What | Sha Tin Races |
Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
When | Sunday, March 19, 2023 |
First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
Visit Ladbrokes |
The Hong Kong Derby headlines a massive 10-race card out of Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday. Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Voyage Bubble and Hong Kong Classic Cup winner Super Sunny Sing took out the traditional lead-up races and will be looking to bag the last leg on Sunday afternoon.
The Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup sees a five-horse field stacked with quality as well to make this a much anticipated card. We’re racing with the rail in the A position the entire circuit, and with a Good to Firm deck expected for race-day, we should have perfect conditions. The first race is set to get underway at 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT).
Hong Kong Derby: Beauty Eternal
We’ve been with Beauty Eternal since his win back on January 21, and at the time we did have him targeting a Hong Kong Derby; however, with every start since it became apparent this son of Starspangledbanner was going to be a massive player. His latest win in Class 2 company over the 1600m solidified his place in this race when he cleared out on his rivals to score a dominant two length win. He found the one-one position looming into the race before putting them to bed with relative ease, smashing the clock in the process. He now finds himself in a race with his own age group and at set weights looks poised to find a fourth straight win this preparation, leaving the impression we could have something special moving forward. The only box he needs to be ticking is the 2000m but with Zac Purton on board from a nice enough barrier seven we found it too hard to be against this very impressive gelding. Super Sunny Sing and Galaxy Witness both warrant plenty of respect here, but Beauty Eternal gets the nod.
Hong Kong Derby
Race 8 – #2 Beauty Eternal (7)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (57kg)
$2.50 with Bet365
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup: California Spangle
California Spangle v Lucky Sweynesse v Wellington. It’s a cracking edition of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup with all three having genuine claims on Sunday afternoon. California Spangle lands on top for us though after stepping down to the 1400m looking an ideal set up for this son of Starspangledbanner. Two starts back he knocked off the Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile on December 11, before getting the tables turning in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup on January 29. He’s been racing in elite company and coming back in trip after a let up should see the best of this lightly-raced five-year-old. Zac Purton had the choice of California Spangle and Lucky Sweyenesse and the fact he’s elected to side with the former, gives us confidence he’s happy to be with the more tried horse at the trip. He’ll lead throughout the 1400m and take a power of chasing down in the straight, but if Lucky Sweynesse or Wellington did get the better of him late, it wouldn’t shock.
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup
Race 7 – #1 California Spangle (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | Zac Purton (57kg)
Bet with Neds
Best Bet at Sha Tin: Round The Globe
Round The Globe finds the best bet tag on Sunday afternoon with an impressive first-up effort under his belt. He debuted on February 26 and had plenty of market support on that occasion starting as short as $4 with online bookmakers. It was a very good way to kick off his campaign running into third position and would’ve gone closer to winning than the 1.3 length margin may suggest. Karis Teetan got crowded for room with 400m to go trying to get off the back of another galloper before getting clear late running into the minor money. Meanwhile, the winner of that race Brave Dreams, got the saloon passage up the inside and had already bolted clear. He should only improve with the run and finds a very manageable second-up task in Class 4 for this son of Hellbent and we think he can be breaking his maiden status. He’s drawn barrier five again and with Karis Teetan electing to stick and with luck this time, looks the one to beat.
Best Bet
Race 3 – #8 Round The Globe (5)
3yo Gelding | T: Ricky Yiu | J: Karis Teetan (58kg)
Bet with Palmerbet
Next Best at Sha Tin: Five G Patch
Five G Patch looks very hard to beat in this Class 3 contest over the 2000m. He won at this course and distance two starts back in an effort that saw a small margin to the second horse, Champion Dragon, who was a subsequent winner in Class 2 and both cleared out by four lengths on the rest of the field. Five G Patch then ran into Class 2 company behind Running Glory and Butterfield, finding third position. He now finds himself back into Class 3 and despite having to lug the top weight, looks perfectly placed by the Tony Cruz yard. This son of Camelot has progression written all over him and from barrier three on Sunday, we’re expecting a similar performance to his last winning effort. If he produces his best, should be finding the winners’ enclosure again.
Next Best
Race 6 – #1 Five G Patch (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | J: Hugh Bowman (61kg)
Bet with Ladbrokes
Best Value at Sha Tin: Hyper Dragon Ball
Hyper Dragon Ball is on the verge of a Class drop if he doesn’t put it all together this weekend, but we think he’ll be a great each-way bet to finish the Sha Tin program. Two starts back he wasn’t disgraced behind Beauty Eternal over the 1200m when running into fifth, three lengths away from the Hong Kong Derby favourite. He then stepped to the 1400m for the first time and was one of the better runs of the day behind Tamra Blitz on February 26. He was forced back to last turning for home from barrier 14 and launched down the middle of the track to finish two lengths off the eventual winner. This Deep Field gelding draws the perfect gate to find a mid-field sit with cover and we think can give us a bold sight turning for home in what is a tricky race to finish the card.
Best Value
Race 10 – #13 Hyper Dragon Ball (7)
5yo Gelding | T: Benno Yung | J: Lyle Hewitson (53.5kg)
Bet with Unibet
Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, March 19, 2023
- 1-3
- 2-3-5-6-8
- 1-4-5-6-12
- 2-3-6-9-13-14
Investment: $300 for 100%
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