Hong Kong: Selections for Sha Tin night of Jan. 10

First post at Sha Tin is at 11:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, and Luke Middlebrook offers selections and analysis. 

Sha Tin selections

Race 1: #2 I P O Bros, #5 Majestic Delight, #1 Snowthorn, #6 My Flying Angel
Race 2: #5 Lucky Ranger, #1 Majestic Valour, #7 Warriors Dream, #11 Autumn Vibes
Race 3: #1 Ever Luck, #9 Lucky McQueen, #8 Ka Ying Warrior, #3 Elite Golf
Race 4: #1 Endeared, #5 The Heir, #11 Circuit Fiery, #2 Super Love
Race 5: #5 Robot Star, #1 Star Satyr, #6 Crossborderdude, #8 Shinyu Kokoroe
Race 6: #10 Volcanic Spark, #14 Kasa Papa, #6 Packing Hurricane, #13 Our Lucky Glory
Race 7: #6 Szeryng, #4 Aurora Patch, #8 Prestige Always, #5 Alpha Strike
Race 8: #8 Little Paradise, #3 Invincible Shield, #9 Public Attention, #6 Sky Trust
Race 9: #12 Packing Fighter, #9 Fortune Boy, #2 Stunning Peach, #3 Prestige Good
Race 10: #11 Fit For Beauty, #2 Beauty Bolt, #1 Invincible Ibis, #8 Legend Winner
Race 11: #2 Helene Supafeeling, #9 Tin Fook, #13 Lucky Sam Gor, #14 Blazing Wukong

Race analysis

Race 1: CHEK KENG HANDICAP

#2 I P O Bros has improved with each run this campaign and has his second Class 5 look. He drew wide when first tried in the grade, settled well back, yet still caught the eye late into sixth. Barrier 1 today brings him right into the play. #5 Majestic Delight put the writing on the wall last time, producing a fast-finishing second against the race shape, and that effort suggests he is ready to win. #1 Snowthorn dips into Class 5 after a late-fading fifth when he went too quickly through the middle section and paid for it late. That was not a bad effort given the circumstances, and he looks well placed against weaker opposition. #6 My Flying Angel might be better suited over 1400 meters, but he gets a good run today from barrier 2, which keeps him in the conversation.

Race 2: WU KAI SHA HANDICAP

#5 Lucky Ranger is another newcomer for Mark Newnham, whose trials have been impressive. He looks set to make an impact on debut and can be hard to beat if he brings that work to race day. #1 Majestic Valour won smartly first-up over Ever Luck like a horse going places, but he did not repeat it second-up when he found the front and weakened late. A switch-up in tactics might be in order for him to finish off better. #7 Warriors Dream took a step forward at his first run for the Brett Crawford stable, closing off well into fifth, and that reads as the right platform for another lift here. #11 Autumn Vibes has been plagued by wide draws, but he comes in low today, and he had a valid excuse last time after pulling up with an issue. He is better than that, and he shapes as a knockout chance.

Race 3: WU KAI SHA HANDICAP

#1 Ever Luck won very impressively on debut, then went under at short odds second-up. This race lacks depth, and a good lead-in trial gives him the chance to bounce back to winning ways, especially drawn well in barrier 3 to map with the perfect run. Cheekpieces go on, and that tweak could help him settle that touch better, too. #9 Lucky McQueen brings back-to-back seconds into this, while plenty of these need to lift, and barrier 5 looks set to give him the right run in transit. #8 Ka Ying Warrior draws low in barrier 2 after a late-fading fifth from barrier 11 last time, and third-up for the Crawford stable, he looks to be trending the right way. #3 Elite Golf is a three-year-old having his second career start, and he can take a step forward, given that his trials have shown improvement.

Race 4: WU KAU TANG HANDICAP

#1 Endeared profiles as the class-dropper to side with, especially back to a track and trip he relishes after three runs on the all-weather. #5 The Heir is easy to make a case for. He is well placed to get the right run from barrier 4, especially as several key rivals are drawn wide, and he comes here third-up off a luckless fourth for a stable that is in form. #11 Circuit Fiery took 17 starts to break through, but plenty can hold that form once the penny drops, and he shapes as one who can go on with it despite the class rise. #2 Super Love won well two starts ago when ridden close from a low draw, then last time he was forced out to barrier 14, ridden cold before launching into eighth. Barrier 13 sets up a similar pattern.

