Tim Carroll

This Sunday sees a highly-competitive 11-race card from Sha Tin getting underway at 5.30am. The feature of the meeting is race 7, the Group 2 Lukfook Jewellery Premier Bowl (handicap) over 6f, offering over £530,000 in prize-money.

Now onto this week’s selections…

Race 1: Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery Rhapsody On The River Luo Collection Handicap (Restricted) (5:40am) (6f)

1 ALMIGHTY WARRIOR is not the biggest (928lb), especially by Hong Kong standard, and he did disappoint on his seasonal return in a class 4 but drops back into Restricted company here.

The selection showed ability when runner-up on his second start in May before opening his account in fine style on his final start of the season, dotting up by nearly four lengths from Jedi Spurs. He will need to bounce back after the first -up run, but Zac Purton maintaining the faith is a positive sign.

Dangers:

7 I Am The Walrus is a debutant from this seasons current leading yard with a strong pedigree that has won two of his last three trials.

8 Saint Jose Patch is another interesting newcomer that has won his last two trials, the most recent by a margin, but he does draw high.

2 Jedi Spurs looks well weighted with a 7lb claim, which sees him on 9lb better terms with the selection from when they last met, but he was well held that day which has been his only try over this trip.

Race 2: Class 5 Lukfook Jewellery Wedding Collection Handicap (6:10am) (7f)

12 ONLY U is a difficult one as he has just the one win from 36 starts but continues to run with merit in defeat and whilst he went winless last season when with Brett Crawford, he was luckless on a few occasions, especially earlier in the campaign.

The selection, who will be having just his second start for James Cummings, worked home from the back over 6f to finish fourth on his return on dirt last time, he’ll enjoy stepping up in trip and is now on a career low mark having placed from 12lb higher last campaign.

Dangers:

5 Vigor Elleegant is the only recent winner in the contest and whilst he isn’t the most reliable type and goes up 7lb for his most recent success, his other career win (May 2025), was from a higher mark and this is a moderate contest.

1 Apolar Fighter has been well held his last few, but he drops in grade and recorded two wins and a silver from his last three starts when last seen at this level.

2 Tycoon Express is a six-start maiden yet to place but he takes a drop in grade having picked up from the back without threatening last time and he’ll find this more to his liking.

Race 3: Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery Love Is Beauty Collection Handicap (6:40am) (1m)

13 AMAZING DUCK has been costly to follow having not won for a long time, yet he has gone around at single figures in eight of his last nine starts, but he’s presented with a golden opportunity to get back into the winner’s circle.

The Jimmy Ting seven-year-old moves up in grade having run well in defeat carrying big weights at his last two including when runner-up over course and trip two back when he led from a high stall. He’s shown in the past he can mix it up in this grade and he should have all the favours from inside draw.

Dangers:

14 Smart Fat Cat is yet to open his account in 15 starts but all five placed efforts have come from higher marks, and he ran better than the bare result when snagged back from a high draw to finish sixth on his seasonal return.

4 Cava Pioneer, who has been unplaced both starts when in the betting, looked a tad green on debut before a luckless effort last time when unable to get a run in the straight, and is best kept safe.

2 Circuit Fiery was a twice winner over 7f last season and with a 7lb claim he is effectively running from the same mark as his last win, but he is a pace runner unproven at this trip.

Race 4: Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Miss Hong Kong Love Yourself Handicap (7:15am) (1m 2f)

10 SUPER GOLDENDRAGON is a promising stayer that lands here on a three-timer having been a comfortable winner over 1m 1f here on his seasonal return last time for which he goes up 7lb.

He will be moving up in grade under the penalty and he does have more on his plate at this level, but he goes from the foot of the handicap carrying 14lb less than last time and from three runs over 1m 2f plus, he has recorded two wins and luckless third.

Dangers:

5 Big Return, who strung together a three-timer over the mile last season, arrives as last start winner, which was his first try over this trip and although he goes up 8lb for that, he cruised to victory that day and looks the logical threat.

1 Seraph Gabriel, who was a twice winner for Ralph Beckett, is yet to open his local account in eight attempts, but last season’s fifth in the Derby, was only beaten a nose over this trip at Happy Valley last time when giving away 10lb to the winner but does concede 16lb to the selection.

3 Ka Ying Generation disappointed on his return, but it was his first start at Happy Valley, he looks better suited here and whilst his last win was some time ago, he was Group 2 placed behind Romantic Warrior last season.

Race 5: Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery Diabling Shimmering Gold Collection Handicap (8:05am) (6f)

13 SPEEDY POWER is a five-start maiden that arrives after a better effort than the bare result when third over course and trip on his seasonal return when running through the line with plenty of purpose from well off the pace having been snagged back from a high draw.

The selection, who’ll be having just his second start for James Cummings, has had a horrendous run of high draws in all five starts, but he has finally been handed a low stall here, and whilst he’s been ridden cold in his last four, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s able to lay up closer to the pace this time around.

