What | Hong Kong Gold Cup Day |
Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
When | Sunday, February 25, 2024 |
First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
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Group 1 action returns to Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon, with the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) headlining a bumper 10-race program. The rail is in the A+3 position throughout, and with the radar suggesting no rain will hit the course proper, punters should expect a genuine Good 4 for race-day. The opening race is scheduled to get underway at 1pm local time.
Hong Kong Gold Cup: Straight Arron
Straight Arron will need to find a career peak to beat Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Gold Cup. He closed off gallantly in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on December 10 when going down by less than a length, and jockey Vincent Ho believed his mount was unlucky. His most recent effort in the Group 3 Centenary Vase (1800m) under handicap conditions was sensational without winning, and with set weight certain to help his chances, Straight Arron appears to be a sensible bet with Romantic Warrior likely to jump at less than even money with HK racing bookmakers.
Hong Kong Gold Cup
Race 7 – #3 Straight Arron (6)
5yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (57kg)
Bet with Bet365
Best Bet at Sha Tin: Gorgeous Win
Gorgeous Win is a star on the rise and should prove too classy as he searches for his third win in start five. The son of Press Statement made a mess of his rivals in his most recent start at this course and distance on January 28, cruising through the wire under a confident steer from Zac Purton. The handicapper hasn’t missed the three-year-old, however, hammering him with a 4.5kg penalty for his trouble. All things being even, though, it simply shouldn’t matter, because Gorgeous Win appears to have this lot covered as he eyes bigger targets outside Class 3 company.
Best Bet
Race 9 – #3 Gorgeous Win (3)
3yo Gelding | T: Danny Shum | J: Zac Purton (59.5kg)
Bet with Neds
Next Best at Sha Tin: Top Scorer
Top Scorer is beginning to test the patience of punters, as his three starts to date have all ended in the minor money. Barrier 12 of 14 proved too tough to overcome in his most recent outing at this track and trip, getting too far back under Zac Purton to make an impact. His class pushed him into a third-place finish on that occasion, and with that being his first hit-out over the 1400m, the John Size-trained galloper should take plenty of benefit from the experience. Purton will need to navigate stall 10 this time, but with less depth around him on Sunday, Top Scorer can finally crack his maiden.
Next Best
Race 6 – #3 Top Scorer (10)
3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (59.5kg)
Bet with PlayUp
Best Value at Sha Tin: Amazing Victory
You would be hard pressed to find a galloper more deserving of a win than Amazing Victory as he heads to Sha Tin for start six of his winless campaign. The gelding by Sizzling has been unlucky on numerous occasions, none more so than his latest attempt on January 28. He was crowded for room throughout the straight and never saw daylight under Derek Leung, who simply couldn’t get clear when the whips were cracking. He seemingly had a lapful of horse, though, and provided he can get a bit more luck in transit, Amazing Victory should be doing his best work late in the Sha Tin finale.
Best Value
Race 10 – #3 Amazing Victory (4)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris So | J: Hugh Bowman (60kg)
Bet with Picklebet
Hong Kong quaddie tips for Sha Tin races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, February 25, 2024
- 1-2-3-10
- 2-3-6-7-9-10-11-12
- 3
- 3-4-5-7-8
Horse racing tips