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New Paper
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
May 25 Hong Kong (Sha Tin) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) 1 Quick Money remains the one to beat after a strong debut second to The All Out, then going one better with a soft win second-up. The rise to 1,200m now looks ideal. 8 Babieca has performed well in both starts to date, finishing third on debut to The All Out before running a close second to Quick Money. He is still racing greenly, so there is plenty of improvement to come. Zac Purton to ride. 4 Light Years Glory debuts from the inside draw and looks well prepared off several pass-mark trials - he can give a good showing. 10 Hyannis Star was well beaten into fourth on debut, 6¾ lengths off The All Out, but has trialled well since and can take a step forward second-up. Race 2 (1,200m) 7 Invincible Ibis is a newcomer who has trialled well enough ahead of his debut to suggest he is in with a chance. Drawn ideally in barrier 2 while key rivals have drawn wide. 10 Goldentronicmighty shed his maiden tag in style last start with an easy two-length course-and-distance win. With the low draw in what looks a moderate race, he can go back-to-back. 3 Call Me Gorgeous has his shot at Class 4 and can make his mark despite barrier 11. His first run in the grade was a passable fourth and he can build on that. 2 Awesome Treasure resumes off a freshen-up and drops in a grade where he boasts a strong record. He should race prominently and give a solid sight under the seven-pound apprentice claim. Race 3 (1,200m) 10 Loveisintheair finally gets to the bigger track at Sha Tin where his chances of breaking through for a first win are boosted. 9 Honest Witness is now third-up, and both his fourth-place finishes have been sound. He has since trialled impressively, winning his heat, and maps to race on speed where he gets every chance. 1 Giddy Up returned to Class 4 two starts ago with a close-up second and was sent out favourite last time where he ran sixth. He is drawn ideally in barrier 3 to settle closer and bounce back at a better price. 6 Copartner Fleet debuts from a horror draw in barrier 12, but his trials have been sharp with Purton aboard. He is one to watch for a promising effort that will pave the way to better things. Race 4 (1,400m) 1 Packing Hermod is hard to oppose even at the top of Class 2 with a heavy impost. The five-time winner from nine starts was last seen bouncing back in a big way with blinkers on for the first time. 2 Young Champion was less than a length off Packing Hermod two starts ago. He was only moderate last time when taken back early from a wide draw, but this looks a good race for him. 6 Dancing Code was forced to settle further back than usual, but hit the line strongly into sixth, beaten just 1½ lengths in an on-pace dominated race. He has yet to win in Class 2 but is worth another shot. 7 Mickley has a local record of one win and zero placings from 10 starts, but he enters off an encouraging fast-finishing fourth behind Hong Lok Golf. Keep safe. Race 5 (1,400m) 3 Super Love drew wide in his first 1,400m test last start, was taken back to find cover, and found the line well into sixth. He can settle closer in the run from barrier 3. 1 Meowth drops back into Class 4 where he is one-from-one. Jockey upgrade to Hugh Bowman and an inside gate help his cause. 6 Ka Ying Glory pulled up a roarer on debut when well beaten as an odds-on favourite, but his trials since have been excellent. 4 Monarch County can settle much closer from barrier 4 after being taken back too far last start, where he finished strongly into third. That effort followed his maiden win at his prior run, and he still looks to have more to offer. Race 6 (1,600m) 6 Mister Dapper was given an ill-judged ride last start when asked to lead, so his fifth-place finish was better than it reads. He draws well in barrier 4 and, with a more measured steer, can bounce back. 7 Wrote A New Page is a progressive three-year-old who put the writing on the wall last start with a strong second at his first attempt over this course and distance. He looks ready to break through. 5 Fortune Boy notched his first win at start six last time, defeating Wrote A New Page, and as another three-year-old still on the rise, he should have more to offer and is worth following up. 11 Special Hedge should roll forward from barrier 10. Since his second win five starts ago, he has remained in form with three placings all over this course and trip. Race 7 (1,400m) 3 Shamus Storm is set to get one of the runs of the race from barrier 2. That bodes well for his chances to finally score a maiden win after going close in all four starts. 4 Max Que enters this race off back-to-back runner-up finishes, and his latest second to Dazzling Fit reads well, especially given he suffered interference in the straight. He shapes as one of several strong hopes in the field. 