Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, February 20, 2022

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, February 20, 2022)

Race 1: #7 Looking Great, #5 Enjoying, #4 Berlin Tango, #1 Charity Go
Race 2: #5 Cheery, #2 Street Scream, #6 Packing Treadmill, #8 Fun N Glory
Race 3: #1 Waikuku, #3 Sky Field, #6 Healthy Happy, #4 Wellington
Race 4: #1 Voyage Bubble, #13 Dragon Baby, #2 King Of The Court, #5 Gallant Hero
Race 5: #12 Salutation, #10 Free Foal, #1 Lifeline Vision, #6 Millennium Falcon
Race 6: #7 Right As Rain, #12 Cordyceps Two, #2 Light Of Wanshi, #3 Leading Fortune
Race 7: #9 Kumasi, #2 Five Elements, #12 Super Fortune, #4 Ready To Win
Race 8: #1 Golden Sixty, #11 Zebrowski, #4 Russian Emperor, #2 More Than This
Race 9: #1 Captain Win, #2 Pegasus General, #7 Infinite Power, #3 Crossford
Race 10: #3 Copartner Ambition, #13 Oscar Glory, #5 Super Dynamite, #4 Super Ten

Race 1: Ambitious Dragon Handicap

#7 Looking Great slots in light. Suspect he’s still on the improve and his handicap here has him favoured. He draws well, steps out for the in-form Frankie Lor and shapes as the one to beat. #5 Enjoying is desperately overdue for a win in Hong Kong. Expect he rolls forward and tries to make all here. #4 Berlin Tango falls into a similar category. Zac Purton’s booking commands respect. #1 Charity Go can do no wrong of late. He’s after back-to-back wins, which looks gettable here.

Race 2: Gold-Fun Handicap

#5 Cheery moved well in his latest trial. He looks to have a touch of class early on and he just might be ready to win first-up in Hong Kong. He’s worth taking a chance on. #2 Street Scream is racing well. He’s holding his condition and remains a threat, even stepping away from the wide gate. #6 Packing Treadmill is shaping a decent debutant. Zac Purton hops on for this and he looks a bit above of average. He must be respected. #8 Fun N Glory did well first-up and if he can recapture that here then he is a chance. Don’t discount with race-experience.

Race 3: G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup

#1 Waikuku turned in a career-best performance last start when defeating Golden Sixty over a mile in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup. He’s after back-to-back wins in this race and with the class-edge and recent form on his side – he is the one to beat. #3 Sky Field is in superb form. The step up in trip is of no concern to him. #6 Healthy Happy should find the front and try to run this group along. He’ll look the winner at some stage. #4 Wellington is a bit of a wildcard. He returns to this trip for the first time in a long time. Don’t discount.

Race 4: Happy Zero Handicap

#1 Voyage Bubble narrowly missed on debut. He can improve off that effort and does shape as the one to beat here. He just needs to offset the sticky draw. #13 Dragon Baby is consistent in his spot. He gets in light and should have his chance here. #2 King Of The Court is another lightly raced prospect with a future. He draws well which holds him in very, very good stead. Big watch on him, especially as he continues to progress. #5 Gallant Hero steps out on debut. He’s the wildcard of this contest.

Race 5: Beauty Flash Handicap

#12 Salutation is on the up. He’s improved with each run and now, he does appear ready to win. He receives a handy pull in the weights for trainer John Size who holds a strong hand this weekend. #10 Free Foal turned his form around last time out. He looks ready for a return to winning ways. #1 Lifeline Vision gets Vincent Ho once more. Suspect he has more ability than his record lets on. Respect. #6 Millennium Falcon is capable. He takes a bit to get going but when he does, he owns a powerful finish. He’s a threat in his spot.

Race 6: Time Warp Handicap

#7 Right As Rain is coming to hand. He’ll drift back from the wide draw, but does boast a powerful finish on his day, enough so to overcome the margin. #12 Cordyceps Two won well last time out. He gets his chance to go back-to-back here – query is the wide draw which will make it hard to cross from. #2 Light Of Wanshi should arguably be more than just a two-time winner. Either way, he draws favourably for Zac Purton. #3 Leading Fortune is chasing back-to-back wins. He’s in career-best form.

Race 7: Lucky Nine Handicap

#9 Kumasi was luckless two starts ago. He was caught wide at his latest outing, but still, he’s shown numerous times now that he has his fair share of ability. #2 Five Elements is racing well. He’s gone close several times and now, with Zac Purton up from a good gate – he gets his chance. #12 Super Fortune gets in light. He’s a classy little sprinter who looks set to earn more rating points as he continues to progress. #4 Ready To Win scored an almighty win last start. Next best.

Race 8: G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup

#1 Golden Sixty tasted defeat for the first time since July, 2019. Still, he can bounce back following that effort and although there are concerns about getting back up in distance – he is undefeated two times over this trip. He has the class and quality to banish that rare defeat. #11 Zebrowski is an ever-improving type off the back of consecutive Group 3 wins. He’s the wildcard of the race who does boast Group 1 form in Australia. #4 Russian Emperor looks like he’s come to hand now. He deserves a stack of respect. #2 More Than This is next best. Don’t discount.

Race 9: Werther Handicap

#1 Captain Win is a talent in his spot. He looks like he’s getting better as he gets up in trip and he should give a good account of himself once again. #2 Pegasus General is a Group 1 winner in Brazil prior to export. He has the class, especially as these South American gallopers have proven to be incredibly tough in Hong Kong. #7 Infinite Power just needs to offset the wide draw. Expect he rolls forward and plays catch me if you can. #3 Crossford has come to hand now as a two-time winner from his last three starts. He deserves respect.

Race 10: California Memory Handicap

#3 Copartner Ambition has a bit of class about him. He should improve second-up now for the new stable, especially with Zac Purton electing to ride. #13 Oscar Glory is as honest as they come. He slots in light and should get his chance close to the speed here. #5 Super Dynamite is closing in on a first win in Hong Kong. He’ll be finishing fast for the in-form Ricky Yiu, who on Wednesday – collected a treble. #4 Super Ten should roll forward and try to run this group along. He’ll look the winner at some stage.