Sha Tin preview and tips: Monday, July 1

Racing in Hong Kong is at Sha Tin for a rare Monday meeting that falls on a local public holiday.

Here is our preview of the 10-race programme.



The opener sees the Class 4 gallopers go at it over the 1200m and the majority of these have had five or fewer starts. On exposed form, VICTORIAM (1) should be hard to beat. The three-year-old has had two starts and controlled proceedings here three weeks ago to defeat Solar Billion by over two lengths. He rises in weight but has drawn well and only needs to run up to that effort to win again. Not too many of his rivals have shown much to date and the market might be the best guide. KUNG FU TEA (4) steps out on debut for the David Hall stable and comes off a winning trial. FARM BUMPER (8) was luckless two starts ago and went for home a little bit too early last time. He will get back and comes into it if the pace is on. KWAI CHUNG ELITE (12) showed improvement last time and carries just 52kg.

Selections: 1-4-8-12



This shapes as an open betting race and the 14-start maiden HIDDEN SPIRIT (13) gets his chance to break the duck. The Paul O'Sullivan-trained galloper has been edging closer in his recent runs and did well to finish third behind Godspeed on June 5 when trapped wide for the majority of that race. He carries just 51.5kg and with a softer run in transit he can go close. KEEP WINNING (3) is likely to push forward and might get away with a cheap time of it. He led and only tired late when finishing fourth in the same race as Hidden Spirit last time. Joao Moreira rides. ABOVE (4) has been tried over some longer trips in recently but might be better suited back over the 1650m and the booking of Zac Purton helps his chances. He ran on when fifth behind Lucky Win Win on June 12. MI BLANCO (9) should be prominent throughout and has placed in two of his past three.

Selections: 13-3-4-9



This is another race where the majority have had limited starts and it is hard to overlook DANCING FIGHTER (2), who makes his return after a 26-week absence. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper won on debut back in December over the 1000m and has been trialling well in preparation for this. Purton rides and will jump from barrier three. HOLEE MONEY (10) has a fitness advantage on that horse and comes into this on the back of placing behind Ka Ying Master a fortnight ago. EXCEL DELIGHT (9) was luckless in that race and can be an improver for John Size. That trainer holds a six-win lead over John Moore in the race for the trainer's title with four meets to come after Monday. His lightly raced five-year-old has drawn the grandstand side and will slot in just behind the speed. OVERSUBSCRIBED (7) is a first starter that has trialled well. Monitor betting.

Selections: 2-10-9-7



There are a host of chances in this race and the superior recent form belongs to GRACIOUS RYDER (4), who won over 1400m at Sha Tin two starts ago before just being unable to run down Empire Star in the shadows at his latest. It will be interesting to see what pans out early on and his jockey, Vincent Ho, may look to push forward from the draw. There isn't too much pace inside of him. SHAMPORT (8) will be prominent with Purton on board and has been close enough in three of his past four. HURRICANE HUNTER (10) will need luck from the gate but is a last-start winner and will be running on. BEAUTY LOYAL (1) comes off a forget run when checked out of it at Sha Tin a fortnight ago and performed well prior to that.

Selections: 4-8-10-1



This looks to be a nice race for TOUCH OF LUCK (3) to notch up his second career win. The John Moore-trained galloper was strong here two starts ago and produced a remarkable effort to finish runner-up last time after botching the start in a race won by Lasting Friendship on June 12. He can make amends here and is a leading contender on the day for Purton, who is a lazy 67 wins ahead of his nearest rival (Joao Moreira) in the jockey's premiership. LUCKY WIN WIN (11) is another that shows promise and was a strong winner in weaker grade last time. He will get back and will be running on. ENFOLDING (4) has placed in two of his past three and will get a perfect run from the barrier. He can challenge. LORIZ (5) is a roughie but might get a cheap time of it out in front and is worth including in exotics.

Selections: 3-11-4-5



We rise to Class 3 level and BUDDIES (8) will be out to bounce back after going down to the dominant King's Shield on June 12. In that race, the three-year-old worked hard from the wide gate and couldn't go at the business end, finishing five lengths away as runner up but it is worth noting he pulled up with some issues. He won his two prior to that in dominant fashion and has drawn to save plenty of ground this time around. PING HAI TREASURE (2) comes out of the same race and was stuck wide throughout before running fourth. He is another that has drawn better and was a winner three starts ago. GENERAL DINO (13) gets his chance at this level after a hat-trick of wins in Class 4. He is in the hunt from the kind gate and drops sharply in weight. EARTH TRILOGY (7) shouldn't be too far away.

Selections: 8-2-13-7



The feature of the day is the Hong Kong Reunification Cup and it is THANKS FOREVER (5) that will be out to continue his unbeaten start to his career. The John Moore-trained galloper has won his three starts by a combined margin of over nine lengths and just has to handle the step up to 1200m. He was strong towards the end of his most recent race when winning unchallenged ahead of Multimillion on June 8. BIG PARTY (7) looms as the danger. He won over the 1200m here on May 18 and has had six weeks in between runs. The son of Exceed And Excel will settle close to the lead and gets the steer from Purton. GREEN ENERGY (10) will be saving ground from the inside and just missed out in this grade behind Dragon General at his latest. GLORIOUS SPECTRUM (11) is next best.

Selections: 5-7-10-11



Can the impressive AETHERO (10) go on with the job? The two-year-old steps up from Griffin grade for the first time and has spaced his rivals at his two starts to date, running quick time. He jumps from barrier 14 this time around and will cop more pressure but is a clear top pick for the John Moore stable, who rates the youngster as a future Group class horse. If things don't go the way of the favourite, AEROHAPPINESS (7) might be the one to capitalise. The four-year-old has won or placed in his past three and will get back. He might get the race run to suit. DIAMOND BRILLIANT (13) rose to this grade on June 8 and was a luckless fourth behind Golden Sixty. He carries just 52kg and won't be far away. KING OF HEARTS (2) was third in the same race and is another contender.

Selections: 10-7-13-2



Race 9 sees the Class 3 gallopers stretch out to the 2000m trip and the key chances include CLASSIC BEAUTY (3) and GLORIOUS DRAGON (4). Both have had a couple of months in between runs. Classic Beauty was third behind GRAND CHANCELLOR (1) when attempting to lead all the way on May 5. He was only grabbed in the closing stages on that occasion and meets the winner 2.5kg better at the weights. Purton rides and will look to cross early on from the wide gate. Glorious Dragon has drawn better and worked home well over the 1800m behind Travel First at his most recent outing. The former UK galloper shows promise and was good in a recent trial. Grand Chancellor remains in the hunt and has since finished runner-up over the 1600m in a Class 2. A lightweight contender to consider is I DO (12), who will look to settle handy and can hold on for a first four finish.

Selections: 3-4-1-12



The final event of the day features a number of up and comers and luck will play a part with a couple of those drawing wide. BEAUTY APPLAUSE (10) is a progressive type from the John Size yard and might have the early speed to overcome the gate. He has won two of his four career starts and steps up to this level after winning comfortably over the 1200m here on June 16. PRIVATE ROCKET (7) is another last start winner and can be the danger. He stepped up to the 1400m on June 8 and defeated Guy Dragon. Monitor betting moves for the former Victorian galloper WINNING DELIGHT (5), who finished fourth to Amphitrite at Flemington last year (when known as Subraise) before being sold to HK interests. The booking of Purton is a positive lead. SOLAR WAI WAI (4) didn't have the best of luck at his most recent start and can be an improver from the good draw.

Selections: 10-7-5-4