Race 1 – Hap Mun Bay Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:10.01 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.46 Trillion Treasure
Winner: ZACIAN (AUS 6yo g Albrecht – Snaffles) wasn't the fastest into stride bust mustered well under the urgings of Silvestre De Sousa to find the back of the leader on settling down. He was being niggled at around the turn, but he was keeping in touch with the leader who had opened a gap heading into the straight. De Sousa was hard at work at the top of the straight, but the gelding continued to stick on with a furlong to run. The leader was getting tired close to home and Zacian wasn't going away, making good ground on the leader late in the race and nabbing him right on the post.
Runner-Up: SMART FOLKS jumped quickly and rolled straight to the front under Luke Ferraris, with the South African hoop leading the field on settling down. They weren't hanging about in the middle stages and Ferraris opened a gap of 1-3/4 lengths on the field as they swung into the straight. He looked to extend that lead early in the straight and still had a comfortable margin 200m from home. Despite Ferraris throwing everything he had at the gelding, he was unable to hold off the winner who stuck his nose in front in the final stride.
Run Of The Race: SMART FOLKS ran along out in front and almost went start-to-finish out in front in a gutsy performance. He was gunned down late, but his run deserves plenty of merit.
Disappointment: No disappointments in the first event.
Comparison: Way outside standard.
Market Mover: APEX TOP had support late in betting, while MEDIC ELITE was also specked.
Race 2 – Pui O Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:09.69 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
Winner: LUCKY BANNER (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Bequia) jumped on terms from an inside barrier but didn't have the early pace to match his rivals as he settled in a midfield position along the rail. The leaders flew along out in front with Luke Currie needing to make up plenty of ground in the straight, with the four-year-old already under the whip as they turned for home. He was 5-1/2 lengths back on straightening, but was making good ground early in the straight and was sticking on strongly as his rivals got tired. He picked them up inside the final 100m and scored an impressive 1-1/2 length victory.
Runner-Up: I GIVE wasn't the fastest away but showed good muster to burrow through from barrier 5 and take the lead with a hot tempo on offer. Alex Badel was able to roll to the outright lead as they turned off the back straight and worked his way to the inside rail as they travelled through the middle stages. He led by a comfortable margin turning for home and extended that lead early in the straight. He was beginning to tire close to come though and the winner ran right over the top of him. The gelding did hold on nicely for second place though, holding on in a photo finish.
Run Of The Race: LUCKY BANNER was under plenty of pressure as they turned into the straight, but stuck on gamely under the urgings of Luke Currie. He was by far the strongest at the finish and the margin on the line tells the story.
Disappointment: HAPPY TANGO had good support late in betting, jumping the $2.90 favourite. He was taken on out in front by I Give and took a sit off that runner through the middle stages. Although he carried a light weight, he was running on empty shortly after straightening and would tire out of contention, finishing 4 lengths away in 9th.
Comparison: Outside standard on the wet surface.
Market Mover: SUMMIT CHEERS and AWESOME TREASURE were both backed at double figure odds.
Race 3 – Cheung Sha Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – All Weather - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:50.04 Standard Time: 1:49.05 Course/Class record: 1:47.67 Lucky Bole
Winner: SPEED FORCE (IRE 7yo g Camacho – Viva Diva) jumped on terms but didn't have the speed to match early doors with Matthew Chadwick settling in the second half of the field. Chadwick worked into the three-wide trail as they travelled down the back stretch, with the pace beginning to slow as they turned off the back. The gelding was travelling strongly around the turn as Chadwick continued to improve his position, remaining with cover throughout, before coming into the clear heading into the straight. The seven-year-old lengthened powerfully to take the lead with a furlong to run, and it was all over shortly after. The gelding extended his lead with every stride, scoring a commanding 2 length victory.
Runner-Up: COLOURFUL BARON got away to a good start from barrier 1 and Ruan Maia was able to position himself wherever he liked around the first turn, eventually landing on the back of the leader as they turned into the back stretch. The gelding was shuffled back a pair through the middle stages as they leaders chopped-and-changed, but he was still racing comfortably turning off the back. Maia was able to extricate himself off the inside but was held up at a crucial stage as he tried to run through a gap turning into the straight. He finally got through the gap to lead momentarily with 300m remaining, but the eventual winner ran straight past him. He closed off well to finish a clear second, with a further 2 lengths back to third.
Run Of The Race: SPEED FORCE was a dominant winner in the event. He got a lovely run in transit and was lucky not to get caught up in traffic when the pace slackened around the turn and got moving at the right time. A good win.
