Sha Tin Preview - 09/05/20

Joao Moreira is in need of a big response at Sha Tin this weekend, after title rival Zac Purton went four clear at the top of jockeys championship with a midweek five-timer at Happy Valley, and although he has a strong book of rides on the card it is the mount of Chad Scofield who catches our eye in the opener.

XPONENTIAL is yet to fire after opening his account at the first time of asking over track and trip, but hasn’t been to seen to best effect on a number of occasions, remains lightly-raced, and could easily bounce back with the yard now well amongst the winners.

He is drawn well in Gate 4 and the rider responsible for that debut success now climbs back aboard.

Next up we head to the all-weather for the Class 3 Jasper Handicap and in what could turn out to be a crucial afternoon for Joao Moreira, it is his mount PING HAI TREASURE who we will be siding with.

John Size’s gelding rarely runs a bad race on the dirt, proving that on a number of occasions last term, including when winning twice in similar company as he faces here, and although he was only fifth on his seasonal reappearance at the track last month he shaped well in-between runners and is fancied to come on for the run.

Race 3 sees us turn to the in-form Zac Purton to get the job done this time with FLYING BONUS, who despite seemingly finding it hard to get his head in front, now slips down into Class 4 company for the first time and connections may have finally found his level.

This looks his optimum trip having placed on a couple of occasions last term, when raced over the 1200m distance, and if he is able to overcome his wide draw with a good position early on he could have a big say here under the first-time assistance of Hong Kong’s leading rider.

In what appears a rather open-looking affair a chance is taken on RED BRICK FIGHTER, who despite looking a rather tricky customer throughout his career, has still ran to a consistent level during this years campaign and today could be the day he finally gets the job done, with Zac Purton taking the reigns for the first time.

The step up to 1600m doesn’t appear the most obvious move, given he appeared to fade when attempting to make all on his first attempt at the trip on the all-weather here last month, though the manner in which he travelled into the race over shorter in a recent barrier trial suggests here could be where he gains that elusive first win, now back on the turf.

Recent C&D winner MCMUNIGAL goes for us in the next and the exciting Matthew Poon again retains the ride.

David Hall’s five-year-old shrugged off a couple of less-desirable efforts earlier on this season, and has remained in good form since.

He ran to arguably a career-best when beating a subsequent winner here last month, and although he now moves up into Class 4 company he deserves his chance at this level and could have every chance from gate 5.

THIS ONE’S FOR YOU hit the crossbar on his latest start over track and trip and with Joao Moreira climbing back aboard this gelding has a great chance of going one better.

He was given a hopeless task from out back, though he was still a real eye-catcher when making up plenty of ground on the front-running Megatron down the outside last time out, and if he is able to race a little closer to the pace this time around from gate 12, he should not be too far away.

In a rather trappy affair FANTASY is our pick, another who now arrives off a career-high mark in search of the hat-trick.

Having remained consistent throughout his short career to date he has been ultra-impressive in winning his latest two starts, and despite now having to lug a big weight this time around he has added race-experience over his rivals in this contest and certainly won’t go down without a fight.

Leading chance.

One of the stand-out races of the afternoon sees a number of speedy types head for the Class 2 Amethyst Handicap 5f event, and although race favourite Hong Kong Win appears to have hit a real purple patch of late we are willing to take a chance on one who offers plenty of E/W value.

STRONGER went straight into the tracker having suffered a hopeless time of things when sent off a strong favourite for a similar event at Happy Valley last month, though still managing to run on well once the gaps appeared.

The John Moore team have been firing on all cylinders of late, and our selection had the beating of Hong Kong Win when last successful back in February.

A number of former UK runners head to post for the penultimate last at Sha Tin including 2018 Epsom Derby fifth Hazapour, now going by the name of ‘Amazing One Plus’, and 2019 Irish 2000 Guineas third DECRYPT.

The first-named is interesting having now been gelded, but having finished dead last in a recent trial he looks opposable.

The latter, however, has some strong form in the book having finished 3½ lengths behind the impressive Phoenix Of Spain last season in what his final run for Paddy Twomey.

He has since remained in good form on these shores since and connections may well have found a good opportunity for him to final open his account under the assistance of in-form rider Zac Purton.

The final contest of the afternoon is the Class 3 Emerald Handicap and FARHH ABOVE has every chance of taking this providing things drop right.

This colt was just touched off on his latest start over track and trip, under the first-time assistance of Joao Moreira, with his rider probably not accounting for the eventual winner finishing as well as he did from the rear.

The form of that race hasn’t worked out, though Douglas Whyte’s runners have remained in good form of late, and gate 7 should afford him every chance of going one better with Moreira again taking the reigns, as long as he doesn’t find himself too far back entering the straight.