[FREE PROGRAMS] Hong Kong Sha Tin - March 8, 2025

Race 1 - JUNCTION HANDICAP
#7 So Awesome may be over a year and a half between wins, but his recent runs have been encouraging. He drew wide last start and was held up from the 400m until passing the 200m before closing off nicely into fifth. In an open Class 5, he gets his chance. #10 Regency Happy Star has been consistent since joining David Eustace and should once again acquit himself well, having held his form with a handy tick-over trial. #1 Perfect Peach returns to Class 5, where he holds a respectable record, as well as stepping out over his preferred track and distance. He can improve markedly on recent efforts at the bottom of Class 4. #6 Windicator Family remains unplaced from 17 attempts but showed big improvement on his first run in Class 5, where he drew wide, settled back, and ran on strongly into fifth. That effort suggests he is now ready to take another step forward.

Race 2 - LUNG KONG HANDICAP
#7 Top Throne appears to be a handy newcomer for the David Hayes yard, having trialled well on four occasions in Hong Kong, showing good gate speed that he should utilise here to put himself into a winning position on debut. #4 Autumn Vibes was well found on debut, attracting substantial market support to jump odds-on, but he was slow to begin, which cost him the win. There was still plenty of merit to his run as he charged home into third, and he is poised to go two places better second-up. #8 Invincible Lucky has often been plagued by wide barriers yet has been running well from them. He drew inside two starts ago but was used up early. #6 Mount Everest is another newcomer who has caught the eye in morning work and looks ready to show something first-up for trainer Chris So.

Race 3 - LUNG KONG HANDICAP
#4 Akashvani has shown plenty of promise at the trials for the David Hayes stable, as well as in Australia, where he trialled under the name Merchant Of Cool. He looks well-prepared to kick off his career on a winning note. #2 Flash Current scored impressively second-up from a wide draw, storming home from last to score by a head over Loving Vibes, who has since franked the form. #1 Suruga Bay is one to watch on the class drop. He steps out for a new stable after transferring to Mark Newnham, and his trials have been encouraging. He remains open to improvement. #6 Raging Rapids drew barrier 11 last time, was slow to begin, and found himself on the back foot. He eventually closed off well into seventh, recording a strong sectional, and is open to further improvement third-up for the John Size stable.

Race 4 - NAM KOK HANDICAP
#5 Lucky Sam Gor, now third-up, looks ready to fire after two very encouraging runs over 1400m, finishing close up in strong form races, including a last-start fourth behind the rising Sky Jewellery. The step up to the mile is right up his alley. #2 Flying Luck hasn’t had much go his way due to his get-back, run-on pattern, but his form remains solid. Given a 49-day freshen between runs, he has since trialled well and is on track for a second win. #3 Beauty Live cannot be ignored at this level, resuming first-up here for his second attempt back in Class 4. He has trialled well since his last run, where he was forced to cover extra ground from a wide draw. #11 Kingly Demeanor will be hard to peg back if he gets a sweet time in front, which looks a possibility. A winner up to 2200m, the rise from 1400m to the mile is key to his chances.

Race 5 - NGA TSIN WAI HANDICAP
#10 Vulcanus is racing in a rich vein of form, and since returning to Class 4, he has been up against it from wide draws yet has still closed in hard to finish second on each occasion. With any amount of luck in running, he can go one place better. #5 Looks Outstanding had trialled well leading into his debut but drew widest, was steadied early, and then closed off in eye-catching fashion to check in fourth. That was an encouraging run, and having trialled well between races, he should be a winning chance. #2 Fortune Warrior won as easily as you like last time on a wet-affected all-weather track, but his form has been solid since joining David Eustace. He remains a chance. #12 Hinokami Kagura was a closing third first-up for a new stable and was impressive despite not winning as race favourite. He is edging closer to his first career win and must be respected.

