Sweet In Defeat
Sha Tin (M11) – Saturday, 13 October 2018
By Hutchi
22/10/2018
This was a “mixed” meeting at Sha Tin where the turf track was presented in GOOD condition with the running rail in the “C” position. The AWT was rated GOOD also.
Congratulations to Vincent Ho who rode four winners on the card! It is no mean feat and the first occasion he’s done so in his career.
RACE 1: C4 - 1000m
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
They went relatively slowly for the first half of this event and it didn’t rate well overall. Having said that, it was a nice debut from Hainan Star who makes the SID file as he should find a win in a similar contest. Perhaps Big Party deserves another chance as well.
RACE 2: C3 - 1800m
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
Note from Incident Report: Beauty Day lost a plate at start. Cheerful Giggles returned with ‘blood in the trachea’. The pace was incredibly slow for the first couple of sections and built from the 800m. Given a clumped finish and muddling pace, in conjuction with issues with a couple of runners it’s difficult to find much to take from the race.
RACE 3: C5 - 1200M
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
They basically went on standard throughout in this one, so the win from Glittering Armour was sound. He posted the sixth-best final-400m (22.43) of the meeting. He was only issued a four-point penalty for the win and in the same class he can win again. The overall race rated fairly.
RACE 4: C4 - 1200M
Course: AWT Going: GOOD
This was a solid win by Just Not Listening who rolled along and made every post a winner going a decent looking tempo. However, it rated on average as the overall time would suggest. Sunshine Universe ran with some merit posting the best final-200m and perhaps after two seasons in the doldrums he might be ready to show something, but I’d like to see him again. Note from Incident Report: Giddy Giddy was found to be lame the next day.
RACE 5: C4 - 1400M
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
This race rated quite well following a solid speed from the 1200m to the 400m. There were plenty of forgive runs for those on-pace, but My Winner completely blew the start and still ran very well to finish third. He makes the SID file along with Pearl Champion who was never fully tested and might have gone close to winning.
RACE 6: C4 - 1200M
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
They pretty much went on standard here the first two-thirds of the race before dashing home inside standard. Precious Sweetie (already in the SID file) ran the best final-400m of the meeting after being restrained early. He is ready to win and doesn’t need to be that far back. There was no fluke about the win of Happy Tour at his second career start. He was issued an eight-point penalty and progressed nicely from his debut and this win rated far better. He will be hard to beat again. Monkey Jewellery was a touch disappointing but ended up running to a similar mark as his debut.
RACE 7: C3 - 1200M
Course: AWT Going: GOOD
Go Public made it back-to-back wins over the 1200m AWT when scoring late – he clearly adores this circuit. It will be tougher for him now he’s up in grade. Nuclear Power tried to force a passage at a key stage but probably did himself more harm in the end. He can make the SID file and needs an AWT race over this trip.
RACE 8: C2 - 1600M
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
This race rated well and was set up for backmarkers with a solid 1200m to 800m with three horses at the head of the field sorting out their order. Ultimately, the first two home stayed out of that battle and benefitted late. Circuit Number Two was brave being one of the initial three and makes the SID file as the only on-pacer still there fighting until late.
RACE 9: C2 - 1200M
Course: AWT Going: GOOD
There was a brutal early tempo in this one, but Ugly Warrior was a deserved winner. There were a few forgive runs for those that sat on-pace but Mega Red closed well following a year off and if he stays sound he can be comeptitive on this surface.
RACE 10: C3 - 1400M
Course: TURF "C" Going: GOOD
The pace gradually wound up in this race so fair play to the winner who deserved the success. However, not a great deal to take from this race overall.
Sweet In Defeat "Black Bookers"
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Hainan Star
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Pearl Champion
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My Winner
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Nuclear Power
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Circuit Number Two