Best Bets | Sha Tin, 20 March 2022

Voyage Bubble | (Sha Tin Race 7 No.6)

This guy was nothing but impressive in his second run of his career. He sat handy in the run after drawing wide and easily put his opposition away by three lengths whilst carrying top weight. He steps up to Class 3 now, retains Purton and has drawn much better than last start. Like the previous race, price dictates a bet here, but he should be winning.

Suggested bet: 1.8 units @ $2.25

Erimo | (Sha Tin Race 1 No.9)

This race could go many ways in the first, quite wide open affair. Happy to back the debutant in Erimo for the John Size yard, who has had a few health issues over the past 12 months plus. He under-performed in his earlier trials and was found to have Juvenile tendonitis in both front legs, and was given 12 months off racing. Since his return, he has had four trials and did very little before a month break and back for another trial where he was pretty impressive in his action. Whatever they have done seemed to have clicked and I am hoping that transfers to race day with a nice draw.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $6.00

Glenealy Generals | (Sha Tin Race 2 No.8) / Lucky Gor | (Sha Tin Race 2 No.4)

This looks a really solid 1000m race up the Sha Tin straight and I am happy to follow two who have that experience. Glenealy Generals was majorly unlucky two back and ended up taking little part in the race but he redeemed that last start with a really good win against horses who have since performed well. His run rated well and that was despite making some errors again in the run. If he puts it together, he is going to be hard to beat. Lucky Gor was impressive on debut but was just no match for the two that beat him. That race day experience will do wonders and I expect another bold run from him.

Suggested bet: 0.5 unit @ $9.00 / 1.5 units @ $2.80

Star Contact | (Sha Tin Race 3 No.5)

Not a fan of this race, landed with Star Contact who has the best formlines coming in. He has rated well in his three runs to date and once again has drawn ideally to get a nice run in transit. Providing Blake Shinn can avoid any trouble, he will be in the finish once again.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $3.50

Cheery | (Sha Tin Race 4 No.6)

Another tough race to assess and stay out of. Cheery did a lot wrong on debut but still managed to finish the race off well on the water-logged Sha Tin. The form on the day has been suspect due to the conditions, but his closing sectionals were really good in a race that winner has since gone on and won again in impressive fashion. Unfortunately, he has drawn poorly again and Joao Moreira will have a task to get him in. Providing the track is playing fair, they may go back and you will see him flying late.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $6.00

Rise Brethren | (Sha Tin Race 5 No.3) / Superbella | (Sha Tin Race 5 No.2)

Rise Brethren was a horse I blackbooked after last start, after producing a tremendous run at Sha Tin over the 1800m. He retains Purton which is ideal and he gets a peach of a draw out of barrier one, whilst also stepping up to 2000m. All Zac Purton needs to do is get him closer in the run and with clear air in the straight, and he is going to be mighty hard to beat. Superbella is one I have chucked in as hisbest can shake this up. Forget last start, was too bad to be true and at he was found to have had mucus in in his trachea. The start prior she ran a tremendous rating beating home the field by over 1.5 lengths, and that field has since produced a winner and four placings, with the winner performing well and winning in Class 2. His best give this a real shake.

Suggested bet: 0.9 unit @ $4.50 / 0.2 unit @ $20.00

Running Glory | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.7)

This guy has been pretty consistent but it’s the map pattern that costs him at times. That’s what happened last start, he settled back last before and flew home for fifth in good time, but the map cost him any chance of victory. The two starts prior, it didn’t matter and he saluted in both races in good time. I love the step up to 1600m as I believe he is a horse who has been screaming for it and although he is drawn wide, he is going back anyway. It’s not a deep field so I am not sure we are going to get a price we want, that will be the difference between betting and not.

Suggested bet: 1.2 units @ $3.50

California Sky | (Sha Tin Race 9 No.9)

This is a cracking race with at least five solid winning hopes. He had to do some work against last start from a wide gate before getting understandably tired late in the piece when finishing third to rivals Sauvestre and Compassion Spirit. He meets Sauvestre 3kg better off for the run and half a kilo better off on Compassion Spirit whilst our bloke draws a much better gate. Being fourth up for the preparation, I am expecting another big run and for this bloke to secure his maiden Hong Kong victory.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.50

Stoltz | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.5) / Blaze Warrior | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.2)

Brilliant race to finish the card, another which has multiple chances. Stoltz was unlucky when stepping up to Class 2 for the first time, being blocked on the rail halfway up the straight, cost him any chance of being competitive. Before that, his form was brilliant so despite being drawn in barrier seven today, I expect him to be in a forward position and for Purton to stay away from that rail this time in to hopefully not have a repeat. Blaze Warrior was a blackbooker after his last start, running tremendous sectionals behind Cordyceps Six when finishing second. The key here is that he has drawn a good gate and with even luck, he can run a big race. Lucky With You and Navas Two are two that scare me and shouldn’t be left out of exotics.

Suggested bet: 0.4 unit @ $12.00 / 1 unit @ $4.40

Total Units Used: 9.3 units