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Saturday, June 6: Sha Tin (Hong Kong) Picks

by Declan Schuster (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

June 3, 2020

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
First Post: 12:45AM ET on Sunday, June 7

Race 1: #3 Great Son, #7 Kwai Chung Elite, #12 Tigerlad, #5 Supreme Plus
Race 2: #1 Glenealy Generals, #4 Lady First, #2 Monkey Jewellery, #11 Farm Bumper
Race 3: #8 Wood On Fire, #3 Lucky Quality, #2 Chikorita, #1 Winning Feeling
Race 4: #14 Great Smart, #11 Bring It On, #12 Golden General, #5 Little General
Race 5: #13 Ka Ying Brilliance, #2 Jade Fortune, #8 Telecom Rocket, #11 Circuit Number One
Race 6: #10 Eptiwins, #9 All For St Paul’s, #4 Heza Beauty, #1 Casa De Forca
Race 7: #2 Refined Treasure, #5 War Of Courage, #3 Total Excess, #9 California Archer
Race 8: #5 Guy Dragon, #1 Lobo’s Legend, #14 Street Scream, #2 Simple Elegant
Race 9: #11 Such A Happiness, #14 Decisive Action, #5 Beauty Day, #4 Mr Aldan
Race 10: #2 Glorious Spectrum, #6 Star Shine, #5 Morethanlucky, #3 Invincible Missile

Race 1: Wu King Handicap (12:45AM ET)

#3 Great Son made all impressively for a short-head victory and following that, has remained in Class 5 where he finished a competitive fifth last start. He’s drawn to the gun run here for Matthew Poon who should ensure he does next to no work in the run, and from there, finishes off strongly. #7 Kwai Chung Elite is still searching for his first Hong Kong win. He’s been awfully consistent for a horse without a win yet, having placed five times from 15 runs including a close-up third last-start. He’s another favoured by the draw and with even luck, should be able to make his presence felt. #12 Tigerlad has found form since switching stables to the Tony Millard who does have, an excellent record with stable transfers. If he can overcome the wide gate he’s not without a winning chance. #5 Supreme Plus mixes his form but does rate strongly following his last-start runner-up effort. 

Race 2: Po Tin Handicap (1st Section) (1:15AM ET)

#1 Glenealy Generals steps back into Class 4 where he recorded his last win, almost 12 months ago. He has the ability and now, at a competitive mark, he gets his chance to return to winning ways. #4 Lady First is still winless across 30 outings. Still, he’s consistent having placed in nine of these runs and if things fall his way, he is capable of taking this contest out. #2 Monkey Jewellery mixes his form but clearly has ability. Joao Moreira hops up again which is a plus as he has won aboard the Exceed And Excel gelding twice before. #11 Farm Bumper is racing well and can continue his solid form. 

Race 3: Po Tin Handicap (2nd Section) (1:45AM ET)

#8 Wood On Fire tried to make all last start but faded to a close-up second. He’s drawn to get the gun run again here and with even luck early he should be able to roll forward and dictate the race to suit himself. #3 Lucky Quality has placed on a number of occasions and does appear well suited in this grade. The wide gate is a concern but with even luck he should be thereabouts. #2 Chikorita steps down to Class 4. He’s actually shown a reasonable amount of ability and in the weaker grade he just might find the necessary improvement to test this bunch. #1 Winning Feeling is another who drops in grade. He’s a Class 4 winner previously and with Joao Moreira up he warrants plenty of respect.

Race 4: Yau Oi Handicap (2:15AM ET)

#14 Great Smart appears down to his mark. He’s now racing off a mark of 23 and with 15 runs under his belt, including an improved performance last start, he gets an excellent chance to finally put his best foot forward. Zac Purton hops aboard #11 Bring It On for the first time all season. This galloper has ability and now, back in Class 5 he just might be ready to piece it all together. #12 Golden General finished runner-up last time out, which was an improved effort that he can build on here, especially stepping up to 1800m. He can figure. #5 Little General has been consistent all term. He’s still winless but has taken a liking to stepping up in trip.

