Latest news with #SeaSapphire
New Paper
30-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
May 31 Hong Kong (Sha Tin) form analysis
Race 1 (1,400m) 1 Circuit Mighty makes his Class 5 debut and, while winless in 734 days, he has returned to form at the bottom of Class 4 in recent starts. Barrier 4 ensures an ideal map for Zac Purton, who takes the ride. 9 Lucky Generations was eased back early from barrier 12 last time and settled last before winding up strongly into sixth. He is starting to make his mark, now that he has slid down the ratings. 3 Gluck Racer needs a bit of luck from barrier 12 but commands respect on the downgrade as a two-time winner from four attempts in Class 5, and the drop back in trip from 1,800m also checks boxes. He is one to start following again. 8 Flying Romantic has been hinting at a breakthrough win in recent runs and now third-up, he should be ready to fire. Race 2 (1,200m) 5 Flowing Riches has trialled up well ahead of his debut and, although awkwardly drawn in barrier 10, he looks worth a punt first-up at a decent price. 6 Straight To Glory made a good impression on debut over 1,000m with a close-up fourth. He receives a jockey upgrade with Hugh Bowman taking over and draws a nice inside gate as he rises to what looks a more suitable distance. 1 Courier Aladdin looked a horse going places after a smart debut win last season but disappointed into 11th in his only run this term. He has had breathing issues, which remain a query, but now resumes for a new stable having transferred to Manfred Man. 3 Lucky Archangel maps for a soft run from his inside draw and may pinch a place, as he did two starts back at this course and distance when third to Sea Sapphire. Race 3 (1,200m) 3 Diriya was a close-up fourth on debut after being held up from the 400m until passing the 300m. Natural improvement second-up and barrier 1 can see him take a positive step forward. 1 Lucky Symphony needs to beat another wide draw to score, as he did last start when breaking through impressively. He remains a key player. 9 Ka Ying Warrior resumed with a late-fading fifth to Lucky Symphony. Purton takes the reins second-up and, from an inside draw, he maps to get every chance. 5 Incredible Moment was not beaten far after leading in two runs at Happy Valley. He is third-up now and the switch to Sha Tin could unlock further improvement. Race 4 (1,650m) 9 Meepmeep backed up his Class 5 maiden win with a strong showing back up in grade, charging home late into second from the widest draw. If he can settle closer in the run, as he did when winning two back, he is right in this, even if he has to contend with barrier 11. 5 Precision Goal has been a model of consistency at this course and trip this season. While he has climbed in the ratings, he continues to run to his mark. 14 Lucky Impact blew the start last time, and now finds himself at the foot of Class 4 on the minimum weight, getting his shot before dropping into Class 5. 1 New Forest steps into Class 4 for the first time and looks the likely leader. Some of his Class 3 runs have been solid from the front, including a third to Never Peter Out five runs ago. Race 5 (1,400m) 1 Dazzling Fit is a horse going places. After two encouraging runs over 1,200m, he broke through impressively when moving to 1,400m last start. Just a three-year-old, he looks set to win his way into Class 3 and is one to keep tabs on for next season. 3 Solid Win, who scored five starts ago in a race of this nature, did not quite measure up in four Class 3 attempts. But, back in Class 4 and off a strong trial, he looks ready to re-enter the mix, especially with barrier 1 in his favour. 5 Gallant Epoch had a wide gate last time and was posted without cover throughout before fading to 11th. He is better than that and can give a sight with a softer run. 4 Mr Cool comes into gate 10 after copping barrier 13 last start, where he was only fair from back in the field following his second-up maiden win. His trial form suggests he can bounce back. Race 6 (1,600m)THE LION ROCK TROPHY (G3) 6 Sunlight Power ran a slashing third to Red Lion in the Champions Mile. Back under handicap conditions, he looks well placed with a favourable swing in the weights to Red Lion, giving him an edge to pick up his first feature race. 1 Red Lion shapes as an interesting proposition following his surprise Champions Mile win, where he was gifted a soft time in front. He has shown tactical versatility in the past and, from barrier 1, he will not have many excuses. 9 Johannes Brahms resumes off a closing sixth in the Derby. The mile looks his ideal distance, as seen in his big win three runs ago. 4 Beauty Joy is a hard horse to catch on his day but, with Purton on from gate 4 and under handicap conditions, he should go well. He ran third in this race last year. Race 7 (1,200m) 8 Stellar Swift has turned in two strong efforts back in Class 3 over 1,400m since winning three runs ago in Class 4. Most recently, he flashed home into seventh from a wide draw. The drop back in trip and soft draw give him his chance. 1 Masterofmyuniverse made amends for a luckless third two starts ago with a dominant win last time as Purton climbed back aboard. Not done in the ratings yet, he remains the one to beat. 4 Infinite Resolve makes his debut for the Mark Newnham stable and has caught the eye in his trials. He is one to keep a close watch on. 3 Super Legends, with the apprentice claim, may take up the running in a race lacking early speed and, if given a soft lead, could prove tough to reel in. Race 8 (1,200m)THE SHA TIN VASE (G3) 2 Helios Express will be all the rage to get back into the winner's enclosure for an overdue and deserved win with no Ka Ying Rising, having placed seven times behind him this season. 3 Lucky With You was up against it at Group 1 level last start but had excuses, covering ground when taken wide mid-race. Better suited under these conditions and can bounce back to his earlier form. 5 Patch Of Theta also gets conditions to suit. While he has yet to win at 1,200m, he has placed in all three runs over the trip and looks an interesting proposition dropping back in distance. 