Declan Schuster's Hong Kong selections and analysis for Saturday, March 2, 2019

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, March 2, 2019)

RACE 1: #3 Hasta Luego, #13 Multimax, #8 Bella Baby, #5 Joyful Heart

RACE 2: #1 Striking Mr C, #7 Jimson The Famous, #9 Corre Rapdio, #3 Adonis

RACE 3: #9 Care Free Prince, #6 Ezra, #2 Win Win, #12 Hurricane Hunter
RACE 4: #5 Perfect Pair, #14 Savvy Seven, #1 Big Fortune, #11 Chaparral Star
RACE 5: #1 Prince Of Gems, #3 Craig’s Star, #4 Happy Alumni, #8 Empire Of Patch
RACE 6: #1 Speedy King, #10 Goldie Flanker, #5 Team Fortune, #9 Winning Supreme

RACE 7: #3 Thrilled, #10 First Responder, #11 Aerohappiness, #2 My Ally
RACE 8: #12 Better Choice, #10 Young Legend, #2 Kasi Farasi, #14 God Of Dragon

RACE 9: #1 Waikuku, #2 Enrichment, #7 Savvy Six, #6 Charity Go

RACE 10: #2 Right Choice, #8 Roundabout, #13 Good For You, #1 Invincible Fresh

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RACE 1: CHANGI HANDICAP

#3 Hasta Luego is on debut from the John Size yard following an impressive trial win at Sha Tin (1050m). He’s expected to make an impression on debut under the hands of Joao Moreira. #13 Multimax is a winner of seven from 63. Trained by Tony Cruz, he’s already won twice this season and a third win would not surprise. Victor Wong has built a nice association with this galloper and his 7lb claim should ensure that he gets his chance. #8 Bella Baby ran an improved third up the straight (1000m) at Sha Tin last start. He’ll take up a forward position on the speed from the inside draw. #5 Joyful Heart is on debut for the Frankie Lor stable. He finished third in a recent trial and he commands respect on debut.

RACE 2: SINGAPORE RIVER HANDICAP

#1 Striking Mr C gets a welcome drop back to Class 5, this will see him improve sharply for trainer Benno Yung. He’s yet to record a win across 11 starts, but he has placed twice on the dirt over 1200m which suggests that he is capable of win. #7 Jimson The Famous got his second win at start number 49 in Hong Kong. He remains in Class 5 which is suitable and he’s in arguably career-best form. #9 Corre Rapido is winless from 20 Hong Kong starts, but in his favour is that his best form has been over 1200m on the dirt – where he has registered three placings. #3 Adonis makes his debut on the dirt for trainer Peter Ho. He’ll use the draw and be thereabouts.

RACE 3: BUKIT TIMAH HANDICAP

#9 Care Free Prince scored his third win from 39 runs two starts ago. He’ll make his own luck in the lead for jockey Victor Wong, in what is, a tremendously open affair. #6 Ezra has slowly improved with each start. He’ll be better with two runs under his belt and he should relish the step up to 1400m, he’s a threat. #2 Win Win has crafted an impressive record (3: 0-2-0) across his short career. He narrowly missed by a head at his latest and he commands respect. #12 Hurricane Hunter will have to overcome the wide draw (14), but he’s a winner already this season and the booking of Zac Purton once again suggests that he has continued to hold his form.

RACE 4: BUKIT TIMAH HANDICAP

#5 Perfect Pair narrowly missed by just under a length at his latest over 1200m at Sha Tin. He’s given every indication that the step up to 1400m would suit and the booking of Joao Moreira suggests that he is nearing a win. #14 Savvy Seven is much better to suited to racing over 1400m or 1600m. He’s improved with the drop back in distance from 2000m and with only 115lb on his back, he should get his chance. #1 Big Fortune is winless from 14 starts since arriving in Hong Kong from Australia, but the claim (-5lb) from Dylan Mo suits and he’s expected find the early lead. #11 Chaparral Star is twice a winner at Sha Tin over 1400m. He needs a lot to go his way, but if he gets it, then he should be flashing home late.

