| What | Centenary Sprint Cup Day 2023 |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
| When | Sunday, February 5, 2023 |
| First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
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Racing heads to Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon for a very competitive 10-race program. We’ve got two feature races, with the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Group 1 level taking centre stage as Wellington and Lucky Sweynesse go head-to-head. Be sure to check out our preview for that one. The race prior sees a small but quality field line up in the Group 3 Centenary Vase (1800m) as the likes of Senor Toba and Money Catcher clash.
The rail has moved out to the B+2 position after being in the A position last weekend, so expect the track to play relatively fair throughout the day. There is some rain around Sha Tin, but we don’t expect it to cause a track downgrade by any means. The first race is scheduled to get underway from 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT).
Centenary Vase Tip: Senor Toba
We’ve landed with Senor Toba in the Group 3 Centenary Vase and he should be competitive in this small field over the 1800m. He’s been freshened up since his bizarre front running effort in the Hong Kong Vase, racing completely against his own pattern. We’re not sure that was the initial plan on December 11; however, that’s how things eventuated as Senor Toba pinged the lids to lead throughout the 2400m contest, before fading late behind the likes of Win Marilyn and Botanik. The margin was significant, but we’re going to put that down more to over-racing on that occasion and now in the smaller field should find a perfect run in behind the speed from barrier three. You can tie the form into the other likely market elect – Money Catcher – through the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse back in October where Senor Toba was beaten 1.8 lengths. Senor Toba meets him now 5kg better off for that effort and we think his class can shine through in this race. He’s got the quality about him and with Hugh Bowman jumping aboard, we’re confident Senor Toba can find his third Hong Kong win.
Centenary Vase
Race 7 – 
#2 Senor Toba (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (60.5kg)
Bet with Bet365
Best Bet at Sha Tin: Perfetto
Perfetto looks ready to win to our eye and finds the best bet tag on Sunday afternoon. His last start performance was impressive when second behind Tamra Blitz on January 8, he was squeezing between runners before finding one better on that occasion to suffer a 2 length defeat. There has been two subsequent winners from that race with Ching and Blissful Star both producing winning efforts who finished behind our top pick here. The 1600m looks perfect for this David Hall-trained gelding by Awesome Rock, plus the key booking of Zac Purton can only be a positive. He’s had a nice tick-over trial between runs just to stretch out and now finds his best chance to break his maiden status in what looks a moderate Class 4. From barrier two look for Purton to get a perfect one-by-one position in the running and if he can replicate his latest effort, Perfetto should be winning.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#11 Perfetto (2)
4yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Zac Purton (57kg)
Bet with Palmerbet
Next Best Bet: Daring Pursuit
It was a very nice return from Daring Pursuit first-up over the 1200m at Sha Tin and now looks primed to find another win here, this time over the 1400m. The win saw Daring Pursuit travel wide early in the race before finding cover at about halfway, he then proceeded to chase down Brave Dreams stylishly, although very greenly as well. He’s still and awkward type with plenty to learn; however, the ability is there, and we think he’s better than Class 4 company. He gets a hefty penalty of 3.5kg for the win, but he earns it here based on what we saw first-up. The in-form Vincent Ho sticks after taking the reins first-up and should be finding the box seat with a lovely draw. So long as Daring Pursuit can get off the inside with plenty of time to spare, he looks the clear one to beat.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#3 Daring Pursuit (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Vincent Ho (61kg)
Bet with Unibet
Next Best Again: Supreme Lucky
Supreme Lucky is low flying at the moment and can find back-to-back wins on Sunday afternoon. His win on New Year’s Day over this track and trip was sublime, coming from back in the field to wind up and salute in dominant fashion. He won by two lengths going away from subsequent winner – Baby Crystal – who put another two lengths between second and third. It was demolition job and he’s another horse that is still very green as he wanted to roll all over the shop when left in out in front. He comes here now after a month let up and a tick-over trial against some quality gallopers to boot. He maps to get another great run in transit from the barrier with Matthew Poon staying aboard this son of Deep Field and after this weekend, we’re confident he’ll find his way into Class 3 company.
Next Best Again
Race 6 – 
#1 Supreme Lucky (4)
4yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: Matthew Poon (61kg)
Bet with Neds
Hong Kong quaddie tips for Sha Tin – Feb 5, 2023
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, February 5, 2023
- 2-3
- 1-2
- 1-4-5-8-9-13
- 4-6-8-12
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