Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Amaryllis Handicap, HK $875,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good

Time: 1:22.13 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

CIRCUIT FIERY (NZ 6yo g Tavistock – Triaction) notched up his maiden victory at start 17 for Zac Purton and Chris So. Purton took luck out of the equation early in the race, firing out of the barriers to work across and settle on the outside of the leader. The tempo was solid as they settled into stride and Circuit Fiery was travelling strongly through the middle stages. Purton crept closer around the home turn to move up ant take the lead shortly after straightening, before sprinting away from his rivals when the Australian shook the reins. He shot away and wouldn't be caught, going on to win the opener by two lengths. DOUBLE SHOW jumped well and kicked up in the early stages to settle on the back of the leader in running, enjoying the run of the race along the inside. Karis Teetan was well positioned in the run but didn't swing wide on the turn, instead following Circuit Fiery through the gap he created when sprinting away from the field. He was unable to catch the leader, but he finished clear of the rest of the group. HE WAS ME was under pressure before the home turn but continued to grind away in the straight. He plugged away out wide to run into third position, finishing four lengths off the winner as a $16 chance.

Race 2 – Tulip Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.80 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

Maxime Guyon and Pierre Ng combined to win race two with GLACIATED (AUS 4yo g Frosted – Infra Dig), who picked up his maiden win. With the aid of an inside barrier, Guyon was able to kick up along the fence and hold his position turning off the back, settling on the back of the leader. The speed was good through the early and middle stages and as they turned for home, Guyon needed some things to go his way. The Frenchman was able to work his way into the clear with around 250m to run and make his challenge between horses. Glaciated took the lead with around 100m remaining and was too strong late in the race, getting the job done by a neck. STRAIGHT TO GLORY was able to find the one-out-one-back position on settling down, racing between horses through the middle stages. Derek Leung was able to get three-wide at the top of the straight to make his move, getting ahead of Glaciated who had to bide his time for the gap to appear. He was still ahead of Glaciated with 150m to run, though he was unable to hold him off in the closing stages. AMAZING PARTNERS was on the back of Straight To Glory in the run and tracked him into the straight before peeling wider early in the stretch. He looked a little flat footed at the top of the straight, but he picked up nicely over the concluding stages to run into third, 1-1/2 lengths away.

Race 3 – Amaryllis Handicap, HK $875,000

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good

Time: 1:22.25 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

Chris So quickly made it a winning double on the card with MANYTHANKSFOREVER (AUS 5yo g Star Witness – Bukzel) securing the second victory of his career. From out wide, Andrea Atzeni rolled forward as he looked to slot into the running line, getting across from barrier 13 to settled just off the speed which was quite strong in the early stages. He was able to creep closer through the middle stages with that good tempo, enjoying a lovely run with transit throughout before peeling wide and getting into the clear at the top of the straight. Atzeni looked confident on straightening, and the gelding was there for him when he asked for an effort, running to the lead with 200m to run and getting away from his rivals to win by 1-3/4 lengths in a strong performance. RATTAN GALAXY settled in a midfield position for Hollie Doyle after the others showed more early speed in the run. Doyle was on the back of the eventual winner in the run and came off his back to mount a challenge early in the straight. Manythanks Forever was simply the better horse on the day, with Rattan Galaxy sticking on gamely late in the race to get into second position. THE CONCENTRATION loomed up under Luke Ferraris and it looked as though he would run away with the event as Ferraris asked for an effort. He didn't sprint as anticipated however and felt the pinch late in the race, holding on for third as he finished two lengths off the winner.

Race 4 – Cedar Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good

Time: 56.87 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand

There was plenty to like about the debut of TURQUOISE VELOCITY (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Calming Influence), proving too speedy down the Sha Tin straight for Francis Lui and Keith Yeung. Despite a bit of contact from the jump, the gelding showed good speed to roll forward and land on the outside of the leader. Yeung sat patiently down the grandstand side of the course and the gelding ran to the lead with around 300m to run under his owns team. He shot away when Yeung asked for an effort and he showed plenty of class in the process, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths in very easy fashion as Yeung eased him down close to home. SPICY SPEEDY jumped well and was right on the tail of the eventual winner in the run, stalking the speed for Matthew Chadwick. The local hoop was niggling his mount along trying to get into the clear, but Turquoise Velocity shot away when Yeung asked for an effort. He stuck on well to finish in second, but the winner was in a league of his own. CONSPIRATOR was $101 when gates opened and ended up back in the run for Lyle Hewitson. It was a good ride from the South African, weaving through the traffic with the gelding closing off well to finish in third position at massive odds.

