Dick Powell HKIR Selections:
Race 4 Vase (1:10a ET)
2 Bubble Gift
10 Stone Age
1 Broome
Race 5 Sprint (1:50a ET)
4 Lucky Sweyness
6 Naran Huleg
12 Sught Success
Race 7 Mile (3:00a ET)
2 California Spangle
1 Golden Sixty
7 Law of Indices
Race 8 Cup (3:50a ET)
6 Danon the Kid
2 Romantic Warrior
1 Panthalassa
Declan Schuster: SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, December 11, 2022)
Race 1: #10 Perfetto, #2 Wide Blue Yonder, #1 Circuit Mighty, #12 Adefill
Race 2: #8 Nicetobemet, #2 Mighty Stride, #1 The Hulk, #12 Turbo Power
Race 3: #6 Ready To Win, #4 Victor The Winner, #14 Dragon’s Luck, #2 Maldives
Race 4: #10 Stone Age, #3 Glory Vase, #9 Win Marilyn, #6 Senor Toba
Race 5: #13 Meikei Yell, #4 Lucky Sweynesse, #11 Courier Wonder, #14 Resistencia
Race 6: #3 Sweet Encounter, #11 Round The Earth, #4 Woodfire Bro, #2 S J Tourbillon
Race 7: #1 Golden Sixty, #2 California Spangle, #4 Schnell Meister, #3 Salios
Race 8: #12 Lei Papale, #2 Romantic Warrior, #3 Jack d’Or, #1 Panthalassa
Race 9: #6 Voyage Bubble #10 Golden Express, #4 Atullibigeal, #14 Tamra Blitz
Race 10: #3 Blaze Warrior, #12 King Land, #4 The Irishman, #2 Lucky With You
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Race 1: Beauty Generation Handicap
#10 Perfetto looks to have ability. He’s done well in the lead-up to his return and this race looks like a suitable starting point for him first-up this term. #2 Wide Blue Yonder draws awkwardly but is in the right vein of form. He can mix his form but on his day he’s more than up to winning this one. #1 Circuit Mighty won well last start. He’s racing well and appears capable of taking another step forward. #12 Adefill draws ideally and has more ability than his record suggests. Next best.
Race 2: Falvelon Handicap
#8 Nicetobemet looks like an exciting prospect. He makes his debut here and he has caught the eye of Zac Purton as he chases a first-up win. #2 Mighty Stride is after back-to-back wins. He won well on debut and also shapes as an exciting prospect. #1 The Hulk gets the services of Joao Moreira. Expect him to be charging late, even though he steps away from a wide draw. #12 Turbo Power is consistent and has claims. He draws ideally and does pair favourably with Vincent Ho.
Race 3: Lord Kanaloa Handicap
#6 Ready To Win closed off nicely last start, enough so to suggest that a win was very close. He’s in the right vein of form and the inside draw is very, very favourable here as a number of key chances in this have wide barriers. #4 Victor The Winner returned to winning ways in style last start. Expect he tries to cross from the draw – while this will be tough – and get every chance close to the speed. #14 Dragon’s Luck has also been handed a tricky gate. #2 Maldives has claims.
Race 4: G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
#10 Stone Age comes into this race following a strong second-placed effort at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Still only a three-year-old, this is the right form and with even luck he should get every chance to win, especially form gate one under Ryan Moore. #3 Glory Vase thrives in Hong Kong as he chases an unprecedented third LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. He will be in the finish. #9 Win Marilyn brings the right form from Japan. Keep safe. #6 Senor Toba can close off for the home team.
Race 5: G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
#13 Meikei Yell is a lightly raced filly with a stack of class. She’s incredibly slick on her day and pairing with James McDonald this weekend will ensure her of every chance, especially as she steps away from the wide draw. #4 Lucky Sweynesse is shaping as the best from the home team. He was superb last start at Group 2 level and he can take another step forward here. #11 Courier Wonder is better than his form suggests. Take an each way ticket at huge odds on him. #14 Resistencia is next best. She’ll be running on.
Race 6: Jim And Tonic Handicap
#3 Sweet Encounter is a three-time winner from four starts. He’s racing in sublime form and this field doesn’t look capable of getting in his way. He was arrogant when winning last start and a similar performance is expected here. #11 Round The Earth is progressing well. Expect he can take another step forward this weekend. #4 Woodfire Bro got up in trip and won well last start. He can figure once more. #2 S J Tourbillon mixes his form but is a threat over this distance.
Race 7: G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
There’s little to split the top two in the handicap. Siding with #1 Golden Sixty narrowly. He was impressive first-up and with added improvement he shapes as the one to beat. Still, #2 California Spangle should hold second favouritism and will be the value in the race, especially as he makes his own luck out in front. Take a ticket on him to lead and try to kick on with this one for trainer Tony Cruz who has a strong record here. #4 Schnell Meister has the class to contend. He has claims. #3 Salios is next best.
Race 8: G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
#12 Lei Papale’s sole run in Hong Kong saw her finish a luckless sixth in this race last year. She can atone for that effort – while it will be an incredible challenge – with gate one and Joao Moreira engaged. Chances are she’s over the odds. #2 Romantic Warrior is the local circuit’s star. He’s still not done with his rise yet and his first-up win was nothing short of impressive. #3 Jack d’Or is classy and is expected to figure prominently, especially from a positive gate. #1 Panthalassa will make the running. Big watch.
Race 9: Maurice Handicap
#6 Voyage Bubble is a very straightforward horse. He gets the draw, he gets Joao Moreira and with that first-up run under his belt, he can win. #10 Golden Express has the class and will continue to improve in Hong Kong. Expect he takes another step forward here. #4 Atullibigeal is improving and he should be a bit of value. Take an each way ticket on him to steamroll this group from the tail of the field. #14 Tamra Blitz has shown consistency and has claims at the bottom of the handicap.
Race 10: Highland Reel Handicap
#3 Blaze Warrior narrowly missed in a strong race last start. Expect he can bring that form here and prove far too good, especially with Ryan Moore engaged this time. #12 King Land is performing well as a winner two runs back. He slots in light and gets his opportunity. #4 The Irishman draws well and gets his chance. Blake Shinn knows the horse and it’s expected that he does his best work late. #2 Lucky With You is a classy type. He’s in the right vein of form to contend again.
