Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Sha Tin races.

Race 1 – Shek Mun Handicap, HK $875,000,

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

Time: 1:21.74 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.40 Fight Time

Brett Crawford teamed up with his old mate in Karis Teetan to pick up his third win as a trainer in Hong Kong with DOUBLE SHOW (NZ 7yo g Showcasing – Showus). The gelding had to be nudged along out of the barriers to hold his position from barrier one as he lacked some early speed, though he ended up in a good position midfield as they turned off the back. His rivals kept the rail vacant in the run, allowing Teetan to improve his position through the middle stages of the race and sneak up onto the back of the leader as they entered the straight. Teetan was hard at work aboard the gelding at the top of the straight, but the gap appeared coming to the furlong pole and he went on by the race leader. He was simply too strong late in the race, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in a sharp turnaround from his six-length defeat in his season return. LUCKY BLESSING jumped straight to the front under Ellis Wong, leading from gate two aboard the Cody Mo-trained gelding. He set a good tempo in front as he was taken on early in the race, but the apprentice hoop held firm up front and kicked through to set the tempo. He travelled strongly into the straight and kicked away from his nearest rivals on straightening, but this opened the gap for Double Show to come through. He couldn't fight back when Double Show went by him and felt the pinch late in the race, though he did hold on for second place. THE CONCENTRATION was very unlucky not to finish closer under Jerry Chau. The gelding was boxed in on straightening after landing in the one-out-one-back position and was held up until the 200m point where Chau could finally get to work. He finished off nicely to end up in third place but should have ended up much closer.

Race 2 – Sun Tin Wai Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 56.81 Standard Time: 56.65 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand

After conquering The Everest the day prior with Ka Ying Rising, Zac Purton was back on home turf and punching home winners, this time ROBOT LUCKY STAR (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – Silent Rage) for the Manfred Man barn. The four-year-old got out of the barriers well and was sitting up on the speed throughout the run with the field stretched across the track. Coming to the 400m mark, Purton still had a strong grip on his mount and when he finally asked for an effort, he responded strongly to hit the front with around a furlong to run. He inched away over the concluding stages to win comfortably on the line, with Purton being very easy on the four-year-old close to home. CALIFORNIA BLITZ was another who jumped well and showed good speed throughout the run as he sat on the pace from barrier six. He was facing the breeze down the middle of the course but stuck on gamely despite being away from the grandstand rail which is typically the place to be down the Sha Tin straight. He was just three quarters of-a-length away at the post in a very commendable performance. STRAIGHT TO GLORY kept on well down the outside to finish in third position in a race where nothing really changed in the run.

Race 3 – Chun Shek Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good

Time: 1:46.71 Standard Time: 1:47.85 Course/Class record: 1:46.54 Crown Avenue

SPECIAL HEDGE (NZ 6yo g Unusual Suspect – Delgatie Pearl) secured his first win of the season in narrow fashion, aided by a brilliant ride from Lyle Hewitson. After drawing barrier eight, Hewitson was able to roll forward from the barrier and land in a lovely position just off the speed. A solid tempo was put on up front and Special Hedge was well positioned turning off the back, stalking the leader and travelling well to the home turn as he pushed his way into the clear on straightening. It looked a case of "how far' at the top of the straight with Hewitson sitting patiently aboard the gelding at the top of the straight and he ran to the front when the South African hoop finally asked for an effort. He was clearly in front with 150m to run, but he may have felt the pinch late in the race as Firefoot came back strongly close to the line, though Special Hedge was able to hold on and score by a short head at the post. FIREFOOT jumped quickly and went to the front under Harry Bentley to lead the field. He set a solid tempo up front and was under the pump at the top of the straight, with the race looking there for the taking for Special Hedge. Though Firefoot didn't go down without a fight, coming back strongly under the urgings of Bentley to go under narrowly. SHARPEN BRIGHT was there alongside Special Hedge in the run and was already under the whip as they swung around the home turn. He stayed on well to finish in third position, but he was 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.

