Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Sunday, December 16, 2018

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, December 16, 2018)

RACE 1: #3 Pearl Furu, #2 Penzance, #1 Clement Legend, #5 Triumph

RACE 2: #4 Ezra, #3 Intrepic, #1 Have Fun Together, #9 Lightning Treasure

RACE 3: #6 Meridian Genius, #11 Yichun Blitz, #1 Multimillion, #3 Bumble Baby

RACE 4: #4 Friends Of Nanjing, #6 Heroic Guru, #9 Golden Four, #10 Le Panache

RACE 5: #12 Scarborough Fair, #1 Natural Flare, #7 Royal Prerogative, #6 Hurricane Hunter

RACE 6: #1 Romantic Chef, #9 Chaparral Star, #10 Chiu Chow Kid, #4 My Winner

RACE 7: #8 C P Power, #1 Cordyceps, #9 Absolucool, #10 Touch Of Luck

RACE 8: #2 Music Addition, #3 Zero Hedge, #1 Handsome Bo Bo, #10 Bulb Elite

RACE 9: #7 Gold Chest, #2 Conte, #5 Furore, #6 Regency Bo Bo

RACE 10: #3 Sacred Ibis, #2 Green Luck, #12 Pakistan Friend, #6 Razor Quest

RACE 11: #4 Sun Touch, #10 Follow Me, #11 Happy Sebring, #2 Taking Aim

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

RACE 1: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY STELLAR AND STELLAR COLLECTION HANDICAP

Just six runners go to post for this Class 5 contest over the 2200m, ensuring this will be a tactical affair. #3 Pearl Furu won a similarly tactical race in May. He may end up in front by default and he may be hard to catch from that spot. #2 Penzance could end up taking off early and might be able to find the winners’ circle again back in Class 5. #1 Clement Legend has won his last two, sustaining a long run on both occasions. He will try to make it a true staying contest at some point and mustn’t be ruled out. #5 Triumph has no weight and could be the fly in the ointment.

RACE 2: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY WEDDING COLLECTION HANDICAP

#4 Ezra makes his debut here. He was the third top colt, by price, sold at South Africa’s BSA National Yearling Sale in 2017, fetching R2.2 million (about HK$1.2m or USD$155,000) – considerable when it comes to South African yearling prices. The grey son of Oratorio, out of G1 winner Emerald Beauty, looks to have plenty of natural ability and he appears primed for his debut. He’s a leading player. #3 Intrepic mixes his form but he’s capable of getting into the finish here with even luck. #1 Have Fun Together has gone off the boil a bit in recent starts. He can’t be dismissed but he is far from reliable. #9 Lightning Treasure can improve enough to figure here back up at 1200m.

RACE 3: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY LOVE IS BEAUTY COLLECTION HANDICAP

A race with plenty of debutants here, including a couple that do look to have talent. #6 Meridian Genius looks precocious and also looks to have been primed for this by Tony Millard. The son of Unencumbered (himself a precocious prospect) should be able to get into a good position from gate eight and he gets the nod. #11 Yichun Blitz has natural speed. He’s drawn to capitalise and he’s in contention. #1 Multimillion ran well on debut before a good win as favourite last time out. He will need to cross from gate two but he can’t be completely ruled out. #3 Bumble Baby isn’t without a hope.

RACE 4: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY HUGGING FAMILY COLLECTION HANDICAP

#4 Friends Of Nanjing couldn’t get into the race last time out. He’s running out of chances but perhaps he’s worth one more with even luck. #6 Heroic Guru is wayward at times but the talent is there. He’s got a better draw and if he can settle a little closer he’s a chance. #9 Golden Four is racing well of late. A win is coming soon and he must be included. #10 Le Panache steps out for Chris So for the first time. He’s been running well this season and a good run can be expected.

RACE 5: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY GOLDSTYLE COLLECTION HANDICAP

#12 Scarborough Fair is yet to win from 20 starts. He should be able to press forward in a race devoid of much speed and he can stick on to score a first win. Also likely to head forward is #1 Natural Flare, who finished second last time out. He will probably sit outside the leader and he deserves respect. #7 Royal Prerogative is on a mark where he should prove competitive and he should be included. #6 Hurricane Hunter is better than his current rating suggests and, at his second outing for Dennis Yip, he’s a player.

