Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Hong Tung Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.43 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents

MY FLYING ANGEL (AUS 5yo g Zoustar – Summer Girlfriend) scored his maiden win in Hong Kong at start 20, coming from well back to score for Alexis Badel and Frankie Lor. The gelding got away on terms from a good barrier but ended up near the tail of the field as they sorted their order out. Badel was locked up back along the inside rail with only three behind him at the 600m point, with the French hoop needing some luck around the home turn. A gap appeared and Badel had enough horse beneath him to weave through the traffic, getting into the clear with a furlong to run before sprinting quickly. He mowed down the leader in good fashion to score by a half-length on the line. CIRCUIT FIERY rolled forward in the early stages under Zac Purton to land on the outside of the leader on settling down. He had to do a bit of work to get there, but he travelled well once he found his position and the tempo slowing through the middle stages allowed him to find a nice rhythm. As they turned for home, Purton upped the ante as he ran to the front with 350m remaining, sprinting clear of his rivals with Circuit Fiery showing a clean pair of heels. He looked the winner with 100m to run, although My Flying Angel was picking up speed out wide. Circuit Fiery was caught inside the final 50m of the race. WINDICATOR FAMILY had no luck along the fence and was held up for much of the straight under Britney Wong. Once he got clear he motored home to finish in third, 2-3/4 lengths off the winner, but he should've finished much closer with even luck. He's one to put in your Black Book for future events.

Race 2 – Hong Tung Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.40 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents

FIGHT TIME (AUS 6yo g Nicconi – Rhandara) handed David Hall and Britney Wong their first wins of the new season. He jumped well but was unable to slot in from the wide barrier, with Wong forced to take her medicine and sit three-wide without cover. The six-year-old worked into the race nicely around the turn but looked to be only plugging as they swung into the straight. The speed had been good throughout however and despite being wide, Fight Time was in a handy position and with clear running, was able to stick on gamely out wide. He moved up to the leaders with 150m to run and was just too strong in the end, winning by a half-length. CASHISCASH ended up on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out with Hewitson holding his position from an inside barrier. He had a lovely run in transit and was able to get into the clear on straightening with ease. He moved up to hit the front early in the straight and fought off his immediate danger, only for Fight Time to get over the top of him inside the last 100m. ONLY U finished off well from back in the pace to take home third as the 2.1 favourite.

Race 3 – Hing Wah Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.50 Standard Time: 1:08.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour

BLAZING WIND (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Secretly Discreet) got the job done in the first All Weather event of the season. The gelding wasn't fastest into stride, though Purton pressed forward down the back straight to get to the front as they approached the first turn. He led by a length past the 600m point and was travelling sweetly around the home turn with his nearest rivals under heavy pressure on the turn. He kicked away from his rivals impressively to lead by a space at the furlong pole, but he was beginning to get tired as they hit the 100m point. Despite tiring, the post came up quickly enough as he held on to score by a head on the line. DAILY TROPHY was able to slot into a great position one-out-one-back in the run, stalking the strong speed set by the leader. He came off heels on straightening to make his challenge and he was getting into the margin with every stride. He was gaining on Blazing Wind late in the race but ran out of time to stick his nose in front. SIGHT HAPPY stuck on well under Brenton Avdulla to finish in third as a $14 chance.

Race 4 – Kwong Fuk Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.43 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

SUGAR BALL (AUS 6yo g Deep Field – Miss Vinnoire) started this season exactly how he did 12 months ago, with a victory for Cody Mo and Derek Leung. After jumping well from an outside barrier, Leung snagged the gelding toward the rear of the field, landing in the three-wide line. The field was bunched as they turned off the back and Leung was shuffled back just a touch, though he began to make his move from the 600m point as he swung very wide into the straight. He moved up to the leaders ominously on straightening and took the lead with 300m to run as he shook off his nearest rivals. It looked as though he would go on to be a comfortable winner though Top Time flew at him late in the race. He managed to hold on and score by a neck. TOP TIME settled back with Sugar Ball in the run, settling second last and between horses. Keagan De Melo needed plenty of luck on straightening as he found himself behind a wall of horses and unable to ask Top Time for an effort at all. It wasn't until they were inside the 150m point until De Melo found clear air, with the race all but over at that point. He flew home late in eye-catching fashion and was a very unlucky loser. RAGING RAPIDS stuck on well to finish in third position under Karis Teetan, finishing only a half-length away.

Race 5 – Kwong Fuk Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.10 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

MAX QUE (AUS 5yo g Akeed Mofeed – New Sensation) was the first favourite to win on the card, scoring for Andrea Atzeni and Mark Newnham. The gelding jumped well from an inside barrier and landed in a good position on the back of the leader. The speed was good throughout the run and Atzeni was there to strike rounding the home turn, getting off the fence and into the clear as they entered the straight. He sprinted well to move up and take the lead with 150m remaining and he kicked into overdrive in the closing stages, finishing off powerfully to score by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. AEROINVINCIBLE stuck on strongly after sitting on the speed throughout to finish in second position. He had worked to get across from barrier 11 but sprinted strongly at the top of the stretch to lead the field by the 300m point. He was no match for the winner, but he held on to run second in a photo finish over NO OTHER CHOICE who landed in the placings. The $125 outsider of the field raced in the one-out-one-back position for David Probert and stuck on to finish in the placings.