Race 5 – The Pok Oi Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.21 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

EMBLAZON (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Princess Of Queens) continued his hot start to the season, picking up his second win with Jerry Chau in the saddle once again. It was a bit of a messy start, but not for Chau and Emblazon who were able to land just off the speed on settling down. The leader was a couple of lengths over Emblazon, with Chau stalking his every moved and waiting patiently. After a perfect run in transit, it only seemed a matter of time before Emblazon stuck his nose in front and he did just that with 100m remaining. He took the lead and inched away over the closing stages to finish three quarters of a length in front. PEJIBAYE rolled across to lead under James McDonald and he did so clearly. He set a solid tempo up front without a challenger and he kicked strongly on straightening, giving his rivals something to chase. Emblazon came off his back and eventually reeled him in with 100m to run, but he was clearly best of the rest. SOLID CAR sat just off the speed for Matthew Poon and tracked Emblazon into the straight. He stuck on well in the straight to finish in third position, getting his nose down on the line to get the nod in a photo finish.

Race 6 – Erica Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m – Track Good

Time: 1:21.84 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

Cody Mo secured a race-to-race double as NYX GLUCK (NZ 4yo g Redwood – La Parfaite) picked up his maiden win with James McDonald in the saddle. From an inside barrier, the gelding jumped well but allowed the speed to come across early in the race, sitting just off the speed which was quite strong through the opening stages. McDonald ended up three pairs back and along the fence, though he spent the middle stages edging off the fence and ended up three-wide and in line with the leaders as they swung around the home turn. He was in the firing line on straightening, with McDonald getting into his work in the straight. He didn't sprint away from his rivals, but he stuck his nose in front, and it was his sustained strength that was the difference, wearing down his rivals to draw away close to home and score by 1-1/4 lengths. GALLANT EPOCH was able to slide across from barrier seven and settle close to the speed for Maxime Guyon. It looked as though the Frenchman would settle one-out-one-back, but as they turned off the back straight, Guyon rolled forward to be on the outside of the leader through the middle stages. He stuck on strongly around the turn and was in front early in the straight. He wasn't easy to get past, but Nyx Gluck eventually stuck his nose in front and got away from him late. YOUNG HORIZON finished off strongly when he got clear, finishing in third position for Karis Teetan and Brett Crawford.

Race 7 – Hibiscus Handicap, HK $1,170,000

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good

Time: 1:34.62 Standard Time: 1:34.90 Course/Class record: 1:33.28 Bright Inheritance

FIT FOR BEAUTY (NZ 4yo g Vanbrugh – High Tail It) stepped out to the mile and bounced back to winning ways, making it a race-to-race double for James McDonald. The gelding showed good speed early on to roll forward under his own steam, working forward down the back straight to settle in third position. As they sorted their order out, McDonald ended up in the one-out-one-back position, tracking the speed ominously as he began to creep closer around the home turn. McDonald looked very confident at the top of the straight, waiting patiently as Fit For Beauty loomed up under his own steam. He ran to the lead with a furlong to run, though he didn't get away from his opponents as anticipated. He did carry 14lbs more than his nearest rival, but he dug deep when he needed to close to home, scoring by a head. AMAZING DUCK used the inside draw to his advantage, kicking up along the fence to force his rivals to work hard to get across and lead him through the first half of the race. Once he was crossed, Richard Kingscote hopped off the fence and improved to be on the outside of the leader through the middle stages of the race. On straightening, Kingscote moved up to take the lead, though he was quickly passed by Fit For Beauty with a furlong remaining. The gelding wouldn't go away though, fighting strongly down to the line to make Fit For Beauty work for it, finishing a head away in second place. SMART FAT CAT was well back on straightening and was between horses. Zac Purton was able to navigate his way back to the inside in the straight and he closed off strongly once clear, finishing just a half-length away in third.

Race 8 – Holly handicap, HK $1,860,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.17 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

AURORA PATCH (AUS 5yo g Showtime – Miss Fascinator) has been very strong so far this season and continued his strong run of form, winning again as he returned to the turf course at Sha Tin. Matthew Chadwick fired the gelding out of the barriers, with the five-year-old showing good speed as he settled close to the speed. He ended up in a handy position through the middle stages, getting off the fence to be one-out-one-back around the home turn and causing some chaos to his rivals out wider. Aurora Patch got into the clear down the middle of the course and closed off strongly, gaining the upper hand with around 150m remaining. He was running about a bit in the middle of the track, though he shot away once again once Chadwick straightened him up, getting away to score by 1-1/2 lengths. IGOR STRAVINSKY showed plenty of heart in defeat. Hollie Doyle urged the gelding along in the early stages to find the front aboard the gelding. After spending a few tickets early, Doyle was able to get a breather through the middle stages of the race before quickening again on straightening. He and Aurora Patch were wide apart in the straight, but he was no match for the winner who got away from him late in the race as he started to feel the pinch. LOYAL BRIGHT was pushed off the track when Aurora Patch made his move which sent a couple of others right off the course on the home turn. Loyal Bright straightened himself up however and closed off strongly down the middle of the course, coming late to finish in third position.

