This was a Class 5 and the highest rated race on the card! They went hard and kept going and I find it difficult to accept that some of these horses can clock this time when they are so well-exposed. However, in the end, the winner Glory Star was having his first start for Jimmy Ting and has clearly gone to quite different (and higher) level.

On a fast track, it was a well-rated ride in front on the winner Giant Turtle. The Millard pair controlled the speed, settling one-two and gradually wound it up from the front. This made it nearly impossible for those settling in a rearward position. Brave Legend ran on well and pulled up lame, so there were genuine excuses. Dynamic Eagle was okay after overacing most of the way.

There was not much early speed here either and they built the pace from the 800m mark, so once again, it was tough for any runner to run into the finish from back in the field. Impeccable Fellow (blood in trachea) and Heroic Guru (mucus) both had excuses. Overall, the race with a lack of pace didn’t rate overly well, but Gentry closed quite nicely and was arguably the best run in the race.

They ran an “easy” first sectional and a solid final-800m which made this a race of little change. Peace On Earth settled near last and was having his first start for Manfred Man. He ran on well and will strip fitter for the run. He makes the SID file. 

Given the fast running track on the night, with this race’s overall time being outside standard, it was the lowest rating event on the card. However, there is one runner that makes the SID file, Champion Supreme. He was squeezed out at the start and rallied superbly, posting a meeting-best final-400m of 22.20 seconds and really couldnt be fully tested in the concluding stages.

The first four in the running were the first four home and Blitzing was impressive again, but he had all favours in front. The race-shape made it difflult for Picken who closed with excellent splits after missing the start. He makes the SID file and 1400m at Sha Tin would be the place to back him.

This race didn’t rate anything special but Star Of Joy was given a really poor ride. He was very brave in defeat considering he was slow and wide early before being asked to sprint early. He is already on the SID list and is probably the only runner from the race that I would like to follow. Although Good Beauty was better, I would like to see him again before a SID entry.

This race was run at a solid tempo and it was a dominant win to Jade Theatre. Given the amount of early work Sparkling Dragon did, he was quite good in defeat, and much the same could be said about Zero Hedge. Jade Theatre was issued a 10-point penalty for the win, so he is out of the class and will find it much tougher to win in Class 2.