RACE 6: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY PT COLLECTION HANDICAP

#1 Romantic Chef relished the step up to 1600m and also new front-running tactics to win last time out. He should be able to progress from that and this race doesn’t look much more difficult. He can win again. #9 Chaparral Star was checked right near the line last time out and probably should have finished closer. He’s racing well now that he’s up in trip and he should run well again. #10 Chiu Chow Kid is racing well and should be included in this spot. #4 My Winner has put together a string of placings at his last three. He can finish around the mark again.

RACE 7: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY DEAR Q COLLECTION HANDICAP

#8 C P Power showed last time out that his form was turning around. His three wins have all come over the Sha Tin 1400m and perhaps he’s finally in a spot where he can score a fourth success. #1 Cordyceps won impressively in July, but he hasn’t quite lived up to that effort this season. He’s been passable though and it won’t take much for him to take a step forward. #9 Absolucool ran a good race at this course and distance two back before a disappointing effort last time out. He’s got another poor draw but he’s a player. #10 Touch Of Luck has run well enough in all three starts. The 1400m should suit him now.

RACE 8: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY LOVE FOREVER COLLECTION HANDICAP

#2 Music Addition ran a game race on debut to just go down to Victory Machine. He has to contend with another awkward draw, but he’s right in contention if he has progressed at all from that first outing. #3 Zero Hedge gets the inside gate with Joao Moreira reunited with the Medaglia d’Oro five-year-old. The crossover nose band goes on and, if he can drop the head, he’s likely to be somewhere around the mark. #1 Handsome Bo Bo reutrns to Class 3 after a maiden outing up in grade in a 95-75 contest last time out. He actually ran OK in that spot and he’s a chance if he can snare an uncontested lead. #10 Bulb Elite deserves consideration.

RACE 9: THE LUKFOOK JEWELLERY CUP

#7 Gold Chest makes his debut here. Named Naval Intelligence in the UK, he won two from two for Jane Chapple-Hyam, including the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over Newmarket’s July course at his most recent start. He was a big price that day, but there’s no doubting his raw talent. The full-brother to G1 Summer Stakes winner Fog Of War has trialled well and looks set to make an instant impact in Hong Kong. #2 Conte is back up in the weights here after almost beating Rattan in the Class 1 Panasonic Cup over this course and distance at his seasonal reappearance. (That day, subsequent G1 Hong Kong Sprint fourth Little Giant was back in third.) He should take a step forward and he deserves plenty of respect from a kinder draw. Hong Kong debutant #5 Furore has drawn awkwardly, but the Pierro half-brother to G1 placegetter Blizzard has looked a horse bound for Sha Tin from the moment he debuted in Australia. His best effort down under was a third to D’Argento in the G1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m in March, an outing which suggests he is every bit a Hong Kong Derby contender. Expect a good effort here, but he has bigger fish to fry down the road. #6 Regency Bo Bo is next best.

RACE 10: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY CONVERGENCE OF LOVE COLLECTION HANDICAP

#3 Sacred Ibis struggled in a 95-75 handicap last time out, but coming back to a traditional Class 3 suits. He’s yet to win at a mile, but it’s always been a trip that has looked suitable and, despite a wide draw, he gets his chance in here. #2 Green Luck was a big winner at Happy Valley last time out. He comes to Sha Tin for the first time but there’s no reason why he can’t continue on his upward spiral now that he’s found form. #12 Pakistan Friend continues to race well and should enjoy a softer run from gate two. He can’t be dismissed. #6 Razor Quest is working his way back to form.

RACE 11: LUKFOOK JEWELLERY BELOVED COLLECTION HANDICAP

#4 Sun Touch is a consistent type who often gets out and rolls on the speed. He has the blinkers off here, which should help him at the 1400m, and from a good gate he should get every chance in this spot. #10 Follow Me was a big-margin winner under Tye Angland at his last start. He has points in hand and should be hard to beat here. #11 Happy Sebring has talent but he often finds ways to get beaten. If he can be held up for a late burst, he’ll be flying late. #2 Taking Aim isn’t without claims.