SHA TIN SELECTIONS (Sunday, March 18, 2018)   :: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis   RACE 1: #7 Red Elysees, #2 City Legend, #1 Let Us Win, #13 Dashing Dart RACE 2: #9 Yee Cheong Pegasus, #4 Have Fun Together, #2 Mighty Maverick, #10 Horse Prosperous RACE 3: #1 Pakistan Star, #3 Western Express, #4 Southern Legend, #6 Pingwu Spark RACE 4: #9 Giant Turtle, #4 Victory Boys, #7 Ensuring, #12 Bullish Glory RACE 5: #1 Handsome Bo Bo, #7 Exhilarating Time, #5 Seventy Seventy, #4 Honest Way RACE 6: #6 Simply Invincible, #2 Racing Supernova, #1 New Asia Sunrise, #7 What Else But You RACE 7: #13 Sam's Love, #1 Wishful Thinker, #3 Infinity Endeavour, #4 Lucky Hero RACE 8: #3 Ping Hai Star, #1 Nothingilikemore, #2 Singapore Sling, #5 The Golden Age RACE 9: #2 Shamal, #8 Gunnison, #5 Pablosky, #3 Super Fluke RACE 10:#3 Encouraging, #1 Baba Mama, #14 Starship, #12 Dukedom   RACE 1: SUPER SATIN HANDICAP #7 Red Elysees has run well at his last two starts without ever looking a likely winner. He gets into an outer gate here and it might prove beneficial to him anyway, given he will get back regardless. He’s a chance again. #2 City Legend has drawn poorly at his last three starts but now gets into a good gate in four, with Zac Purton jumping aboard. A first Hong Kong win for him is very possible here. #1 Let Us Win has disappointed since arriving in Hong Kong, but his last two runs since getting into Class 4 have been good enough. He’ll be around the mark. #13 Dashing Dart is capable of a good run on his current mark, particularly with an inside draw.   RACE 2: FAY FAY HANDICAP #9 Yee Cheong Pegasus ran well enough on debut over the straight 1000m. The step up to 1200m should suit him and in a race that doesn’t shape as particularly strong, he can get his first victory. #4 Have Fun Together has shown ability but does still appear to be putting it all together. He has a good draw though and Brett Prebble shapes as a suitable rider for the three-year-old. He’s a chance. #2 Mighty Maverick was fair at his first run in Class 4, but he’s capable of improving at any time. #10 Horse Prosperous is worth including in exotics at odds.   RACE 3: RAPPER DRAGON HANDICAP #1 Pakistan Star ran an admirable race first-up to finish fourth behind G1 winners Time Warp, Werther and Seasons Bloom in the Hong Kong Gold Cup. For a horse lacking match fitness to produce that sort of run, fresh at 2000m – when they challenged the track record, too – was terrific. He steps back to 1600m, which means he has to tackle the problem spot where he stopped unexpectedly mid-race last year. However, all indications are that he is over those issues and if he can take a step forward, he will be hard to beat. It would only be fitting if he won the race named for the horse who proved his conqueror in the Derby on this day last year. Hong Kong Mile runner-up #3 Western Express has trialled well and looks suited in this spot. He is a live contender. #4 Southern Legend looks on the cusp of a big-race win and he can use this as a springboard to a stakes-race victory. #6 Pingwu Spark looks well-weighted and he can’t be overlooked.   RACE 4: COLLECTION HANDICAP #9 Giant Turtle has done little wrong in recent starts. He won nicely twice over 2000m and 2200m, while he found the line nicely over 1400m last time out. Back up to 2000m, he should be right in the mix. #4 Victory Boys returns to Class 3. This grade suits him better and although he has drawn awkwardly, he should be around the mark. #7 Ensuring is nearing three years out of the winners’ circle. He’s a chance in this race, but he’s more reliable on a place line than as any sort of win hope. #12 Bullish Glory sat out the back in a pace-dominated race last time out, finding the line OK. He’s also drawn awkwardly but he misses the start, so he will go back anyway. He could hit the board.   RACE 5: BMW CENTENARY HANDICAP #1 Handsome Bo Bo ran creditably on debut, but his last win when left alone on the lead was impressive. He shouldn’t have to do as much work here to be able to cross, and if he can get it easy enough out in front, he’s capable of winning again. #7 Exhilarating Time was set to start favourite a month back, but he broke through the gates and was withdrawn. He’ll be around the mark with even luck. #5 Seventy Seventy looked fairly professional on debut two weeks ago but just missed out to Iron Boy. That race experience will have done him the world of good. #4 Honest Way is sure to have plenty of admirers after flying home on debut, but he appeared flattered and may be worth opposing at too short a quote. He’s a chance nonetheless.   