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Hong Kong Racing Recap
Date: April 2, 2018
Track: Sha Tin
Track Bias: None
Races that have become Key Races after today’s results: 401, 452 & 491 (4 winners!)

Notes for the day:
Race 1 (538): Secret Agent (36) was scratched at the gate by the advice of the track vet. Slight 4-1 favourite The Champ (36) with Moreira on who had been away since New Year’s Day, was at least 5 lengths slow from the gate and his day was done. Also, Newswire Free (37) was slow from the gate as was Golden Cannon (34) who was rank when the gates opened and then was pinched back to the rear off the field. Longshot winner Dragon Dance (35) was able to grab the lead soon after the start and only had to deal with a slight pressure by Hot Hot Pepper (40) who couldn’t make a run at the winner in the stretch, the winner just held on by a bob of the head at the wire holding off light weight longshot The Greatest (31) who was closing after getting a rail trip in the turn.

Race 2 (539): Super Clan (50) was scratched at the gate by the advice of the track vet with a lame front left leg. Poon on Gracious Ryder (45) breaking from the outside post went straight to the lead but did it too quickly, costing in the stretch. Sanna on La Bomba (50) tried but wasn’t quick enough to run with the speed burner and tired badly in the stretch. The winner My Winner (57) raced in the third flight 2 wide, moved outside the three runners that were the second flight and out ran one of them Adonis (44) to the wire. Regency Darling (45) who likes it on the lead but was unable in here and was three wide with no cover, total throw out race, and Empire Of Patch (57) in only his second career start closed well while being caught up in the wash and running very green while doing so.

Race 3 (540): The longshot and eventual last place runner Waldorf (73) was slow and unbalanced at the start, while Go Public (64) was three wide in the turn with no cover racing for the lead. The winner Star Shine (78) sat right off the leaders on the rail drifted out to the three path when Go Public drifted out entering the stretch and scooted into the hole and had to hold off a light weight closer Royal Mojito (64) who probably was just a little too far back to make up the difference, Star Shine looked like he started to wait on others when he was getting near the wire. First time Hong Kong runner Mission Tycoon (73) with the Brazilian on was rank early and was a little green in the lane while not changing leads until it was too late in the stretch, he’ll be a nice runner eventually. Berry’s ride Great Profit (78) looked uncomfortable in the gallop out, and look for Sumstreetsumwhere (80) to go longer, he was flying at the end without being asked by Ho.

Race 4 (541): Longshot Letsgofree (43) was a step slow from the gate and then pinched back to the rear, and first time starter Top Strike (52) was rank on the backside and 4 wide in the turn without any cover. Charming Bachelor (59) had to take up on the backside when the heavy bet first time starter Aerohappiness (59) came over onto him. Aerohappiness raced three wide without cover and moved to the leaders in the turn and outclassed this field while racing very green in the lane, he too is going to be a very good horse. Little Bird (52) raced on the lead while setting some pretty slow early fractions, he was just beaten by a better horse, Destin (54) and Happy Sebring (52) closed well after getting no help in the pace situation and drawing the bear winner. Crème Brulee (46) looked very uncomfortable in the gallop out.

Race 5 (542): Super Fun (70) was a length slow out of the barrier, and first time starter in Hong Kong Cerefino (71) ducked in while starting on the rail. Winning Supreme (62) with Wong on board set the pace, while it wasn’t all that fast he did probably got away from him a bit too much and gave it up to the chalk Raging Blitzkrieg (78) who had no excuse not to win, sat right off the front runner and passed him with ease. He finished evenly but didn’t have much for the winner Always Win (85) who when asked half-way thru the stretch by Wong responded well and out finished the favourite. Everbrave (62) spent the entire turn trying to get out while three wide, look for an equipment change next out. Radiant Bunny (61) was never going to challenge for the top two positions, but probably is given a pass after going three wide in the turn without any cover.

Race 6 (543): Viva Council (43) was able to set the pace and didn’t give it up until the 75 metre mark (he should give Happy Valley a try, may suit his running style better than Sha Tin). Art Of Raw (45) and Good For You (51) were the widest in the turn without any cover, and Telecom Man (53) was probably ridden a little too confidently by Rawiller, held back on the go button too long. The winner Red Elysees (60) was blocked entering the stretch after racing on the rail in the turn, then moved to the outside and finished very well (the handicappers were very nice to him, only giving him 5 points allows him to run at this class level again next time out). Presidentparamount (42) and Enjoy Life (47) made it a little difficult on the winner but lacked the final push to get by him, and Amazing Satchmo (53) made a huge run in the stretch but raced too far back off the pace early on in the race. Something looked to have gone wrong with Royale Ellegance (52) at the 175 metre mark, he ducked in after shying from the stick and never recovered afterwards.

