There was 3.5 lengths covering 11 of the 12 runners here, which says enough, and the race overall rated very poorly. I’m not sure that I want to follow the form out of this one really, but All Best Friends was okay, with a race-best final-200m (11.52), but he couldn’t keep up early which wasn’t ideal. Moonpeaks was three-wide with no cover throughout and had clear excuses.

It was just a fair number posted by the winning debutant Pleasant Endeavour, but with some solid closing sectionals, he is a nice enough prospect. The pressure was quite strong and he kept on late to score, and looks as though there is more to offer. For some reason Star Superior dropped 3-points following this run and is now eligible to drop a class and should be winning in Class 5, so he makes the SID file. There were also excuses for a few others including the still very green Valiant Elegance.

A steady first sectional was set here and then the pace picked up from the 1200m. It was a nice front-running ride on The Rock, but this probably looks around his limit at this stage. It was a much better run from Arthur’s Kingdom, who was only having his third start in Hong Kong, and perhaps he is worth looking at more closely next time.

This was another race that didn’t rate very well. Judy’s Star posted a similar number to what he has recently, which was good enough for him to win off a slow tempo. Pegasus Glory had every chance and was disappointing. Voyage Star set a solid tempo and battled pretty well, so there was some merit to the run, although I’m not sure of the strength of this form overall.

A race of two halves, very fast through the first half which set up nicely for the backmarkers who fought it out. For the grade the race rated okay but it’s hard to say how much can be relied on given the solid tempo. Treasure Chest was excellent given his proximity to the pace, and he should be winning soon. He would be the only one really worth following with Dragon Commander and Fairy Floss having their combined Christmas’ come at once.

This turned out to be a well rated ride in front aboard Skyey Supreme who made every post a winner, and with the final-400m (0.73 seconds) being well inside standard, it was no surprise he managed to win comfortably. So Awesome (too keen) had excuses, while Lady First clearly likes this surface and can be followed. Double Take (SID) ran very well given the tempo and makes the file, as he can settle closer from a better barrier and was very good here.

I’m not sure quite what was going on here… Hongkong Great ran 2.3 seconds faster than standard for the the first three sections of the race and most horses got tired chasing. That said, there is leading at a solid pace and then the suicidal tactics displayed here, and Hongkong Great has run exceptionally well considering. He just (understandably) couldn’t sustain that tempo. As you would expect there is a good figure from this race, but it’s hard to envisage this happening again… well, I hope not!

Note: Joyful Fortune – returned with substantial mucus. We will never really know with Joyful Fortune on this occassion given the post-race findings of mucus, but ultimately he has been a costly galloper for punters. The winner, Trillion Win, posted a good number on debut and looks well worth following. That said, the outside looked the better part of the track to be. Valiant Dream is knocking on the door and should be close to a win soon.

A solid mid-sectional was set but Hinchinlove has progressed nicely third-up to score in good fashion. Whether he can hold that form or not is another matter? Harmony N Blessed ran to his mark. Winning For All (SID) was given too much to do on a day when settling closer was preferred, and he makes the SID file. He closed with a soldi final 200m (11.08- 2nd best at meeting) and could easily pick up one of these kinds of events in the short term.

My Sugar attained a soft lead and was well-ridden in the lead, to score, and the first three around the bend were the first three past-the-post. Then again, they were also the top three in the market! Silver Express was very wayward in the home straight and may well have won if he did everything right. My Sugar was only issued a 6-point penalty for the win, and will be hard to beat again.