Race 5: Tai Hing Handicap (3:05AM ET)

#13 Ka Ying Brilliance is unlucky not to have already won a race this term, but nevertheless, if he can put his best foot forward then he is going to have a chance yet again, especially from gate five with only 115lb to shoulder. #2 Jade Fortune has gone close on a number of occasions. Zac Purton sticks aboard once again and although he hasn’t delivered yet for the Australian this term, he has been racing well and once again, rates as a leading player. #8 Telecom Rocket is consistent and has put in a number of impressive runs over 1400m this term. He’ll relish the added furlong on offer here and should be a major player. #11 Circuit Number One mixes his form but should get a chance to showcase his best from the favourable draw.  

Race 6: Sam Shing Handicap (3:40AM ET)

#10 Eptiwins has tallied two runner-up efforts since the switch to the David Hall yard. He’s got ability and although he’s been somewhat of a conundrum across his 13-start career for supporters, he does get conditions to suit here, especially with three-time champion jockey Zac Purton retaining the mount. #9 All For St Paul’s has turned his form around of late and off his last two runs he brings himself into the equation here. He’s drawn a touch awkward but his form warrants respect and this isn’t an overly strong contest. #4 Heza Beauty has hit the ground running since his debut five starts ago in Hong Kong, since then, finishing no worse than fifth. He narrowly missed last time out and if he can reproduce the same run here then he’s going to be fighting out the finish. #1 Casa De Forca won well last time out and it wouldn’t surprise to see him run well again, even if he does sit atop of Class 4.

Race 7: Fu Tai Handicap (4:10AM ET)

#2 Refined Treasure has largely appeared to struggle this season compared to his previous heroics, however, his last two runs on the dirt have sparked a little bit of improvement and now, returning to his preferred course and distance combined with a drop to Class 3, he just might be able to put his best foot forward. #5 War Of Courage has hit the ground running since his arrival to Hong Kong with two wins from seven appearances. He’s the in-form galloper who once again, commands plenty of respect. #3 Total Excess steps out on debut for Michael Chang and Zac Purton. The Australian jockeys booking on debut commands respect and off his trials, a bold performance is expected, especially as Mr Croissant has come out of that latest trial and won. #9 California Archer is consistent and bears close watching for the in-form Tony Cruz stable.

Race 8: Lung Yat Handicap (4:40AM ET)

#5 Guy Dragon has gone close on a number of occasions this term and with the right run, he can take this contest out. The wide draw isn’t a concern as he is more than likely not going to settle worse than midfield but with a clean run home, he can rattle into contention. #1 Lobo’s Legend is a tricky galloper to catch but clearly, he does have the ability. He needs a lot to go his way but if it does, then he should be able to showcase his best. #14 Street Scream closed strongly for third behind a runaway Amazing Chocolate last time out. He finished alongside the bunched field behind that winner and from that performance, rates strongly, especially as an improving type. He bears close watching, not only for Sunday but the remainder of the season. #2 Simple Elegant will be in front for a long way, although, there is a question mark is around how much work he will do there.

Race 9: On Ting Handicap (5:15AM ET)

#11 Such A Happiness has done well for Tony Millard as a stable transfer across three starts and with even luck, he can register his first win for the veteran South African handler. A return to Sha Tin should spark sharp improvement in the galloper who from gate three, maps to get a dream run throughout under Antoine Hamelin. #14 Decisive Action slots in at the bottom of the weights with the feather 114lb on his back. Joao Moreira takes the reins here and his pull in the weights should see him go very close. #5 Beauty Day gets the services of Zac Purton. He’s a course and distance winner already this term who warrants respect, albeit from the wide gate. #4 Mr Aldan can rattle into the finish.

Race 10: Butterfly Handicap (5:50AM ET)

#2 Glorious Spectrum is looking to snap a run of two second-place efforts. He’s returned this term in excellent order after putting his soundness issue behind him and with even luck, he can reward his owners with a well-deserved win, albeit in a tough contest. #6 Star Shine rarely runs a bad race and his consistency holds him in good stead here. #5 Morethanlucky turned in a strong performance last start and now gets the services of Zac Purton. He can figure with the right run but he will need to wind back the clock, somewhat as his best appears behind him. #3 Invincible Missile has struggled in Class 2 but to his credit, he hasn’t been disgraced. Suspect he can sit closer in the run now and make his presence felt. He’s worth taking a chance on, especially if he is a big price.