Tim Carroll

This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card on the all-weather at Sha Tin getting underway at 11.45am - live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature of the meeting is race 9, the Class 3 Choi Wan Handicap, over 1 mile, offering more than £200,000 in prize money. 

Now onto this week’s selections:

Race 1: Class 5 Shek Kip Mei Handicap (11.45am) (6 furlongs)

3 ONLY U has a modest overall record but the Brett Crawford 6yo hasn’t had the rub of the green several times this season, he continues to run with merit in defeat, and this looks well within his scope.

The selection has just the one win, and it was on the turf some time ago, however, it did come from a 20lb higher mark. He arrives having been beaten just half-a-length in second when ridden more forward last time at Happy Valley, but he was a luckless runner-up his only start on this track this season, and from the low draw, they may elect to have him closer to the pace again.

Dangers:

5 Noble Deluxe had the selection back in second when last seen on this track in January, but he is on 6lb worse terms here and as mentioned, the selection didn’t have a lot of luck that day. 

6 Macanese Master has found a bit of form since dropping in grade and although both his wins have been over 5-furlongs, he was third over course and trip when he went from the front here in January, but that was from a 9lb lower mark.  

9 Double Bingo (Nichola Yuen very first Hong Kong ride, but she has ridden 70 winners whilst honing her skills in Australia and New Zealand and claims a very handy 10lbs), won at Happy Valley three back and although yet to win on this track he has hit the frame a couple of times and is well treated with the claim.

Race 2: Class 5 Yue Wan Handicap (12.15am) (1 mile)

10 MEEPMEEP looked like being more than handy in the early days with Purton riding him his first three starts including when runner-up to a rival that went on to be rated 49lb higher than what the selection is now. 

However, he hasn’t had that many goes over this trip on the dirt track, but he did win here from an 8lb higher mark last season and arrives after a solid effort in defeat when runner-up to Go Go Go last time who he now meets in 6lb better terms. He does enjoy having a decent gallop to aim at, which he should get here.

Dangers:

12 Go Go Go did exactly that when winning from the front over course and trip last time with several of these in behind and although he goes up 7lb, he won by over a length that night, but he does have tricky draw. 

4 Telecom Power rarely wins but he has been around the mark several times this season and his one success was from a 2lb higher mark, he’s been placed twice from three goes over this trip and looks a live chance if taking to the dirt track on his first try. 

2 Diriya is an eight-start maiden dropping in grade, drawn 1 with Purton booked, however, he’s never been seen on the dirt track either race day or in a trial despite having been in work since late 2024, but a market watch is advised.

Race 3: Class 4 Nam Shan Handicap (12.45am) (1 mile)

1 SUPREME AGILITY, who was a Grade 1 winner in Brazil, has just the one win in twenty-five local starts, but when you concentrate on his form on this track, its stacks up in a race like this. 

The selection has a win and two placed efforts from just six-starts on the dirt with that win recorded over course and trip at his penultimate start. He came from well off the pace that day having been snagged back from a high draw, he’s far better drawn here and with the 2lb claim for Jerry Chau, is effectively only 3lb higher in the handicap.

Dangers:

4 Never Peter Out, who recorded four wins over course and trip last season, hasn’t been in that rich vein of form during the current campaign, but he’s now 8lb below his last win, Purton takes the ride and he should have the gun run from the inside draw.  

10 Bull Attitude won over this trip on the turf here last October from a 3lb lower mark and he’s shaped with a bit of promise when fourth both starts on this track, but he does have a high draw to contend with.   

14 Foremost Teddy has never won at this level, but he’s been twice successful on this track in the bottom grade this season, and from the very foot of the handicap, is worth including in any exotic bets.

Race 4: Class 4 Ma Tau Wai Handicap (1.15pm) (6 furlongs)

2 SPEEDY SMARTIE has recorded four wins from his last 9 starts, three of those since joining Brett Crawford, and he’s only once not finished in the first two during that time. 

The selection goes up 2lb having been runner-up here last time, but he was only beaten a nose that day by a rival he was conceding 13lbs having been forced to do a bit of work from the outside stall. He draws a bit better this time and whilst they won’t walk, there’s no more than an honest gallop on offer and he should be able to slot into a forward spot without having to exert too much early.

Dangers:

3 Flowing Riches is a low mileage 4yo that shed his maiden status over 5-furlongs on turf last September and he’s been placed his last two on this track, he’ll strip fitter for his recent return from a short lay off and a 7lb claimer takes over.  

6 Day Day Victory was three-lengths behind the selection last time and it’s difficult to see why he would turn the form around, but he is on 4lb better terms and should have the gun run from the draw.  

1 Pi Legend, who won a maiden from eight starts in Australia, is yet to place in five local spins, but he takes a drop in grade having been beaten just over two-lengths on his first try on this track last time and a 10lb claimer takes over.

Race 5: Class 4 Ping Shek Handicap (1.45pm) (9 furlongs)

2 CALIFORNIA STAR enjoys this track having recorded two wins including his penultimate start over the mile. He then ran just as well in defeat from a 7lb higher mark last time when slow from the stalls, probably by design given he drew high. 

The selection goes up another 1lb for that and his two wins have been over 6-furlongs and the mile, but he’s been getting back in his races then running on, and he gives the impression he’ll enjoy going over 9-furlongs for the first time.

Dangers:

13 Firefoot solitary success from 26 starts was on turf over a year ago, but he has been placed two from three on this track and although well-held last time, he was out of position early after a tardy start and he’ll enjoy stepping back up in trip.  

11 Yoda's Choice is a bit difficult to predict but he’s a quick horse that’s recorded a win from just two goes over this trip on the dirt, and he’s likely to attempt to make all here.  