RACE 6: AKEED MOFEED HANDICAP #6 Simply Invincible has been mixing his form this season. His runs at 1400m, for the most part, have been good and this definitely appears a step back from what he’s been tackling. He should get his chance in this spot. #2 Racing Supernova has disappointed this season, whether it’s been through lack of luck or struggling off his mark. However, he’s got a plum draw and if he can get into a midfield position, he will be some chance. #1 New Asia Sunrise may be Hong Kong’s most admirable horse, with the pint-sized pony continuing to perform well. He has plenty of weight but he should be near the speed and he can hang around for some minor prizemoney. #7 What Else But You has been off the scene for almost a year but he also looks a little unexposed. He bears close watching fresh.   RACE 7: LUGER HANDICAP #13 Sam's Love returns to the Sha Tin 1200m for the first time since a big win on debut in April last year. Just like that day, he has drawn gate 13 here and he will have to go back from the barrier. Expect him to be flying home down the middle of the track. #1 Wishful Thinker produced a big win second-up after catching the eye on debut. He’s now at the top of Class 3 but he looks every bit a Class 2 horse and a win wouldn’t surprise here. #3 Infinity Endeavour continues to run well and he will be around the mark again. #4 Lucky Hero can take a step forward from his Hong Kong debut and he’ll be in the mix.   RACE 8: THE BMW HONG KONG DERBY 2018 #3 Ping Hai Star enters this race off a fairly unorthodox preparation of three 1400m wins in Class 2 handicaps. He failed at his one attempt at 1600m, but he overraced badly and that run should be forgotten. His pedigree is laden with stamina and the 2000m should be no problem, if he can relax. He has one of the world’s finest riders, Ryan Moore, aboard, while there are few trainers on the planet – if any – better than John Size. He looks a big player. His stablemate #1 Nothingilikemore may have gone from being the boom four-year-old to being the best play in this race. He’s had issues at the gates, he had feet problems last start, he hasn’t trialled well, he’s drawn wide and he’s a query at 2000m. However, he still appears the class horse in this race and, as we’ve seen with horses like Rapper Dragon and Luger in the past, class goes a long way. It would be foolish to underestimate him in this spot. #2 Singapore Sling has drawn well and is likely to jump favourite. He’s a chance, although he is likely to be no value. As for the rest, Exultant is the most logical choice for fourth and normally would get that position, but in a race that doesn’t look to have much speed, perhaps it is better including his stablemate #5 The Golden Age, who should have it fairly easy out in front.   RACE 9: DESIGNS ON ROME HANDICAP #2 Shamal returns to the races for the first time since bleeding in October, when finishing a long last behind Nothingilikemore. He looks like he might be on his mark but he has trialled well and he should be able to get out in front and roll along. He should be hard to beat. #8 Gunnison lost his unbeaten run when seventh at his Hong Kong debut last time out. It may not have looked a good effort, but debuting in Class 2 is never easy for a three-year-old and he was trapped wide, so under the circumstances it was admirable. He might still need time to acclimatise but he cannot be underestimated here. #5 Pablosky hasn’t won this season but he’s run a number of races over this course and distance. He could get into the placings here. #3 Super Fluke may be on his mark but he will be finding the line.   RACE 10: HELENE MASCOT HANDICAP The scratching of Super Missile has left this as a wide-open affair with a number of winning chances. #3 Encouraging has performed OK at his last two starts. He has drawn awkwardly again but he should be around the mark with even luck. #1 Baba Mama got a long way back last time out and still ran home well. If the speed is not as fast as last time out, he should be in contention. #14 Starship can run home well and can play a part, as can #12 Dukedom, who is at a mark where he should prove competitive.