Best Bets | Sha Tin, 3 April 2022

General Winner | (Sha Tin Race 8 No.3) / Free Foal | (Sha Tin Race 8 No.2)

General Winner took Brilliant Way all the way to the finish last start and he was well fancied in a much harder race last start. I love the step back up to 1600m and I thought the cheekpieces really helped him last start. I love the draw and with even luck, Teetan should be able to put this bloke right in the race again. Free Foal was dominant last start, hence the extra 3kg in weight. He put the field away with ease and with Purton sticking with him, it is hard to head away from him. Betting on him will come down to price though.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.00 (Bluebet) / 0.7 unit $ 6.50 (Sportsbet)

Science Patch | (Sha Tin Race 1 No.2)

Landed with this son of Hinchinbrook following his solid second placing behind Packing Treadmill. I love the draw here, as there should be a suitable pace for him to sit off around midfield or better. This race doesn’t have a lot of depth, so I am expecting a good run.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $2.10

Seize The Spirit | (Sha Tin Race 2 No.5)

The lone Class 5 of the afternoon and it is a disgusting race to dissect. This is another who should map well from the draw and is coming off a run that had excuses. I think he is a good chance to get the win or at least run well.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $6.50

Royal Bomb | (Sha Tin Race 3 No.1) / En Pointe | (Sha Tin Race 3 No.3)

Pretty keen on this race with these two. Royal Bomb went back last start from his poor drawn and flew home to run second to Golden Empire. Prior to that, he ran a nice run in third behind Zone D and Viva Hunter, which is nice form for this race. They finally have drawn a good gate and with Shinn remaining abord, I think he can run a bold race. En Pointe had excuses last start behind Galaxy Witness and the form has stood up well with Super Dynamite winning since. Drawn wide is no issue as there isn’t a lot of pace here and he should get into a prime position. I am expecting a massive run.

Suggested bet: 1 unit @ $4.00 / 1.4 units @ $2.90

Leading Fortune | (Sha Tin Race 4 No.3) / Precise Express | (Sha Tin Race 4 No.9)

It will be hard to go against Leading Fortune and his recent form here, despite going up 3.5kg in weight. This may or may not be a bet, comes down to the price but he looks hard to beat. Precise Express is one I want to back also, getting that 2.5kg swing on Leading Fortune. The race they come out of has produced a winner in Beauty Live and a second in Copartner Elites, so no issues around the form. He only finished 1.7 lengths off Leading Fortune and 1.3 lengths off Beauty Live, despite spending the last 1200m of the race wide without cover. I think he can give this race a shake and the likely favourite a scare.

Suggested bet: 1.9 units @ $2.20 / 0.8 unit @ $5.50

Sparky Star | (Sha Tin Race 6 No.8)

There is literally no pace in this race, so it won’t surprise me if Zac Purton takes this bloke forward from the wide draw. His form has been consistent without winning and his sectionals last start was some of the best in the entire meeting. This looks the perfect race for him, and the trust goes onto Purton to give him a peach.

Suggested bet: No Bet @ $3.40

Wellington | (Sha Tin Race 7 No.1) / Super Wealthy | (Sha Tin Race 7 No.4)

This is the first feature of the afternoon and it’s hard not to be with my main man Wellington again after he finally got a good draw with some luck last start and put his opposition away the way we know he can. His draw is worse than last start but Badel should be able to put him in a good position regardless. Super Wealthy is one of two black bookers in this race from last start, the other being Lucky Express. Super Wealthy had no luck last start behind Sight Success, going down by 0.25 of a length in the end. He has drawn wide which is fine and will suit his pattern, and I expect Teetan to follow Wellington into the race. If Wellington gets into a spot of bother, this bloke may be able to put the rest away.

Suggested bet: 0.8 unit @ $5.00 (Various) / 0.6 unit @ $7.00 (Various)

Russian Emperor | (Sha Tin Race 9 No.3)

This is the first time I have gone against the champion Golden Sixty here and I am hoping it doesn’t backfire on me. He was just really impressive last start albeit being over 2000m on a rain-affected track. His sectionals two starts ago behind Waikuku and Golden Sixty were very good, and he maps much better this time around. He will go close to winning back-to-back races.

Suggested bet: 0.5 unit @ $8.00 (PlayUp)

Five Elements | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.5) / Rock Ya Heart | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.2) / Atullibigeal | (Sha Tin Race 10 No.4)

Cracking race to finish the card and I have gone three ways. Five Elements was a black booker from last start after getting the blinkers on for the first time and running a good race behind Super Fortune, who he meets 1kg better off for the half a length defeat. The draw is negative, but I trust Blake Shinn will do what’s best for the horse and give him a solid ride. Rock Ya Heart was a former black booker and ran a cracking race behind Flying Ace last start. Chadwick is back aboard; they have drawn well and they can run a big race. Atullibigeal gets a nice draw and Purton opting to stick with him over Rock Ya Heart will turn some eyes in his direction. He was very unlucky before flying over the final 200m to finish a tight third. Drawn much better here, he will make himself known.

Suggested bet: 0.6 unit @ $7.00 (Bluebet) / 0.5 unit @ $8.50 (Sportsbet) / 0.8 unit @ $5.50 (Sportsbet)

Total Units Used: 11.6 units