Disappointment: WAH MAY LUCK was able to work across from barrier 10 to sit outside the leader heading into the back stretch, before pressing on and taking the outright lead with 1000m to run. Karis Teetan slowed the tempo around the turn, but the gelding had nothing left in the tank as he faded badly in the straight. He would end up in 11th place, beaten 9-1/2 lengths.
Comparison: Nearly 1 second outside standard.
Market Mover: WAH MAY LUCK was specked late while SURE WIN WIN had support at double figures.
Race 4 – Pui O Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:09.57 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.14 Happy Tour
Winner: SHINING FORTUNE (AUS 4yo g Street Boss – Catwalk Kitty) got away on terms but couldn't match it with the leader's early settling about midfield under Karis Teetan. The field strung out heading off the back and Teetan was able to get away from the inside rail and began making a move 500m from the finish. He built plenty of momentum heading for home but was still. 5-1/4 lengths off the leader heading into the straight. He ran to a clear second early on but was still some way behind the leader with 200m to run, but the four-year-old knuckled down to run over the top of his rival and get the job done in fine style, winning by 1-1/4 lengths.
Runner-Up: MAGIC SUPREME got away well and Silvestre De Sousa pressed on to take the lead down the back straight. He crossed to the rail as they turned off the back and kept the field running through the middle stages. He looked to have plenty up his sleeve as they turned for home with many of his rivals under heavy pressure while De Sousa sat motionless on top of the gelding. He was a long way in front getting to the 200m marker, but Magic Supreme just began to feel the pinch late in the race, tiring and being run down over the concluding stages.
Run Of The Race: SHINING FORTUNE was ridden brilliantly by Karis Teetan as he got away from the inside when he could and worked into the race superbly on straightening. He was the strongest to the line and he's sure to continue on his winning run.
Disappointment: CALL ME TEDDY raced in a prominent position early in the race but came under heavy pressure a long way from the finish. Derek Leung put everything he had into his mount entering the straight but Call Me Teddy was already losing ground. He never mounted a challenge in the straight, finishing 9-1/4 lengths off the winner in 9th.
Comparison: Outside standard.
Market Mover: MAGIC SUPREME was the best backed runner.
Race 5 – Kiu Tsui Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:39.97 Standard Time: 1:38.65 Course/Class record: 1:37.74 Mission Bravo
Winner: ASIAN ONE (NZ 5yo g Ocean Park – Warm Whispers) was snicked back shortly after jumping to settle just worse than midfield once they had sorted their order out. They were humming along up front early, but Matthew Chadwick found a great position in between runners as they travelled down the back. The pace slowed a touch through the middle stages, but Chadwick was able to work his way into the clear at the top of the straight. He ran on boldly to join the leaders 200m from home, before gaining the upper hand with 100m left to run. The gelding was far too strong in the closing stages as he waltzed on by to win comfortably, with the official margin being 1-3/4 lengths.
Runner-Up: AMAZING TEENS showed good pace out of the barriers but was caught wide and without cover heading into the first turn and into the back straight. Antoine Hamelin was unable to slot in through the middle stages but did obtain some cover with 800m remaining whilst still racing three-wide. The Frenchman was able to work through his gears as they entered the straight as he got a nice tow into the race. He was already had at work on top of the gelding, but he did respond to hit the front 200m from home. He couldn't fight off the leader though who was just simply too good.
Run Of The Race: ASIAN ONE was far too good this evening, powering away with a commanding victory.
Disappointment: SAMARKAND was ridden along out of the barriers to try and lead off the inside. He was taken on out in front and set a very fast pace through the first half of the event. He was already losing ground as they approached the home turn and the gelding had nothing left in the tank over the final stages, finishing in 13th place and beaten 16-1/4 lengths.
Comparison: Over a second outside standard.
Market Mover: RED BRICK FIGHTER and SAMARKAND had support late in betting.
Race 6 – Silvermine Bay Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1650m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:38.50 Standard Time: 1:38.45 Course/Class record: 1:16.79 True Legend
Winner: HAVA NAGEELA (IRE 4yo g Aclaim – Quad's Melody) wasn't the fastest out of the barriers and was ridden along by Silvestre De Sousa to improve early on, with the gelding eventually settling on the back of the leader. He was racing a touch keen through the early stages but did settle as they worked their down the back straight. The four-year-old looked to be travelling the best as the approached the home turn, with De Sousa bustling his way into the clear with ease at the top of the straight. He strode up alongside the leader and took the lead as soon as De Sousa pressed the button. He never looked like being run down as he scored an impressive 2-3/4 length victory.
