Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.

The 2025/2026 Hong Kong racing season commences at Sha Tin today with the traditional running of the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup, the highlight on the 10 race card.

The opening race day is the first of 88 meetings scheduled over a 46 week period and consists of more than 830 individual races, 12 of which hold "International Group 1" status.

A total of 22 Trainers and 23 Jockeys are licensed for the opening day's competition and amongst them are a number of fascinating new faces.

"DAVID PROBERT" is an extremely experienced lightweight jockey with over 1600 wins to his credit in a string of various jurisdictions.Welsh-born Probert was apprentice to leading English trainer Andrew Balding and rode his first winner in 2007 at Wolverhampton.He is yet to win a Group 1 race despite 6 minor placings at the level but with 21 Group 2 and Group 3 races all ready secured, it's just a matter of time.

"RICHARD KINGSCOTE" began his career riding for Roger Charlton in 2004 at Epsom Downs but got a taste for Hong Kong racing in March/April this year when allocated a licence for 10 meetings.During that time, the 39yo Englishman rode sensationally, with the highlight being his 3 wins from 3 rides on the all weather at Sha Tin in late March, before notching up a win at Happy Valley in April.

"BRETT CRAWFORD" enters the Hong Kong training ranks 24 years after his first winner at Kenilworth in 2001.Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, the 54yo trained for more than two decades in South Africa accumulating multiple Group 1,2 and 3 winners along the way as part of an overall tally of more than 1400 wins.With a stable of just 25 horses to get started with it may however take time to build momentum, but a previous lengthy and successful relationship with jockey Karis Teetan, in their homeland, shall be a definite guide to finding winners.

The traditional "Gong Striking Opening Ceremony" shall no doubt create the vibe and final excitement necessary for a positive start to proceedings, and it all takes place in the mounting yard prior to the running of race 1.
 

"Horses To Follow"

(September - December)
 

BLAZING WIND

REACH THE PEAK

POSITIVE SMILE

DASHING DRAGON 

PLENTIFUL 

DECRELOT

SUNSET TRAIL

STORMING DRAGON

BIENVENUE

KING OBERON

GIANT LEAP

GRAND NOVA

THOUSAND SPIRIT 

BULL ATTITUDE 

GIANT BALLOON

CELESTIAL HARMONY 

TOP TIME

SIGHT SUPREME

RISING PHOENIX

FAST NETWORK


"Trainer To Fire Early Season"

(September - December)

"DAVID HAYES" - David Hayes has his stable firing on all cylinders early on and is expected to make an excellent start.Of all the barrier trials conducted in the lead up to the day 1 of the new season 20 have been won by the Australian's yard.With a plethora of minor placings and conservative based efforts to also report.
 

Rail - A Course

Race 1

#3 NOBLE DELUX is one of four candidates dropping into class 5 for the first time and the runner I'm leaning towards in this challenging opening race of the season.Similar to every runner contesting, there are minimal statistics and form lines to heavily rely on when analysing this grade, so if you're keen on one, I can't and won't be pressured to turn you off.Nevertheless, James Orman is a highly talented rider that I expect to shine during the initial months of the season, so a start up for legendary trainer John Size is an ideal and potentially crucial opportunity.

#11 SUPER ELITE won his only race in good style over this exact course and distance two season back when Hugh Bowman was behind the wheel.Unfortunately, since then he's been branded a one hit wonder with no additional successes to report.However, his reliable gate speed from the low draw, combined with the lightest weight of 114lbs under apprentice Brittany Wong, have him advantaged.He's also trialled well in fast time.

#9 SPEEDY SMARTIE possesses blistering early speed and found some consistent winning form at the end of last season.He's held a solid base of residual fitness during the off-season break which was evident during his all the way trial win on the 27th of August.He's the first runner for new trainer Brett Crawford, and with Karis Teetan interestingly book to ride, he should be given every opportunity to find the frame.

#12 YOURMYEVERTHING returns with no trial under his belt and his race day pattern confirms he'll giveaway a start.Nevertheless, his closing sectional data at Happy Valley at the end of last season, and his overall career achievements, infer that he can still win races in this grade.The outside draw doesn't affect his prospects, in fact, it's preferred over a low inside gate, because the rail in the A position often assists finishers wideout.

