SHA TIN SELECTIONS (Saturday, March 3, 2018)   :: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis   RACE 1: #2 Lucky Volatility, #4 Complacency, #9 Yee Cheong Pegasus, #7 Just Not Listening RACE 2: #1 G-One Union, #13 Winningli, #2 Hit A Home Run, #5 Kwaichung Brothers RACE 3: #1 New Asia Sunrise, #2 Ping Hai Star, #5 Kingsfield, #7 Circuit Glory RACE 4: #8 Seventy Seventy, #1 Eighty Eighty, #7 Jumbo Bus, #9 Goko RACE 5: #2 Lucky Time, #8 Royal Chocolate, #6 Electric Lightning, #4 Beauty Day RACE 6: #4 Raging Storm, #2 Mighty Maverick, #6 Sunny Power, #5 Empire Star RACE 7: #4 Sergeant Titanium, #1 Rivet, #5 Savvy Six, #8 Good Omen RACE 8: #2 Rule Thee, #11 General Dino, #5 Bring It On, #8 Tai Smart RACE 9: #8 Mr Lumieres, #3 Dragon General, #2 Country Melody, #5 Baltic Whisper RACE 10: #6 Turin Redstar, #2 Calculation, #7 Famous Warrior, #10 Happy Guy   RACE 1: ALBATROSS HANDICAP #2 Lucky Volatility did well to win on debut over the straight 1000m and looked the winner for much of the straight up to the Sha Tin 1200m last time out. Zac Purton jumps aboard now and he looks capable of breaking through into Class 3 here – especially in a race filled with unimpressive raced commodities and interesting but risky three-year-old debutants. #4 Complacency, a half-brother to dual G1 winner Contentment, has trialled well and is sure to have plenty of admirers. He’s a leading contender here. #9 Yee Cheong Pegasus finished off well in his most recent trial and he looks a nice enough horse. He deserves consideration. #7 Just Not Listening improved in between trials and can improve heading into this.   RACE 2: ANSER HANDICAP #1 G-One Union won nicely two starts back over the Sha Tin 1400m, at what was his first run for Danny Shum, before producing another decent effort over 1200m on the dirt. The step up to 1600m looks suitable and he should be running at them late. #13 Winningli is racing well without winning, albeit on the dirt. Surprisingly, this is his first test at this course and distance and with no weight on his back thanks to Matthew Poon’s claim, he shapes as a danger. #2 Hit A Home Run gets back down to Class 5, where he is a three-time winner. He has the outside gate, but if he can get into any sort of position, he can’t be dismissed. #5 Kwaichung Brothers is also drawn wide but he’s racing well enough to get into the placings.   RACE 3: FLYCATCHER HANDICAP #1 New Asia Sunrise is one of the most popular gallopers in Hong Kong. The pint-sized chestnut with a baldy face is tough and durable, two qualities which could help him see off his six rivals here. He will go forward and should prove tough to run down under Dylan Mo. #2 Ping Hai Star has won from seemingly impossible positions at his last two starts and created a swathe of new fans in the process. The four-year-old is still doing things wrong in running, which is why trainer John Size has resisted stepping him back up to a mile and beyond. However, he’s clearly got the talent to win at 1400m, so Size is sending him out over the trip again here. He’s the one to beat, but it might be worth trying to take him on at short odds. #5 Kingsfield will go forward and in his current vein of form, he’s not without a hope. #7 Circuit Glory is still in Derby contention but would need to show something here at his first run for John Moore.   RACE 4: KINGFISHER HANDICAP #8 Seventy Seventy has trialled nicely ahead of his debut. The three-year-old has a good gate and should enjoy every chance on or near the speed. #1 Eighty Eighty disappointed with defeats as an odds-on favourite at his first two starts before scrambling home last time out. However, there are reasons to think that the effort may have been better than it appeared visually and Handsome Bo Bo, who raced outside him that day, won nicely last weekend. He’s a chance again. #7 Jumbo Bus disappointed on debut but is clearly better than that effort. He’s worth including in all exotics. #9 Goko is sure to be around the mark from a nice gate.   RACE 5: SHEARWATER HANDICAP #2 Lucky Time was arguably unlucky not to win last time out when failing to reel in Planet Star. This is his first time up to 1600m but it shapes as though it should suit and he should be hard to beat in this spot. #8 Royal Chocolate is another galloper trialling the mile for the first time. The son of So You Think has shown hints of ability, but this sort of trip should bring out his best. From a good draw, expect him to be somewhere around the mark. #6 Electric Lightning is a chance with even luck. #4 Beauty Day, a brother to G2 winner Beauty Flame, ran an improved race last time out and cannot be dismissed.   RACE 6: THE LUSITANO CHALLENGE CUP #4 Raging Storm’s debut was as eye-catching as they come, storming home from an impossible position to finish fourth, beaten a neck – another two strides and he would have won comfortably. It was a poorly run race and he was no doubt flattered, but to record as fast a split as he did takes some effort on debut and if he’s taken improvement from that mentally, he’ll be hard to run down up to 1400m. #2 Mighty Maverick gets down to Class 4 for the first time ever. He’s struggled for form this season but he’s usually very consistent and if he gets an easy lead from gate four, he’s more than capable of capturing this. #6 Sunny Power ran well on debut and looks to have promise, although he may need further. #5 Empire Star has drawn awkwardly but can get into the finish.   RACE 7: SNIPE HANDICAP This race has emerged as a last-ditch Derby qualifier in recent years, won by subsequent Derby winners like Collection and Akeed Mofeed. This year appears no different, with seven of the 10 runners looking to cement their Derby claims here. However, it may pay to look away from the four-year-olds and side with the veteran of the group in #4 Sergeant Titanium. He should be able to dictate or sit just off the speed and in a race where many of these are acclimatising, he shapes as the safe bet. #1 Rivet is the one four-year-old in this race who does appear to have settled in well, but he also has to carry 133 pounds. He’s a chance. #5 Savvy Six ran well last week and if he takes a step forward off the six-day back-up, he’s not without claims. #8 Good Omen has been rushed to make the Derby but there is clearly promise there.   RACE 8: THE ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG RACING JOURNALISTS CHALLENGE CUP #2 Rule Thee raced right away over this course and distance last start to record his second win in three starts. The penny looks to have dropped with him now and he can win another race here, even despite a hike in the handicaps. #11 General Dino might need the drop into Class 4 but he has run well at two of his last three outings. He looks suited up to 1800m and the son of two-time Hong Kong Vase winner Doctor Dino can break his Hong Kong maiden shortly. #5 Bring It On and #8 Tai Smart arte both racing well and deserve consideration.   RACE 9: TERN HANDICAP #8 Mr Lumieres was an impressive winner at his first Hong Kong start two weeks ago. He has drawn well once more and didn’t go up too much in the ratings, so he appears capable of winning again off this rating.  #3 Dragon General is another who is drawn to take advantage over this course and distance. He looks well-suited here. #2 Country Melody still looks to have a win in him off this rating on his recent form. He can’t be dismissed. #5 Baltic Whisper deserves respect after a dominant debut win and a solid second-up fourth.   RACE 10: PARUS HANDICAP #6 Turin Redstar has been unlucky not to break through as yet, performing admirably at his three Hong Kong starts, including a desperately unlucky effort two back. He was just edged out by C P Power last start but should be able to atone here. #2 Calculation had nothing go right for him last time out, stumbling out of the gates, overracing and then laying in all the way down the straight. To get within three lengths was some feat and he should be right around the mark again. #7 Famous Warrior ran well at his first Hong Kong start and should be improved heading into this. #10 Happy Guy can take another step forward here.