Hong Kong: Selections for Sha Tin June 14

Luke Middlebrook guides you through Saturday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin. First post is 4 a.m. ET. 

Selections

Race 1: #13 Winning Champion, #2 The All Out, #1 Quick Money, #4 Motor
Race 2: #4 Celtic Times, #1 Beautiful Win, #7 Family Fortune, #3 Viva Chaleur
Race 3: #9 Sea Sapphire, #3 Rainbow Seven, #7 Winning Diamond, #4 Aerovolanic
Race 4: #8 Robot Knight, #1 Fun N Fun Together, #7 Meepmeep, #6 Magniac
Race 5: #12 Special Hedge, #8 Star Brose, #1 Winning Data, #5 Truly Fluke
Race 6: #3 Ping Hai Comet, #9 Double Win, #2 Midori Giant, #12 Kingly Demeanor
Race 7: #1 Harold Win, #13 Lakeshore Hero, #2 Aeroinvincible, #10 Noble Fans
Race 8: #1 Raging Blizzard, #2 Bottomuptogether, #3 Wunderbar, #10 Harmony N Blessed
Race 9: #7 Gentlemen Legacy, #6 Liveandletlive, #4 Packing Turbine, #2 Enthralled
Race 10: #12 Rising Force, #5 Solid Shalaa, #2 Packing Bole, #1 Gummy Gummy
Race 11: #5 Patch Of Stars, #13 Master Of All, #3 Armour War Eagle, #6 Victory Sky

Analysis

Race 1: HKU FACULTIES OF ARTS AND EDUCATION PLATE

#13 Winning Champion was luckless on debut and made good late ground. He is drawn the right part of the track and is an each-way play at odds. #2 The All Out was an impressive debut winner but scratched at the gates on his intended second start. He resumes here after trialing well twice. #1 Quick Money finished second to The All Out on debut and franked the form with an easy second-up win before another honest effort when narrowly beaten third-up. #4 Motor did not get much room last start but was close up in fourth and is another to consider.

Race 2: HKU FACULTIES OF LAW AND MEDICINE HANDICAP

#4 Celtic Times makes his first Class 5 appearance and has trialed well. He looks ready to show something for the stable since the move three runs back. #1 Beautiful Win will get a sweet run from barrier 4. He ran well in his first Class 5 run, a close up third, and can be thereabouts again. #7 Family Fortune was better than it looked last start after racing too keenly. His prior form holds up but barrier 13 is the query. #3 Viva Chaleur is a 29-start maiden but can sneak in at this level on his first Class 5 start.

Race 3: HKU HERITAGE HANDICAP

#9 Sea Sapphire found his first win for David Eustace two back and ran well again when second to Little Paradise last time. He will lead and take catching. #3 Rainbow Seven will be doing the chasing. He proved his big debut second was no fluke and can figure again having drawn ideally in barrier 3. #7 Winning Diamond caught the eye on debut closing into fifth. The rise to 1200 meters should suit as Zac Purton takes the ride. #4 Aerovolanic has trialed well and looks ready to run a race on debut under in-form apprentice Ellis Wong.

Race 4: HKU FACULTIES OF DENTISTRY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HANDICAP

#8 Robot Knight found form with blinkers on last start when a strong third. More pressure here gives him a genuine chance to finish over the top, especially from a low gate. #1 Fun N Fun Together has also improved with blinkers and is chasing back-to-back wins. He will face more early pressure this time, however, which is the query. #7 Meepmeep is racing well over longer trips from wide draws and will be one to watch late. #6 Magniac is down in the ratings and stepping back to his preferred distance, which brings him into contention.

Race 5: UNIVERSITY HALL HANDICAP

#12 Special Hedge draws to get a decent run on the pace from barrier 4. His recent string of placings over the mile has him in fine form, and the step back to 1400 meters looks ideal. #8 Star Brose steps up to 1400 meters, which looks key to his chances. He has drawn wide in both starts but has been eye-catching late. #1 Winning Data was first-up off a long break and did not feature over a trip short of his best. Conditions suit him better here. #5 Truly Fluke is progressing well and can take another step forward third-up after finishing second last start.

Race 6: HKU FACULTIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND SCIENCE HANDICAP

#3 Ping Hai Comet gets an ideal gate in barrier 2 as he chases a hat trick of wins on the quick back-up, and he is the one to beat after a dominant mile win last time. #9 Double Win draws well after having barrier 12 to overcome last start. He is knocking on the door and has improved with blinkers. He just missed last start and looks a danger. #2 Midori Giant may be better suited returning to Sha Tin after two 2200-meter runs at Happy Valley, where he didn’t disgrace. #12 Kingly Demeanor will roll forward despite his wide gate, and he is a pace influence who can sneak into the money if the race shape works out.

Race 7: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP)

#1 Harold Win drops back to Class 4 and returns to a better trip following an unsuited run over the extended mile last start at Happy Valley. His prior form at this track and trip reads well with four placings on end. #13 Lakeshore Hero closed strongly first-up over 1200 meters from a wide draw. The step to 1400 meters suits this improving four-year-old. #2 Aeroinvincible was back in Class 4 last start, but 1200 meters is short of his best. He can improve second-up to 1400 meters. #10 Noble Fans is an improving three-year-old who was strong late first-up and will enjoy the extra 200 meters.

Race 8: HKU BUSINESS SCHOOL AND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING HANDICAP

#1 Raging Blizzard resumes with two sharp trials under his belt. He gets the right race set-up here with a few going forward and will be finishing strongly late. #2 Bottomuptogether is a model of consistency and one of the on-pacers who will take running down under Purton. #3 Wunderbar was first-up off a four-month break last start when fading to eighth. He has the ability, but there are some queries around his form given his injury history. Still, barrier 1 will ensure every hope. #10 Harmony N Blessed is another pace influence, and even at eight years old, he remains in top form. He will give a sight under the light weight.

Race 9: HKU FOUNDATION HANDICAP

#7 Gentlemen Legacy looks ready to break through third-up after flashing late into second over the mile. The rise to 1800 meters suits based on his pre-import form. #6 Liveandletlive should lead easily enough from barrier 1. He broke through two back and was collared late last start. Lack of pressure here helps his chances. #4 Packing Turbine had excuses over 2000 meters last start. Back to 1800 meters suits, and he can improve with a smoother trip. #2 Enthralled is building a handy record and can take another step forward with Purton aboard.

Race 10: HKU JOCKEY CLUB STUDENT VILLAGES HANDICAP

#12 Rising Force is a three-year-old on the rise. He won impressively on debut and was only beaten a length as favorite last start. He drops in weight on the class rise and can measure up here. #5 Solid Shalaa is chasing a hat-trick of wins. He will get the race to suit his get-back pattern and looks a serious player. #2 Packing Bole is the likely leader but does mix his form. A well-rated ride will see him hard to peg back. #1 Gummy Gummy disappointed last start as favorite, but his prior form was promising. Winless in two years, but he deserves another chance.

Race 11: THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS HANDICAP

#5 Patch Of Stars is thriving. He has won his last two starts in Class 4 impressively and should handle the rise in grade. One to beat. #13 Master Of All may get a soft lead here from barrier 1 which stands him out, and with the rail out in the C+3 position, he could prove hard to run down. #3 Armour War Eagle resumes and can run a race. His prior form was strong but luckless, and he just needs a clean jump to boost his chances. #6 Victory Sky has been knocking on the door with three straight placings at Happy Valley. He rates well, but barrier 13 poses a tactical challenge.