Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Sha Tin races.

Race 1

#7 FAMILY FORTUNE is due for a win and should be able to take his opportunity to do so here. He's performed well in his two runs back from a break and was only narrowly beaten last time out by Meepmeep on the dirt, with the two of them pulling away from the rest of the field. The return to the turf isn't an issue as he's performed well on it before, and he should be at peak fitness now that he's third up. There looks to be enough speed on in the race, he's got a good turn of foot for a horse in this grade and is well placed to break the maiden tag in this event.

#3 JOLLY JUMPER is a three-year-old dropping into class five for the first time. On top of the class drop, he's well weighted thanks to Britney Wong's claim and he's stepping up in distance to 1600m for the first time, which should suit him based on his breeding. Although he was well beaten on the dirt two starts go, he hasn't been far away in his turf runs and now finds himself in the easiest race that he's ever contested. The draw does look tricky for him on face value, however, he can get cross to lead from there on a day where the leaders will be at an advantage due to the rail placement, and he should be in this for a long way.

#10 CASA LEGEND also has his hoof on the till, as he ran well at Sha Tin two and three starts ago, before he faded out to only beat a couple of runners home at Happy Valley last time out. The return to the wider expanses of Sha Tin will suit him, he's got a good record over this course and distance and his wins have been in this grade. From barrier three, he maps to get the run of the race just off the pace and will get every chance to claim another victory.

#2 ANOTHER WIN has been going well in class four lately and comes out of a good form race, finishing fourth behind Another Zonda and Harold Win last time out. He's now dropping in grade to class five for the first time and while he's drawn awkwardly, if he gets a bit of luck for Jimmy Orman, then he'll be right in the mix.

#1 ACCOLADE START is also racing in class five for the first time. He arrived in Hong Kong on a rating of 72 and is now rated 40. He's from a good stable, being trained by David Eustace, and has the blinkers going back on. This is the type of race that he can turn his form around in.

Selections : 7,3,10,2,1
 

R2 - 1,4,6,9,11

R3 - 1,3,12,11,10

R4 - 9,8,1,7,11

R5 - 1,2,12,7,3

R6 - 2,3,11,6,1

R7 - 9,4,1,7,2

Race 8

#2 LIGHT YEARS CHARM is a progressive horse who was incredibly game in defeat last time out, as he was forced to sit three wide throughout the race and was only beaten a head by Hong Lok Golf, another promising galloper. This time around, he's drawn ideally in gate three, so he should get a much more economical run in transit, while the fact that Purton is sticking with him is also significant. He's a horse that's working his way up in the ratings, he's very consistent, this is a race that lacks depth and he's one of the major contenders.

#1 JUNEAU PRIDE was also brave last time out, as he had to do a bit of work in the early stages of the race and perhaps hit the front a little too soon in the home straight, leaving him vulnerable to the late charge from South Star. This time around, he's likely to take up a handy spot in the run without having to do any work for it. He's never run a bad race in his career to date and his trained by the master in John Size, who excels with these young, progressive types. There's no doubt that he's the main danger to LIGHT YEARS CHARM in a race that has a decent tail to it. My slight concern is the topweight, as he's not a big horse, and I wonder if he'll be better off in a class two with a lightweight eventually.

#4 ANOTHER WORLD is a super consistent galloper who also has further rating points in hand and is likely to enjoy a charmed run in transit for rider Hugh Bowman. At his last start, he finished fourth behind South Star and Juneau Pride, and while he was inclined to over race a fraction, he did receive every chance in the run. The fact that Zac Purton has ridden him at his last two starts but is on LIGHT YEARS CHARM is also telling. Nevertheless, he is racing well, he does meet JUNEAU PRIDE slightly better at the weights and a competitive showing is expected.

#11 MEOWTH gets into this race with a lightweight and was doing his best work late last time, suggesting that he'll appreciate the step up in distance to 1400m. He's one to consider from a place point of view or for the multiples.

#5 GENTLEMAN LEGACY won three times in Victoria where he was known as Divine Crown. He's now in Hong Kong with local legend Tony Cruz and has shown enough at the barrier trials to suggest that he can be competitive here in a race that falls away after the top few chances. While I think he'll run an encouraging race, expect him to improve further when he steps up in distance.

Selections : 2,1,4,11,5

R9 - 9,3,2,4,1


Race 10

#1 FAST NETWORK is the one to beat here in what is a terrific race to finish the program with. He's clearly a very talented sprinter but also showed the class earlier this season to run fourth behind My Wish in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. He was freshened up after then, he's won his last two in a row and couldn't have been more impressive with the way that he won last time out, making light work of good horses like BOTTOMUPTOGETHER, who he meets again here. There's plenty of speed in the race, he's got an excellent turn of foot, and I can see him powering over the top of them under Hugh Bowman to bring up his third straight win.

#3 WUNDERBAR has the honour of being the only horse in the world to defeat Ka Ying Rising. He showed enormous potential earlier in his career, winning five of his first six starts, while he's had excuses at his more recent assignments. He's returning from a break, he's had plenty of trials at Conghua to bring him up to the mark and has looked good in those trials, winning three of them and then cruising along in the latest of those. From barrier three, he's entitled to a great run in transit and he's also undefeated first up. This is a strong race though and he is taking on a rock hard, race fit FAST NETWORK, but he's still capable of making his presence felt in a big way here and is the main danger to the topweight.

#2 BOTTOMUPTOGETHER doesn't know how to run a bad race and after he was comfortably beaten two starts ago by FAST NETWORK, he then came out and scored convincingly on the dirt at his next start. Zac Purton sticks with him, he's got a fantastic record on the horse who will make his own luck from a middle draw. He clearly needs to improve a fair bit to turn the tables on FAST NETWORK but on his overall form, is an each way chance.

#5 INVINCIBLE SHIELD is in great form, having won his last three starts in a row, including a win on Champions Day last time out. It's hard to knock the form that he brings, but this is a stronger race than what he's been competing in lately, he only just got the job done last time out and given that he's gone up 20 points in the ratings recently, I wonder if he could be getting towards his level in the ratings.

#9 LADY'S CHOICE won two starts ago and then ran a huge race last time out, where he got caught up in a speed battle and went way too hard in the middle stages of the race, yet still stuck on for second. He's got a rider change this time with Matthew Poon on, he's got a lightweight and is drawn well, so he won't have to do any work in the run. He's capable of filling a placing or figuring in the multiples at a reasonable price.

Selections - 1,3,2,5,9