Race 4 – Sun Chui Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:21.60 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

THE AUSPICIOUS (NZ 4yo g Almanzor – Holly Holy) had been knocking on the door for a little while and finally saluted under James Orman. After jumping on terms from out wide, Orman looked to ease back and across in the early stages to land in the second half of the field, getting a nice trail in the running line under the Australian hoop. The speed was good early before slackening off as they turned off the back, but this allowed Orman to get moving around his rivals from the 500m point and avoid being caught up in traffic. He moved around the field swiftly and came down the outside with a strong effort, joining the leaders at the 200m point and taking the leader shortly after. He had a few challengers late in the race, but he was just too good in the end, winning by three quarters of-a-length. SUPER LOVE jumped well from out wide but was taken back shortly after the jump by Hugh Bowman to settle near the tail of the field. He was well back on settling down but was able to improve his position three-wide as they turned off the back. He got a nice tow into the race and instead of swinging wide, Bowman sliced through the field in the straight which worked out very well. He finished off strongly under the Australian hoop to finish in second position, getting his nose down as a $50 chance. THE GOLDEN KNOGHT was back in the run along with Super Love and came right down the outside with his effort. He also closed off strongly to finish a length off the winner, just missing out on second position in a photo finish as a $19 chance.

Race 5 – Sun Chui Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:21.15 Standard Time: 1:22.00 Course/Class record: 1:20.76 Top Dragon

Jerry Chau and Mark Newnham combined to win race five on the card with LUCKY SAM GOR (NZ 4yo g Press Statement – Giovanna Bella), who made it back-to-back wins. After jumping well, the local hoop drifted back from out wide to settle in the back half of the field, racing three-wide in the early stages of the race. A strong tempo was set up front which suited Lucky Sam Gor, with Chau getting to the outside on straightening to give his mount plenty of time and space to get into his work. He came right down the middle of the track with a brilliant run, taking the lead with 150m to run and pulling away in the closing stages to win very easily. ALL ROUND WINNER settled just off the speed from barrier two, sitting in the one-out-one-back position in the run under Brenton Avdulla. He had a lovely run in transit, stalking the speed throughout and was able to get into his work with ease at the top of the stretch. He stuck on well late in the race to claim second position, fighting back strongly over the final 100m as a $36 elect. BLAZING WUKONG was on the back of All Round Winner in the run and loomed large for Andrea Atzeni as they swung into the straight. He sprinted well to look like a winning chance with 300m to run, but he couldn't sustain his effort in the run to the line. He may have gotten tired close to home, just holding on for third position in a photo finish.

Race 6 – Lung Hang Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

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

Time: 1:08.69 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.36 Jubilant Winner

PEJIBAYE (NZ 4yo g Per Incanto – Irish Cream) resumed for the new season in scintillating fashion, scoring a first-up victory in fine style. After getting away on terms, Ellis Wong kicked up aboard the four-year-old to take up the running with a solid tempo being set. The field stretched out through the middle stages with Wong keeping them running and the $4.4 chance kicked away impressively at the top of the straight. He was well in front at the 200m point and while he may have been getting tired late in the race, it didn't matter as he was miles in front with 100m to run. The official margin was 2-1/4 lengths on the line, but it was the way he sprinted clear on straightening that was most impressive. EMBLAZON landed in the one-out-one-back position for Jerry Chau and had a lovely sit behind the speed in running. He had plenty of space to move at the top of the stretch, but the race was all over shortly after straightening. He got into the margin late in the race, but he was still well behind the winner. GOOD CHAP stuck on well from midfield to run third at a massive $129 starting price under James Orman, but this race was all about the winner.

Race 7 – The Sha Tin Trophy (Handicap), HK $5,350,000,

Group Two – Turf - Distance 1600m – Track Good to Firm

Time: 1:32.55 Standard Time: 1:33.90 Course/Class record: 1:32.64 Beauty Generation

The feature of the day went the wat of MY WISH (AUS 5yo g Flying Artie – Set The Tone) who looks the early favourite for the Group One International Mile at the HKIR meeting here in December. After drawing wide, Alexis Badel rolled forward aboard the gelding to try and get into a prominent position, though he was forced to race wide through the early stages of the race. Voyage Bubble was kicking up on his inside, but My Wish was able to get across and sit on the outside of the leader as they turned off the back straight. The leader slowed right down through the middle stages, but it only suited My Wish who was able to work through his gears on straightening and began to pull away over the last 200m. He was simply too good for his rivals, winning by 1-1/4 lengths as the $1.4 favourite. COPARTNER PRANCE was able to get across from barrier 10 and set the tempo under Keagan De Melo, getting to the lead in the early stages. The South African hoop was able to slow the tempo through the middle stages, giving his mount a breather past the 600m point and allowing him to sprint off the home turn. He was passed by My Wish with around 200m to run but kept on well to hold on for second position. BEAUTY JOY stormed home down the outside in impressive fashion to finish in third place, 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.

