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New Paper
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
April 27 Hong Kong (Sha Tin) form analysis
Race 1 (1,800m) Race 1 (1,800m) 2 Beauty Viva had a go at Class 4 last time and was well-supported into favourite. He mapped against the race shape but still ran on well into fifth. He has trialled well. 3 Oriental Smoke will map perfectly from barrier 3 and has been threatening to win since returning to Class 4. He comes out of the same race as Beauty Viva, where he closed off nicely for third. 1 Matsu Victor also comes through that race, finishing a head away in second. With Joao Moreira in the plate, his chances look strong. 5 Volcanic Spark draws perfectly in barrier 4 with James McDonald engaged to ride. Back to 1,800m from 2,000m suits his chances. Race 2 (1,200m) Race 2 (1,200m) 3 Top Throne was a luckless fourth on debut, where he raced wide without cover but showed plenty of promise. He broke through stylishly, looking like a horse going places. 8 Diriya draws perfectly in barrier 1 for his debut and his trials have been encouraging. Zac Purton in the saddle only boosts confidence. 11 Runjeet caught the eye on debut when given a quiet time out the back before closing strongly late. He has trialled well between runs up on the pace. Second-up improvement is expected. 2 Parterre always warrants respect in this class as a three-time winner in the grade. He can go close under Moreira's guidance. Race 3 (1,400m) 1 Super Express remains the one to beat after winning with plenty in hand at this course and distance on debut for the John Size stable, backing up a series of impressive barrier trials. He should only improve with more racing. 5 Monarch County looks to have turned a corner and has improved since stepping up to 1,400m. He broke through stylishly last time and has trialled well between runs. 2 Super Love backed up his maiden win on his second start with a closing third to Crossborderpegasus after being slow away. A promising trial in between suggests he will enjoy the extra ground. 4 Forerunner was drawn wide last start, but his previous two efforts are key - winning over Brilliant Express two starts back before a close second to Magnificent Nine. Race 4 (1,400m) 2 Divano scored an impressive Class 1 victory at this course and distance over Patch Of Theta last time. Drops into Class 2 and carries more weight, but he is a progressive four-year-old who looks to map ideally from barrier 3 and has the services of Purton. 6 Invincible Shield is shooting for a hat-trick after two dominant 1,200m wins in Class 3. This is his first try at 1,400m and first time in Class 2, but he has drawn one. 5 Dancing Code rolled forward and led at a strong tempo last start, before fading late into fourth. His form reads well and barrier 4 ensures the right run again. 4 Young Champion was runner-up to Packing Hermod in the same race as Dancing Code and has improved since the blinkers went on. Race 5 (1,200m) THE CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE (G1) 1 Ka Ying Rising is Hong Kong's star galloper and the world's highest-rated sprinter has swept all before him in his past 11 starts, breaking the track record twice in his last three appearances. A slightly different set-up this time with international contenders back in the mix, but as he showed in December, he has their measure. 6 Helios Express has been the bridesmaid in five of his six runs this season - each time behind Ka Ying Rising - and third on the other occasion. If anyone is to get close again, it is him. 2 Satono Reve returns to Sha Tin after finishing third in December's Hong Kong Sprint. He has since landed the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in Japan and comes back to Hong Kong in peak form. 3 Lucky Sweynesse is a 16-time winner who has not been seen since his Sprint Cup victory in April 2024 due to injury. While it is a huge ask to return in a race like this, McDonald rides, which only adds to the fascination. Race 6 (1,200m) 4 Masterofmyuniverse was reluctant to jump, settled last in running before charging home into third after briefly being held up. The hood comes off, he moves into barrier 2 from 11, and Purton is back on. 3 Geneva broke his Class 3 duck impressively last start after a couple of run-on efforts from wide draws since the class rise. 9 Akashvani finds himself in Class 3, but he will appreciate a kinder draw this time after jumping from gates 12 and 14 in both career runs. 5 Super Legends, from barrier 3 and with McDonald aboard, should not be overlooked. Race 7 (1,600m) THE FWD CHAMPIONS MILE (G1) 1 Mr Brightside, Australia's superstar miler with 19 career wins, nine at Group 1 level, brings elite credentials into this race, including a close-up second to Romantic Warrior in the 2023 Cox Plate. Having been the first overseas runner to arrive in Hong Kong, he has had ample time to settle in. He has the form to win this. 2 Voyage Bubble has stamped himself as Hong Kong's premier miler-middle distance horse and sets the benchmark in this field. Drawn out in barrier 10 while some of his key rivals are drawn inside sets things up for a highly intriguing tactical battle. 12 My Wish was a good thing beaten in the Hong Kong Derby, drawing the outside gate, settling last, and unleashing a devastating final 400m sectional to miss by a short-head. While this is a tougher assignment in open company, Mark Newnham's star four-year-old is as genuine as they come. 6 Galaxy Patch has tested patience this term but gets cheekpieces and the tongue tie on for the first time. He is talented, but his racing pattern requires things to go his way in the run. Race 8 (2,000m) THE FWD QEII CUP (G1) 2 Prognosis has finished runner-up in this race the past two years behind Romantic Warrior. With Romantic Warrior absent this year, McDonald now sides with him as he chases a first Group 1 success on his seventh try. His global form stands up, most notably a second to Via Sistina in the 2024 Cox Plate. 