Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Sunday, November, 25, 2018

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, November 25, 2018)

RACE 1: #6 Excel Delight, #2 Multimillion, #3 Besta Luck, #4 Bumble Baby

RACE 2: #1 Dashing Dart, #4 Sports Master, #13 Scarborough Fair, #11 Sincere Horse

RACE 3: #1 Not Listenin’tome, #6 Bravo Watchman, #4 Baltic Whisper, #3 Wishful Thinker

RACE 4: #2 Amazing Agility, #4 Full Of Chances, #9 Romantic Chef, #10 Ever Laugh

RACE 5: #3 Friends Of Nanjing, #4 Follow Me, #7 Empire Star, #13 Golden Four

RACE 6: #10 Happy Force, #11 Majestic Endeavour, #5 High Rev, #1 Cordyceps

RACE 7: #13 Good Standing, #3 Rattan, #4 Rise High, #11 Northern Superstar

RACE 8: #6 Speedy King, #3 Kasi Farasi, #7 King Opie, #2 Raging Blitzkrieg

RACE 9: #5 Super Giant, #2 Harmony Hero, #14 Pakistan Friend, #9 Arcada

RACE 10: #2 Easy Go Easy Win, #8 Mr Genuine, #14 Sacred Ibis, #5 World Record

RACE 1: CHEVALIER ALUMINIUM ENGINEERING HANDICAP

#6 Excel Delight steps out for the first time here for champion trainer John Size. The son of Exceed And Excel has trialled well and he should end up in a good spot from the outside gate over the straight 1000m. He can make a winning debut. #2 Multimillion ran well enough at his first start over this course and distance earlier in the month. That experience should bring him on for this. #3 Besta Luck is another debutant who has trialled well, including at his last hit-out behind Excel Delight. He’s sure to run well. #4 Bumble Baby has been a different horse since returning from a year-long spell in June. Expect another good effort.

RACE 2: CHEVALIER CAR DEALERSHIP HANDICAP

#1 Dashing Dart is one from one in Class 5, having swept to a narrow win in the grade 18 months ago. He hasn’t been racing poorly at the bottom of Class 4 and he should get his chance to score his third win at start 23 here. #4 Sports Master is making a habit of running second. He’s sure to have plenty of supporters with Zac Purton aboard once again and a win is only a matter of time. #13 Scarborough Fair is still a maiden after 19 starts. He’s got no weight here and he can finish somewhere around the mark. #11 Sincere Horse is a sneaky hope with blinkers on.

RACE 3: CHEVALIER CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP

#1 Not Listenin’tome is a three-time winner at this course and distance, including twice at G3 level. He hasn’t won in over two years now though, with his latest victory coming in the 2016 G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m). He has run well enough in Group races at both starts this term, although he had no weight, and returning to the Sha Tin 1000m can spark him back to victory. Even with 133 pounds, this is only the second time he has dropped down to Class 2 company in Hong Kong. #6 Bravo Watchman should be suited back to the 1000m in this event. He has no weight and he deserves respect. #4 Baltic Whisper can also run well back to the straight, while #3 Wishful Thinker will be flying late.

RACE 4: CHEVALIER E & M ENGINEERING HANDICAP

#2 Amazing Agility gets down to Class 4 for the first time. He is also first-up since finishing last in July. He may need to get down further in the ratings but he deserves some attention in this spot, especially given it’s not the most competitive race. #4 Full Of Chances won well two starts ago before disappointing last time out at 2000m. Back to a mile gives him a chance to break through. #9 Romantic Chef has run well in two of his three starts. He’s been crying out for 1600m ever since his debut and, despite the awkward gate, he will probably go back and run home anyway. #10 Ever Laugh should get plenty of favours in the run.