Race 8 – Lek Yuen Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

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

Time: 1:08.57 Standard Time: 1:09.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner

PATCH OF STARS (AUS 4yo g All Too Hard – Tuscany Lady) returned to winning ways in race eight with Zac Purton and Manfred Man combining once again. Purton let the gelding find his feet from an inside barrier, settling in a midfield position as they sorted their order out. The $2 favourite was racing comfortably along the rail, with Purton just needing a way clear around the home turn to make his presence felt. The Australian hoop shoved his way into the clear with around 300m to run and the race looked over from that point onwards with Patch Of Stars racing to the lead, though there were a few rivals who wouldn't go away. The win was relatively comfortable for Patch Of Stars despite the final margin reading just half-a-length. SKY JOY worked across from barrier 10 to settle in the one-out-one-back position under Jerry Chau and enjoyed a lovely run in transit. As Chau peeled out, it created the gap for Purton and Patch Of Stars to improve into, with Sky Joy being the one shoved out of the way to make room for the favourite. Sky Joy didn't fall away after that however, fighting gamely right to the line to finish. INFINITE RESOLVE came wide in the straight after racing to the outside of Patch Of Stars in the run and closed off nicely to finish in third position, just a length off the winner.

Race 9 – Wo Che Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

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

Time: 1:20.93 Standard Time: 1:21.65 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship

GRACIOUS EXPRESS (IRE 5yo g Churchill – Polly Perkins) caused an upset in the penultimate event of the day, getting the job done as a $28 chance for Matthew Poon and Ricky Yiu. Despite drawing out wide, Poon went forward in search of a position close to the speed but was instead left racing three-wide and without cover in a midfield position. Despite the tough run, he cruised into the race nicely out very wide on the course and sprinted quickly when asked for an effort. He hit the front with a furlong to run and fought off his nearest rival to get the job done by a half-length. EVERYONE'S STAR had also drawn wide for Zac Purton, with the Australian jockey putting himself on the back of Gracious Express three-wide in the run. He raced comfortably through the middle stages and after getting a cart into the race on the back of the winner, Purton came off his back to make a challenge at the top of the straight. The grey gelding had plenty of time to catch the winner if he was good enough, but he was unable to reel in Gracious Express and was forced to settle for second position. HAROLD WIN stuck on well to finish third under Jerry Chau, ending up two lengths off the winner.

Race 10 – Sha Kok Handicap, HK $2,050,000,

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

Time: 1:33.67 Standard Time: 1:34.70 Course/Class record: 1:33.19 Beauty Fit

FORTUNE BOY (NZ 4yo g Contributer – Gin Dartre) bounced back to winning form with the blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, with Karis Teetan securing a winning double. The Mauritian hoop eased the gelding back from a sticky barrier before crossing down to the inside rail where he was able to improve his position slightly. He was still racing in the second half of the field, but a solid tempo was being set up front through the early stages of the race. The speed slackened by the 800m point, but with runners fanning wide it allowed Teetan to make some moves and get off the fence. The gelding just needed some daylight in the straight, with things getting very tight for Teetan by the 200m mark with a number of horses fighting for the same run. Fortune Boy was not only brave enough, but he also had enough gas in the tank to split horses close to the line, take the lead and the victory inside the final 50m of the race. POPE CODY couldn't make it back-to-back wins as he was claimed late, but he's in great form at the moment. He settled midfield under James Orman and was well placed by the 600m point. The Australian hoop began to make his move from the 500m mark and built up plenty of momentum around the home turn to move up and take the lead early in the straight. He was beginning to get tired with around 100m to run, wobbling about under pressure, before Fortune Boy sprinted through to snatch the lead away. He was only beaten a neck on the line in another strong performance. MAX QUE stuck on well in the straight as he made his run alongside Pope Cody from the second half of the field. He too may have run out of energy close to home, but he managed to hold on for third position.