Best Bets | Sha Tin, 12 March 2022

Fun N Glory | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.8) / Packing Treadmill | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.3)

Fun N Glory was a black booker from the 20^th of February, where he was blocked multiple times in the straight before surging late to go down under half a length in third to rival Packing Treadmill. He meets that rival 2kg better off for that defeat and the draw/map is going to do him wonders. He also gets the Magic Man Joao Moreira which further boosts the confidence of a solid run. Packing Treadmill is clearly the second pick and rates better than all bar Fun N Glory. Betting on both is going to be the smart way to play this race.

Suggested bet:  1.7 units @ $2.40 / 1 unit @ $4.00

Ka Ying Star | (Sha Tin Race 1 No.1) / Cheerful Days | (Sha Tin Race 1 No.6)

This is a small field chock full of quality, hence why I am backing two runners but any of the six can win. Ka Ying Star was so good stepping back from 1800m to 1400m, to go down to the classy Wellington only narrowly. Back up to a mile and back into Class 1 grade is a nice move, and this race really lacks pace, and he maps to be just behind the likely leader in Healthy Happy. Cheerful Days is going for four wins in a row and he has won six races out of nine this preparation. The last time he was in this grade, he saluted narrowly over the 1400m whilst running some slick sectionals. He stepped back to Class 2 last start at Happy Valley and was way too good for his opposition. Remaining at a mile, back to Sha Tin and gets in really well weight-wise, I am expecting Alexis Badel to really try and hit the ground running on his return from suspension.

Suggested bet: 1.1 units @ $3.70 / 1 unit @ $4.00

Seize The Spirit | (Sha Tin Race 2 No.4) / Apex Top | (Sha Tin Race 2 No.2)

This looks like a really thin Class 5 once again. It looks like Zac Purton has found another very winnable ride in Class 5 with Seize The Spirit, who is coming off a solid placing last start at this track and distance. The big key here is the draw, as he comes into barrier 3 which should give him the ideal map. Providing he doesn’t open too short; he is a nice bet. Apex Top was a personal black booker behind his rival Seize The Spirit last start, after coming back to Class 5 for the first time. He ran the quickest last 400m of the race but just couldn’t bridge the gap finishing third. The draw may give us a higher price and I don’t think he will map too bad.

Suggested bet: 1.2 units @ $3.60 / 0.4 unit @ $13.00

Shanghai Dragon | (Sha Tin Race 4 No.8)

No confidence in this race whatsoever and the map highly dictated this pick. Despite not winning over his last four races, he has consistently rated high and has finished within 1.06 lengths, 1.94 lengths, 1.69 lengths, and 2.25 lengths around some handy runners. He gets an easy lead and could dictate this very early.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $17.00

General Winner | (Sha Tin Race 5 No.2) / Brilliant Way | (Sha Tin Race 5 No.1)

I really like both of these runners with General Winner another black booker who is running. He was flying home behind En Pointe last start but just went a touch wayward when he needed to go straight late in the race. He is drawn much better and gets the cheekpieces on which is going to help his coordination. Brilliant Way steps up to 1400m for the first time, which I really love, and it could be the masterstroke by John Size to break his maiden status. The issue for him will be the sticky draw, but he must be respected. Also, Plikclone scares the daylights out of me. Was a pick and black booker who ran average last start and now had Purton aboard. Very wary.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.00 / 1.1 units @ $3.80

Hot King Prawn | (Sha Tin Race 7 No.1)

This is a cracking race and I have spent some time on it, thinking about who is going to be Master Eight. Willing to take the risk on the experienced Hot King Prawn with Purton aboard who has been racing well this preparation without winning. Last start he finished a surging third in what was a hot Group 1, where he managed to run the quickest last 200m after having to come off heels in the straight. He is drawn poorly but the amount of speed in this race will ensure he gets across easily and he can come with a massive run late.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $6.00

Perfect Pair | (Sha Tin Race 8 No.8) / Copartner Ambition | (Sha Tin Race 8 No.1)

I thought Perfect Pair was immaculate behind Beauty Live last start after being left wide without cover from the 1200m mark of a 1400m race. Despite all of that against a quality runner like Beauty Live, he only went down by 0.62 of a length in second. His draw is similar but there is speed to his inside, so I think he will get into a nice position behind the pace, and it will give him every chance. Copartner Ambition looks to be the best horse in the race and with the addition of Purton, it makes him quite formidable. Being third-up works in his favour for his fitness, and he is going to need every bit of it after drawing the widest barrier. Despite this, he is class and with the breaks, he is the one to beat.

Suggested bet: 1 unit @ $4.40 / 1 unit @ $4.00

Super Fortune | (Sha Tin Race 9 No.8) / Double Six Pop | (Sha Tin Race 9 No.9)

This is a cracking race that could go many ways. Super Fortune is one who ran well in the treacherous conditions at Sha Tin last start, running second to rival Gallant Express by under a length. He meets him 1.5kg better off for the run and his draw should ensure another big run. Double Six Pop has had no luck over his two runs in Hong Kong and again hasn’t drawn ideally. But he has rated quite well despite these runs and the addition of Joao Moreira is going to do wonders for him. Since last start, he has had a nice tick over trial and I expect a massive run providing he can get some luck.

Suggested bet: 1.3 units @ $3.20 / 0.9 unit @ $4.60

The Golden Scenery | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.3) / Circuit Three | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.4)

The Golden Scenery did a couple of things wrong last start but it didn’t stop him surging home to an almost 2.5 length victory after making a sustained run from the top of the final turn. Since that run, he has had two nice trials over the 1200m which will keep his fitness up to date, which he will need, going up 3.5kg from last start. I expect him to settle closer in the run from a nice draw and again he is going to be hard to beat. Circuit Three is another black booker for this meeting after a massive run behind California Ten last start after starting close. Before that, he was a luckless fourth behind rival The Golden Scenery despite running a faster final 200m than him. He meets The Golden Scenery 3kg better off from when they last met, and he gets to step back to 1400m after his run at a mile last start. He is a nice smoky in this race, despite drawing poorly.

Suggested bet: 1.5 units @ $2.70 / 0.4 unit @ $10.00

Total Units Used: 15.3