SHA TIN SELECTIONS (Sunday, May 6, 2018)   RACE 1: #4 Styling City, #5 Quadruple Double, #3 Speed Vision, #6 Romantic Bonanza RACE 2: #2 Good Choice Ahead, #5 Penzance, #3 The Show, #8 The Legend RACE 3: #1 Yourthewonforme, #3 Kwaichung Brothers, #9 Otouto, #14 Winningli RACE 4: #3 Prawn Baba, #1 Eagle Way, #2 Exultant, #8 Goldfield RACE 5: #8 Super Eighteen, #2 Have Fun Together, #4 Little Bird, #10 Gracious Ryder RACE 6: #11 Mighty Maverick, #13 Showing Character, #5 Fire And Gold, #12 Very Sweet Orange RACE 7: #5 Happy Sebring, #14 Triumphant Light, #3 Nice Kick, #4 Flame Lily RACE 8: #3 Montreal, #5 Refined Treasure, #11 Amazing Star, #8 Alcari RACE 9: #6 Giant Turtle, #2 Circuit Glory, #7 Fiama, #11 Sangria RACE 10: #3 Lucky Hero, #13 Raging Storm, #4 Midnight Rattler, #11 Royal Mojito RACE 11: #6 Hezthewonforus, #3 Win Beauty Win, #14 Hard Ball Get, #8 Hang’s Decision   RACE 1: THE CHEUNG CUP #4 Styling City has to carry a seven-pound penalty for winning last time out. That said, he won by six and a half lengths and beat all bar one of these horses so it’s hard to see it making that much of a difference. The horses that filled the placings behind him, #5 Quadruple Double and #3 Speed Vision, should be around the mark again but would have to pull something out of the locker to beat Styling City. #6 Romantic Bonanza makes his debut here. A son of Savabeel out of the Listed-winning sprinter Glam Slam, he should appreciate further in time but he could make his presence felt in this spot.   RACE 2: THE MACWHINNIE CUP #2 Good Choice Ahead is a horse who should never have made it to Class 5, but for one reason or another, his rating has dropped to the point where he made it to the cellar grade. He could not get a clear crack at them at his first run down in class, but this time out, he should be able to atone. #5 Penzance drops to Class 5 for the first time. He’s a beautiful horse, but he’s taken time to acclimatise. He might still need more time, but he’s worth watching here. #3 The Show also drops in grade, making his Class 5 debut. A four-time winner in higher grades, he can’t be dismissed from a good draw with Zac Purton aboard. #8 The Legend deserves consideration at his return to Sha Tin.   RACE 3: THE PURVES QUAICH #1 Yourthewonforme returns to Class 5 after six unplaced runs in Class 4. He was a winner of three of his four starts in Class 5 earlier this season and, despite gate 13, he should be able to get into the finish. #3 Kwaichung Brothers ran poorly at his last start in late March. He generally runs well over this course and distance and he is drawn to get the right run here. #9 Otouto carries only 115 pounds with Victor Wong’s claim and he should be improved with a run under his belt. Don’t write him off here. #14 Winningli can finish around the mark.   RACE 4: G3 QUEEN MOTHER MEMORIAL CUP This is a fascinating race tactically, with only eight runners – five of them out of the handicaps, too. Goldfield has shown speed at times, including last time out when he stuck on fairly well, so perhaps he can lead. However, there’s not a lot of speed otherwise, so #3 Prawn Baba might end up in a perfect trailing position tactically. He has only 115 pounds to carry and he was tough on the speed to win last time out. He’s dangerous in here with the right run. Last year’s winner #1 Eagle Way ran a terrific race for third behind Pakistan Star last weekend. He has to carry 133 pounds, but he’s in form and he can take this race again. #2 Exultant is likely to start favourite here. The Hong Kong Derby placegetter is looking a little dour and if it is a tactical race, he might be disadvantaged. Still, he looks well-treated at the weights and he must be considered. #8 Goldfield is a whopping 23 pounds out of the handicaps, but with no weight on his back and out on the speed, perhaps the galloper – an Argentinian G1 winner named He Runs Away pre-import – could place at monster odds.   RACE 5: THE SWAINE CUP #8 Super Eighteen has not lived up to some early promise he showed, but he has run well enough at his last couple of runs and Victor Wong’s claim is a big help. #2 Have Fun Together gets blinkers for the first time. The return to 1200m should prove a plus, but gate 12 makes it difficult. Still, he’s a chance. #4 Little Bird stuck on well enough last time out. If he can get it easy enough near the speed, there’s no reason he can’t run well again. #10 Gracious Ryder finally scored again last time out. He has always shown that he has talent, but it remains to be seen if he can put together two in a row.   