Race 7 (544): Calculation (88) took the lead into the stretch but had no response for the winner when he began to tire and switched back to his wrong lead step, What Else But You (96) saved ground in the turn, moved to the leader at the 200 metre mark and drew off to a very easy win under a hand ride for Moreira, he picked up 9 rating points which will allow him to run at Class 2 next time out. Kingsfield (88) too had no response for the winner while having no excuses.

Race 8 (545): Association Fans (41) leaped slightly at the start and then was pinched back, not all that significant what with him being a deep closer. Flying Noble (47) became rank on the backside when Leung realized he wasn’t going to be able to hold the lead and decided to take back, then raced three wide in the turn. Autopay (43) and Lucky Storm (41) also became rank at started to climb badly when they were caught up in the traffic in the turn, while Top Ace (47) was stuck 4 wide without cover. Winner Smiling Charm (65) took advantage of the good draw and was able to race on the rail in turn mid-pack, then was caught up in traffic early on in the stretch but Nash didn’t panic, moved him out to an opening and out finished some good runners. Flame Lily (52) and Fresh Power (49) were closing late but after running wide they were just beaten by a better trip, Shanghai Dragon (54) and Vital Spring (53) both were just outran to the wire. Enduring (60) had to be the hard luck trip, always near the lead but was caught and out finished in the last 50 metres.

Race 9 (546): Diamond Dragon (69) never looked comfortable in any time during the race, kept throwing his head up and never challenged afterwards. Everest (69) set the pace early on and was very disappointing in the stretch, gave it up very easily. Royal Performer (80) raced two wide in the back half of the field, moved outwardly in the lane and outran the chalk Agree (79) to the wire, the favourite had no excuses, sat right off the quitting pace setter, but was just beaten to the wire. The two that were at the rear of the field entering the stretch Willie Way (73) and Magnetism (74) closed well in the middle of the track, as did Fiama (70) who was flying late and did his running closer to the rail. Top weight Red Marvel (78) had no significance to the finish after racing three wide without cover. At the same time the Royal Reformer was making the winning move, Gold Land (69) looked full of run but was stuck behind a wall of three, when room was found he lacked the quick enough turn of foot to get back to the winner.

Race 10 (547): Dukedom (65) leaped at the break costing him 2 lengths to the field. Sun Touch (74) breaking from the far outside post was used up early on to gain the position on the lead, but became very leg weary around the 200 metre mark and was caught with 50 metres to go by the favourite Harmony Hero (82) early on raced in the clear without anybody looking him in the eye, then was two wide in the turn shifted out to the 6 path into the lane and just wore down the tiring front runner. Famous Warrior (73) raced just behind behind the winner but wasn’t fast enough to catch him, he did run even with him in the lane though, something looked to have spooked him just before the wire and was not a smooth gallop out. Home Run (69) raced in the back and was caught up in traffic issues while full of run, after Sanna got him into the clear he finished out very well but was unable to get close enough to the winner to wear him down.


Horses to watch for next out list:
Race 4 (541) # 6 Aerohappiness (59): In his debut race for Size and Moreira on board was lucky enough not draw the toughest Class 4 race out there, he was bet off the board to 3-5 and didn’t disappoint his backers. Broke very professionally in a straight line while settling just off the pace setters in a slowly run first half mile, he then raced 3 wide without cover while full of run, he drifted in a little at the top of the lane but when Moreira gathered him up and shifted his weight he changed leads and his quick turn of foot was on full display. Once he had clear control of the lead he looked to get lazy on Moreira wondering where everybody went, he looked to have plenty left in the tank and with him only picking up 7 rating points, he gets another try at this class level.

Race 7 (544) #5 What Else But You (96): I usually don’t put horses back on a watch list immediately after being put on in the race before last, but after this run I couldn’t resist it. Raced on the rail after drawing the barrier closes to it, moved off it entering the stretch and quickly ran away from the three that were in front of him, was under a hand ride when he galloped under the wire beating a very good Class 2 field, and him coming out of it with a total rating of 98 means he gets this kind of group again.

Horses to avoid next out:
Race 1 (538) #11 Dragon Dance (35): Longshot winner was helped out when most of his main competition was running into trouble they couldn’t overcome.