Hong Kong Monday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin begins Monday at 4:00 a.m. EDT. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 6 Colourful Winner, 1 Metro Warrior, 5 Amazing Fun, 2 Cheval Valiant

Race 2: 9 Jazz Club, 11 Speedstar, 10 Perfect Peach, 7 Medic Elite

Race 3: 2 Gangnam Star, 4 Aromatica, 11 Precision Goal, 13 Ho Ho Star

Race 4: 3 Ka Ying Victory, 2 Hasten Delight, 5 Alpha One, 6 Flying High

Race 5: 6 Harold Win, 7 Lucky Impact, 9 Sight Supreme, 8 Perfecto Moments

Race 6: 5 Supreme Lucky, 7 Superb Boy, 2 Flaming Rabbit, 4 Wonder Kit

Race 7: 12 Affirm, 5 Flying Luck, 9 Mr Valiant, 1 Nebraskan

Race 8: 8 Forerunner, 5 Solid Win, 10 Happy Daily, 7 Grand Boss

Race 9: 2 Fighting Machine, 3 Super Infinity, 7 Mighty Strength, 11 Happydearhappydeer

Race 10: 4 Bottomuptogether, 5 Divano, 14 Euro Rocks, 3 Prawns Eleven

Race 11: 6 Second To None, 4 The Heir, 9 Pray For Mir, 12 Ariel

Race 1: Racing Goes On 1000m Handicap

No. 6 Colourful Winner can improve after his solid fifth placing on debut. Expecting a big forward step here following that eye-catching effort over this course and distance. He’s worth a shot at odds. No. 1 Metro Warrior does his best racing over this trip. He’s suited in the grade and the stable has been in very good form all season. No. 5 Amazing Fun makes his debut and receives a favorable set of hands to guide him: Zac Purton. No. 2 Cheval Valiant is another who loves the course and distance. He should lead. Don’t discount.

Race 2: World-Class Leadership 1400m Handicap (2nd Section)

No. 9 Jazz Club has been knocking on the door for a while. He’s suited in this grade and his most recent efforts have been sound. He’s ready to win and should take a powering of beating here. No. 11 Speedstar is lightly raced but does have plenty of ability. The inside gate affords him options and his pairing with Hugh Bowman enhances confidence. No. 10 Perfect Peach has proven consistent of late and he can make his presence felt here. Karis Teetan knows the horse and he’s not without his chance. No. 7 Medic Elite is next in line.

Race 3: Uncompromising Integrity 1400m Handicap (1st Section)

No. 2 Gangnam Star dips in grade. His latest effort in Class 5 saw him miss narrowly and if he manages to replicate that run here then he should prove hard to beat. The inside gate has him favored, too. No. 4 Aromatica turned his form around last start. He’s always shown potential and his latest outing suggests he’s nearing a first win. Main danger. No. 11 Precision Goal is likely to roll forward under Zac Purton in his bid to register another win. He’s drawn ideally. No. 13 Ho Ho Star is next in line. He closed off nicely in his most recent outing.

Race 4: The CMA 90th Anniversary Cup Handicap

No. 3 Ka Ying Victory is in super form. He’s seeking a third straight win and does shape as the hardest to beat here as he aims to extend his streak. No. 2 Hasten Delight is lightly raced, although he does already boast the one win from four starts. He gets an opportunity. No. 5 Alpha One makes his Hong Kong debut after stringing together several impressive performances in Australia. He appears forward enough to make his presence felt. No. 6 Flying High has consistency on his side and it wouldn’t surprise to see him outperform expectations. 

Race 5: Serving The Community 1200m Handicap (1st Section)

No. 6 Harold Win has only had two starts, although he’s looked pretty good in both of them when finishing fourth. He can take another step forward here and might just be a little bit of value as he shoots for breakthrough victory. No. 7 Lucky Impact makes his debut. His most recent trial was solid and his pairing with Hugh Bowman catches the eye. He looks ready to run a big race first-up. No. 9 Sight Supreme has mixed his form so far, however, he is worth respecting, especially with Zac Purton electing to ride. No. 8 Perfecto Moments is next best.

Race 6: The Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap

No. 5 Supreme Lucky won well three starts ago and has since remained in solid condition. He’s a nice horse and there actually appears to be more improvement to come from him. He gets a super chance here. No. 7 Superb Boy arguably should have won more races than one this season. He’s finished second four times this campaign, including last start. He’ll be going close once again. No. 2 Flaming Rabbit can roll forward from gate one. He’ll relish getting back to this distance. No. 4 Wonder Kit is next in line. He has consistency on his side.

Race 7: The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap (2nd Section)

No. 12 Affirm can find the front early in a bid to offset the wide draw. He’s taken running down at times and has shown that he’s ever so close to a first win. He’ll take some reeling in. No. 5 Flying Luck charged home on debut to grab sixth. That effort was eye-catching and the added distance should suit. He’ll be coming hard and late. No. 9 Mr Valiant is a one-time winner. He’s been solid this term and gets his shot from the gate. Zac Purton sticks with No. 1 Nebraskan, who is clearly open to further improvement. Keep safe.

Race 8: Continuous Development 1400m Handicap (1st Section)

No. 8 Forerunner is racing well and he deserves another win. Hugh Bowman retains the ride and the inside gate is an advantage, especially in a tricky contest such as this. No. 5 Solid Win did his best work late last start and he’s open to advancing further. He looks well placed against this group and should be taking another step forward. No. 10 Happy Daily has dropped to a competitive rating. He was without any luck last start and is clearly a much, much better horse than that effort. Big watch. No. 7 Grand Boss is next in line.

Race 9: Riding High Together 1400m Handicap (2nd Section)

No. 2 Fighting Machine has returned following a short break in excellent order. He gets another chance here and pairs favorably with Zac Purton, who retains the ride. He can improve and should take beating. No. 3 Super Infinity is lightly raced but has placed twice in both outings. He boasts form behind several super talents and is expected to be fighting out the finish. No. 7 Mighty Strength turned his form around to grab sixth last start. He caught the eye that day and commands respect. No. 11 Happydearhappydeer has claims.   

Race 10: Sportsmanship 1200m Handicap

No. 4 Bottomuptogether is unbeaten and seeking a third straight win. He’s a serious talent and this is his race to lose. He draws ideally and gets Zac Purton aboard once more. No. 5 Divano is the most obvious challenger. He’s a two-time winner from three starts and has the inside draw on his side. No. 14 Euro Rocks slots in light and is not without his chance. He’s shown at times that he has what it takes to mix it with this sort of opposition. No. 3 Prawns Eleven gets an opportunity.

Race 11: Better Future 1600m Handicap

No. 6 Second To None stands out in the finale. He goes about his racing well and appears capable of adding to his pair of wins here. He’s still improving and there is no reason to suggest why he won’t handle the step up in trip. No. 4 The Heir has plenty of potential, although he is becoming a costly horse for supporters having placed four times from six starts without winning. No. 9 Pray For Mir finished fourth on debut. He can improve and clearly has plenty of potential. No. 12 Ariel can find the front and give this group something to reel in.

Declan Schuster grew up loving the sport and doing the form after Pierro won the 2012 Golden Slipper. His love for racing in Asia and the puzzle of finding winners took him to Hong Kong, where he is employed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. His favorite racecourse is Happy Valley.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.