Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Sunday, January 27, 2019

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, January 27, 2019)

RACE 1: #1 Salto Olimpico, #2 You Have My Word, #3 Bring It On, #7 Le Panache

RACE 2: #8 Nice Fandango, #6 Meridian Genius, #1 Lucky Guy, #4 King's Trooper

RACE 3: #1 Regency Legend, #5 New Asia Sunrise, #5 Star Shine, #8 Magic Legend

RACE 4: #4 Adonis, #2 Diamond Legend, #9 Flying Noble, #11 Fortune Way

RACE 5: #1 Dashing Gainer, #9 Startling Power, #3 Noble De Love, #11 Deal Maker

RACE 6: #3 Team Fortune, #4 Happy Tour, #11 Double Valentine, #12 Goldie Flanker

RACE 7: #1 Time Warp, #4 Singapore Sling, #3 Glorious Forever, #5 Pingwu Spark

RACE 8: #5 Superich, #1 Dark Dream, #4 Harmony Victory, #14 Green Luck

RACE 9: #14 Aerohappiness, #13 Shimmer And Shine, #12 Grade One, #11 Midnight Rattler

RACE 10: #14 Lakeshore Eagle, #8 Loving A Boom, #7 Speedy Luck, #10 Perfect Match

RACE 1: HUNG SHUI KIU HANDICAP

#1 Salto Olimpico returns to Class 4 here, having won at his last attempt at the grade in July. He has no form of which to speak of this season, but he should relish getting up to 2000m and major improvement can be expected. #2 You Have My Word is coming off a disappointing effort over 1800m, but his form before that was solid and he deserves respect in this small field. #3 Bring It On won over this course and distance two starts ago and can return to form back up o 2000m now. #7 Le Panache is racing honestly and should be around the mark again.

RACE 2: KAM TIN HANDICAP

#8 Nice Fandango has only won once at the course and distance but he rarely runs poorly. He should get out in front here and he should have every chance to be hanging around at the finish. #6 Meridian Genius had some support before his debut and he didn’t have the best of luck before finishing sixth. With natural improvement, he can finish around the mark. #1 Lucky Guy has not shown up in three course and distance runs. He should be able to shape up in this grade though and so he bears close watching. #4 King's Trooper can run a bold race on debut.

RACE 3: YUEN LONG HANDICAP

#1 Regency Legend has looked a star in the making in his two wins in Hong Kong to date. He now has to carry top-weight in Class 2, but he looks more than capable of shouldering the extra weight here. #5 New Asia Sunrise meets Regency Legend 12 pounds better for a four-length defeat last time out. He’s small but he’s one of the most honest horses in town and he should get every chance here. #5 Star Shine has not raced since winning the final race of the 2017/18 season in July, in a memorable photo finish that saw three Champion Jockeys – Douglas Whyte, Zac Purton and Joao Moreira – hit the line locked together. He’s found a suitable race in which to return and he’s a place chance. #8 Magic Legend has no weight and could jump out of the ground at any time.

RACE 4: LAM TEI HANDICAP

#4 Adonis produced one of the Class 4 runs of last season over this course and distance when he flew home after bombing the start hopelessly. His fourth that day suggested that a win was possible when he struck another suitable race. He gets that here and he should have every chance to break through for a first score. #2 Diamond Legend has finished second at his last two starts. He doesn’t win out of turn but he should be around the mark again. #9 Flying Noble improved with a step up in trip last time out. He has won over this course and distance before and he deserves respect. #11 Fortune Way can get into the placings if he can overcome a wide draw.

RACE 5: POK OI CUP

#1 Dashing Gainer has finished in the placings four of his six course and distance starts. Perhaps it just all comes together here for him to finally score a first Hong Kong victory in this spot. #9 Startling Power dumped Keith Yeung soon after the start in his last run. He had run well in two starts before that and should be respected here. #3 Noble De Love heads to the dirt for the first time. He’s coming off two nice runs on the turf and he’s not without claims. #11 Deal Maker can run well again here.

RACE 6: LAU FAU SHAN HANDICAP

#3 Team Fortune has not performed as well as he can do on this surface in his last couple of starts, but he has had limited luck as well. If he can get the splits at the right time, he’s capable of winning here. #4 Happy Tour took to the surface with aplomb last time out, winning by five lengths over this course and distance. He steps up to Class 3 now and shapes as the one they must beat. #11 Double Valentine moves across to the dirt for the first time. He has a bad draw but he can get into the finish. #12 Goldie Flanker has a blistering turn of foot on his day. He needs a race run to suit, but he can rattle home strongly with even luck.

RACE 7: G3 CENTENARY VASE

#1 Time Warp has run twice at the Sha Tin 1800m for a second in the 2017 Ladies’ Purse, when leading everywhere bar the last stride in what was a course record for Nassa, and a win in that same race in 2018. He is one-dimensional in that he does have to lead – he’s never won in Hong Kong when he hasn’t led at the top of the straight – but he does meet his brother Glorious Forever 15 pounds better after beating him a neck in November’s Ladies’ Purse. He’s worth a play. #4 Singapore Sling won the Hong Kong Classic Cup at his sole course and distance outing last February. This trip looks more suitable now and he deserves respect. #3 Glorious Forever is likely to go off as favourite as he returns for the first time since his Hong Kong Cup victory. He’s going to be hard to run down by any measure. #5 Pingwu Spark finally steps up beyond a mile for the first time. He has a pedigree that suggests this trip should suit and he’s worth including in all exotics. The race doesn’t end there, with Hong Kong Vase winner Exultant and the emerging Insayshable not out of the mix either.

RACE 8: HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE

#5 Superich has gone close without winning at his last three starts. He should relish the step up to 1600m now and he’s can run a bold race in this spot. #1 Dark Dream is likely to jump favourite here, having proved simply spectacular at his last run over 2000m. He is the class factor in this race and gets in nicely at set weights, but he should only improve over the 1800m of the Hong Kong Classic Cup and the 2000m of the Hong Kong Derby. Nevertheless, he’s a player here. #4 Harmony Victory finished fifth to Dark Dream last time out. He’s a horse that needs to be ridden quieter to have any chance of success. That said, gate 13 should give them that opportunity and it wouldn’t shock to see him finishing into the placings. #14 Green Luck is the lowest-rated horse in the race but he’s got talent. He might be the outsider worth including at big odds.

RACE 9: NAM SANG WAI HANDICAP

#14 Aerohappiness had issues after producing a poor run last time out, finishing 12th over 1400m in October. Having had a bit of time on the sidelines might have proved a blessing in disguise and he might be ready to continue his climb up the ratings ladder now. #13 Shimmer And Shine missed his intended first outing for Caspar Fownes due to injury. He has trialled well and he shapes as the main danger. #12 Grade One is racing well and he can’t be overlooked. #11 Midnight Rattler can run another bold race back up in grade with no weight on his back.

RACE 10: TAI TONG HANDICAP

#14 Lakeshore Eagle won well on debut, but it was his second start that was perhaps more impressive. Coming from near the tail, the Master Of Design four-year-old flashed home to just be beaten a short head by Full Of Beauty – who subsequently franked the form with a strong winning effort last weekend. Lakeshore Eagle will have to go back from the wide draw but the step up in trip should suit and he should be able to swoop in once more. #8 Loving A Boom has steadily improved with every start. He’s another who should relish 1400m and he’s right in the mix. #7 Speedy Luck won his last three starts in the UK pre-import. He has trialled well enough and bears close watching here. #10 Perfect Match has won his last three starts, including the Griffin Trophy as 1.3 favourite. He steps out of restricted company now and is probably better watching in here.