Rare Rhythm won the Group 3, $200,000 Nad al Sheba Trophy Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths over Vazirabad on Thursday at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, but Vazirabad probably got what his connections wanted and he needed out of the race.

The 4-year-old gelding Ping Hai Star is rising quickly through the handicap ranks in Hong Kong this year, with consecutive wins in seven-furlong handicaps at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Saturday, Ping Hai Star will be favored to win his third race of the year in the $237,617 Flycatcher Handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin.

Several elements seem to favor Ping Hai Star. He will be ridden by leading jockey Joao Moreira, who was aboard for wins on Jan. 7 and Feb. 4. Ping Hai Star is proven over the course and there should be a pace to follow from Circuit Glory.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, March 3, 2018)

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

RACE 1: #2 Lucky Volatility, #4 Complacency, #9 Yee Cheong Pegasus, #7 Just Not Listening

RACE 2: #1 G-One Union, #13 Winningli, #2 Hit A Home Run, #5 Kwaichung Brothers

RACE 3: #1 New Asia Sunrise, #2 Ping Hai Star, #5 Kingsfield, #7 Circuit Glory

The 2018 portion of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby is off to a rocky start.

The Patton Stakes scheduled for March 2 at Dundalk was postponed until March 9 owing to a wintry blast sweeping across England this week. Thursday’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes at Kempton hadn’t been called off as of late Wednesday morning, but a Thursday inspection of the course could lead to a postponement.

Also of note: The Kempton race attracted no final entrants that to date could be considered serious candidates to actually make a trip to Churchill Downs in May.

The Australian supermare Winx, winner of 22 consecutive races and a two-time Australian Horse of the Year, will have her first start of 2018 in Saturday’s Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

Nothing less than a victory will satisfy her legion of supporters.

The $467,100 Chipping Norton Stakes, run at a mile on turf, is familiar territory for the 7-year-old mare. Winx won the Chipping Norton Stakes the last two years for the seventh and 15th victories of her streak.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, February 28)

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

Brett Davis
Race 1: 1-11-8-12
Race 2: 5-1-3-2
Race 3: 5-7-1-10
Race 4: 12-10-2-1
Race 5: 1-4-7-5
Race 6: 10-1-7-12
Race 7: 10-2-9-6
Race 8: 6-10-4-12
Best Bet - Race 3: #5 Grade One 
Longshot - Race 6: #12 Righteous Mate
Best Play - Race 6: Trio 10/1,7,11,12

The top-class stayer Vazirabad is scheduled to tune up for a run at a third straight $1 million Dubai Gold Cup victory when he starts Thursday at Meydan in the Group 3, $200,000 Nad Al Sheba Trophy Stakes.

Perpetual Joyance has not won on Sha Tin's all-weather surface since November 2016, but his liking for the surface is a vital factor for bettors to consider when the 5-year-old gelding starts as the 133-pound highweight in Wednesday’s $237,748 Hoi Yuen Handicap at the Hong Kong racecourse.

Perpetual Joyance has won 7 of 26 starts in his career and has one win in two starts on the all-weather surface at Sha Tin. The 2016 win was his first start on the surface. Last October, Perpetual Joyance was fifth in a handicap on it after a poor start.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, February 28, 2018)

RACE 1: #11 Rainbow Gold, #12 Starry Starlies, #6 Victory Duke, #10 World City

RACE 2: #3 Goldie Flanker, #5 Elite Boy, #12 Silly Buddies, 4 Hearts Keeper

RACE 3: #2 Elite Spirit, #1 Pakistan Baby, #11 Noble De Boy, #10 Beekely

RACE 4: #13 Remarkable, #12 Mi Blanco, #6 Chater Thunder, #3 Crown Avenue

RACE 5: #6 Kirov, #5 Amazing Feeling, #4 Imperial Concorde, #3 Golden Sleep

Time Warp stole the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup over 2,000 meters on Dec. 10 at Sha Tin Racecourse, setting an early and middle pace so slow that no rival could come close to him when he turned on the jets in the final 600 meters. Time Warp won the Group 1, $1.278 Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2,000 meters on Sunday at Sha Tin leading all the way once again, but there was nothing like a theft this time.