Sweet In Defeat

Sha Tin – AWT (M16) – Wednesday, 31 October 2018


By Hutchi

11/11/2018

The Sha Tin all-weather track (AWT) was presented in GOOD condition. There was a strip of dirt from the rail to about two metres out that was a fast lane. It was very difficult to make much impression if racing wider than that, so I have given credit accordingly to those that did. It was another example as to the perils of the dirt track. It can produce a pronounced bias that can make a mockery of the form.


RACE 1: C5 - 1650m
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

A solid tempo was set but there was a red-hot rail bias that played in the winners favour. Mi Blanco was three-wide the trip at best, and to run fourth was excellent, albeit some margin from the winner. He’ll make the Sweet In Defeat (SID) file.

RACE 2: C5 - 1200m
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

Scarborough Fair was checked at the start and blundered, and although he ended up on the better part of the track there were clear excuses for him. The runner-up Dragon Warrior raced three-wide without cover and was excellent running second – he looks a winner waiting to happen for rookie trainer Jimmy Ting. He makes the SID file.

RACE 3: C2 - 1650M
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

The bias was seen to full effect here with a brutal tempo and the leader eventually winning. I’m not sure how much there is to take out of this race, although the runner up, Glorious Artist, wasn’t exactly on the best part of the track, he did get the pace to suit.

RACE 4: C4 - 1200M
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

Another leader on a fast tempo and another winner in Viva Council. Nice Kick was outstanding covering ground and closing well against the pattern and he posted the 10th-best final 200m of the meeting. Cheer Win (23.49) clocked the 6th-best final-400m and closed very wide on the track and makes the SID file. 

RACE 5: C4 - 1200M
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

This race didn’t rate very well and there wasn’t a lot to take from it. However, Dark Knight did produce the second-best final-400m (22.96) of the evening after failing to keep up through the first half of the race. He might be one to consider over a mile or further, but we probably need to see him one more time.

RACE 6: C4 - 1800M
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

The tempo was very fast through the second and third sections of this 1800m race which culminated in a runner further back in the pack, but still on the rail, winning the race, Good Fit. Hay Run was very good in defeat covering ground and getting a check, but I’m not going to read too much in to this event going forward.

RACE 7: C3 - 1650M
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

This was the second-best rated race on the card and Elusive State on the right part of the track (rail) had the event run to suit and a dream run through out. Hang’s Decision missed the start badly and ran on well, but he isn’t easy to catch. Not much learned here really, but the winner Elusive State has certainly improved since joining Tony Millard.

RACE 8: C3 - 1200M
Course: AWT     Going: GOOD

Lean Perfection settled four-wide without cover and was brave right to the line! He still clocked the third-best final-200m of the race after a torrid run and clearly makes the SID file. He will be very hard to beat next time. Go Public ran against the pattern and tempo and was also huge posting the best closing splits on the card.


Sweet In Defeat "Black Bookers"


  • Mi Blanco

  • Dragon Warrior

  • Cheer Win

  • Lean Perfection