RACE 5: THE ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG RACING JOURNALISTS CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP)

#1 Prince Of Gems couldn’t have been more impressive when winning on debut by a length and a quarter. He was handed eight points in the ratings from that win which will now see him carry the top-weight duties of 133lb. Zac Purton retains the ride and his raw talent should see him prove tough to beat for trainer Dennis Yip. #3 Craig’s Star was fractious in the barriers last start and was subsequently withdrawn by the Stewards following a veterinary examination. He showed improvement across his two starts prior and he deserves another chance in this, especially from the inside draw (4). #4 Happy Alumni is another who showed sharp improvement at his second start where he missed by half a length. This is a tougher assignment, but he’s shown enough to suggest that he will be competitive. #8 Empire Of Patch finished fifth at his latest, but his performance was very impressive to the eye as he only finished a length off the winner. He’s worth including in all exotics.

RACE 6: KRANJI HANDICAP

#1 Speedy King is already a winner in Class 3 on the dirt surface and he shapes as an excellent to win another. He should use the barrier (4) to sit on the speed for jockey Matthew Poon and with the right run in transit, prove difficult to run down. #10 Goldie Flanker will need luck from the rear of the field, but his two second placings this season have been excellent in defeat. He’ll be flashing home late for trainer Paul O’Sullivan. #5 Team Fortune has been competitive on the dirt this season. He notched up a hat-trick of wins on this surface in 2016 and although it was a while ago, he’s shown that he is still capable of being competitive. The booking of Joao Moreira enhances his claims. #9 Winning Supreme won two in a row on the dirt over 1200m before fading to finish near the rear of the field in his latest outing. He was entitled to run out of steam that day, as he was engaged in a speed battle early which clearly cost him any chance of being remotely competitive. He’ll bounce back for trainer Me Tsui.

RACE 7: THE SINGAPORE TURF CLUB TROPHY (HANDICAP)

#3 Thrilled was very impressive in his Hong Kong debut, where he returned a narrow fourth place for trainer Benno Yung. He was pestered in the lead by Eighty Eighty last start which arguably cost him the race, but his run was still full of merit. He’ll get his chance to breakthrough at Hong Kong-start number two. #10 First Responder is another who has impressed in only two career starts in Hong Kong. He’s shown promise for trainer John Moore. #11 Aerohappiness got off the mark with a win on debut last season. Since his debut win he has gone onto register three placings from five starts. He’ll push forward under Joao Moreira and give himself every chance. #2 My Ally failed on the dirt last start, but he’s one who will improve back on the turf.

RACE 8: THE MERLION HANDICAP

#12 Better Choice made up a stack of ground over 1200m last start to finish second behind the talented Tornado Twist. This is close to the best Class 3 form line in Hong Kong and Better Choice should relish the step up in distance to 1400m. #10 Young Legend made a mid-race move to lead in his most recent run which saw him fade to finish fourth. He’ll be better if he takes a sit and has the last crack at them. Strong booking of Zac Purton should see him finish inside the top three. #2 Kasi Farasi has only recorded one win, win came over this course and distance. He didn’t record a placing prior to his win, but he commands respect regardless. #14 God Of Dragon put in an eye-catching fifth place in his latest. He’s in the mix.

RACE 9: LION CITY HANDICAP

#1 Waikuku is one of the leading chances to win the Hong Kong Derby. He’s a three-time winner over 1400m in Hong Kong and although he is yet to race over 1800m, he’s given every indication that it would only be a positive. Last start he only won by a head, but there was plenty of merit in his performance as he travelled three-deep without cover, before knuckling down to get the job down ahead of Good Standing, who is Group 3 and Group 2 winner in Australia. #2 Enrichment is already a winner over 2000m and he’s another who is on a HK Derby path. He should get a nice run in transit under Neil Callan from barrier 7. #7 Savvy Six is bred to stay by Pour Moi; who won the 2011 Epsom Derby and he’s a two-time placegetter already this season. He looks a factor for trainer Tony Cruz. #6 Charity Go should make his own luck out in front and he can’t be dismissed.

RACE 10: THE MERLION HANDICAP

#2 Right Choice has crafted an imposing record (4: 3-1-0) across his four-start career. He must contend with the wide draw (14), but his raw talent and will to win suggests that he will be hard to beat once again. #8 Roundabout flew home as a 41-1 chance last start to finish third behind Picken and Beauty Spirit. He displayed what appeared to be a return to his best form that day and the booking of Joao Moreira indicates a significant level of confidence from trainer Tony Millard. #13 Good For You is yet to win from nine attempts this season. He does however, have the runs on the board across his career and he is two-time winner over 1400m at Sha Tin. #1 Invincible Fresh scored two consecutive wins in his first two starts this season. He’s since struggled, but he should get his chance from the draw (2) with Matthew Poon’s claim (-3lb).