RACE 5: CHEVALIER ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING HANDICAP

#3 Friends Of Nanjing won three of his first four starts in early 2016, but he has not found the winners’ circle since. He’s had a few issues that have prevented him from continuing to progress, as well as a stable change that wasn’t ideal. Still, his first run back in Class 4 was solid and 1400m should suit him now. He can figure. #4 Follow Me has run well in both starts at 1400m. He looks ready to win now and is a leading chance to give jockey Tye Angland a return winner to Hong Kong at his first Sha Tin meeting in two and a half years. #7 Empire Star has run so many good races over the Sha Tin 1400m without winning, finishing on the board 10 times from 12 attempts. He should get every chance here. #13 Golden Four is not without a hope.

RACE 6: CHEVALIER HEALTHCARE INVESTMENT HANDICAP

#10 Happy Force has improved at each of his four starts. He gets blinkers on now and he deserves a chance in this spot. #11 Majestic Endeavour is yet to place from 13 Hong Kong starts. It’s only a matter of time though and, with all of his gear removed and the better draw, it could come here. #5 High Rev is likely to be well-supported here after a good debut effort three weeks ago. He has an awkward draw but blinkers go on and he’s a player. #1 Cordyceps has disappointed, to an extent, in two runs since an electric win in July. He also gets blinkers added and he is not without claims.

RACE 7: THE CHEVALIER CUP

#13 Good Standing has had so many issues in Hong Kong, but there’s no doubting his talent. He finally gets up to 1600m, a trip that he’s been crying out for now for quite some time. He should get every chance from gate three and he looks very well-weighted in this spot. He’s a big player. #3 Rattan won the Panasonic Cup impressively two weeks ago. He’s continued to progress nicely and, even with plenty of weight, he’s a contender stepping up to 1600m again. The only concern is that he is proving to be terrific fresh and the edge will be off him now after his first run in two months. #4 Rise High didn’t do much first-up but he didn’t have an easy time of it. This company is more suitable at this stage. #11 Northern Superstar debuts here as the highest-rated import of the last decade. He was a two-time G1 winner in South Africa when named Edict Of Nantes, finishing third in the G1 Durban July (2200m) as well. He hasn’t raced in nearly a year, but he is in the final field for the Hong Kong Cup in two weeks and will need to run well here to justify his spot in the jurisdiction’s richest race.

RACE 8: CHEVALIER LIFTS & ESCALATORS HANDICAP

#6 Speedy King hasn’t had many attempts at the Sha Tin 1200m, but he is a track and trip winner. He should press forward and there’s no reason he can’t be in the mix at the finish. #3 Kasi Farasi steps out for the second time here. He didn’t have many favours two weeks ago and wasn’t beaten far. He’ll take improvement but gate 11 is tricky. Still, he’s a chance. #7 King Opie has won two of his three starts this season. It remains to be seen how much higher he can go but, while he’s in winning form, he can’t be overlooked. #2 Raging Blitzkrieg rarely runs a bad race. He’s a place hope for the returning Tye Angland.

RACE 9: CHEVALIER PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS HANDICAP

#5 Super Giant has performed well at his first two starts, having been taken back from wide gates. With a better draw and the addition of blinkers, he can settle further forward and the step up to a mile suits. He only needs to settle to win. #2 Harmony Hero has disappointed in two starts this season at 1400m. He drops back in class with a step up to 1600m and, even from the awkward alley, he’s a chance yet again. #14 Pakistan Friend takes his first stab at Class 3. He has to contend with the outside gate, but he has no weight and it wouldn’t surprise to see him figure. #9 Arcada is a place chance.

RACE 10: CHEVALIER PROPERTY INVESTMENT HANDICAP

#2 Easy Go Easy Win is second-up here. He couldn’t get a clear run first-up over this course and distance and with even luck here, he should be hard to beat. He looks well-placed in this 95-75 handicap. #8 Mr Genuine generally needs a lot to go right to win and his record at the Sha Tin 1400m isn’t flash. However, he’s looking ready to produce a big figure and he can get into the finish at odds. #14 Sacred Ibis is tackling a better grade of horse earlier than would normally be the case, but he has no weight and he’s a chance. #5 World Record is consistent and can’t be overlooked.