Race 6 – The Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:08.97 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

Trainer Mark Newnham made it a race-to-race double as SAME TO YOU (AUS 7yo g Mikki Isle – Redan Lane) got the job done to begin his season, as he did 12 months ago. Alex Badel also made It a doble on the day with the seven-year-old dropping out to last position despite being the first horse out of the barriers. He could've rolled across if he pleased, but Badel dragged the gelding all the way back to a clear last, sitting 9-1/2 lengths off the leader with 800m remaining and with a good tempo on offer, he was still spotting the leader 6-1/4 lengths on straightening. The Frenchman only shifted to the outside with 300m to run and the gelding exploded once he saw daylight. He flew right down the outside to take the lead with 50m to run and sprint away for an emphatic win, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths as a $66 chance. KING ALLOY rounded out a long price quinella after sitting on the speed from barrier one. Richard Kingscote kicked through to hold the lead and kept the field running through the middle stages of the race. He led comfortably turning for home and skipped away from his nearest rival when asked for an effort. He was still in front with 100m to run but was quickly reeled in by Same To You. He stuck on nicely to finish in second, holding off SEA EMERALD who finished off nicely to take third place.

Race 7 – Mei Tung Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 55.33 Standard Time: 56.45 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior

After only a fair debut season in Hong Kong, METRO POWER (AUS 4yo g Overshare – Vegeta) returned with a bang, scoring his maiden win in very impressive style. Lyle Hewitson urged the gelding along from barrier nine to take up the running, leading the field on settling down by a length. As they got to the 400m point, Metro Power still led comfortably as Hewitson began urging him along. The four-year-old essentially ran his rivals off their feet, scoring a dominant wire-to-wire victory by 2-3/4 lengths. FAST RESPONDER was strong late in the race, closing off nicely to finish in second position. Brint Wong was a mile back with 400m to run, but after angling to the middle of the track for clear running, the gelding finished off nicely to take second position. ALSONSO had been on the speed in the face and although he felt the pinch late, he held on to finish in third place.

Race 8 – Lok Wah Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:08.36 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight

Andrea Atzeni picked up a double on the card as JUBILANT WINNER (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – We Can Dance) secured his maiden victory in very impressive fashion. Despite drawing a little sticky, the gelding jumped well and Atzeni was able to roll into a brilliant position on settling down, landing one-out and one-back in the run. He was shuffled back a touch in the run with a good tempo on offer and popped three-wide around the turn to avoid being caught up in traffic as they entered the straight. Atzeni gave his mount every chance to mow down the leader and that he did, moving up to take the lead with 150m to run and roaring away in the latter stages, opening up a 2-1/2 length margin. VON BAER landed on the back of the leader on settling down an enjoyed a lovely run in transit. Derek Leung was right on the back of the leader on straightening and got off heels to make his challenge early in the straight. He was quickly gobbled up by Jubilant Winner as he just plugged away in the straight, eventually getting to second close to home. DECISION LINK finished off strongly from back in the field to finish in third position as a $33 chance.

Race 9 – Lantau Peak Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:08.47 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love

PACKING BOLE (AUS 6yo g Deep Field – Courageous Kitty) returned to winning ways with an impressive display under Britney Wong. The gelding was the first out of the barriers and rolled to the front from gate 10. He was taken on early in the race, but Wong kicked up on the inside of her rivals to hold them out heading into the first turn, setting a strong tempo in the process. He kept running to the turn to open up a margin of 3-1/4 lengths whilst still under a hold by Wong and was a big leader with a furlong to run. He scraped the paint right down to the wire and although there was a couple flying late, it was too late with Packing Bole making every post a winner. MR ENERGIA was one of those flying home late in the race. Matthew Poon settled in a midfield position aboard the David Hall-trained galloper and got to the outside as they swung into the straight. He had plenty of ground to make up but loomed as a danger with 200m to run. He couldn't reel in the leader who was off and gone, but he was strong in second position, finishing 1-1/2 lengths back. MOJAVE DESERT was another who finished off powerfully from a long way back, ending up in third as a $13 chance.

Race 10 – Wah Fu Handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:21.91 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

MASTER OF ALL (AUS 6yo g Charm Spirit – Funoon) rounded out a big day in the saddle for Alex Badel, scoring a winning treble on the day. The gelding jumped well and rolled forward down the back straight to take up the running under the Frenchman. He was left alone out in front and was able to cruise into the straight under his own steam, leading by over a length and kicking strongly when asked for an effort. He clocked a quick 10.96 split from the 400m to the 200m. There was a wall chasing but they couldn't reel in Master Of All, who won by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. WINNING GOLD settled just off the speed for Richard Kingscote and peeled into the clear on straightening to make his challenge. He moved into the race nicely and loomed large down the middle of the track under Kingscote. He was there to win if good enough, but couldn't reel in the leader, finishing in second position in a tight three-way finish for the placings, landing a Chris So quinella. JOY OF SPRING dug seep between horses to finish in third position, just missing out on second position in a photo finish.