| What | 2024 Hong Kong International Races |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse |
| When | Sunday, December 8, 2024 |
| First Race | 12:25pm HKT (3:25pm AEDT) |
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Visit Dabble |
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The iconic Hong Kong International Races return to Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program lined up – including four mouthwatering Group 1 contests alluring some of the worlds’ best horses, trainers and jockeys.
The rail reverts to the A course for the meeting, and with no rain forecast to hinder proceedings, punters can anticipate a genuine Good 4 surface throughout the afternoon. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:25pm local time.
Race 1: Class 4 Handicap (1200m)
The John Size-trained Brilliant Express gets the nod in what appears to be a wide-open Class 4 contest to kick-off proceedings. The son of Starspangledbanner returns after a 21-week spell, and although he was winless in three starts last season, the four-year-old never shirked the task amongst strong company when finishing close up behind the likes of Glory Elite and Lucy In The Sky at this course and distance. Hugh Bowman elects to stick after an eye-catching barrier trial on the Sha Tin all-weather and provided he can land in a handy position with cover, Brilliant Express should get every chance to secure his maiden victory at start four.
5
BRILLIANT EXPRESS
1
CITY THUNDER
4
MR ENERGIA
6
FORTUNE BOY
Race 2: Class 4 Handicap (1400m)
Master Phoenix flashed home to finish runner-up on debut at Sha Tin on November 9 and should appreciate the immediate step up to the 1400m. The Divine Prophet gelding had to get too far back from barrier 11 but showed a tremendous turn-of-foot to get within a half-length of the in-form Patch Of Time. Vincent Ho should be able to hold a position from gate one this time around, and provided Master Phoenix is within striking distance as they turn for home, this guy will prove hard to hold out.
6
MASTER PHOENIX
5
JUBILANT WINNER
3
LEGEND ST PAUL’S
8
ISLAND BREEZES
Next Best
Race 2 – #6 Master Phoenix (1)
4yo Gelding | T: David Eustace | J: Vincent Ho (59.5kg)
Bet with BlondeBet
Race 3: Class 3 Handicap (1200m)
Lifeline Express gave a good account of himself in his first attempt in Class 3 company, storming home from last at this course and distance on November 17. The son of Shooting To Win had it all to do and just ran out of time as Young Superstar was already off and gone with the prize. Alexis Badel gets an opportunity to press forward from stall six, and with a bit more luck in transit, Lifeline Express can find himself in the finish again at an each-way price with horse racing bookmakers.
13
LIFELINE EXPRESS
1
SAVVY BRILLIANT
6
HALO OF SUCCESS
8
PATCH OF COSMO
Race 4: Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m)
The Australian flag is set to fly in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight sent over to make a statement second-up. He couldn’t have been more impressive first-up in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9 after a year off the scene, powering into the minor money despite the lengthy layoff. The 2023 Group 1 Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double conqueror oozes class, and although this contest has plenty of depth with the likes of Stellenbosch and Iresine posing genuine threats, Without A Fight must be considered the one to beat in the 2024 Hong Kong Vase.
1
WITHOUT A FIGHT
13
STELLENBOSCH
5
IRESINE
2
GIAVELLOTTO
Hong Kong Vase
Race 4 – #1 Without A Fight (1)
6yo Horse | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (57kg)
Bet with Dabble
Race 5: Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m)
Ka Ying Rising gets his chance to stamp himself as one of the worlds’ best sprinters as he goes around a near unbackable favourite in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). He dismantled his rivals breaking a track record in Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) leading into this event, and simply put, if he replicates that performance, Ka Ying Rising will be justifying the short price with Bet365.
1
KA YING RISING
12
HELIOS EXPRESS
13
HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE
7
STARLUST
Hong Kong Sprint
Race 5 – #1 Ka Ying Rising (11)
4yo Gelding | T: David Hayes | J: Zac Purton (57kg)
Bet with Bet365
Race 6: Class 3 Handicap (1800m)
The best bet goes around in this 1800m Class 3 contest, where the Caspar Fownes-trained Family Jewel should be searching for his fourth-straight victory. The son of Time Test was beaten by the barrier (12) last time out when suffering a half-length defeat at the hands of Bravehearts, with the four-year-old settling too far back in the ruck. James McDonald won’t allow that to happen again drawn in gate five this time around, and provided he can slot in somewhere mid-field with cover, Family Jewel should have no issues taking care of this lot and justifying favouritism with Neds.
8
FAMILY JEWEL
11
SUNSTRIDER
2
SO WE SING
3
PRAY FOR MIR
Best Bet
Race 6 – #8 Family Jewel (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: James McDonald (57.5kg)
Bet with Neds
Race 7: Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m)
Despite being defeated as an odds-on favourite with Picklebet in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on November 17, Galaxy Patch warrants forgiving as he seeks Group 1 glory in the 2024 Hong Kong Mile. He had excuses sitting wide without cover for the duration of the journey, stunting his usually devastating turn of speed in the concluding stages. Gate 14 should be a positive provided Vincent Ho can sit three-wide with cover in this genuinely run affair, and provided Galaxy Patch can get back to his brilliant best, he has serious claims in this 1600m feature.
6
GALAXY PATCH
1
SOUL RUSH
3
ANTINO
13
LAZZAT
Hong Kong Mile
Race 7 – #6 Galaxy Patch (14)
5yo Gelding | T: Pierre Ng | J: Vincent Ho (57kg)
Bet with Picklebet
Race 8: Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m)
The Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) appears to be at the mercy of Romantic Warrior as he attempts to make history and become the first horse to secure a hat-trick of wins in the weight-for-age classic. The Danny Shum-trained gelding continues to revel in his racing, highlighted by his dominant return in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) on November 17, and it’s impossible to see anything turning the tables on the eight-time Group 1 winner. The Japanese pair of Liberty Island and Tastiera appear the most likely to pose some threat, but all things even, Romantic Warrior should prove too classy for this lot.
1
ROMANTIC WARRIOR
9
LIBERTY ISLAND
4
TASTIERA
10
CONTENT
Hong Kong Cup
Race 8 – #1 Romantic Warrior (1)
7yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: James McDonald (57kg)
Bet with Boombet
Race 9: Class 3 Handicap (1400m)
Markwin appears to be a horse worth following as he rises into Class 3 company for the first time. He drops 5.5kg for his latest victory at this track and trip, bounding away from his rivals to score by two lengths. Barrier 12 will be negated by his get-back-run-on style of racing, and with a genuine tempo engaged here, watch for Markwin to be putting in the big strides late at an each-way price with Playup.
13
MARKWIN
3
JOHANNES BRAHMS
6
CHARMING LEGEND
10
SUPER LOVE DRAGON
Best Value
Race 9 – #13 Markwin (12)
4yo Gelding | T: Cody Mo | J: Derek Leung (54kg)
Bet with Playup
Race 10: Class 2 Handicap (1400m)
Joao Moreira & Francis Lui combine with Packing Hermod in the Sha Tin finale, where the lightly raced four-year-old will take a power of beating. The son of Rubick suffered his first defeated at the hands of Green N White last time out, peaking on his run in his first attempt over 1400m. Moreira will look to be positive despite the wide draw (10), and provided he can land in the first four in the early stages, Packing Hermod possess the quality to put this lot away and send punters home with a winner.
10
PACKING HERMOD
12
RUBYLOT
9
YOUNG CHAMPION
13
ALLCASH
HKIR Day quaddie tips for Sha Tin
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, December 8, 2024
- 1-3-6-7-12-13
- 1
- 3-6-10-13
- 9-10-12-13
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