Hong Kong Wednesday morning: Picks, analysis, free PPs

Hong Kong racing is from Sha Tin this Wednesday morning at 7:15 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: 3 All For St Paul’s, 4 Adefill, 1 Telecom Fighters, 5 Yellowfin

Race 2: 5 Diamond Soars, 12 Dashing Glory, 4 Cool Blue, 2 Speedy Fortune

Race 3: 10 Triumphant Warrior, 8 Flying Dragon, 2 Sunny Darling, 9 Sky Song

Race 4: 2 Go Hero, 4 Charming Steed, 7 Perfect Peach, 5 Medic Elite

Race 5: 10 Strive For Glory, 3 Self Improvement, 11 Crazy Treasure, 5 Prime Mortar

Race 6: 6 Lucky Banner, 11 Brave Witness, 7 Starship Eighty, 1 Kimberley

Race 7: 1 Sing Dragon, 3 Victory Moments, 11 Lightning Bolt, 5 Capital Delight

Race 8: 4 Perfect Team, 3 Apache Pass, 2 Woodfire Bro, 1 Berlin Tango

Race 1: Chun Shek Handicap

No. 3 All For St Paul’s is dangerous out in front. Expecting he’ll roll forward and give this group something to reel in, which is where he performs at his best. One to beat. No. 4 Adefill is a nice horse and he goes about his racing well. He rises to Class 2, although the weight relief is an advantage. No. 1 Telecom Fighters can press forward. He has the class and recent form to make his presence felt. No. 5 Yellowfin has consistency on his side and the low weight. He’ll be thereabouts.

Race 2: Mei Lam Handicap

No. 5 Diamond Soars is suited in Class 5. He has the right gate and has previously raced well on the dirt. The inside draw should see him do next to no work in the run. No. 12 Dashing Glory slots in light and his most recent trial on the dirt was sound. Expecting improvement this week. No. 4 Cool Blue mixes his form but he clearly has some ability. The awkward draw does make things difficult though. No. 2 Speedy Fortune gets the services of Zac Purton. He can improve with the step down to this grade.

Race 3: Hin Yiu Handicap (2nd Section)

No. 10 Triumphant Warrior continues to make the right headway. Zac Purton is aboard, and he’s taking all the right steps towards a first win. One to beat. No. 8 Flying Dragon has lost his way a touch, however, he does know how to perform strongly over this course and distance. He can bounce back. No. 2 Sunny Darling gets down in grade. His latest trial on the dirt was nothing short of impressive. He’ll make his presence felt. No. 9 Sky Song is next in line. He’s lightly raced and is open to further improvement.

Race 4: Shui Chuen O Handicap

No. 2 Go Hero is closing in on a first win. He narrowly missed last start and can improve again from an ideal draw with Zac Purton up, especially in Class 5. No. 4 Charming Steed has the draw to overcome. He’s in the right vein of form and has shown his quality in the past, noticeably in this grade. No. 7 Perfect Peach is hard to catch at times. He’s racing well and has claims here. No. 5 Medic Elite is on the quick backup. He rarely runs a bad race and gets his chance again.

Race 5: Hin Yiu Handicap (1st Section)

No. 10 Strive For Glory mixes his form, but he is a two-time winner over the course and distance this season. He’s worth taking a chance on here to bounce back. No. 3 Self Improvement is consistent and has won once already this season. Zac Purton reunites with him as he aims for another win. No. 11 Crazy Treasure continues to make headway. He’s going about his racing well of late and the low weight is incredibly ideal as he seeks a first win. No. 5 Prime Mortar is seeking back-to-back wins. Keep safe.

Race 6: Lee On Handicap

No. 6 Lucky Banner does his best racing on the dirt. He has an inside gate and is expected to fire forward and lead this race. One to catch, especially after nearly pinching his latest outing. No. 11 Brave Witness is nearing a first win. He’s improving with every start and gets a few favors from the positive draw. No. 7 Starship Eighty has an awkward barrier to overcome. He does have the right experience, but he is up against it here even after a string of nice efforts. No. 1 Kimberley is next best. Dipping to Class 4 is ideal.

Race 7: Chung On Handicap

No. 1 Sing Dragon is seeking a fourth consecutive win. He has the wide gate to overcome, which makes things difficult, although his best form holds has him being very competitive here. Expecting he crosses early for the front. No. 3 Victory Moments is aiming to turn the tables on Sing Dragon. These two have been sparring partners for some time and Victory Moments receives one of his better chances from gate three. No. 11 Lightning Bolt slots in light and has claims. No. 5 Capital Delight is next best. Don’t discount.

Race 8: Fung Wo Handicap

No. 4 Perfect Team is a course and distance winner already this season. His recent form has been sound and his latest barrier trial ahead of returning from a setback recently was superb. He’s the one they all must beat. No. 3 Apache Pass hasn’t won for quite some time. Still, he’s been racing well and his latest effort was one of his best this season. No. 2 Woodfire Bro has been superb all season except for his form blip two starts ago. He’s a threat. No. 1 Berlin Tango has the class edge over many of these. Next best.

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.