3 Glorious Success, who was a maiden winner in Australia, is yet to break his local duck in fifteen attempts, but he was placed on this track in a higher-grade last season and ran well enough in defeat when fifth his only spin on the dirt this campaign in January.

Race 6: Class 4 Ma Tau Wai Handicap (2.15pm) (6 furlongs)

1 TOURBILLON GOLFER hasn’t built on a promising initial success at just his fifth start over this trip at Happy Valley last November, and this will be his first try on the dirt, but he does have plenty in his favour.  

Whilst trials are just that, the selection has performed strongly in trials on this track, winning one last August. He’ll be taking a drop in grade having won from a mark off 55 when last seen at this level, and with the 10lb claim, he effectively goes from a mark of 50. The selection likes to punch forward and is ideally drawn in stall 1 to do exactly that.

Dangers:

3 One Man Show, who won a maiden his only start in Australia, has shaped with promise a few times without winning from five local spins, he’s hit the frame two from three on this track, he drops 2lbs and is far better drawn than last time.  

9 Juicy Dragon shed his maiden status at the ninth time of asking over course and trip last time and although he goes up 7lb for that, he won well at just his fourth go on this track, but I’d imagine they will be forced to ride him cold from the high draw.  

4 Justifying is an enigma having dotted up on debut last March on the straight course when breaking the clock with the next two home winning at the following starts, but he’s been disappointing since, however, he does try the dirt for the first time which may work the oracle.

Race 7: Class 4 Ma Tau Wai Handicap (2.45pm) (6 furlongs)

6 GOOD CHAP didn’t show a lot at his first six starts on turf but has looked a different horse since the switch to dirt, winning two from two including last time over this trip for which he goes up 7lbs. 

The penalty does make things a tad more challenging, but he won running away that day, seemingly with a bit in the locker, and there’s no reason to think there shouldn’t be more to come. With a fair amount of pace in the contest, and from the same draw as last time, he should have the run of the race in behind the speed.

Dangers:

11 Conrad The Great ran a career best on his sixth start when runner-up to the selection last time and although the selection ran over the top of him that day, he had a tough run planted wide and is on 7lb better terms. 

2 Notthesillyone goes up 7lb having won over 5-furlongs at Happy Valley last time, but he’s a twice winner over course and trip and he’s well drawn given he usually punches forward.  

10 Malpensa is a four-start maiden that has shaped with promise a couple of times including his most recent start when ridden opposite to previous times, beaten half-a-length in fifth when he shot from the front, but he does have a high draw for his first start on this track.

Race 8: Class 3 Choi Hung Handicap (3.15pm) (6 furlongs)

1 ROMANTIC SON goes from the top of the handicap on his first try on this track, but there’s a few reasons to think he’ll handle the surface, and if he does, he should give this a decent shake despite conceding weight to his rivals.  

The David Hayes 5yo takes a drop in grade having run with merit in defeat when fourth in a Class 2 last time, and whilst the winner and second are yet to been seen, the third won the feature Class 2 on the weekend. The selection, who should have all the favours from the low draw, has trialled on this track, finishing runner-up to the world’s best horse, Ka Ying Rising here in January, and although well held that day, he had some smart ones in behind.

Dangers:

4 Victory Sky is a dirt specialist and although he goes up 2lb for his most recent effort, he was runner-up behind a talented rival that day and from the low draw, he should be able to grab the back of the likely leader, Superb Capitalist, with a nice tow into the straight. 

7 Blazing Wind has been kept exclusively to the dirt track this season, winning two of his 7 starts, he meets Victory Sky on 2lb better terms having finish just under two-lengths behind in third last time, and he’s another that should have a gun run in behind the pace from the low draw.   

5 Aurora Patch had a tough commute when unplaced in behind a couple of these last time, and he had recorded a win and a silver from two goes on this track prior that, but he draws even higher here.

Race 9: Class 3 Choi Wan Handicap (3.50pm) (1 mile)

9 NEZHA, who won a maiden at his second and final start in New Zealand, best result from his first six local starts was when runner-up on the turf over 7-furlongs in November, but he returned from a three-month layoff when breaking his duck over course and trip last month. 

He goes up in grade under a 6lb penalty, and make no mistake, this is a far more competitive race than what he won. However, he carries a full 19lb less at this level, he came from what looked an impossible position on straightening, and there’s a strong gallop on offer, which he’ll relish.

Dangers:

2 Talents Ambition, who has recorded all three local wins over course and trip, is yet to get on the board this season but he’s slowly sliding down the handicap and he arrives having been given a bit to do from a high draw last time before picking up late to finish fourth, Purton takes over and he draws low. 

8 Endeared, who arrives under a 6lb penalty having won over 7-furlongs on turf last time, has just the one silver from fives goes on the dirt, but he does enjoy having a strong gallop to aim at, and he certainly get that here.  

7 Romantic Thor, who won (known as Capulet) The Dee Stakes at Chester when with Aidan O’Brien, has been disappointing since arriving in Hong Kong, but he has placed his last two goes on this track and had a few of these in behind when runner-up last time, but he has a tough draw.  

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT

Today’s Placepot will be races 3 through to 8. All up we will be playing 81 combinations (1x3x1x3x3x3), which will cost £8.10 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.  

LEG 1- 2 SPEEDY SMARTIE 

LEG 2- 2 CALIFORNIA STAR 11 YODAS CHOICE 13 FIREFOOT 

LEG 3- 1 TOURBILLON GOLFER 

LEG 4- 2 NOTTHESILLYONE 6 GOOD CHAP 11 CONRAD THE GREAT 

LEG 5- 1 ROMANTIC SON 4 VICTORY SKY 7 BLAZING WIND 

LEG 6- 2 TALENTS AMBITION 8 ENDEARED 9 NEZHA