Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, April 3, 2022

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, April 03, 2022)

Race 1: #14 Royal Agility, #10 Good Beauty, #8 Gallant Hero, #4 Sergeant Pepper
Race 2: #9 Towards Success, #4 Kung Fu Tea, #1 G One Excellent, #2 Light My Day
Race 3: #9 Double Six Pop, #5 California Sky, #7 Country Boy, #3 En Pointe
Race 4: #9 Precise Express, #3 Leading Fortune, #7 Total Power, #6 Super Oasis
Race 5: #3 Happy Forever, #7 Sakewin, #4 Spontaneous, #1 Rhapsody

Race 6: #3 Happy Day, #8 Sparky Star, #10 Handsome Veggie, #7 Fantastic Show
Race 7: #1 Wellington, #3 Hot King Prawn, #8 Master Eight, #2 Stronger
Race 8: #8 Cordyceps Two, #2 Free Foal, #1 Beauty Spirit, #11 President’s Choice
Race 9: #1 Golden Sixty, #4 More Than This, #5 Ka Ying Star, #12 Cheerful Days
Race 10: #6 Prince Alex, #4 Atullibigeal, #2 Rock Ya Heart, #5 Five Elements

Race 1: Peel Handicap (1st Section)

#14 Royal Agility is ready to win. He’s favoured with no weight on his back and this contest appears more than suitable. #10 Good Beauty won well two starts ago. He’s held his condition and pairs favourably with Zac Purton here. Gate 14 is the only concern. #8 Gallant Hero is closing in on a first win. He caught the eye at the tail of the field and is armed with Joao Moreira this time. #4 Sergeant Pepper has claims. He’s better than his record suggests, and it wouldn’t surprise to see him figure here.

Race 2: Severn Handicap

#9 Towards Success gets the notable appointment of Vincent Ho on his back. He’s shown glimpses of ability, especially in his most recent effort. He can take another step forward here. #4 Kung Fu Tea has claims in this grade. He has a powerful finish and he’s a threat following a solid outing last time out from the rear. #1 G One Excellent gets down to Class 5 for the first time. Zac Purton hops up and improvement is expected in this grade. #2 Light My Day should find the front. Next best.

Race 3: Homestead Handicap

#9 Double Six Pop has his fair share of talent. He’s coming along and he shapes as a strong chance here with no weight on his back. #5 California Sky is closing in on a first win in Hong Kong. He’s racing well and is expected to take another step forward here. #7 Country Boy can do no wrong at the minute. He’s after his fourth win for this campaign and once again, he rates as a threat. #3 En Pointe is a two-time winner from five starts. He has claims. Strong booking of Zac Purton warrants respect as he continues to progress.

Race 4: Lugard Handicap

#9 Precise Express steps out off a dangerous mark. He’s favoured here, especially over his preferred course and distance with the light weight assigned. #3 Leading Fortune is in career-best form having notched a hat-trick of wins. He draws well and gets his chance to extend his winning run to four. #7 Total Power is good on his day. He mixes his form, but the favourable draw should give him his opportunity. #6 Super Oasis has his first start for trainer Tony Cruz. He’s better than his record suggests, and the switch of yards could spark something.

Race 5: Peel Handicap (2nd Section)

#3 Happy Forever turned his form around to finish a close-up second last time out. Zac Purton hops up and he looks like a very smart three-year-old on the rise. #7 Sakewin steps out on debut with Joao Moreira up. He must be ready to perform first-up with the ‘Magic Man’ engaged off the back of a solid trial effort. It wouldn’t surprise to see him find the front. #4 Spontaneous draws well and pairs with Jerry Chau. He’s capable in this grade for Paul O’Sullivan. #1 Rhapsody’s last run in Class 4 returned a win. Keep him safe on the class drop here for leading trainer John Size.

Race 6: Plantation Handicap

#3 Happy Day has done well across two starts in Hong Kong. He draws a touch awkward but if he can replicate his debut effort then he’s well within his capabilities of beating this field. #8 Sparky Star is looking to snap a run of three top-three finishes. He only needs to overcome the wide gate to be factor for Zac Purton and Me Tsui. #10 Handsome Veggie turned his form around to grab fifth last time out. He’s on an upward trajectory. #7 Fantastic Show has a powerful finish on his day, enough so to roll this group if conditions suit.

Race 7: G2 Sprint Cup

#1 Wellington hit his straps with a sublime win at the top-level last start and there is little to suggest why he can’t do the same again on Sunday. He’s top-class and his best has him in front of this lot. #3 Hot King Prawn is in sound form. He’s a threat if he manages to bring his best. #8 Master Eight is a talent on the rise. It might have all come too soon for this juvenile but still, he’s showing signs that he’s moulding into a future top-liner. #2 Stronger steps out following a Group 1 win. He has the class to hang around the finish once more.

Race 8: Pollock Handicap

#8 Cordyceps Two draws well and has remained in sound form. He won well three starts ago and is well weighted here to replicate that performance. #2 Free Foal is in solid form. He pairs favourably with Zac Purton who should ensure the 55-rater gets every chance from gate five. #1 Beauty Spirit is better than his record suggests and his latest run displayed that. He can take another step forward here. #11 President’s Choice gets Joao Moreira. He can test this group with a race run to suit.

Race 9: G2 Chairman’s Trophy

#1 Golden Sixty is looking to snap consecutive defeats. He has the class to defeat this group, but it isn’t going to be easy, especially against a host of solid adversaries. He’ll need to be at the top of the game and if he is, then he should be winning. #4 More Than This is racing well and he’s a big threat. Golden Sixty has lost his invincible aura and More Than This – with two G1 runner-up efforts to the champ in the last year – can overhaul him if he’s not at his best. #5 Ka Ying Star gets his chance and he’ll be hanging around at the finish. #12 Cheerful Days is doing nothing wrong. He continues to advance and meet expectations – something he could well do again at this level.

Race 10: Harlech Handicap

#6 Prince Alex is shaping as a very, very good prospect on debut. He moved well in a recent trial and appears forward enough to make his presence felt first-up after a solid campaign in Australia prior to import. #4 Atullibigeal has shown he has quality. He’ll be figuring in the finish here for Zac Purton and David Hall. #2 Rock Ya Heart is looking to snap two consecutive runner-up efforts. He deserves his fair share of respect. #5 Five Elements is next best. He has the quality to be a factor.