Race 9 – Ivy Handicap, HK $2,840,000

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

Time: 1:09.43 Standard Time: 1:08.65 Course/Class record: 1:07.76 Tomodachi Kokoroe

Maxime Guyon also secured a winning double on the day as SKY TRUST (AUS 5yo g So You Think – Humble) returned to winning ways. There was a good go for the lead early in the race, with Guyon easing out of the speed battle as they approached the first turn. The Frenchman ended up in the one-out-one-back position through the middle stages, peeling three-wide on the turn and building into the race. He moved up to take the lead with 200m to run and shot away inside the final 100m. He found another gear close to home, getting away impressively to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a great performance. MAGIC CONTROL was a surprise to run second as one of the outsiders of the field. Usually, 1200m isn't the gelding's pet trip, though today he landed midfield in the run, racing three-wide and without cover. Jerry Chau worked into the race around the home turn to be in line with Sky Trust at the top of the straight. The gelding was there to win if good enough, but he couldn't sprint with Sky Trust over the concluding stages. Magic Control stuck on strongly however, finishing in second position under the top weight in a good return to form. INVINCIBLE SHIELD tracked the eventual winner throughout the race and had no luck on straightening. The gelding was shuffled back on the turn and then had a wall of horses in front of him early in the straight as Vincent Ho tried to find a path to the lead. Ho was unable to fully test the gelding at any stage in the race, finishing in third position in a tough watch for backers.

Race 10 – Spruce Handicap, HK $1,860,000

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

Time: 1:21.87 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

THE RED HARE (AUS 4yo g Sebring Sun – In Unison) picked up his first win in Hong Kong, holding on in a photo finish for Hollie Doyle and Frankie Lor. The four-year-old jumped well from out wide and Doyle rolled forward initially, before easing back and landing in a midfield position. He was three-wide in the run but did have some cover out there as they worked by the 600m point. The Red Hare travelled strongly to the turn and Doyle peeled wider to build up the momentum, coming down the outside with a strong run. He was grinding away out wide, joining the leaders and taking control with 100m to run. It was a tight tussle to the line, though The Red Hare was able to get his nose down on the wire to get the job done, getting the nod in a photo finish. CALIFORNIA WAVES was able to work into a midfield position on settling down after a good piece of riding from Brenton Avdulla. He was racing along the inside rail, with The Red Hare in line with him around the home turn. Avdulla got off the fence but didn't have any room to move until the 250m point when the gap opened. Four horses came up to the lead at the same time, with The Red Hare out wider taking the lead and California Waves between horses slicing through. He made a late challenge but couldn't stick his nose in front where it mattered most, having to settle for second. DO YOUR PART jumped the race favourite and didn't have much luck after settling on the back of the leader, Bowman had to weave through to get clear late in the race, finishing with a wet sail, though he was an unlucky loser, finishing in third place.

Race 11 – Poinsetta Handicap, HK $2,050,000

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:34.97 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit

INVINCIBLE IBIS (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – My Dear Friend) continued his winning ways, stamping his 4YO Series credentials as he relished the step out to the mile. The four-year-old wasn't the fastest into stride and ended up in the second half of the field on settling down despite the inside barrier. As they turned off the back, Zac Purton was able to pick up some ground, though he was locked away on the fence and needed some things to go his way. The field fanned across the track which created the space for Invincible Ibis to work through, with Purton getting into his work with 300m remaining. His class came to the fore, sprinting quickly to take the lead and careering away for a dominant win, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths, bringing up Purton's 50th win for the season and Newnham's 100th winner in Hong Kong. LOVERO got his nose down on the line to take second position for South African duo Lyle Hewitson and Brett Crawford. After jumping on terms, the gelding landed in a handy position just off the speed, racing along the inside rail with a solid tempo on offer. He was travelling well to the turn and Hewitson shoved his way into the clear down the middle of the course. He was down the crown of the track and just as he moved up to hit the front, Invincible Ibis sliced through to take control. He was no match for the winner, but he stuck on well to hold on for second position as a $26 chance. FORTUNE BOY flew home down the outside to finish in third position, just missing out on second in a photo finish.