Race 5: WU KAU TANG HANDICAP

#5 Robot Star was a tough watch last time when beaten a little over three lengths into eighth, held up for much of the straight when he should have been right in the finish. That run is better than it reads, and he gets another chance to atone. #1 Star Satyr comes out of the same race, and he also struck traffic, but once clear, he surged late into second. That was his return to Class 4, and he always looks like a threat in this grade. #6 Crossborderdude took a nice step forward at start two, unwanted in betting yet closing hard into third behind Salon S. He profiles as a horse with upside for the John Size yard. #8 Shinyu Kokoroe finally gets a kinder draw after three runs since dropping into Class 4, which gives his map a major boost and the chance to lift his form.

Race 6: HEBE HAVEN HANDICAP

#10 Volcanic Spark flashed late into second over 2000 meters last time, and the drop back to 1800 meters looks key to his chances. He has gone a while without winning, but he does look to be building towards one. #14 Kasa Papa should be put into a much handier spot this time, which lifts his prospects in a race that does not show much speed on paper. He is still winless in this grade, but he is capable. #6 Packing Hurricane gets barrier 1 and can make full use of it to map the right run again after a last-start third, giving him every chance to be in the finish. #13 Our Lucky Glory has not won for some time, but he arrives off a string of third placings, and he is trending the right way at the foot of Class 4. His time is coming.

Race 7: HUNG MUI KUK HANDICAP

#6 Szeryng had a rough run from barrier 13 last time and still went down a neck into second, while the winner enjoyed the dream run, making all from an inside gate. He gets a big map upgrade and can atone. #4 Aurora Patch has been a stable-change success since joining the Manfred Man yard, posting two wins from six starts and still looking on the up in the ratings. He can follow up if he gets the right run again. #8 Prestige Always comes through the same race as Szeryng and, despite drawing an inside gate, he never saw clear room in the straight. His prior form reads well, and he shapes as an each-way chance. #5 Alpha Strike raced too keenly when stepping up to 1200 meters second-up after his debut win, and he weakened badly late. He can improve if he relaxes better this time.

Race 8: THE RACING CLUB CUP (HANDICAP)

#8 Little Paradise is a talent, winning four from seven, and he is emerging as a key four-year-old ahead of the Classic Series. He moves up to Class 2 off a smart win over the fellow up-and-comer Top Dragon, and this is a stiffer test, but one he can take in his stride if he keeps trending the right way. #3 Invincible Shield comes off an unlucky third over 1200 meters after being tightened for room when it mattered, and the step up to 1400 meters now looks timely. #9 Public Attention is another four-year-old with the Classic Series in mind. He is third-up off two encouraging placings over 1200 meters, and this rise in trip should tell us more about him. #6 Sky Trust did not disgrace himself in the Group 3 1400-meter handicap 10 days ago, only fading late after doing some work early. He can be competitive again if he gets a slightly kinder run.

Race 9: PAK SHA O HANDICAP

#12 Packing Fighter has been given plenty of time at the trials to get him ready for his Hong Kong debut, and they have looked well, especially his latest when he surged late through and past the line. He looks worth a stab. #9 Fortune Boy keeps charging home over the mile and now shapes as ready for the step up to 1800 meters, a trip he is 1-from-1 at. #2 Stunning Peach had an excusable run in transit last time, and he is better than that. Third-up, he can improve if he gets a more measured journey. #3 Prestige Good comes off a last-start win over this track and trip, and he maps to get the right run again to back it up.

Race 10: PAK SHEK AU HANDICAP

#11 Fit For Beauty is building a handy profile, and he won well at his first try at the mile. That came in Class 4, but the time rated and he carried top weight, and a big relief here puts him right into the mix. #2 Beauty Bolt went down a head to Dazzling Fit in a slowly run race, only outsprinted late on the line. Two good trials between runs have him poised to bounce back and strengthen his Classic Mile credentials, but barrier 14 makes the task awkward. #1 Invincible Ibis is one of the standout four-year-olds on the Classic Mile path after passing his first mile test in style with a sharp win. Barrier 3 sets him up for the right run again to keep the streak going. #8 Legend Winner backs up quickly after taking a step forward second-up when third to Lovero. Barrier 1 provides an ideal map scenario.

Race 11: STANLEY GAP HANDICAP

#2 Helene Supafeeling made a big impression, winning on debut over 1200 meters, coming from the back to score narrowly but convincingly. He was a winner up to the mile pre-import, so the step up in trip does not concern. Another win here can stamp him as a genuine Classic Series contender. #9 Tin Fook ticks plenty of boxes after a fast-finishing seventh from the widest stall last time. He now gets Purton from barrier 2 and goes back to 1400m, where he has turned in three good runs at this track and trip. #13 Lucky Sam Gor never got clear last time, and still finished within three lengths in seventh. He needs some luck in the run, but can be right there. #14 Blazing Wukong did not disgrace himself over the mile last time, but the drop back to 1400m looks the ideal set-up.