6 Magic Control led too quickly from an outside gate last start and was outclassed in Group 1 company. He is better placed in this grade. With a more measured ride like the one that saw him win four runs back, he can turn things around. Race 9 (1,400m) 5 Yuen Long Elite has a good draw and should find the front with relative ease. He has been itching to break through for his first Class 3 win and looks capable of going one better than his last two runner-up efforts in strong races. 1 Crossborderpegasus is a very nice horse with three wins from four starts, but he is proving a nightmare ride for his jockeys by doing plenty wrong in his races. A gear tweak is applied, but he still overdoes things in his trials. 3 Everyone's Star broke through for his first Hong Kong win at attempt four last start in a slowly run race that suited him perfectly. He can win again, but barrier 12 will make him earn it. 7 California Bay had a wide draw on debut and was ridden quietly, but he found the line well into eighth and was not beaten far. He maps closer from a better gate and can acquit himself well. Race 10 (1,650m) 11 Talents Ambition rises in class but he is also second-up, so should strip fitter. His swift turn of foot makes him hard to hold out from his low draw. 6 Soleil Fighter can show good early dash on his first spin on Sha Tin's all-weather track, which will be an advantage, and it does look a surface that will suit him. He raced twice on alternative surfaces before import, yielding one win, which adds confidence. 2 Californiatotality is aiming for a treble after notching his seventh win last start. He is mostly untested on the surface, racing just once on it back in February 2024 where he was not disgraced. 3 Capital Delight loves to get back and charge home over the 1,200m on this track. His luckless second to Sword Point four runs ago is a good reference for this. Race 11 (1,600m) 9 Flying Luck has had two promising runs in Class 3. He drops back to his best distance after a strong third over 1,800m and, if able to make use of his mid draw early, will be hard to hold out. 1 Winning Gold showed a change of tactics last start when rolling forward to sit handy and proved too tough to edge out. Similar tactics will need to be applied again from barrier 10. 7 Magnificent Nine gets the services of Andrea Atzeni and barrier 3. He raced too keenly when a closing fourth to Winning Gold last time, due to the slow tempo. 4 Gentlemen Legacy did not disgrace on debut with a close-up seventh. He will enjoy more ground second-up.
South China Morning Post
06-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Eustace celebrates first Hong Kong treble at Sha Tin: ‘it's very exciting'
David Eustace celebrates the first treble of his Hong Kong career at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Regency Happy Star, Good Luck Babe and the brown-lamped Sea Sapphire deliver British handler a maiden three-timer in the city David Eustace's successful first season in Hong Kong reached a new high when the British handler scored his first treble in the city at Sha Tin on Sunday. Boasting several strong fancies among his team of eight, Eustace struck with Regency Happy Star and Good Luck Babe before one of his least-fancied runners pulled off a late plunge to cap the stable's three-timer. Sea Sapphire was brown-lamped late in betting in the Class Four The CUHK Alumni Cup (1,200m), firming from $28 to $13 before making all under Ben Thompson. A prolific Group One winner in Australia in partnership with Ciaron Maher, Eustace has made an instant impression in Hong Kong with 23 wins in his first campaign. 'It's very exciting,' Eustace said of his three-timer. 'I thought we were coming here with a strong team and probably our first three runners proved that, with two winners and a second [with Dazzling Fit]. '[Sea Sapphire] is a nice surprise. They've all raced well and consistently, so it's very pleasing.' Sent to the front from gate nine, Sea Sapphire kept finding to shrug off a determined challenge from the $3.2 favourite Akashvani. He scored by a neck as the first two home broke well clear of their rivals, with third-placed Lucky Archangel beaten just over three lengths. On his fourth run since switching from the Pierre Ng Pang-chi stable, Sea Sapphire bounced back from a disappointing last-start 12th at Happy Valley in January. 'To be honest, I thought he was coming into the race in good form,' Eustace said. 'His trial on the grass was very pleasing and a lot better than his trials on the dirt, where he doesn't really show his best. We had a setback earlier in the season just through health and his run prior to his last one actually had a lot of merit. 'Obviously I thought he would improve with the run, but the race set up really well and he got a beautiful ride by Ben. 'He's a horse who doesn't need too much training, he doesn't carry a huge amount of weight so it's just a case of keeping him fresh and well and healthy, which he is.' Thompson, who rode Sea Sapphire on his previous two starts before Sunday, wasn't shocked by the gelding's second career victory. 'It's no surprise for him to beat a handy field. Especially Akashvani, who was there with us the entire way,' the Australian said. '[Sea Sapphire] had 118 pounds, obviously for a very in-form stable, and he duly saluted.' Another stable transfer, Regency Happy Star, notched his third win from six starts for Eustace with a thrilling triumph in the Class Five Chung Chi Alumni Handicap (1,400m). Sent off the $2.5 favourite, Regency Happy Star had a cosy run on the leader's back from gate one for Alexis Badel and prevailed by a short head from Lucky Man. 'He's had a terrific season – he's just gaining confidence and relaxing very well now in his races,' Eustace said of the former Michael Chang Chi-wang and Tony Cruz-trained galloper. 'It's going to start to get a bit tougher, but hopefully we can have one more go in Class Five.' Good Luck Babe was the middle leg of Eustace's treble, leading all the way under Karis Teetan to beat Matsu Victor narrowly in the Class Four United Alumni Handicap (1,600m). Eustace wasn't far off winning four consecutive races on Sunday, with Dazzling Fit charging from near last to finish second to Top Throne in the second section of the Class Four New Asia Alumni Handicap (1,200m).
