What | Sha Tin Races |
Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
When | Sunday, March 26, 2023 |
First Race | 12:45pm HKT (3:45pm AEDT) |
Visit Ladbrokes |
We’re back racing at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon with a wide-open 10-race program on the menu. We’re on the comedown after an outstanding edition of the Hong Kong Derby, but there are still some quality gallopers on show this weekend.
The rail is in the C+3 position for the meeting, and with plenty of rain forecast for race-day, we could be racing on a downgrading surface for the first time in quite some time. The first race is set to kick things off at 12:45pm HKT (3:45pm AEDT).
Best Bet: Seasons Wit
It’s a tough meeting to narrow down a best bet, but we’re happy to be with Seasons Wit after his Hong Kong debut at Happy Valley. That was back on March 1 over the 1000m and he looked the winner a long way out, travelling behind the leader throughout before peeling off and hitting the front, only to be run down in the shadows of the post by Atomic Force. They ran quality time for the grade and his fitness probably got the better of him late, feeling the pinch as he got to the lead. He’s had another tick-over trial since that effort behind Nervous Witness and looks like he’ll only improve on Sunday afternoon. The query is Sha Tin’s 1000m straight, which can be the undoing for some gallopers, but the fact Zac Purton sticks on this Jamie Richards-trained gelding give us enormous confidence. He’ll find a stalking position from barrier nine on Sunday, and if he can bounce from his first-up run, he’s going to take a power of beating.
Best Bet
Race 8 – #8 Seasons Wit (9)
3YOG | T: Jamie Richards | J: Zac Purton (55.5kg)
Bet with Bet365
Next Best: Ching
We made Ching one of our best bets last time he stepped out and we see no reason not to be backing him again on Sunday. He made the step up into Class 3 company for the first time and didn’t look out of his depth at all when going on to score a strong 1.3-length win. He powered to the line off a strong tempo and hit the front very early in the straight to hold off all challengers in that 1600m contest. He gets a very similar setup on Sunday afternoon but does earn a 2.5kg penalty for the win, so his rivals may get some advantage in that regard. It doesn’t put us off him, though, as this son of Frosted should get a gun position again from barrier four. Lyle Hewitson knows this galloper well now, and if he can keep him out of trouble again this time, we’re happy to stick with Ching to take out the penultimate race of the Sha Tin program.
Next Best
Race 9 – #6 Ching (4)
4YOG | T: Michael Chang | J: Lyle Hewitson (56kg)
Bet with Ladbrokes
Next Best Again: Speedy Smartie
Speedy Smartie debuted down the Sha Tin straight on March 11 behind Cheval Valiant and was drawn in the worst part of the track on that occasion. He drew barrier one and never got a good cart into the race from there. He immediately steps to 1200m and gets the booking of Zac Purton, to boot. This time look for Speedy Smartie to jump better from the inside draw, track the leader throughout, and then sprint over the top of them late. We’ll be taking a Purton tax, for sure, but hopefully it’ll be worthwhile.
Next Best Again
Race 3 – #8 Speedy Smartie (3)
3YOG | T: Benno Yung | J: Zac Purton (57.5kg)
Bet with Palmerbet
Hong Kong quaddie tips for Sha Tin races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, March 26, 2023
- 1-5-6-9-10
- 1-3-4-8
- 1-2-4-6
- 3-4-5-6-12
Investment: $400 for 100%
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