Hong Kong: Selections for the night of May 30

Racing at Sha Tin begins at 12:30 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.

Race 1: SHING MUN RIVER CHANNEL HANDICAP

#1 Circuit Mighty makes his Class 5 debut and, while winless in 734 days, he has returned to form at the bottom of Class 4 in recent starts. Barrier 4 ensures an ideal map for Zac Purton who takes the ride. #9 Lucky Generations was eased back early from barrier 12 last time and settled last before winding up strongly into sixth—it was a better run than it reads, and he's starting to make his mark now that he's slid down the ratings. #3 Gluck Racer needs a bit of luck from barrier 12 but commands respect on the downgrade as a two-time winner from four attempts in Class 5, and the drop back in trip from 1800m also checks boxes—he's one to start following again. #8 Flying Romantic has been hinting at a breakthrough win in recent runs and now third-up, he should be ready to fire.

Race 2: SHA TIN HOI HANDICAP

#5 Flowing Riches has trialed up well ahead of his debut and, although awkwardly drawn in barrier 10, he looks worth a punt first-up at a decent price. #6 Straight to Glory made a good impression on debut over 1000m with a close-up fourth. He receives a jockey upgrade with Hugh Bowman taking over and draws a nice inside gate as he rises to what looks a more suitable distance. #1 Courier Aladdin looked a horse going places after a smart debut win last season but disappointed into 11th in his only run this term. He's had breathing issues, which remain a query, but now resumes for a new stable having transferred to Manfred Man. #3 Lucky Archangel maps for a soft run from his inside draw and may sneak into the placings, as he did two starts back at this course and distance when third to Sea Sapphire.

Race 3: SHA TIN HOI HANDICAP

#3 Diriya was a close-up fourth on debut after being held up from the 400m until passing the 300m. Natural improvement second-up and barrier 1 can see him take a positive step forward. #1 Lucky Symphony once again needs to overcome a wide draw to score, as he did last start when breaking through impressively. He has trialed well since and remains a key player. #9 Ka Ying Warrior resumed with a late-fading fifth to Lucky Symphony. Zac Purton takes the reins second-up and from an inside draw he maps to get every chance. #5 Incredible Moment hasn't been beaten far in two runs at Happy Valley, leading on each occasion. He's third-up now and the switch to Sha Tin could unlock further improvement.

Race 4: PAI TAU HANDICAP

#9 Meepmeep backed up his Class 5 maiden win with a strong showing back up in grade, charging home late into second from the widest draw. If he can settle closer in the run, as he did when winning two back, he's right in this, though barrier 11 may force their hand to ride for luck. #5 Precision Goal has been a model of consistency at this course and trip this season and, while he's climbed in the ratings, he continues to run to his mark. #14 Lucky Impact blew the start last time out and lost all chance, and now finds himself at the foot of Class 4 on the minimum weight, getting his shot before dropping into Class 5. #1 New Forest steps into Class 4 for the first time and looks the likely leader. Some of his Class 3 runs have been solid from the front, including a third to Never Peter Out here five runs ago.

Race 5: TIN SAM HANDICAP

#1 Dazzling Fit is a horse going places. After two encouraging runs over 1200m with excuses, he was stepped up to 1400m last start and broke through impressively. Just a three-year-old with more to come, he looks set to win his way into Class 3 and is one to keep tabs on for next season. #3 Solid Win, who scored five starts ago in a race of this nature, didn't quite measure up in four Class 3 attempts, but now back in Class 4 and off a strong trial, he looks ready to re-enter the mix, especially with barrier 1 in his favor. #5 Gallant Epoch had a wide gate last time and was posted without cover throughout before fading to 11th—he's better than that and can give a sight with a softer run. #4 Mr Cool comes into gate 10 after copping barrier 13 last start, where he struck a slow tempo and was only fair from back in the field following his second-up maiden win. His trial between runs suggests he can bounce back.

