Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Chai Wan Kok Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:08.69 Standard Time: 1:09.55 Course/Class record: 1:08.64 Iron King

It was a one-act affair in the opening event as the Tony Cruz-trained HE WAS YOU (AUS 5YO g Rich Enuff – Miss Two Pairs) produced a commanding front-running display under Angus Chung, leading every step of the way to score by a decisive two lengths. Returning with real intent, the gelding wasn't the fastest into stride but used his low draw perfectly, mustering speed along the rail to take control early. From that moment, it was all over bar the shouting. Setting a strong tempo in front, HE WAS YOU travelled fluently throughout and looked the winner a long way from home. Entering the straight with a clear margin the five-year-old found plenty to maintain his gap through the line, stamping his authority on the race. SONIC BOOM, piloted by Matthew Chadwick, was the only runner to make any impression late, threading through traffic after being buried three pairs back the fence. Once in the clear, he let down well to claim second, closing the margin but never threatening the winner. Race favourite NOBEL DELUXE, afforded a soft run in transit by Hugh Bowman, loomed briefly turning for home but lacked the finishing punch, boxing on evenly to round out the placings.

Race 2 – Kwok Shui Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:08.99 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

Favourite backers rejoiced in race two as Andrea Atzeni and Jamie Richards combined to strike again with JUBILANT WINNER (AUS 5YO g Capitalist – We Can Dance), making it back-to-back victories to kick off his campaign in style. Freshened by a month between runs after an emphatic first-up triumph, the gelding jumped cleanly from his low draw and settled beautifully along the fence, camped right behind the leader in a perfect stalking position. The hot-pot favourite travelled sweetly throughout and appeared poised to pounce turning for home, but he had to dig deep when the pressure went on. Taking the whole straight to reel in the leader, he lifted late under Atzeni's urging to get the verdict in the shadows of the post by a neck margin. INCREDIBLE MOMENT, ridden by Luke Ferris, ensured the favourite earned every cent of his backers' money. Spearing across from the widest alley, the bold front-runner once again gave a tremendous sight, pinching a break on the turn before being collared in the final strides. He lost nothing in defeat after another gallant effort. ALL'S WELL with Matthew Chadwick in the saddle, enjoyed a charmed run tracking the top pair throughout but simply lacked their turn of foot when the sprint went on. He stuck on bravely to finish a solid third, 2 lengths behind the winner.

Race 3 – Lo Wai Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:09.58 Standard Time: 1:08.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour

After two narrow defeats to begin his campaign, DAILY TROPHY (NZ 6YO g Tarzino – Gin Swing) finally got his reward, delivering a strong performance for Lyle Hewitson and Caspar Fownes to take out the first of two events on the All Weather surface. Breaking cleanly from a wide gate, the gelding showed intent early but couldn't quite muster the speed to slot into a handy position with cover, despite Hewitson's urgings. Forced to race three wide in midfield without cover, he faced a testing run throughout, yet never lost his rhythm or focus. Turning into the straight in four wide running line and with just over 2 lengths to make up, many expected the gelding to feel the pinch late. Instead, he produced a powerful and sustained sprint, lengthening impressively to sweep past his rivals and score with authority. The final margin of 2-3/4 lengths reflected the dominance of the win. HAPPY ACTION settled a pair behind the winner, appeared under heavy pressure from Keith Yeung well before the home turn but responded bravely, finding plenty in the lane to close strongly at long odds and claim second. While never threatening the winner, his effort was full of merit. At even juicier odds, WISEMAN and Harry Bentley rounded out the placings after making up steady ground from well back, hitting the line nicely to finish 4-3/4 lengths from the victor.

Race 4 – Sha Tsui Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:21.73 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

Angus Chung and Tony Cruz once again proved a formidable partnership, combining for a winning double courtesy of GOOD LUCK BABE (AUS 5yo g Delago Deluxe – Isadiva). The gelding was sharply into stride from his inside draw, holding a prominent position while forcing rivals wider to burn early petrol. Chung then executed the perfect ride, easing his mount into a cosy trail behind the leading pair, conserving energy for the business end. Poised and travelling strongly, GOOD LUCK BABE was still on the bridle turning for home, and it wasn't until the 200m that he was asked to extend. The response was immediate. With challengers fanning across the track in a thrilling charge to the line, the gelding dug deep to prevail by a head in a blanket finish. Among those flashing late was POSITIVE SMILE, with Keith Yeung producing a storming run from the tail. Forced to drop out from a wide gate, the gelding unleashed a powerful final burst, only to fall agonisingly short. At generous odds, EXCEL WONGCHOY also caught the eye. Buried in midfield and searching for daylight, he finally saw clear air at the 150m and sprinted gamely, missing by a neck.

Race 5 – The Yan Chai Trophy (Handicap), HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:09.31 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

Zac Purton opened his account aboard the Chris So-trained OLDTOWN (NZ 4yo g Territories – St Gallen), who produced a stirring first-up victory. The gelding was sluggish from barrier 4 and, despite Purton's early urgings, failed to muster speed, settling worse than midfield and buried between rivals. Turning for home more than 4 lengths adrift, the situation looked bleak. Yet Purton's patience proved decisive. As the field straightened, gaps began to appear at the 250m, and OLDTOWN surged through. In a driving finish, he arrived just in time, snatching victory by a short head. Debutant JUBILANT START lost little in defeat, delivering a performance full of promise under Hugh Bowman. Given a textbook ride from the inside draw, he tracked the speed two pairs back on the fence before producing a sustained run that looked the winning move inside the final 50m, only to be collared in the shadows of the post. BUNTA BABY showed good dash from a wide gate, crossing quickly to lead and dictating terms throughout. He gave a bold kick in the straight and fought on bravely when challenged, clinging to third and beaten just half a length.