1 Spirit Of Peace has shown plenty of ability in six starts, but was set an impossible task last time from barrier 12 where he was never really in contention. Better than that. 10 Galvanic is nearing peak fitness after two fair efforts this prep. He draws ideally in barrier 1, and having placed twice from six starts over this course and trip, he is a genuine contender at a price. Race 8 (2,400m) THE STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP (G1) 1 Voyage Bubble will bid to become just the second Hong Kong Triple Crown winner after wins in the Stewards' Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup. He has stamina to prove at this trip, and gets the nod of approval from his good gate. 2 Dubai Honour is a two-time Group 1 winner over 2,400m, most recently taking out the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. He is proven at Sha Tin, having finished second in the Hong Kong Vase last December. Rain will help. 4 Ensued is capable of running a cheeky race. He was close-up in fourth in the Vase and looks well suited stepping back up to this trip. 10 Bundle Award was brilliant when winning the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup last start, but that race was run more like a sprint in a small field. Race 9 (1,000m) 10 Justifying was disappointing last start after creating a big impression on debut with a sizzling all-the-way win. There were not any clear excuses on the day aside from perhaps immaturity and the sharp rise in the handicap second-up. He may be ridden cold this time to help him finish off better. 4 Celestial Hero has trialled up well on several occasions leading into his Hong Kong debut. He brings with him solid Australian form, clearly has some ability, and looks a horse to follow - though winning straight up is never easy. 13 Alsonso has been threatening to break through with back-to-back second-place finishes at this course and distance at the top of Class 4. Now back into Class 3 with a light weight, he looks well placed. 2 Stellar Express has his second run back in Class 3 and returns to this course and distance where his record is strong, after a solid third to Seasons Wit over the minimum trip at Happy Valley last time. Race 10 (2,000m) 8 Gold Master can vie for the run of the race from his low draw, which can prove vital in this highly competitive field. Last start, he jumped from barrier 10 and was solid holding second throughout, missing by only a nose. 1 Bravehearts will find this much easier than his last assignment and gets Purton in the saddle for the first time, which is a notable switch. Third-up now and not beaten far in either run this prep, he is well placed over this trip with strong course and distance stats. 6 Winning Wing broke through impressively two starts ago on his fifth local run after a string of luckless efforts, and held form well last time rising to 2,000m, finishing strongly into third. 7 Liveandletlive does not draw ideally, but he may still find the front with relative ease like last time when defeating both Gold Master and Winning Wing, and he must be considered again. Race 11 (1,400m) 11 Super Express is a talented three-year-old with a future. He now steps into Class 3, which presents more depth, but his trial win between runs suggests he is in fine fettle for the challenge. 7 South Star is another promising three-year-old on the rise, chasing a hat-trick of wins after an ultra-impressive performance on his first attempt in Class 3 last start - he is right in the mix again. 8 Top Dragon rebounded from a luckless run to win his maiden impressively last time. Looks set to continue progressing. 5 Silvery Breeze found the line strongly into fourth first-up after settling too far back. He will strip much fitter now, but barrier 14 may again force him to be ridden for luck. He has the closing speed to feature if things go his way.
South China Morning Post
08-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
So hopeful Hong Lok Golf can echo the Boom at Sha Tin
Smart four-year-old is looking to follow in the footsteps of his stablemate by remaining unbeaten after three starts by Sam Agars on Saturday, February 8, 2025 12:00 PM Hong Lok Golf salutes under Harry Bentley at Sha Tin last month. Photo: Kenneth Chan He's already done it this season with The Boom Box and now Chris So Wai-yin is hopeful he's got Hong Lok Golf primed to make it three wins from as many starts at Sha Tin this Sunday. Like The Boom Box did on January 26, Hong Lok Golf enters Class Three company on a rating of 66 after consecutive Class Four successes to begin his career. The Boom Box remained undefeated in some style and Hong Lok Golf looks well placed to follow suit from barrier six in the TVB Heroes In White Handicap (1,200m). 'I hope he can be like The Boom Box and win three in a row,' said So of the four-year-old son of Grunt. 'Class Three is totally different but I think he can handle it. He's not carrying a heavy weight, so the step up should be good for him. He's still in good form.' — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 5, 2025 Harry Bentley has been in the saddle for Hong Lok Golf's first two starts and the Englishman will again take the reins this weekend. 'Harry galloped him and he's very happy. I think he will keep improving,' So said of Hong Lok Golf, who carries 124 pounds. 'He's got ability and everything is going right. When he comes back after his gallops he's bounding, he's jumping about. The draw is OK and he should be able to get a good result.' Hong Lok Golf tackles fellow last-start winners Blazing Wind and Triumphant More, as well as the likes of Majestic Express, Alsonso, Rising From Ashes and Call Me Gorgeous. He is one of six runners for So on Sunday, with the 56-year-old also saddling up Top Time, Colourful Winner, Great State, Oldtown and Winning Gold.
