Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, January 1, 2023

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, January 01, 2022)

Race 1: #2 Diamond Soars, #1 Dazzling Fellow, #10 One Step Ahead, #8 Embarked
Race 2: #2 Spicy Skewer, #3 Ho Ho Junior, #12 Smart Folks, #4 Divine Era
Race 3: #4 Brilliant Life, #1 Star Ascension, #5 Dublin Star, #12 Ever Force
Race 4: #2 Brilliant Pioneer, #9 Starry Night, #3 Victory Scholars, #6 Supreme Lucky
Race 5: #10 Soaring Pengshan, #5 Chilli Baba, #4 Beat Hollow, #1 Sparkling Knight
Race 6: #9 General Ace, #13 Dragon Pride, #1 Oscar Glory, #4 Turquoise Alpha
Race 7: #6 Grateful Heart, #2 Trillion Win, #8 Buzzinga, #7 Ping Hai Galaxy
Race 8: #4 Healthy Happy, #5 Blaze Warrior, #2 Lucky Sweynesse, #1 Beauty Joy
Race 9: #5 Beauty Eternal, #6 California Concord, #2 Atullibigeal, #11 Super Vince
Race 10: #14 Classic Posh, #6 Mark The Moment, #8 Pleasant Endeavor, #7 Superb Boy
Race 11: #2 Straight Arron, #12 Super Sunny Sing, #3 A Pal, #5 Good Buddy

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Race 1: Yew Handicap (2nd Section)
#2 Diamond Soars has the form and racing pattern to take this contest out. Expect he finds the front from the draw and from there take a stack of reeling in. #1 Dazzling Fellow is racing well and makes a favourable dip to Class 5. The blinkers go on, as does Zac Purton and he’s a major threat. #10 One Step Ahead won over the course and distance two runs back. He’s holding his condition and can take another step forward here. #8 Embarked caught the eye when finishing fourth last start. Keep safe.

Race 2: Yew Handicap (1st Section)
#2 Spicy Skewer makes a favourable step down to Class 5. He did well in the grade above two runs back and is favoured here with Derek Leung hopping up. #3 Ho Ho Junior mixes his form but some improvement should show stepping down to Class 5. He draws favourably and Vincent Ho’s booking is a plus. #12 Smart Folks does his best racing over this course and distance and in this grade. He’s the value and is worth an each way ticket. #4 Divine Era can mix his form. Keep safe.

Race 3: Poplar Handicap (1st Section)
#4 Brilliant Life turned his form around last start with an eye-catching effort at the tail of field. He’s clearly found form and his latest trial was sound. The inside gate will give him every opportunity, especially with Silvestre de Sousa up. #1 Star Ascension has a significant class-edge over rivals. Strong booking of Zac Purton signals intent. #5 Dublin Star is third-up and should improve again. He’s in the right vein of form to win very, very soon. #12 Ever Force trialled well and looks ready to return. Next best.

Race 4: Poplar Handicap (2nd Section)
#2 Brilliant Pioneer caught the eye last start down the straight before he was withdrawn from his most recent engagement. He’s since trialled well and the inside gate should see him use up no energy throughout the race. Take a chance on him. #9 Starry Night was beaten by the wide draw last start. Expect sharp improvement here. He’s worth an each way ticket. #3 Victory Scholars can turn his form around. He’s better than what his last start failure suggests. #6 Supreme Lucky is on the right track. Keep safe.

Race 5: Palm Handicap
#10 Soaring Pengshan is a lightly raced talent. He did well on debut to finish a luckless fourth that day, however, with a clean run he gets much closer. He’s looked well in his trackwork and should find the right spot here. #5 Chilli Baba has impressed in his trials ahead of his debut. He draws well and should get a soft run just behind the leading pair. #4 Beat Hollow looks to have his fair share of ability. He can atone for his first-up effort which saw him interfered with late. #1 Sparkling Knight will take catching. Keep safe.

Race 6: Willow Handicap
#9 General Ace has more ability than what he lets on. He can take much closer order here having finally drawn a good barrier. The step up in trip looks suitable too. #13 Dragon Pride has returned to a winnable mark. Karis Teetan should suit this horse, especially with the light weight assigned. #1 Oscar Glory can find the front and play catch me if you can under Angus Chung’s 10lb apprentice claim. He’ll look the winner at some stage. #4 Turquoise Alpha has the class and should save ground from gate one. Major threat.

Race 7: Cherry Handicap
Tricky contest which appears to lack genuine pace. Still, siding with #6 Grateful Heart who maps to get the dream run from gate two. He mixes his form but was closing off nicely before interference stopped him last start. #2 Trillion Win boasts a dazzling personal best over this course and distance. He’s racing well and can improve again. #8 Buzzinga returns. He’s a tidy operator in his spot and is favoured with the light weight assigned. #7 Ping Hai Galaxy is chasing back-to-back wins. Keep safe.

Race 8: G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap
#4 Healthy Happy should get an uncontested lead here which will play into his hands. Silvestre de Sousa can slow the tempo and from there give his mount every chance. He’s worth taking a chance on to go back-to-back in the race. #5 Blaze Warrior is a sharp talent who nailed a well-deserved win last start. Big threat. #2 Lucky Sweynesse is the class runner of the field. He faces a weighty task and the race isn’t going to be run to suit. #1 Beauty Joy mixes his form but appears to be wound-up here. He’s ready to fire.

Race 9: Cotton Tree Handicap
#5 Beauty Eternal is a serious talent and only bad luck beats him here – just like last start’s horror show. Since then he was withdrawn due to lameness but has recently trialled in impressive fashion. He’s the one to beat. #6 California Concord can find the front and give the likely favourite something to catch. He gets his chance with 10lb coming off due to Angus Chung’s apprentice claim. Take an each way ticket. #2 Atullibigeal mixes his form but has the talent. #11 Super Vince can box on.

Race 10: Chinese Banyan Handicap
#14 Classic Posh deserves another win. He was consistent all last season and since then has been racing well. He slots in light here and if they run along at a hot tempo then he’ll be right there to pick them up in the finish. #6 Mark The Moment nearly won on debut, missing by half a length on dirt. He has settled into Hong Kong swiftly and should get his opportunity here. #8 Pleasant Endeavor draws ideally. He loves the course and distance and should be value once more. #7 Superb Boy is next best. Keep safe.

Race 11: Flame Tree Handicap
#2 Straight Arron has impressed in the lead-up to his Hong Kong debut. He gets Zac Purton up which is a good push regarding his chances and this contest appears to be a more than suitable starting point. He can win. #12 Super Sunny Sing was dominant when winning last start. He can carry on that form through to this weekend. #3 A Pal has the talent and has shown he is much, much better than his last-start struggles suggest. #5 Good Buddy can turn his form around. Keep safe, even from the wide gate.