Hong Kong: Selections for Sha Tin night of Nov. 22

Superstars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior add luster to the Sha Tin action, as they tune up for their respective title defenses on the Dec. 14 Hong Kong International Races program. 

Racing begins at 11:45 p.m. ET late Saturday night, and Luke Middlebrook provides selections and analysis for the must-see card. 

Sha Tin selections

Race 1: #11 Made For Life, #4 All’s Well, #5 California Bay, #6 Jubilant Star
Race 2: #9 Sunny Q, #2 Bright Day, #3 Cheval Victorious, #10 Rainbow Seven
Race 3: #6 Nyx Gluck, #3 Raging Rapids, #1 Do Your Part, #10 World Hero
Race 4: #2 Stunning Peach, #5 Gentlemen Legacy, #7 Winning Wing, #8 Snowfield
Race 5: #7 Invincible Ibis, #2 Lucy In The Sky, #1 Gracious Express, #5 Sunny Da Best
Race 6: #1 Ka Ying Rising, #8 Tomodachi Kokoroe, #6 Fast Network, #3 Helios Express
Race 7: #7 My Wish, #2 Galaxy Patch, #13 Light Years Charm, #11 Encountered
Race 8: #2 Voyage Bubble, #1 Romantic Warrior, #4 Straight Arron, #6 Bundle Award
Race 9: #1 Public Attention, #8 Szeryng, #3 Star Rise, #5 Sky Joy
Race 10: #1 Brilliant Express, #2 Anode, #4 Master Of All, #3 Everyone’s Star

Race Analysis

Race 1: BOCHK CROSS-BORDER SERVICES HANDICAP

#11 Made For Life debuts for the Mark Newnham stable and has shown enough in both Australian and local trials to suggest he can win first-up. From barrier 4, he maps to land in a sweet spot to give this a shake on debut. #4 All’s Well also draws for an ideal run from barrier 3. His first-up third to Jubilant Winner at this course and trip reads strongly, and while his second-up run at Happy Valley was only fair, the return to Sha Tin is a positive. #5 California Bay showed improvement last start when finishing hard into third with the blinkers applied. He is trending the right way. #6 Jubilant Star showed ability on debut with a close second, and though his second-up sixth was plain, he is still open to improvement. Barrier 13 is the knock.

Race 2: BOCHK SME IN ONE HANDICAP

#9 Sunny Q has returned in good order this season. He was luckless first-up, then won second-up, and followed that with a narrow third-up defeat. All three runs came at 1200 meters, so the rise to 1400 meters is a fresh test, but he has performed at the trip before, and barrier 4 gives him the right map. #2 Bright Day has found his rhythm since dropping into Class 4, producing a second to Emblazon before scoring his maiden win stylishly over this trip. The move to barrier 14, however, is a map negative. #3 Cheval Victorious appeals from a low draw. His last-start fifth behind Sunny Q had merit given the poor trip, and Hugh Bowman from barrier 2 sets up a kinder scenario. #10 Rainbow Seven adds blinkers after trialing well in them and is a candidate to improve.

Race 3: BOC LIFE HANDICAP

#6 Nyx Gluck can run a race at odds if he enjoys any luck from barrier 13. He has had excuses in both career starts, most recently posted very wide yet still checking into fourth. Both runs were over 1200 meters, and the rise in trip now looks ideal, while a trial win between runs suggests improvement. #3 Raging Rapids gets a perfect map from barrier 1. His last-start fifth, in a fast-run race, was better than it appears, and John Size has tightened him with two quick trials. #1 Do Your Part keeps knocking on the door with three placings from as many runs, always putting himself in the right spot. He remains a key player. #10 World Hero should settle handy from barrier 2 and will enjoy a far more favorable run than last start from gate 14 when fading late.

Race 4: BOCHK "BANKING TRENDYTOO" HANDICAP

#2 Stunning Peach never quite delivered on early expectations, but his return run was a step in the right direction. He closed strongly into third over a mile, a trip short of his best, and now rises to 2000 meters second-up with Zac Purton back aboard. His trial between runs was encouraging. #5 Gentlemen Legacy maps well from barrier 4 and is worth forgiving for his last-start fourth as the favorite. The race was run at a frantic tempo, and he stuck on better than it appears on paper. #7 Winning Wing had conditions fall perfectly when scoring impressively last start, yet barrier 1 gives him the chance to settle much closer, which keeps him a live chance again. #8 Snowfield is progressing the right way, and his late-closing fourth on the all-weather last week hints that the rise in trip back on turf will suit.

