A very quickly-run half mile between the 1200m and 400m helped Smiling Pride and the blinkers also did the trick. Management Star blew the start and ran on quite well, he looks close to a win. Overall, this race rated quite reasonably but most of the field were well-defeated. However, based on the win, Smiling Pride should be competitive up in grade with a light weight.

This was the lowest graded race on the card and the worst rating race as well. The field compressed around the bend and the swoopers figured prominently, when in reality they shouldn’t have been able to. I have my doubts about the form from this Class 5 event.

Hard Promise made every post a winner, set a good tempo and received a 6-point penalty for the win. That seems about right. Although Dionysus Collin was 85-1 and just having his second career start he actually posted the 13th-best final-200m (11.52) at the meeting. However, he didn’t have have any early gate speed and might need another run or two before following seriously. Mr Darthvegar started $2.50 and ran okay – he might just be looking for 1400m+.

This race didn’t rate very well at all. That said, Lakeshore Eagle overcame an awkward position to reel off the fourth-best final-200m (11.25) at the meeting and given the weight,  he carried that is a solid performance. He goes up in grade now but that might be a positive. The winner was a touch keen and still managed to win on debut and obviously has a fair amount of upside. No need to look much deeper than this. 

There was some merit to the win of Picken who travelled wide without cover. This race didn’t rate as anything special but the winner remains in the grade and can win again. Noble De Love is close to a win whilst it was a much better run from Happy Hour although I’d like to see him again.

This race rated well, the winner Big Party looks smart and it’s backed-up by the clock. Grade One (SID) was excellent running second, producing the third-best final-400m (22.16) and whilst the winner was far too good, he was excellent in defeat and can win soon. Honest Way went very wide on the turn and also ran well.

This race rated about average for the class off an even tempo. Gamechangers (SID) arguably should have won, he wasn’t tested at any stage and appeared to have plenty to offer. Interestingly, the winner Young Legend was scoped and had ‘blood in the trachea’. But Gamechangers is the main one to follow here considering he hasn’t won in Hong Kong as of yet, whilst Top Score ran on quite well. 

This was some win from Regency Legend, off a reasonably steady tempo he posted the best 400m (21.86) and 200m (11.06) of the meeting. This performance rated even better than his debut. It was also a career-best return from Country Star. The winner is leaving every indication he is up to Gr.1 standard but also returned with ‘blood in the trachea’ which is of some concern moving forward. 

There was solid, sustained speed throughout this race. Conte’s win rated almost identically to his previous win. Further Group racing beckons for him in the short term. I’m not sure where What Else But You will compete next but he too looks ready to win based on his closing sections that came off a strong tempo. 

Note: Pakistan Friend was found to be lame the day after racing. This race rated quite well and Vincy (SID), considering this was just his second Hong Kong start, was excellent in running second. He should improve again off that run and can win in the short term. The form should stack up all right out of this race. 

This race was run at an absolute dawdle in front and anything that sat worse than in the first four during the running was going to find it impossible to get into the finish. This race couldn’t rate well with the sedate sectionals, but it was a nice win all the same to Waikuku. He might be even better off a solid tempo and will obviously appreciate competing over more ground.