The Sha Tin Review: Sunday February 25
The TechTeam reviews all the races from the previous meeting at Sha Tin, offering expert analysis and useful insights.
Weather and track condition.
A cold and windy day with a 10km head wind at noon. There was no relevant rain affecting the track surface and there was no discernible bias with midfield and on pace runners figuring in the finishes.
Race 1 🏆#1 Kimberley
The pace here suited midfield runners who filled the first four placings.
Race 2 🏆#2 Super Sunny Sing
Small fields can be very tricky to bet on and not much to come out of this race with the last horse being beaten only 1.3 lengths.
Race 3 🏆#2 Little Fairy
Follow Star of Glory who ran 2nd as 1st 3rd and 4th all closed from worse than midfield. He ran his first 600m in a fast 35.71 but still kicked strongly in the straight to be just beaten. Star of Glory is now very well rated after his below par runs this season.
Race 4 🏆#10 Champion Instinct
As predicted by the TechTeam Champion Instinct travelled well in the run outside the leader for a solid win. Is he progressive? Time will tell.
Race 5 🏆#7 Call Me Glorious
Call Me Glorious jumped awkwardly and then went quickly early, (12.99, 10.46). He then showed nice turn of foot from the 400m to the 200m and is one to follow as he progresses through the classes.
Race 6 🏆#12 Loyal Bo Bo
The best run of the day by Loyal Bo Bo will see him win though to Class 2 this season. He performed at both ends running out in 13.24, 10.07!! His first 600m in 34.51. Running these early sectionals he should have stopped in the straight, but no, as he ran the fastest time from the 400m to the 200m, the mark of a quality horse. The Tech Team recommends that he is to be bet at every start until he is beaten.
Race 7 🏆#1 Romantic Warrior
What a fabulous two horse war between horse and jockey. We had Voyage Bubble running 128, again a mark he has achieved in his last two Group I performances. Romantic Warrior rated 129 below his best rating of 134 which he achieved in the International races in 2022. It would seem therefore that both of these two great horses are open to further improvement. It should be noted that all other runners are not Group I performers.
Race 8 🏆#2 Universal Horizon
Very little to be said here as the first eight placegetters finished within one length of the winner so not a strong form race.
Race 9 🏆#3 Gorgeous Win
Gorgeous Win was so well drawn here that he looked to be too hard to toss pre-race, lobbing in a lovely spot 1×1 as the pace steadied mid-race, he picked up nicely in the straight to grab a winning break. On our figures he is very well placed to win in Class 2 at his next start.
Race 10 🏆#4 Young Champion
We classed this Class 3 content as running to the average rating for a class 3 event. Of the favoured runners Green N White was a little disappointing as he cruised up to win but was clearly outgunned by the winner. It would appear that his future lies in class 3 as he is outgraded if he were to move up to Class 2, though if he were to find a full step of improvement he would be competitive. We will have to wait and see.
More from the TechTeam on Sunday with the Sha Tin Report. With all the tips and avoids from what is shaping as another great meeting!
Preview of the 2024 Golden Slipper