Race 6 - THE LOK SIN TONG CUP (HANDICAP)
#9 Sunny Q is ready for the rise to 1400m after solid runs over the unsuitable trips of 1000m and 1200m, performing well on each occasion. He has since won a trial in good fashion, and despite this being one of the more competitive races on the card, he is in with a strong winning shot. #2 Etalon Or is ready to win with a bit of luck in running. He has been the victim of a horrid run of barrier draws but has still been running well. Should things pan out in his favour, he will go close. #5 Gallant Epoch secured his maiden win in fine style last start, leading from pillar to post in impressive fashion, and he can be followed up on that effort. #7 Wrote A New Page did not disgrace on debut over 1200m, settling well back in the run before finishing well, suggesting the 1400m will be right up his alley second-up.

Race 7 - SA PO HANDICAP
#5 Must Go can be followed up on his latest win, having trialled well between runs and meeting a similar field. It will come down to position in running and race shape, as there is little separating the leading contenders. #7 Mojave Desert had every chance last time when finishing a length away in third behind Must Go. He still has room for improvement, and since joining Mark Newnham’s stable, his form has been on an upward trend. #3 Mask Rider surprised with a debut win two starts ago but was unable to back it up last time, fading late from third in running to finish over eight lengths away in eighth. There was reported kickback on that occasion, which the rider said he didn’t appreciate—worth giving him another chance. #4 Victory Moments pulled up as a roarer last start and has since been rested. He has trialled well ahead of his return and has slid down the ratings to a mark where he is capable of rebounding.

Race 8 - KOWLOON CITY HANDICAP
#1 Invincible Sage finds one of the weaker races he has contested in quite some time, which sets him up well as a winning chance. Without the likes of Ka Ying Rising, Helios Express, and Howdeepisyourlove—who were the only ones to finish ahead of him in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint—he gets his opportunity. His last start over 1400m can be overlooked, as it was an unsuitable trip. #3 Magic Control showed another string to his bow when ridden with patience last time, bouncing back in a big way for an impressive win. He is a horse on the up with more to come. #2 Lucky With You enjoyed all the favours from barrier 1 last time and rebounded in style to return to winning ways. He must be respected again. #6 Copartner Prance will be a pace influence and could be sticking on late if the race tempo falls into his favour.

Race 9 - SOUTH WALL HANDICAP
#1 The Boom Box aims to make it four from four and steps into new territory as he rises to 1400m for the first time. He’s hard to fault, having overcome wide draws in all three wins to date, and remains the one to beat. #9 Call Me Gorgeous is open to improvement. Now fourth-up in Hong Kong, he has finished close up in all three starts, and his last run was better than it reads after copping a check at the 800m. He has since trialled well and is in with a shout. #11 Armour War Eagle is itching to break through after several encouraging placings, including a third to Packing Angel two starts ago, followed by a close-up second to Juneau Pride last time. #5 Magnificent Nine finally broke through for his first Hong Kong win last start, and despite rising back into Class 3, he can remain competitive.

Race 10 - CARPENTER HANDICAP
#10 Markwin drew wide, settled back, and made a sweeping wide run from the 800m last time, so his sixth-place finish was a much stronger effort than it appears on paper. It was a solid run against the race shape, and a significant drop in weight here makes him a strong chance to bounce back in a big way. #13 Lo Rider lost no admirers when beaten a neck by Steps Ahead at this course and trip last time in the same race as Markwin. He is knocking on the door for his first local win and is right in the firing line. #11 Sky Heart is trending upwards and now tests his mettle up in trip for the first time after a strong last-start win over the mile. Any ratings points earned here could put him in Derby contention. #6 Speed Dragon boasts strong form lines, having beaten Californiatotality two starts ago before surging late into second behind Johannes Brahms last time. He remains a player.

Race 11 - TAK KU LING HANDICAP
#4 Light Years Charm put behind him a few luckless runs to break through impressively in Hong Kong last start, overcoming a wide draw to win going away by over two lengths. The four-year-old is on an upward trend and can go on with it. #8 Dragon Joy hasn’t had much luck with barrier draws and was caught wide without cover last time, so it’s a run best to forget. His prior form, including a win over Markwin two starts ago, holds him in strong stead. #6 Brilliant Express has strung together two impressive wins, showing tactical versatility on each occasion, and now rises to the mile for the first time. #9 Embraces has been in top form since transferring to Cody Mo. In his last two runs, he has drawn outside alleys but still performed admirably, closing in nicely for fourth last time against the race shape.