Race 6: THE LION ROCK TROPHY (HANDICAP)

#6 Sunlight Power turned in a slashing third to Red Lion in the Champions Mile (G1), with Voyage Bubble splitting them and just half a length covering the trio. Back under handicap conditions, he looks well placed with a favorable swing in the weights to Red Lion, giving him an edge to pick up his first feature race. #1 Red Lion shapes as an interesting proposition following his surprise Champions Mile win where he was gifted a soft time in front. How the race shape unfolds here remains to be seen, but he has shown tactical versatility in the past and from barrier 1 he won't have many excuses. #9 Johannes Brahms resumes off a closing sixth in the Derby. The mile looks his ideal distance at this stage, as seen in his big win three runs ago. #4 Beauty Joy is a hard horse to catch on his day, but with Zac Purton on from gate 4 and under handicap conditions he ticks plenty of boxes. He was a good third in this race last year.

Race 7: TAI WAI HANDICAP

#8 Stellar Swift, since winning impressively three runs ago in Class 4, has turned in two strong efforts back in Class 3 over 1400m. Most recently he flashed home into seventh from a wide draw in a slowly run race. The drop back in trip suits and a soft draw gives him his chance. #1 Masterofmyuniverse made amends for a luckless third two starts ago with a dominant win last time as Zac Purton climbed back aboard. He's not done in the ratings yet and remains the one to beat. #4 Infinite Resolve makes his debut for the Mark Newnham stable and has caught the eye in his trials. He's one to keep a close watch on. #3 Super Legends, with the apprentice claim, may take up the running in a race lacking early speed and, if given a soft lead, could prove tough to reel in.

Race 8: THE SHA TIN VASE (HANDICAP)

#2 Helios Express will be all the rage to get back into the winner's enclosure for an overdue and deserved win with no Ka Ying Rising here, having placed seven times behind him this season. #3 Lucky With You was up against it at Group 1 level last start but had excuses, covering ground when taken wide mid-race. He's much better suited under these conditions and can bounce back to his prior form. #5 Patch of Theta also gets conditions to suit, and while he's yet to win at 1200m, he has placed in all three runs over the trip and looks an interesting proposition dropping back in distance. #6 Magic Control led too quickly from an outside gate last start and was outclassed in Group 1 company. He's much better placed in this grade and, with a more measured ride like the one that saw him win four runs back, can turn things around.

Race 9: FO TAN HANDICAP

#5 Yuen Long Elite has a good draw (2) to suit his on-pace profile and should find the front with relative ease. He has been itching to break through for his first Class 3 win and looks to get a fair amount of favors here, capable of going one better than his last two runner-up efforts in strong races. #1 Crossborderpegasus is a very nice horse with three wins from four starts, but he's proving a nightmare ride for his jockeys by doing plenty wrong in his races. A gear tweak is applied here, but his trials since show he's still wanting to overdo things. #3 Everyone's Star broke through for his first Hong Kong win at attempt four last start in a slowly run race that suited him perfectly. He can win again, but barrier 12 will make him earn it. #7 California Bay had a wide draw on debut and was ridden quietly, but he found the line well into eighth and wasn't beaten far. He maps closer from a better gate and can acquit himself well.

Race 10: PENFOLD PARK HANDICAP

#11 Talents Ambition rises in class but takes a big drop in weight. He's also second-up so should strip fitter, and his swift turn of foot makes him hard to hold out from his low draw. #6 Soleil Fighter can show good early dash on his first spin on Sha Tin's all-weather track, which will be an advantage here, and it does look a surface that will suit him. He raced twice on alternative surfaces prior to import, yielding one win, which adds confidence to his chances. #2 Californiatotality sets his sights on a hat-trick of wins after notching his seventh career success last start. He's largely untested on the surface, racing just once on it back in February last year where he wasn't disgraced. #3 Capital Delight loves to get back and charge home over the 1200m on this track, and while he's had two previous goes over the extended mile on the all-weather, his luckless second to Sword Point four runs ago is a good reference for this.

Race 11: MA LIU SHUI HANDICAP

#9 Flying Luck has had two Class 3 runs and both have been full of promise. He drops back to his best distance here after a strong third over 1800m and, if able to make use of his mid draw early, will be hard to hold out. #1 Winning Gold showed a change of tactics last start when rolling forward to sit handy and proved too tough to edge out. Similar tactics will need to be applied again from barrier 10, the same gate he was successful from last time. #7 Magnificent Nine gets the services of Andrea Atzeni and a good gate in barrier 3. He raced too keenly when finishing a closing fourth to Winning Gold last time due to the slow tempo, so there was merit to the run. #4 Gentlemen Legacy didn't disgrace on debut with a close-up seventh. He'll enjoy more ground second-up and further in time, so look for improvement here.