Best Bets | Sha Tin, 6 March 2022

Enjoying | (Sha Tin Race 2 No.4)

Four of these horses have battled over their last two starts, with Charity Go and Looking Great saluting but it is Enjoying’s chance to win now. He was massive last start, running nice sectionals upfront and almost saluting late. He gets full control here with no speed and a small field whilst getting Joao Moreira is a bonus. It will be hard to make ground with no speed with the rail placement and I truly think he controls and kicks away here.

Suggested bet:  1 unit @ $4.20

HongKong Great | (Sha Tin Race 1 No.4)

Small field to kick off the day and I am going for a horse returning after 130 days off. Hongkong Great is returning from throat surgery and has since trialled three times impressively. His form is good on the dirt and Purton knows him well, so I am expecting a decent return with the small field in what is a tough race.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $3.70

Blotting Paper | (Sha Tin Race 3 No.8)

The son of Uncle Mo is a better performer on the dirt than the track and over his last two, he has performed consistently without winning. He got close last start with a gun run but the leader controlled the race well and gave the rest of the field no hope. He is drawn well here but there is a lot of pace so I am expecting to sit third or fourth in the run before peeling off them. No confidence in this race.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $3.90

Noble Boyz | (Sha Tin Race 4 No.2)

I have settled with the son of Street Boss at the top of the weights. Noble Boyz ran well enough last start despite being held-up from the 400m mark to around 300m out and coming from near last at that point, he monstered the line in wet conditions to finish under three lengths from the winner in his first go at 1400m. He drops back to the preferred 1200m, back in grade, drawn well, and has Zac Purton booked. Purton could be able to sit him closer to the speed and he may just find a way to get this bloke home.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.00

Marado | (Sha Tin Race 5 No.1)

Marado was a black booker from last start after he returned after almost eight months out following a screw placement in his right fetlock. On top of this, he drew poorly and had to settle at the rear of the field and just got too far off them. Once he came into the race, he has to shift out to gain some space and he really hit the line nicely. This was backed up by the sectionals, running in the top 10 for sectionals over the final 800m and 400m, third in 600m, and fourth in 200m which is massive for a first-up runner after injury. I think he will be getting back again but if Jerry Chau can get him a bit closer here, he will be a massive chance.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $4.50

Flying Season | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.4) / Lucky Gor | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.8) / Sunshine Legendary | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.9)

This is the first time I have done this in 2022, but we are going to back three runners in a wide-open race. We all know the 1000m straight race can throw up some results, and today may not be any different. Flying Season was huge first-up behind Glenealy Generals and arguably should have won if it didn’t race so greenly. I love the blinkers going on the first time and that race-day experience will be valuable. Lucky Gor was all set for his debut in January when he sat down in the gates and got scratched. He has since had the pacifier added and trialled twice in an impressive fashion. Moreira trialled him and will ride him race day, so I am expecting a big run. Sunshine Legendary is another who has trialled impressively and retains Purton after that trial. I loved that he recovered after a shaky start in the trial and being well held through the line.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.50 / 1 unit @ $4.40 / 0.5 unit @ $8.50

Star Contact | (Sha Tin Race 7 No.5)

This was a tough race to assess, and nothing really screamed “pick me”! Star Contact ended up my pick by default as he is really screaming for a mile and looking for a trouble-free run. Both runs this campaign he has had no luck and finished within 1.6 lengths in both races, once from on the pace and the other off the pace. He was better off the pace last start in my opinion and looks to get a similar set-up here. Blake Shinn on is a big tick from me, and with even luck, he won’t be far away.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $3.70

Leading Fortune | (Sha Tin Race 8 No.9) / Beauty Live | (Sha Tin Race 8 No.6)

Backing two horses in this race who both are looking to make it three wins in a row. Leading Fortune motored through the wet conditions at Sha Tin last start, saluting by 2.6 lengths with ease. Before that, he ran very quick sectionals to salute by just under 1.5 lengths. He sticks to the mile as he steps up to Class 3, but the booking of Zac Purton is the key here. He should give him a solid ride from an ideal draw, and I have no doubt that he will look the winner at some point. Beauty Live is the main danger in my eyes, and he will be looking to make use of a better barrier. Last start, he was drawn wide and ridden cold, but a super ride by Matthew Poon got him over the line late in brilliant sectionals. Regardless of whether Moreira rides positively or not, I have no doubt he will be hitting the line as he looks for 1800m+.

Suggested bet: 0.6 unit @ $7.00 / No Bet @ $1.65

Flying Ace | (Sha Tin Race 9 No.3) / Rock Ya Heart | (Sha Tin Race 9 No.2)

What a cracking Class 3 we have here. There are at least half a dozen horses that could win this race but I couldn’t go away from these two. Flying Ace by far the one to beat after he continued his unbeaten start to his career at this track and distance in impressive fashion. It was a masterful ride by Matthew Poon, coming from eight lengths back at the 300m mark to salute by almost 1.5 lengths and he was soft on the line. The sectionals did back-up the eye as a scintillating performance which confirms his talent even further. He has since had a nice trial in preparation for this race and they followed a similar path to his first two wins, remaining in the same grade but up in weight. He will need a similar ride here with the awkward draw, but he is all class, I expect him in the finish. Rock Ya Heart was a black booker for me from the February 12 meeting after he rocketed home for second behind Texas Moon in very fast sectionals. He ran tenth in final 600m sectionals for the meeting, fourth for the final 400m and second for the final 200m. He was blocked 300m out and raced in restricted room 200m out and probably should have won the race. He gets Purton aboard which boosts my confidence, but he will need every bit of that turn of foot vs Flying Ace. Surely the winner comes from these two.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $1.70 / 0.7 unit @ $6.00

Total Units Used: 6.6 units