Runner-Up: MALDIVES was the first one out of the barriers but wasn't intent on leading was Alex Badel, with the Frenchman sitting just off the pace. There was no real change to the order through the middle stages as Badel followed the favourite and eventual winner wherever he went. He was still on his back as Hava Nageela ran to the lead, but he couldn't match it with the winner over the closing stages, holding on for second place in a photo finish.
Run Of The Race: You can't go past HAVA NAGEELA as run of the race. The gelding got a beautiful run in transit and never looked like being run down at the top of the straight.
Disappointment: ROYAL BOMB was unable to make much ground from towards the rear and finished well-beaten in 7th, beaten 6-3/4 lengths.
Comparison: Just outside the standard.
Market Mover: Money came for HAVA NAGEELA who jumped the $2 favourite.
Race 7 – Tong Fuk Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:09.75 Standard Time: 1:08.60 Course/Class record: 1:07.40 Dehere's The Love
Winner: YOUTHFUL DEAL (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Orchid Beach) bounced on terms and was ridden along to cross from wider out, eventually slotting into the one-out-one-back position. The pace was slick turning off the back, setting it up nicely for Vincent Ho who crept up to the leaders three-wide at the top of the straight. The gelding sprinted well to take the lead at the top of the straight, but he wasn't alone as the race favourite came up to join him with 250m remaining. It was a real ding-dong battle to the post as Youthful Deal was able to hold his advantage right to the post, scoring by a neck in a fantastic finish.
Runner-Up: GUMMY GUMMY wasn't the fastest away but mustered well to settle on the back of the eventual winner as they turned off the back stretch. He followed Youthful Deal right around the turn and continued wider on straightening to obtain clear running with 400m left to run. The race was there to win if he was good enough and it looked as though he would when he ranged up to the eventual winner a furlong from home. He was just unable to peg back the margin and went down by a neck in a brilliant race.
Run Of The Race: The first two horses across the line have to be the run of the race. It was an exciting finish between YOUTHFUL DEAL and GUMMY GUMMY, with the pair clearing out to beat their nearest rival by 4-1/2 lengths. A terrific effort by both.
Disappointment: MAN STAR was in a brilliant spot in the run, getting a beautiful trail after jumping from the inside barrier. Silvestre De Sousa attempted to make a rails run in the straight but was held up 300m from the finish and lost all momentum. He struggled to pick himself back up from that point and finished in 7th, beaten 8 lengths.
Comparison: Outside standard.
Market Mover: YOUTHFUL DEAL had strong support.
Race 8 – Tung Wan, HK $2,640,000
Class 2 – All Weather - Distance 1200m - Track Wet Slow
Time: 1:09.10 Standard Time: 1:08.05 Course/Class record: 1:07.27 Winner Supreme
Winner: ADIOS (AUS 4yo g Snitzel – Later Gator) was away fairly but showed good pace early on in the race. There was a big go for the lead as they approached the first turn, with Adios having to check off heels turning off the back straight. This may have been a blessing in disguise though as Karis Teetan took a trailing position through the middle stages of the race. He enjoyed a lovely run in behind before getting into the clear with ease and beginning to mow down the leaders. He hit the front 100m from home and was able to hold off a fast-finishing challenger to score by a neck in a great finish to the night.
Runner-Up: GOKO WIN was a little slow into stride and found himself near the tail of the field early on. Matthew Chadwick did improve quickly through, sliding along in the three-wide line to be just off the pace as they turned off the back. He was on the back of the eventual winner around the turn and tracked him through the same gap as they turned for home. He didn't have the turn-of-foot to go with the eventual winner but was rattling home in the closing stages as he reached top gear. He went mighty close at the finish but was unable to reel in the leader, finishing a neck away in second.
Run Of The Race: CAMPIONE was the only one of the leading division to finish in the first half of the field. He jumped quickly but was taken on and pressured for much of the 1200m journey. He stuck on gamely at the finish to end up in 5th position, while many of the rivals around him in the run finished well back.
Disappointment: NERVOUS WITNESS had absolutely no luck from his wide draw, racing four-and-five-wide for much of the race. As expected, he tired badly and finished 21-1/4 lengths away in last place.
Comparison: Over a second outside the standard.
Market Mover: NERVOUS WITNESS and CAMPIONE were both well-backed late in betting.