11 Liberty Island, Japan's Triple Tiara winner, was wide throughout when eighth to Soul Rush and Romantic Warrior in the Dubai Turf. That was her first run since a strong second to Romantic Warrior in December's Hong Kong Cup. Can improve sharply second-up. 3 Tastiera returns to Sha Tin off the back of a brave third in the same Hong Kong Cup, where she was caught wide early and rolled forward to settle second. That effort sets her up well for this. 5 El Vencedor arrives in career-best form from New Zealand, chasing his fifth win on the bounce after leading and holding off a fast-closing La Crique in back-to-back Bonecrusher Stakes. His on-pace pattern and Purton are positives. Race 9 (1,600m) 10 Family Jewel resumes at a track and distance where he is two from two. With Moreira aboard from a mid-draw, he may not have to settle as far back as he has in the past. 11 Magnificent Nine has had 17 attempts to win in Class 3 for seven placings, but he has been trending upwards this season. He should enjoy a soft run in transit. 6 Star Mac ran a strong third behind Sky Jewellery at this course and distance, which reads well. 14 Good Luck Babe steps back into Class 3 after an all-the-way win over this trip in Class 4. The four-year-old still has more to come. Race 10 (1,400m) 3 Silvery Breeze resumes off a 77-day break following a last-start fall in the home straight. Drawn no lower than gate 11 in three of his five Hong Kong starts, he resumes from an inside draw this time. 7 Stellar Swift is on the seven-day turnaround after closing well for third behind the up-and-comer South Star. Barrier 11 is tricky, but his form is strong. 4 Endeared reunites with Craig Williams, who steered him to victory two starts ago. From a mid-draw, he can settle closer in the run like he did when winning. 5 Eighty Light Years has not won in more than a year but has been showing a return to form of late. Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
South China Morning Post
13-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Avdulla picks up several rides from the injured Purton: ‘I'm busy there'
Magnifique and Spirit Of Peace among strong chances Australian rider gains from champion jockey by Jay Rooney on Thursday, February 13, 2025 4:22 PM Jockey Brenton Avdulla has a strong book of nine rides on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Brenton Avdulla hopes to make the most of several golden opportunities at Sha Tin on Sunday, with the Australian picking up multiple strong rides from the injured Zac Purton. With Purton, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Angus Chung Yik-lai and Keith Yeung Ming-lun out of action after last Sunday's falls at Sha Tin, Avdulla and a number of other rides have received increased opportunities for this weekend's 11-race card. Avdulla hops aboard a pair of last-start winners for Purton – impressive debut victor Magnifique and Spirit Of Peace – as well as Classic Series prospect Bundle Award, Beauty Alliance, Magnificent Nine and debutant Laserblanca, who all shaped as likely rides for the seven-time champion jockey. 'I'm busy there,' Avdulla said of his Sunday book of nine rides. 'I've got a few young horses for John Size that Zac's been on. I don't know too much about them, but they look like they've got something. 'It's actually probably not my normal book – it's a book with a few of Zac's rides, so hopefully we can get a winner or two there.' Magnifique tackles the first section of the Class Four Daisy Handicap (1,200m) after a strong victory on debut, scoring by a length down the straight last month. However, Avdulla has been set a task on the David Hall-trained gelding from barrier 11 and under top weight of 135 pounds. Spirit Of Peace, a last-start Happy Valley winner for Size, also has a wide draw in gate nine and top weight of 134 pounds to overcome in the second section of the Class Four Jasmine Handicap (1,400m). Bundle Award is one of Avdulla's rides who has drawn ideally, with the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) entrant jumping from gate one in the Class Three Rose Handicap (1,600m). Size's Australian import broke through at his third Hong Kong start with an impressive 1,400m triumph last month under James McDonald and he needs to win again on Sunday to boost his chances of making the Classic Cup (1,800m) field on March 2. Beauty Alliance was an impressive Sha Tin winner in December and Magnificent Nine is still chasing his first Hong Kong success after six placings from 16 starts. Laserblanca shapes as an intriguing first starter in the second section of the Daisy Handicap, with Size's three-year-old notching a victory and three placings from his four trials with Purton in the saddle. Lo Rider, another Derby aspirant who was hampered by the three-horse fall last Sunday, is another pickup ride for Avdulla in the Class Three Marigold Handicap (1,800m). Hugh Bowman has ridden the Irish import on his past two starts but will pilot Caspar Fownes-trained stablemate, Family Jewel, on Sunday. Avdulla's other ride is The Golden Scenery in the feature of the day, the Class Two Heung Yee Kuk Cup (1,600m). — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 12, 2025 The 34-year-old, who has ridden 20 winners this season, is also excited to continue his association with Rubylot in the Classic Cup next month. The David Hayes-trained gelding was forced back to near last from gate 10 in the Classic Mile and made late ground to run sixth to My Wish on January 31. 'I'm happy riding Rubylot. He ran well the other day and I think with a draw he would have gone close, so hopefully we can draw well over the 1,800m,' Avdulla said. Avdulla guided Rubylot to victory on his previous two rides on the classy son of Rubick.
