears worthy of a ticket. He turned his form around at the end of last season in this grade, and Karis Teetan’s booking commands respect. No. 9 The Jolly mixes his form but has improved in class 5. Lyle Hewitson should get the best out of him from gate 2. No. 14 Zacian is next best. He’s yet to win but can contend.

Race 3: Yi Tung Shan Handicap (second section), 2 a.m. EDT

No. 1 The Hulk steps down to Class 4 as a three-time winner in the grade above. He was racing well at the tail end of last season, and it wouldn’t surprise to see him carry that form through to now. Strong booking this weekend of Karis Teetan, who is a three-time winner aboard him. No. 6 Son Pak Fu is worthy of a ticket. Expect decent odds about this fellow following a stylish trial. No. 7 Country Treasure has claims and only needs to offset the wide draw. No. 14 Melbourne Hall is next best after a strong win at the end of last term.

Race 4: The HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap, 2:30 a.m. EDT

Tricky feature race to start the new season. No. 10 Trillion Win catches the eye with no weight on his back, and from gate 1 he does map to get the dream run throughout under Alexis Badel. Question is whether he can make the grade. No. 1 Sky Field has a significant class-edge here as a Group 1 winner. If he can offset the hefty impost, then he should get every chance to mow this group down. No. 9 Lucky Sweynesse is a genuine talent on the rise. Keep safe. No. 2 Lucky Patch’s best has him in the thick of things. Expect he finds it.

Race 5: Lin Fa Shan Handicap, 3:05 a.m. EDT

No. 1 Sparkling Dolphin looks wound up to win fresh. He trialed impressively at Conghua and looks set to fire first up. He’s a force to be reckoned with down the straight at Sha Tin. No. 8 Wayfoong Legend steps out on debut. He’s moved well in his track work and looks a solid chance for David Hayes and Luke Currie. No. 3 We Are Hero is progressing nicely and caught the eye with a stylish third last start over this course and distance at his final run of last term. No. 13 Jack Win should be big odds. It wouldn’t surprise to see him outperform these, however.

Before reading about the rest of the card, watch Hong Kong analyst Alan Aitken pick out two horses to follow on the opening-day card.

Race 6: Yi Tung Shan Handicap (first section), 3:40 a.m. EDT

No. 11 Adefill looks to have returned in excellent order this term following a stylish, first-past-the-post trial under Derek Leung, who rides this weekend. Added maturity will have done him a world of good between seasons, and he’s worth taking a chance on here. No. 6 Pride Of Eight is tracking towards a win. He did well at his final outing of last term and should get his chance again. No. 5 Beauty Tycoon has a stack of ability, however maturity levels saw him come undone last term. No. 4 Amazing Victory is consistent and worthy of inclusion.

Race 7: Lantau Peak Handicap, 4:10 a.m. EDT

No. 4 Super Fortune can find the front and play catch me if you can. He appears fit, well and ready to fire first up this season. Strong booking of Karis Teetan has him favored off the back of a strong trial effort. No. 3 Drops Of God has the consistency and should find the right spot under Luke Currie. He’s the clear main danger, as these two are standouts. No. 5 Oriental Smoke is consistent. He can make a run at this group from an ideal draw under Zac Purton. No. 9 Brilliant Life is better than his record suggests. Expect improvement between seasons.

Race 8: Ma On Shan Handicap, 4:40 a.m. EDT

No. 9 Blissful Star has been working well ahead of his return. He’s unlucky to not already be a winner, but even still he can take a shot at this lot, if he manages to conjure up his best. Silvestre de Sousa suits this horse. No. 12 Stunning Impact is nothing short of solid, and he doesn’t know how to run a poor race. Keep him safe here, especially with a crucial 10-pound claim in use. No. 5 Wide Blue Yonder has hit the ground running in Hong Kong. He appears to have improved between terms. No. 3 Leather Vanguard bears close watching. The class is there.

Race 9: Tai Mo Shan Handicap, 5:10 a.m. EDT

No. 2 The Golden Scenery is becoming a very, very nice horse, and he looks well placed here to make his return outing a winning one. He does his best racing over this course and distance, especially with familiar ally Luke Ferraris engaged. No. 5 Sauvestre also is chasing back-to-back wins. His ascent through the grades appears far from over. No. 9 Spirited Express turned his form around last start. Expect improvement here following an eye-catching dirt trial. No. 1 Californiadeepshot gets 10 pounds taken off. For a horse of his caliber, this is a big advantage.  

Race 10: Sunset Peak Handicap, 5:50 a.m. EDT

No. 1 Circuit Stellar caught the eye at the trials, and he was a last-start, course and distance winner at his final outing of last term. He looks in fantastic order and shapes as an excellent chance to give Angus Chung his first win in Hong Kong. That is if he hasn’t already got it. No. 12 Storm Legend has been a frustrating horse. He already should be a winner, but nevertheless, keep him very, very safe. No. 2 Captain Win can finish fast given the right circumstances. Expect exactly that here. No. 4 Never Too Soon has a bit of class. Next best.

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