RACE 6: THE HEUNG YEE KUK CUP #11 Mighty Maverick continues to shed ratings points and he is now more than 30 points from his peak mark. He has shown glimpses of form at his last couple and it won’t take much in this race for him to win. #13 Showing Character has generally been better at Happy Valley with two wins and seven top-four finishes from 24 starts. However, he has placed at Sha Tin before and perhaps now is the time worth chancing him back at the bigger track. #5 Fire And Gold ran on well last time out and can’t be dismissed. #12 Very Sweet Orange creates interest stepping up to 1200m.   RACE 7: THE WONG CUP #5 Happy Sebring made up nice ground to run fifth on debut over 1200m. He shapes as a horse who will appreciate a mile in time, so the step up in trip is no problem. He has blinkers on for the first time, so he might be able to settle closer, and if he can handle the headgear, he could win this race. #14 Triumphant Light ran well in Class 5 last time out. He’s back up in grade but if he can race handy from gate three, he’s a player. #3 Nice Kick has mixed his form but he’s a chance with the right run. #4 Flame Lily showed a glimpse of ability last time out and he could take another step forward here.   RACE 8: THE LI CUP #3 Montreal makes his Hong Kong debut here. A homebred for the Siu family, his career was halted by an injury last year, otherwise it is likely he would have been in Hong Kong earlier. Still, he looks a promising sprinter off the back of two wins at Wyong and Randwick at December and his recent trial was very encouraging. He’s drawn the right spot, too. #5 Refined Treasure is more awkwardly drawn, being faced with gate five. Still, he’s done everything right at his last two starts and it’s not a big leap to think that he could still win from there. #11 Amazing Star returns to the races after four runs earlier this season. Hopefully, he will have taken physical improvement from those months on the sidelines and Victor Wong’s claim does take him down to a miniscule 106 pounds. The horse that beat him on debut, #8 Alcari, can’t be written off either.   RACE 9: THE ARCULLI TROPHY #6 Giant Turtle is racing well currently. The claim of Victor Wong takes him down to 115 pounds here, a gift in this spot, and given he’s a fairly uncomplicated horse, that might be enough to give him another victory. #2 Circuit Glory is another who has found form in recent starts. He needs to settle properly, which he has been better at recently, but if he does, he’ll be right in contention here. #7 Fiama is a promising horse who won very nicely last time out, atoning for a luckless effort the start before. He has an awkward draw but he bears close watching. #11 Sangria is honest and should be making ground late.   RACE 10: THE CHAN TROPHY #3 Lucky Hero sports blinkers for the first time. His first two runs were very good but he just seemed to struggle a little bit at Happy Valley last time out. The switch back to Zac Purton is a positive, as is the return to the bigger track, and he should be able to settle handy. #13 Raging Storm simply had to work too hard last time out at his first attempt at Class 3. He’s clearly a talent but he still does so many things wrong. Still, if he is able to cross and lead, then maybe he can race away from them again. #4 Midnight Rattler is shedding ratings points quickly but he is at a point where he should be able to figure again. His last run was better, too. #11 Royal Mojito should enjoy a better run in transit here and can’t be overlooked.   RACE 11: THE STEVENSON CUP A juicy rematch between Win Beauty Win and Hezthewonforus looms in the closer on Chairmen’s Day. The three-year-olds will both get to a higher rating than their current marks and both could end up being Hong Kong Classic Mile horses next season. Still, in this spot, maybe it’s better to side with #6 Hezthewonforus, who is second-up in Hong Kong and gets a four-pound weight swing in his favour for a three-quarter length defeat. Still, #3 Win Beauty Win won in the style of a nice horse last time out. The step up to 1400m suits him and he’s hardest to beat. #14 Hard Ball Get has no weight on his back with Victor Wong’s claim and can get into the finish. #8 Hang’s Decision backs up after running well for third on the dirt. He is the course record holder here and he might just be returning to form.