#4 ORIENTAL SURPRISE ran his best race at the end of last season when reverting back to the shorter distance of 1200m.The result also coincided with his first attempt in class 5 and today he's drawn favourable in gate 7, away from the Sha Tin inside running rail.There's also been two solid trials leading in to his return and both have suggested he's another legitimate chance.

Selections : 3,11,9,12,4

R2 - 10,5,7,12,3

Race 3

"HKSAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S CUP"

(Class 1 - 1200m - Hcp)
 

#1 KA YING RISING ended last season on an extraordinary high following a twelfth consecutive victory and fourth G1 when claiming the Chairman's Sprint Prize.In the process, he secured the Hong Kong "Horse of the Year" title and set up a journey to Australia in October, where he's scheduled to tackle all comers in the 20 million AUD G1 Tab Everest.With 10 weeks during the off-season break spent quietly ticking over at the Conghua training complex in China he's now ready to return, following two front running and explosive barrier trial wins.However, judged on the furious oppositional gate speed expected here he may not be asked to lead this throughout.

#4 BEAUTY WAVES is undefeated since transferring to the stable of Tony Cruz in early June and it's anticipated he'll make a strong and notable return.With a 20lb pull at the weights against KA YING RISING there'll be some admirers of the juicy odds on offer during the day.His track work and trial leading in suggest he's never felt this good and the perfect draw entitles him to every chance.

#2 LUCKY SWEYNESSE was king of the Hong Kong sprinting ranks a few seasons back but injury brought about the end of his dominant streak.A lame left front leg, and left fore fetlock surgery ultimately claimed a year of his career before two honest efforts in return at the end of last season.His track work and two trial victories leading up are hinting that he's further improved, so it'll be fascinating to see how close he can go to measuring up.

#11 GORGEOUS WIN came to the end of a long preparation in May and his form quickly tapered off.A short spell reignited his enthusiasm for the contest, judged on his grass trial performance behind KA YING RISING, but on that occasion he was ridden cold.I'm hoping apprentice Brittany Wong adopts the same tactics during the early surge with only a 105lbs to shoulder, because he'll be then floating on top of the ground in the dash to the post.

#3 LUCKY WITH YOU is a class 1 and 1200m expert following two dominant victories in this grade midway last season.The two aforementioned performances saw him carry 129lbs and 134lbs respectively, whilst careering away to win. Therefore, with only 116lbs to carry and a solid tempo to track after exiting from the wide gate, we could easily see him dragged into an exotic result.

Selections : 1,4,2,11,3

Race 4

#12 RISING PHOENIX rated highly at both performances down the Sha Tin straight and I expect him to run a big race.The son of DARCI BRAHMA has a high degree of talent and is importantly blessed with a superb closing turn of late speed.Conversely, he's far from the finished product and some risk of being caught up in traffic at a crucial stage, but I'm leaving that up to Brenton Avdulla to sort, because he's been atop most of the way.

#3 SUPER STRONG KID displayed plenty of ability in his two outings back in March before a bleed halted all progress.Mandatory recovery time has since been served and you wouldn't know there's been an issue following four sharp and encouraging trials.Zac Purton now also jumps aboard from a highly advantageous wide gate, which ensures he must be treated with respect.

#1 CARROLL STREET has drawn poorly on the far side of the track but the 10lb claim for apprentice Brittany Wong should play a positive roll.The 8yo gelding hasn't won a race since February 2023 but has been rated 90 points previously by the handicapper.A 1000m trial win at Conghua on August 25th displayed him fluent and purposeful, so another win appears on its way.

#2 PARENTS' LOVE is a natural free runner and rarely beaten out of the starting stalls, and for early toe.Furthermore, he lit up the all weather track in a lead up barrier trial victory under the direction of Angus Chung and therefore rates a must include.The final 200m is where he maybe come vulnerable to a superior turn of foot, but he's nevertheless expected to be in the hunt for a very long way.

#7 DR GOLDEN GENERAL has contested seven trials whilst in work for champion trainer John Size so he won't be going into his debut underdone.He does however remain raw and difficult to fully assess because he's yet to be fully let off the chain.I'm prepared to watch him go around first up due to the fact he's likely to be wanting extra ground, but if he happens to zoom home with significant purpose through the final 200m I won't be at all surprised.

Selections : 12,3,1,2,7

R5 - 4,10,2,12,6

R6 - 3,6,5,12,1

R7 - 7,3,11,6,12

R8 - 1,2,9,4,5

R9 - 9,11,10,1,6

R10 - 1,6,11,5,2