Sidebar

[woodbinepmi]

Hong Kong Racing Recap
Date: February 10, 2018
Track: Sha Tin
Track Bias: None. Slight front running on AWT
Races that have become Key Races after today’s results: 275, 299 & 367

Notes for the day:
Race 1 (409): 97 Refined Fortune (60) made up for his effort he gave after being bet down as the 2-1 favourite and trouble at the start in his debut, won in hand and a figure just north of par, should have plenty in the tank when he most likely stretches out next time out. Thou Shall Sing (54) put in a poor effort without showing an significant excuse for the effort, the last out winner Golden Dash (60) tried to run with the winner but was unable to keep up after 800 metres. Second place runner Goko (50) ran an impressive race after being away since last July where his only run was on the dirt, too bad he caught a couple nice young runners in his comeback.

Race 2 (410): +102? The first of 4 dirt races came back a little quick for the class after the fast early pace that was set, the closer I looked at it I decided not to adjust it and put the question mark on it and will make sure to watch runners coming out of it very closely. Tang Fleming (76) with the bug boy Mo had to get down on him to hold on to the wire after dueling with Experto Crede (60) on the backside while setting that quick pace. It looked as if Ultimate Glory (66) was going to go by him mid-stretch but Tang Fleming refused to let him go by, then he had to hold off the fast closing couple of Nuclear Power (69) and Travel First (68) who both may have won if there was 10 more metres to run.

Race 3 (411): -96 Calculation (77) with Moreira on leaped out of the gate costing him his usual running position then became very rank on the turn then was blocked in the stretch, total throw out. The winner Agree (69) was able to get the easy lead after the trouble that Calculation ran into at the start and was able to milk it all the way around and hold off the hard closing Diamond Dragon (70) who also had a troubled trip being rank and all covered up mid- stretch. The European came out of Sanna on the backside on Golden Sun (70), instead of continuing on the lead with the eventual winner he took back and didn’t have enough horsepower to close the deal in the stretch.

Race 4 (412): +95 Goldie Flanker (56) was a step slow which is not all that big a deal with his running style but had a little difficulty finding running room in the stretch but when he did he took off and was gaining on the winner with every step for the final 150 metres. The longshot winner Startling Power (47) was all out to the wire after racing three wide, will play against him next time out. Not that bad an effort for Beekely (46) who set the fast early pace and finished up well after being away for a couple months, should improve off the effort.

Race 5 (413): 99 Nice ride by the bug boy Leung on winner Planet Star (55), he let Mo on Celestial Nova (50) set the pace and sat right off of him waiting for him to start to tire at the top of the stretch and when Celestial Nova refused to change leads he backed up pretty quickly (the winner also refused to race on his proper lead). He had to hold off Purton on Lucky Time (60) at the wire who gaining on him while racing under him, the 10 pound advantage helped him get to the wire and hold off Purton. Empire Star (52) closed well after racing wide into the stretch but was too far back to make up the difference.

Race 6 (414): +94 Horrible ride by 5 pound allowance rider Wong, went into the first turn 6 wide spanking Golden Sleep (57) all the while never looking for a spot closer to the rail, and at the same time Poon was doing the same thing with Sempiternal (45). Dashing Dart (45) was rank early on in the race then was totally covered up in the stretch, when he found room he closed very well and galloped out even better passing most of the runners in front of him. The longshot second place runner Kirov (51) was wide in the first turn but was never going to catch Elusive State (50) who was perfectly ridden by Schofield. Pace setter Beauty Connection (50) was very rank after stumbling after the start and had enough of this by the time they had reached the stretch run.

Race 7 (415): -104 Conte (94) continues his perfect record outclassing a descent Class 2 field in his first try at this level, will continue to rise up the ladder. A wonderful try by Easy Go Easy Win (90), he has acclimated to Hong Kong without much difficulty and should win next time out as long as he doesn’t draw Conte again.

Race 8 (416): 101 Apollo’s Choice (86) was the lucky recipient of a great trip and a rival who had more trouble than he needed, Royal Mojito (64) was slow out of the gate while breaking from the rail then had to swing out to the middle of the track when he entered the stretch, was gaining on the winner. Raging Blitzkrieg (76) was full of run but had nowhere to go, he made a nice little run but flattened out near the wire.

Race 9 (417): 101 More questionable rides on the dirt, Ng took Smart Declaration (60) six wide in the turn while Badel rode Joyful Moments (72) five wide into the turn. Ugly Warrior (75) on the other hand was perfectly driven by Ho, was able to gain the front before he reached the turn and get as close to the rail as possible without using too much out of him. Other than going wide in the turn I couldn’t find anything to forgive the effort by Strathclyde (70), Pakistan Baby (59) should appreciate going back down to Class 4.

Race 10 (418): +105 No excuse for Marvel Tribe () not to get up for the win, he sat behind a three horse duel with nobody around him for at least two lengths heading into the turn, while the winner Perpetual Joyance () raced on the rail but had to drift out to the middle of the track for running room. Key Witness () made a huge run late but was too far back to make up the difference as was Jolly Jolly (). House Of Fun () pulled even with Marvel Tribe mid-stretch but hung for no apparent reason and Fabulous One () was pretty much eased for the last 100 metres of the race.

Horses to watch for next out list:
Race 3 (411) #1 Calculation (77): A runner who likes to be near the lead but was taken totally out of his comfort zone when he took a nice leap right out of the gate, all the while the eventual winner Agree (69) was able to gain control of the lead halfway down the backside. Thru-out the turn Calculation became very rank when Diamond Dragon () was in tight and climbing himself, Moreira moved him to the three path looking for room but Badel on Kiram (61) had him herded behind three runners, after all that Moreira never got into him and allowed him to gallop out to the wire.

Race 3 (411) #4 Diamond Dragon (70): Broke with his two front feet off the ground which is not significant what with his late running style, settled mid-pack while the eventual winner Agree (69) was loose on the lead, midway down the backside he started to fight Rawiller for the bit and began climbing pretty significantly, this went on for at least 500 metres. Entering the stretch it looked as if he took a slight bobble, he quickly recovered but had nowhere to run being stuck behind a wall of four and not able to get out with Calculation (77) and Kiram (69) pinning him in, finally at the 250 mark Rawiller took him back for room he then closed on the winner but ran out of room late while switching off his proper lead foot at the 50 metre mark, he galloped out well past the winner after the wire.

Race 8 (416) #9 Royal Mojito (64): Went off as the second betting choice at 5-2 to the eventual winner Apollo’s Choice (86) who had a perfect trip to the line. Royal Mojito bobbled out of the gate on the rail losing 2 lengths to the field, nice ride by the bugboy Mo gradually moving him off the rail and to the 4 path for the stretch run, ran evenly in the stretch but was never going to catch the easy winner.

Horses to avoid next out:
Race 3 (411) #8 Agree (69): Had a perfect trip while his main competition was running into all kinds of trouble, the race’s final speed figure came back very slow for the class level


*Speed figures length equalizations:
1,000 – 2.8
1,200 – 2.3
1,400 – 1.9
1,600 – 1.7
1,650 – 1.6
1,800 – 1.5
2,000 – 1.3
2,200 – 1.2
2,400 – 1

Pars :
Graded Stakes – 110
Class 1 – 107
Class 2 – 104
Class 3 – 100
Class 4 – 96
Class 5 – 92
Griffin – 85

*Speed figure notations:
Before the number:
+ - Race had an extremely fast early pace.
-- - Race had an extremely slow early pace.
After the number:
# - Figure was adjusted due to abnormal fast or slow final time.
? – Figure was not adjusted but may be out of line for their normal performance for the class.