Distance is key for Giant Turtle, a 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding who tries to win for the third time in his last five starts in Wednesday’s $167,049 Busan Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Trained by Tony Millard, Giant Turtle won consecutive races at 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse in November and January. After finishing fourth in a seven-furlong race on Feb. 25 and a second in a minor handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 18, both at Sha Tin, Giant Turtle should be well suited to the Busan Handicap distance of 1 3/8 miles on turf.

When his mind is focused on running, Pakistan Star has shown signs of brilliance in leading stakes in Hong Kong in the last year. The problem is that Pakistan Star can be well into a race when his mood darkens.

A 5-year-old gelding, Pakistan Star pulled himself up midway through the Grade 2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on April 8, only to resume running in the latter stages of the race. He finished fourth. The episode led to a mandatory trial workout at a mile on turf April 19.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, April 21)

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

Brett Davis
R1: 11-4-5-12
R2: 1-5-4-2
R3: 5-1-2-3
R4: 2-1-3-4
R5: 4-8-2-10
R6: 5-1-2-3
R7: 10-4-9-1
R8: 10-13-4-1
R9: 5-10-9-7
R10: 9-12-4-3
Best Bet - R10: #9 Harmony Hero  
Longshot - R3: #5 Triumphal Trumpet
Best Play - R7: Q 10/4,9

Masar marked himself as a major player for the English Classics with a dominant win in the Group 3 Craven Stakes on Thursday at Newmarket.

Masar won the Craven by more than nine lengths after taking the early lead under William Buick, and among those left floundering in his wake was heavily favored Roaring Lion. Roaring Lion, making his season’s debut for trainer John Gosden, had been second choice for the Guineas behind Saxon Warrior coming into Thursday’s race, but English bookmakers put Masar in that spot on the strength of his Craven.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, April 21, 2018)

RACE 1: #3 Elite Dream, #4 Goodluck Goodluck, #1 Mighty Maverick, #11 Pearly Treasure

RACE 2: #10 Grand Harbour, #1 Let Us Win, #2 Golden Sleep, #4 Imperial Concorde

RACE 3: #2 Good Choice Ahead, #11 Happy Sound, #4 Winning Controller, #6 Ambitious Speedy

RACE 4: #2 Aerohappiness, #3 Complacency, #1 Sam's Love, #10 Gracious Ryder

The distance and conditions of Saturday’s $236,984 Sports for All Handicap at Sha Tin Racecouse in Hong Kong should fit Gunnison, the 3-year-old gelding who has had mixed luck in his first three starts on the circuit.

Trained by John Size, Gunnison had troubled trips when seventh and fourth in his first two races in Hong Kong in February and March, both at six furlongs. Gunnison was a fast-closing fourth in a handicap at five furlongs on turf at Sha Tin on April 8, a distance arguably too short for his best effort.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, April 18, 2018)

Brett Davis
R1: 1-6-5-4
R2: 5-3-6-1
R3: 5-6-10-7
R4: 10-3-8-9
R5: 6-4-8-7
R6: 6-4-11-8
R7: 10-11-3-12
R8: 8-11-12-3
Best Bet - R5: #6 E/W Flying Force  
Longshot - R7: #10 Gameplayer Emperor
Best Play - R6: Quin 4,6,8

Racing over a shorter distance may help Har Har Heart to the third win of his last four starts in Wednesday’s $166,875 Tsam Sha Tsui Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

But the 5-year-old gelding must hold off a late threat from the speedy High Volatility.

Those two geldings have appealing form in the Tsam Sha Tsui Handicap, which is about a mile and 50 yards on turf and is the last of eight races at Happy Valley.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, April 18, 2018)

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

RACE 1: #1 Raichu, #5 Scarborough Fair, #3 Hot Hot Pepper, #4 Sparkling Talent

RACE 2: #4 My Blessing, #6 Pearl Furu, #5 Loaded, #10 Celebration

RACE 3: #8 You Have My Word, #5 King Bountiful, 3 Je Pense, #6 Audacity