Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Saturday, December 29, 2018

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, December 29, 2018)

RACE 1: #2 Remarkable, #1 King’s Man, #8 Grand Harbour, #6 Lotus Breeze

RACE 2: #2 Jumbo Bus, #5 Wonderful Tiger, #12 Richcity Fortune, #4 Diamond Legend

RACE 3: #8 Craig's Star, #4 Hainan Star, #5 Blooming Spirit, #1 Charizard

RACE 4: #10 Triumphant Light, #7 Royal Prerogative, #3 Natural Flare, #5 Rockage

RACE 5: #2 Happy Victory, #9 Triumphant Jewel, #12 Diamond Dragon, #8 Reel Bizzy

RACE 6: #3 Ruletheroost, #2 Victory Power, #1 Look Eras, #7 I Do

RACE 7: #4 Fabulous Eight, #6 Dancing Fighter, #1 Multimillion, #5 Travel Datuk

RACE 8: #9 Tianchi Monster, #2 Harmony Hero, #1 Grand Chancellor, #14 Sangria

RACE 9: #1 Cheerfuljet, #2 Raging Blitzkrieg, #5 People's Knight, #7 Team Fortune

RACE 10: #13 Glorious Spectrum, #5 Superich, #9 Mr So And So, #4 Fast Most Furious

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RACE 1: LEK YUEN HANDICAP

#2 Remarkable returns to Class 4 here. He was racing well near the bottom of Class 3 but, even despite the weight, he should find this grade far more to his liking. #1 King’s Man has run well for second twice over this course and distance from two starts this season. He must be rated highly again. #8 Grand Harbour is always a chance in these spots if he can get out and lead. He’s not without claims. #6 Lotus Breeze tends to find the 1200m more to his liking but he’s a place chance.

RACE 2: WO CHE HANDICAP

#2 Jumbo Bus drops to Class 5 for the first time. He’s shown glimpses of talent, although generally in the mornings as opposed to race day. Still, with the right run in transit, he can figure at his first run in the cellar grade. #5 Wonderful Tiger looked right on the cusp of a win before a last-start sixth. He creates interest stepping back in trip with blinkers re-applied. #12 Richcity Fortune is hard to catch but he has no weight here and he can’t be dismissed. #4 Diamond Legend’s only win came at Happy Valley but it’s worth seeing what he does here back to 1200m at Sha Tin.

RACE 3: LUNG HANG HANDICAP

#8 Craig's Star makes his debut here. The Your Song three-year-old has trialled well and should be ready to figure at his initial outing. #4 Hainan Star was simply no match for Griffin Trophy winner Perfect Match at his last two starts, although he did get closer over the 1200m than he did last time out over 1400m. Coming back to 1200m looks ideal and he deserves respect. #5 Blooming Spirit is a first Hong Kong runner for Spirit Of Boom, a young stallion creating waves in Queensland. He has trialled well enough and he’s not without claims. #1 Charizard didn’t do much last time out but he’s another who should be suited back to 1200m.

RACE 4: SUN CHUI HANDICAP

#10 Triumphant Light has never won from 21 course and distance starts but he has put together some nice performances over the Sha Tin 1200m. He returns to that trip for the first time since May. He should press forward from the outside gate and, with even luck, he’ll be right in the mix. #7 Royal Prerogative has run well without winning in three starts this season. He should be around the mark yet again. #3 Natural Flare disappointed last time out but had been finding form nicely before that. He’s not the roughest. #5 Rockage didn’t show much in Class 4 but should relish the extra furlong here.

RACE 5: THE SHA TIN RACECOURSE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CUP

#2 Happy Victory has had a rocky road to make it to the races in Hong Kong, with a number of leg issues that have hampered his progress since his arrival in October, 2017. He’s a day-by-day proposition, but he has trialled nicely and his New Zealand form – two wins from three starts when named Not Usual Trip – suggests that he is capable of finding his feet quickly now he’s back to the races. #9 Triumphant Jewel has been racing well this season. In a race that lacks all-round depth, he’s a player. #12 Diamond Dragon is always a chance over this course and distance. He has trialled impressively since his last run, too. #8 Reel Bizzy is still a two-year-old, albeit a late-season juvenile. He creates interest at his first Hong Kong outing.

RACE 6: CHUN SHEK HANDICAP

#3 Ruletheroost was clearly immature when stepping out in two griffin races earlier this year, finishing third to both Romantic Bonanza and Speed Vision over 1200m. The 1400m is ideal now and he looks set to return a much-improved galloper. #2 Victory Power continues to race well without winning. It’s not going to be an easy task from the outside draw but the claim of Victor Wong may prove critical if he can get into a nice spot. #1 Look Eras probably finds this trip a little bit of a stretch, but he can also win if things go his way. That’s very possible here. #7 I Do will want even further in time but 1400m now looks a nice progression.

RACE 7: LEE ON HANDICAP

#4 Fabulous Eight ran on nicely on debut two weeks ago, just reaching Glenealy Generals a little too late. He has drawn even more favourably here and should be finding the line nicely in the concluding stages once more. The well-bred #6 Dancing Fighter, by super sire Zoustar out of the G1-placed mare Permaiscuous, has trialled strongly and looks a factor on debut under Zac Purton. #1 Multimillion ran a nice race last time out, not finishing too far off Glenealy Generals. The draw’s a concern and he has plenty of weight to carry but he’s a chance. #5 Travel Datuk is going to win one of these days. He’s worth including.

RACE 8: FUNG WO HANDICAP

#9 Tianchi Monster should enjoy 2000m and looks a major player with even luck, especially given he maps ideally in this spot. #2 Harmony Hero steps up to 2000m for the first time here. He’s a horse that should handle this trip, but there’s no doubt he’s failed to live up to his early promise. This race should confirm whether Derby aspirations can live on or whether they should be shelved. #1 Grand Chancellor won a similar race back in March. He can’t be ignored back in this grade, especially from a good draw. #14 Sangria can get into the money.

RACE 9: SHUI CHUEN O HANDICAP

#1 Cheerfuljet returns into extended band Class 3 company for this. It’s a critical drop in grade and could allow him to find his first win this season. #2 Raging Blitzkrieg couldn’t have been more impressive winning at the all-dirt meeting 10 days ago. He gets very similar conditions in this spot. #5 People's Knight generally needs a mile on dirt but, back against this group, he’s a player without question. #7 Team Fortune didn’t have the best of luck and couldn’t get into contention behind Raging Blitzkrieg last start. He can bounce back with a good run here.

RACE 10: SHEK MUN HANDICAP

#13 Glorious Spectrum had absolutely no luck fresh and his effort to get as close as he did was really quite something. He needs to run to that same level on turf now, but he was well-exposed on turf in Italy and the step up to 1400m should be ideal. With no weight, he’s the one to beat. #5 Superich has been beaten by circumstances at his last two starts, still running on very nicely indeed. He’s going to be playing a leading role in this spot, it just depends if he can get there in time. #9 Mr So And So is heading in the right direction and isn’t without a chance with a lighter weight in here. #4 Fast Most Furious can run on strongly late.