Race 6 – Sham Tseng Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:34.39 Standard Time: 1:34.90 Course/Class record: 1:33.28 Bright Inheritance

Lyle Hewitson secured his double when guiding the Mark Newnham-trained BULL ATTITUDE (AUS 4yo g The Autumn Sun – Walk With Attitude) to victory. Breaking only fairly from his low draw, Hewitson was content to let the early tempo unfold, slotting his mount into a midfield position with cover along the fence. Travelling comfortably throughout, he stalked the leaders into the straight but found himself momentarily held up near the 300m. Forced to angle back to the inside, Hewitson seized a narrow opening and BULL ATTITUDE responded bravely, bursting through a tight gap before asserting his authority late to score by half a length. HAPPY UNIVERSE under Richard Kingscote endured a wide run early before crossing to settle in the leading division and looked the winner when kicking strongly in the straight, only to be collared in the shadows of the post. Meanwhile, race favourite PEARL OF PANG'S endured a torrid trip, trapped wide without cover for much of the contest, yet still stuck on gamely to finish third, beaten 3-1/2 lengths.

Race 7 – The Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:08.87 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

Ellis Wong and Danny Shum combined for a shock result when MATTERS MOST (GB 4yo g, Advertise – Squash) produced a commanding pillar-to-post victory at long odds. Breaking sharply from a wide draw, Wong was positive from the outset, driving his mount forward to cross the field and secure the lead. Setting a genuine tempo throughout, the gelding travelled comfortably in front and turned for home with just under a length in hand. While many anticipated he would soon tire under pressure, MATTERS MOST instead kept finding in the straight, showing grit and determination to maintain his advantage all the way to the line. Race favourite SUPER STRONG EFFORT, given a cosy ride by Zac Purton from a middle gate, tracked the leader throughout and loomed as the likely winner when straightening, but his challenge flattened out and he could only box on steadily to finish a length adrift in second. Running alongside him for much of the contest, ALONSO stuck on gamely back towards the inside, finishing a further half-length away in third. The race never shifted in complexion, with the front-runners dominating proceedings.

Race 8 – Shek Wai Kok Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

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

Time: 1:08.60 Standard Time: 1:08.55 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love

The second All Weather event was taken out by the well-supported favourite MR ENERGIA (NZ 5YO g Swiss Ace – Jolie Blonde), giving Zac Purton a winning double and David Hall another success. After closing off strongly into second first-up in what has since proven a hot form race, the gelding franked that run in style, adding yet another subsequent winner to the form-line. Jumping fairly from a middle draw, Purton elected to restrain his mount early, allowing the leaders to roll along at a solid clip while he bided his time just behind midfield. Content to stalk the tempo, Purton waited until approaching the home turn before asking his mount to improve, and when he did, MR ENERGIA responded with a dazzling turn of foot. Angled to the centre of the track with over 3 lengths to make up, the five-year-old balanced up beautifully before launching, sweeping past his rivals with ease to score by a dominant 2 lengths on the line.BLAZING WIND, given a positive ride by Richard Kingscote, landed in a lovely trailing position behind the leaders and took over momentarily at the 250m mark. However, he was quickly overhauled by the flying favourite and battled on gamely to hold second. GIANT LEAP, trapped wide for much of the journey, showed admirable fight to keep grinding away into third, beaten 2-1/2 lengths.

Race 9 – Shing Mun Handicap, HK $2,840,000,

Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:08.33 Standard Time: 1:08.65 Course/Class record: 1:07.76 Tomodachi Kokoroe

TOMODACHI KOKOROE (AUS 7yo g, Written Tycoon – Rainbeam) made it two from two this campaign under Harry Bentley for David Hayes. Breaking sharply from a wide gate, Bentley was intent on pressing forward, but sustained inside pressure denied him the lead and left the gelding posted three wide without cover just off the pace. Despite enduring that tough run throughout, TOMODACHI KOKOROE refused to wilt, travelling strongly into the straight and showing admirable determination to keep grinding all the way to the line, arriving just in time to prevail by a neck. LADY'S CHOICE, given a perfect ride by Derek Leung, raced alongside the winner for much of the journey and had every chance to land the prize, but ultimately fitness told in the closing stages as he was edged out late. BABY CRYSTAL was the sharpest into stride and set the tempo, turning for home as the one to catch. Though overhauled at the 100m, he stuck on bravely to retain a minor placing, beaten only a length.

Race 10 – Yau Kom Tau Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

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

Time: 1:21.11 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

Ellis Wong capped his day in style by completing a winning double in the finale, guiding the Casper Fownes-trained SKY HEART (NZ 5yo g Ardrossan – Luroel) to a hard-fought success. Breaking sharply from an outside gate, Wong was positive early, urging his mount forward to sit outside the leader, who kicked up from the draw directly inside him. The pair set a strong tempo throughout, but SKY HEART travelled comfortably and quickly asserted when taking over at the top of the straight. Under full pressure at the 200m, he was met with a stern challenge from the runner on his outside, who looked poised to claim him, yet SKY HEART refused to yield, digging deep to fend off his rival and prevail by a neck. MASTER OF ALL, given a clever ride by Alex Badel, slotted into a perfect position just off the speed in the two-wide line with cover and loomed ominously when pulled out in the straight, appearing the likely winner at the 200m before peaking late and finishing second. The clear eye-catcher was TIN FOOK, who was buried on the fence and still 6-1/2 lengths adrift turning for home, but once gaps appeared he charged through impressively, flashing late to snatch third in a photo, only 1-1/4 lengths away.