Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, February 2, 2022

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Thursday, February 03, 2022)

Race 1: #10 Masterwork, #12 One Step Ahead, #1 Beauty Cheers, #4 Towards Success
Race 2: #1 Happy Daily, #2 Snowalot, #4 Moeraki, #11 Plikclone
Race 3: #6 War Weapon, #1 Cordyceps Six, #3 Equaletta Blitz, #11 Whizz Kid
Race 4: #8 Band Of Brothers, #1 Will Power, #2 Lucky Express, #4 Californiadeepshot
Race 5: #9 Solar Partner, #4 Science Patch, #1 Soaring Tower, #2 Eight Trigrams
Race 6: #3 Natural Storm, #1 Amazing Teens, #11 Flying Mighty, #12 Super Hong Kong
Race 7: #4 Craig’s Star, #10 Never Too Soon, #3 Sauvestre, #1 Beauty Fit
Race 8: #9 See U Again, #3 Galaxy Witness, #5 Street Scream, #4 Oriental Smoke
Race 9: #12 Running Glory, #6 Solid Impact, #2 The Hulk, #10 Massive Action
Race 10: #7 Kumasi, #6 Armour Eagle, #4 Flying Ace, #9 Lightning Bolt
Race 11: #7 Berlin Tango, #4 Senor Toba, #1 Beluga, #8 Enjoying

Race 1: Yue Yee Handicap

#10 Masterwork is better than his record suggests. He’s lightly raced but has shown glimpses of ability at times. This contest appears suitable now – second-up with Vincent Ho engaged. #12 One Step Ahead rarely runs a bad race. He gets in light and is chanced with an opportunity here. #1 Beauty Cheers steps down to Class 5. Zac Purton hops up and he commands plenty of respect. #4 Towards Success is open to improvement. He closed off with plenty of merit first-up.

Race 2: Prosperity Handicap (1st Section)

#1 Happy Daily is a talent on the rise. He’s after a hat-trick of wins and looks very well placed to capture that here. Karis Teetan sticks aboard and he’s favoured by remaining in Class 4 once more. #2 Snowalot showed plenty of prowess with a win on debut four starts ago. He’s capable of bouncing back. #4 Moeraki pairs favourably with Zac Purton. Expect a forward showing from him here. #11 Plikclone looks a very, very nice ride for Luke Currie. He’ll be finishing fast under the in-form Australia.

Race 3: Good Fortune Handicap

#6 War Weapon is a lightly raced talent. He’s shown a stack of early toe and with even luck he is the one to beat here. Expect his best to be on show here; the strong booking of Zac Purton enhances his claims. #1 Cordyceps Six loves the straight and looks an excellent chance for Blake Shinn. He’s a top talent in his spot over this course and distance. #3 Equaletta Blitz is no stranger to a drastic form reversal. He bears close watching. #11 Whizz Kid is a last-start course and distance winner. He just needs to handle the class-rise.

Race 4: Chinese New Year Cup Handicap

#8 Band Of Brothers steps out first-up for the Chinese New Year Cup. Expect a big showing from him here, especially as he is down in the weights off the back of a very, very nice trial under Zac Purton. He’s a good chance at a price. #1 Will Power has claims even though he hops on the turf. He’s in seriously good form at present. #2 Lucky Express is consistent in his spot. Don’t discount – strong booking of Zac Purton warrants respect. #4 Californiadeepshot is looking to snap a string of runner-up efforts. He’s holding his condition.

Race 5: Prosperity Handicap (2nd Section)

#9 Solar Partner is on an upward spiral. He’s trending towards a win and with four runs under his belt he shapes as the likely winner. He has race-experience on his side now as well as the services of Joao Moreira. #4 Science Patch closed nicely last time out. He too is closing in on a first win. Gate four suits – he may not be as far back in the run this time. #1 Soaring Tower has the ability but is struggling to piece it together at times. Still, he has claims. #2 Eight Trigrams is next best.

Race 6: Red Packet Handicap

#3 Natural Storm is better than his record suggests. He should improve once more third-up and the return to Class 4 looks hugely ideal for his chances. One to beat and he should be a bit of value to do so. #1 Amazing Teens is a two-time winner from his past three starts. He’ll be hanging around the finish. #11 Flying Mighty is competitive over these distances. Daniel Moor hops up with the light weight and he gets his opportunity. #12 Super Hong Kong is still seemingly on the rise. Don’t discount him here with no weight and gate three.

Race 7: Kung Hei Handicap (1st Section)

#4 Craig’s Star is closing in on a return to winning ways. He’s done well this term and with a clean run he is capable of finishing over the top of this bunch. #10 Never Too Soon has struggled to replicate his debut heroics when third at Happy Valley. Still, he has a little bit of class and does warrant consideration. #3 Sauvestre is still on the rise. Strong booking of Zac Purton from gate one should give him his chance. #1 Beauty Fit has the class edge. Don’t discount.

Race 8: Kut Cheong Handicap

#9 See U Again moved very, very well in a trial recently at Happy Valley. He looks to have his fair share of early ability and from gate three he gets his chance to get off to a winning start. Strong booking of Alexis Badel who has done most of the preparation work aboard this guy. #3 Galaxy Witness won well on debut. He’s open to further improvement again. #5 Street Scream has race-experience on his side. He narrowly missed last time out and it wouldn’t surprise to see him contend again. #4 Oriental Smoke showed inexperience on debut. He may need further.

Race 9: Kung Hei Handicap (2nd Section)

#12 Running Glory displayed an excellent turn-of-foot to score last start with ease. He can carry on that form to another win here – especially with Joao Moreira staying aboard. He’s the one to beat. #6 Solid Impact is coming to hand very, very nicely. He’s racing well and looks a solid contender to the likely favourite – Running Glory. #2 The Hulk is chasing back-to-back wins. He shouldn’t be overlooked here. #10 Massive Action steps out on debut. He looks set to make his presence felt first-up in Hong Kong.

Race 10: Great Profits Handicap

#7 Kumasi has a stack of ability and he was without luck in a messy finish last start. He can atone for that performance here and with a clean run get on the board for his first win in Hong Kong. #6 Armour Eagle is showing class. Joao Moreira sticks aboard and he looks like the main danger. #4 Flying Ace is looking to remain unbeaten. He’s done nothing wrong but once again – he will have to step up against this group. #9 Lightning Bolt has claims. He gets his chance.

Race 11: Fat Choi Handicap

#7 Berlin Tango has the class but is still without a win in Hong Kong. He’s done well so far this season and while he has his quirks – he does return to what appears to be his preferred course and distance. #4 Senor Toba got off the mark in Hong Kong last start. He’s on a Hong Kong Derby trail and shouldn’t be discounted here as he’s more than capable against older rivals. #1 Beluga is after back-to-back wins. He’s consistent. #8 Enjoying can bounce back after a lacklustre last start. Expect he rolls forward and tries to pinch this contest.