Race 5: BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT HANDICAP

#7 Invincible Ibis relished the rise in trip last start, finally shedding his maiden tag with a dominant two-length win that confirmed the talent he had hinted at in earlier placings. He has a big engine and plenty of upside, and while he now faces a fresh test rising to Class 3, this is not the strongest edition. He should be winning again. #2 Lucy In The Sky nearly stole the race from barrier 11 last start when rolling forward and only being collared late. A better draw gives Bowman far more flexibility, and he looks set to give another bold showing on the speed. #1 Gracious Express scored at big odds after a wide, tough run yet still found enough to win. Barrier 1 now offers every chance to repeat the dose. #5 Sunny Da Best will drift back from barrier 13 but owns a sharp turn of foot and will be chiming in late.

Race 6: THE BOCHK PRIVATE BANKING JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT (G2)

#1 Ka Ying Rising returns to home soil off his emphatic Everest (G1) win and is on track for a Hong Kong Sprint (G1) defense in December. If David Hayes’ confident pre-race commentary is any indication, it should be business as usual for the world’s top-rated sprinter. #8 Tomodachi Kokoroe, his stablemate, has been a revelation since the one-eyed blinker was applied, rising from Class 2 to Group 2 with three wins from three starts this season. This, however, is a different test at set weights. #6 Fast Network maps to receive a far kinder run from barrier 2 after being forced too far back from a wide gate last start. Expect him to improve. #3 Helios Express needed the run first-up and will be more effective second-up as he builds toward December’s internationals. He can take a step forward here.

Race 7: THE BOCHK PRIVATE WEALTH JOCKEY CLUB MILE (G2)

#7 My Wish has swept through two high-quality races this season, stamping himself the next top dog in the mile division. He now moves from handicaps into set-weights conditions, a fresh test, but on what he has produced so far, he should continue progressing and strengthen his case for the Hong Kong Mile (G1). #2 Galaxy Patch regularly falls victim to his own racing pattern. Barrier 2 and James McDonald give him the platform to secure a cleaner run than usual, and with it, he can rebound into the finish. #13 Light Years Charm will drift back from barrier 11, but rising to the mile is exciting after his sharp second-up win over 1400 meters. He will be storming home late. #11 Encountered has thrived since joining Brett Crawford, not missing the frame across three runs and coming off a slick Ladies’ Purse (G3) win. Barrier 1 sets up another soft run.

Race 8: THE BOCHK JOCKEY CLUB CUP (G2)

#2 Voyage Bubble is worth forgiving for his first-up 12th under handicap conditions. He was posted wide and weakened, but that run will bring him on and could provide a fitness edge over a resuming Romantic Warrior. The rise to 2000 meters suits him far better at this stage of his career, and the switch to Purton is an important one. #1 Romantic Warrior returns from an injury-enforced layoff, which is the knock. Everything else says he is ready, but he still has to come out and do it. He is a renowned fresh performer, with his only first-up defeat coming in Australia when building toward the 2023 Cox Plate (G1), and the low draw sets him up for the perfect run. #4 Straight Arron’s first-up fourth over an unsuitable mile was full of merit, and blinkers on first time add interest. #6 Bundle Award peaks third-up rising to 2000 meters after two encouraging late-closing efforts.

Race 9: BOC CREDIT CARD HANDICAP

#1 Public Attention is a high-profile Australian import who looks well prepared to deliver on debut. He has had four tune-up trials, and each piece of work has been strong, suggesting he has acclimatized quickly. #8 Szeryng rises to Class 3 after an effortless first-up victory where he enjoyed the perfect run, and barrier 1 gives him every chance to secure the same soft map again. #3 Star Rise has made a sound start to his Hong Kong career. He closed off strongly for second on debut and was far from disgraced last start when finishing close up in fourth, and he maps well again from an inside gate. #5 Sky Joy will be overlooked from barrier 14 but continues to build a solid profile. His first-up second to Patch Of Stars reads very well, and his trial since was sharp. He can run a race at odds.

Race 10: BOCHK BOC PAY+ HANDICAP

#1 Brilliant Express shapes as the one to beat. He is third-up, gets blinkers on for the first time after trialing well in them, and brings two encouraging get-back, run-on efforts that hint he’s ready. Barrier 1 finally gives him the perfect map to convert. #2 Anode is worth forgiving after a last-start failure from a wide draw, where he mapped poorly. A better gate and McDonald taking over give him the platform to rebound to his prior good form. #4 Master Of All looks to get a far kinder run from barrier 4 after drawing 14 last time, where he still boxed on for second despite covering plenty of ground. A softer on-pace trip boosts his chances. #3 Everyone’s Star keeps drawing wide but continues to race well, flashing home for second first-up, and as a lightly raced type, he still has improvement to come. With any luck, he can feature again.