Hong Kong: Selections for Sha Tin night of Sept. 20

Racing kicks off at Sha Tin at 1 a.m. ET late Saturday night. Luke Middlebrook furnishes his analysis and selections. 

Sha Tin Selections

Race 1: #8 Mr Aladdin, #2 Golden Fairy, #1 Storm Runner, #6 Smashing Express
Race 2: #2 Motor, #1 Field Marshal, #4 Just Follow Me, #5 Winning Champion
Race 3: #4 Peridot, #10 Noble Fans, #5 Proud Box, #1 Aerovolanic
Race 4: #3 Allcash, #4 Fashion Legend, #13 Sight Supreme, #11 Leslie
Race 5: #3 Beauty Viva, #7 Pearl Of Pang’s, #11 Special Hedge, #10 Star Brose
Race 6: #6 Victory Sky, #7 The Red Hare, #10 Thousand Spirit, #3 Stanley Express
Race 7: #7 The Heir, #1 Mr Cool, #4 Beauty Glory, #10 Diriya
Race 8: #7 Chill Kaka, #4 Mojave Desert, #2 Dragon Air Force, #9 New Forest
Race 9: #2 Gorgeous Win, #11 Brilliant Express, #3 Dancing Code, #1 Young Champion
Race 10: #1 Storm Rider, #8 Magnificent Nine, #6 Lo Pan Spirit, #3 Lucky My Way

Analysis

Race 1: KOWLOON TSAI HANDICAP

#8 Mr Aladdin gets his chance to finally break through at start 26 after a close-up third first-up over the mile, where he was forced well back from a wide draw. He rises to a suitable trip, and his narrow second here two runs ago adds to his claims. #2 Golden Fairy maps to lead from barrier 1 and, while better suited over further, still maps to give a bold sight second-up. #1 Storm Runner drops back into Class 5 after three straight placings and reunites with Zac Purton. He ticks plenty of boxes. #6 Smashing Express has been running on encouragingly since the class drop and will be one to watch late if the tempo allows.

Race 2: SAM SHING HANDICAP

#2 Motor draws perfectly in barrier 2 and resumes in blinkers, which he trialed well in. In this Restricted Class 4 for three-year-olds, his Griffin form from last season holds up strongly and gives him every chance to break through. #1 Field Marshal has been gelded over the break and gets a key jockey booking with Purton aboard. He maps to lead on paper and will be hard to reel in. #4 Just Follow Me looks a strong hope to get Brett Crawford off the mark. His recent trial was eye-catching, though barrier 11 makes things tricky tactically. #5 Winning Champion was consistent despite wide gates last term. He resumes from a better draw and is in the mix off a solid trial.

Race 3: YI O HANDICAP

#4 Peridot outran his starting price with an eye-catching debut third and resumes from barrier 1 off two solid trials. Purton takes the ride, which only boosts his prospects. #10 Noble Fans returned with a strong third to Groovy Feeling and is nearing a win. Race fitness gives him an edge in this field, and he looks primed to go close. #5 Proud Box has shown promise in trials leading into his debut, and while barrier 10 makes things tricky, he appears to have ability and should measure up. #1 Aerovolanic scored well on debut before being eased out second-up. His trials since have been fair, but barrier 3 should see him map a chance.

Race 4: TING KAU HANDICAP

#3 Allcash looks ready to win. While still unplaced after 13 Hong Kong starts, he resumes off a much-reduced rating, has shown clear improvement in a recent trial, and gets Purton aboard. This is his chance. #4 Fashion Legend has a tricky gate to overcome in barrier 11, but there’s enough speed on paper to suit his pattern. He enjoys this course and distance and trialed ideally in preparation. #13 Sight Supreme resumed with a 10th-place finish on turf in a run better than it reads. He’s more effective on this surface and can improve. #11 Leslie flashed home for second to Fashion Legend two back and is now down to a mark where he can strike.

Race 5: KAU TO SHAN HANDICAP

#3 Beauty Viva dropped into Class 4 late last season and performed well despite a run of wide draws before a late transfer to the Tony Cruz stable. From barrier 1, his map gets an upgrade, and this presents as a prime opportunity to win. #7 Pearl Of Pang’s was rewarded for his consistency with a strong win last start and can carry on in a similar vein of form. #11 Special Hedge should land comfortably on the pace from barrier 2 and, when right, is capable of being in the finish. #10 Star Brose didn’t manage a win in his debut campaign, but there’s something there. Purton sticks first-up, and his trials have been sound.

Race 6: THE KPMG 80TH ANNIVERSARY CUP (HANDICAP)

#6 Victory Sky is still chasing his first Hong Kong win after 12 attempts, but he’s been in the placings six times with some decent form references among them. A better draw than he’s had in recent starts gives him a genuine chance of breaking through. #7 The Red Hare wasn’t far away in three runs last term and had excuses last time covering ground from a wide gate. The off-season should have done him good, and he can give this a shake. #10 Thousand Spirit has shown off-season improvement in recent trials and can take a step forward at his third local start. #3 Stanley Express makes his debut for the Pierre Ng yard. He arrived with strong Australian credentials, though his local trials have been only fair to date.

Race 7 – KOWLOON BAY HANDICAP

#7 The Heir looks capable of going back-to-back, with barrier 2 setting him up for a world-perfect run. He remains well rated in Class 4 and the Caspar Fownes yard is in flying form. #1 Mr Cool looked a horse on the up last term, and his recent trial was ultra-impressive. He will need to overcome barrier 14 but shapes as one ready to climb the ratings. #4 Beauty Glory is a three-time first-up winner and maps to roll forward under Purton from stall 10. He can’t be overlooked at this level, either. #10 Diriya remains unexposed with just three starts and had excuses in all of them. His trial win for the return was full of merit.

Race 8: PAT SIN LENG HANDICAP

#7 Chill Kaka is a progressive all-weather type with two wins at the course and trip. He had vet excuses when disappointing last seen but has since trialed well twice and reunites with Purton, who looks to give him every chance to bounce back. #4 Mojave Desert produced his trademark strong finish into the placings first-up over 1200 meters, and if the tempo is genuine, he comes right into the picture. #2 Dragon Air Force caught the eye late into fifth over 1200 meters on return and strips fitter here. A step up to this distance, where he beat Chill Kaka three starts ago, suits. #9 New Forest will be prominent early and shares the pace with Ariel—how hard they take each other on determines the race shape.

Race 9: YI TUNG SHAN HANDICAP

#2 Gorgeous Win gave away a big head start first-up but closed off well into fourth behind Ka Ying Rising. The move to barrier 1 and the booking of Hugh Bowman both work in his favor second-up. #11 Brilliant Express covered plenty of ground on his Class 2 debut yet wasn’t beaten far into ninth. He’s had no luck with gates but still looks to have upside. #3 Dancing Code maps to get the right run from barrier 4 and looks set to carry on from the strong form he showed last season. #1 Young Champion can mix his form but is more than capable on his day and is one to keep safe second-up.

Race 10: MA KONG SHAN HANDICAP

#1 Storm Rider has won two trials in impressive fashion ahead of his return, and the reunion with Purton—aboard for all three career wins—sets him up nicely for a strong first-up showing. #8 Magnificent Nine struggles to win in this grade but has placed nine times and maps to get a soft run from the low draw. He’s likely to be around the mark again. #6 Lo Pan Spirit was caught wide without cover first-up but is capable of better, particularly if he maps more kindly. #3 Lucky My Way steps into Class 3 after back-to-back wins to close last term in style. It’s a fresh test, but his ceiling still looks untapped.