Dangers:

14 Riding High rarely wins but he’s been a consistent type since joining Douglas Whyte, he’ll strip fitter for two runs back including when third over course and trip last time and he’s likely to punch forward with the light weight.

2 Yee Cheong Glory, who draws high but was always likely to be ridden cold, will strip fitter for a never nearer first-up fourth over 5f on his reappearance and he’s only 1lb above his most recent success in March.

3 Cavamazing showed very little at his only start over 5f on debut last season but was a shock winner over course and trip on his return and although it remains to be seen if he can back that up under a 6lb penalty, he has scope.

Race 6: Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Night Banquet In Tang Palace Collection (8:35am) (5f)

6 KA YING LIGHTNING is promising type that has won both career starts over course and trip, on debut last season when he came from well off the pace having met trouble out of the stalls, then on his seasonal return when he had a warm favourite back in second.

The selection will be moving up in grade under an 8lb penalty which sees him diving into deeper waters. However, he ran a time that was standard for Group company last time, he carries 8lb less at this level and he should have all the favours from the outside draw.

Dangers:

7 Lightness Of Music is a low-mileage five-year-old that recorded his second win from just six starts when making a winning return over course and trip last time and although he’s another moving up in grade, he carries 10lb less at this level and has upside.

14 Lahore won back-to-back races over course and trip at the end of last season before a solid return when third on his first try in this grade behind a rival that has since finished runner-up at a level above this.

2 Full Metal, who was a thrice winner in Australia, goes from toward the top of the handicap on his local debut, which is no easy task at this level, but he has looked sharp winning and running second in his two trials.

Race 7: Group 2 Lukfook Jewellery Premier Bowl (Handicap) (9:05am) (6f)

7 KA YING ATTACK looked to have a decent future when winning three of his first six starts with some rivals that have gone onto to bigger and better things in behind. However, he went winless in his first nine outings last season before rediscovery the winning thread, going back-to-back on his final two starts of the campaign.

The selection, who normally punches forward, completed a three-timer on his return when snagged back from a high stall. He goes up 7lb for that and moves into stronger company, but he carries 10lb less here and is toward the foot of the handicap.

Dangers:

4 Crimson Flash will strip fitter for his recent return when three lengths behind Colourful King, who he meets on 7lb better terms, over 5f, and he did win three of his last five starts over this trip last season.

2 Colourful King was impressive when taking out a Group 3 handicap over 5f on his return, for which he goes up 7lb; however, despite having come from well off the pace in two of his five wins, he is 0-6 over this trip.

1 Raging Blizzard hasn’t won since January of last year but he’s a classy type having been runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in last season’s Hong Kong Sprint and whilst he has to concede weight, he drops a further 2lb after a solid effort in fourth over an unsuitable 5f on his return earlier this month.

Race 8: Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery Heirloom Fortune Collection Handicap (9:40am) (7f)

3 MR COOL went winless during his second campaign but met with market support on his return when winning over course and trip earlier this month, and on that evidence, he should be in for a productive season.

The handicapper has lumped him 8lb for that but it’s difficult to argue as although he had a nice run in transit, he was momentarily held up in the straight before going on to win by two lengths. He does draw high but over this trip they have a decent run to the first bend, and hopefully Karis Teetan can slot him in with some cover.

Dangers:

5 Grand Patch was a beaten favourite when runner-up to the selection on his return and he does meet his rival on 8lb better terms, but he was well held by the winner that day.

1 Storm Mirror is a low-mileage four-year-old that opened his account over course and trip last time and the 7lb penalty has been offset by a 7lb claimer taking over from a senior rider.

10 Prestige Come showed nothing in two starts last season but there was a decent nibble in the market when he was runner-up on his return over course and trip on in a race that has since thrown up some form.

Race 9: Class 2 Lukfook Joalerie Handicap (10:10am) (1m)

10 INFINITE RESOLVE has now gone winless in his last 10 starts, but he has run with merit in defeat in two runs back over 7f this season and he gives the impression he wants a mile these days.

The Mark Newnham five-year-old has had just three starts over this trip, bombing his last two, but one was on a yielding surface and the other was his only time to Happy Valley, which he didn’t seem to enjoy. However, he was runner-up in the Classic Mile last season, and he attacked the line with plenty of purpose at his most recent start when a fast finishing fourth.

Dangers:

7 Definitive goes up 7lb having won by a margin over this trip on the dirt last time, but his previous wins were all on turf and whilst he’s now on a career high mark, he’s in good form.

13 Drombeg Banner is a frontrunner that is well drawn that was one spot in front of the selection, who he meets on 5lb worse terms here, when third last time, and although he’s won over this trip, that was a long time ago.

1 Ensued hasn’t won for a long time and he’ll probably need this as it’s his first run in over seven-months, but he’s a classy type that will be having his first spin outside of Pattern company in over two-years.

Race 10: Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Longmen Vajra Collection Handicap (10:45am) (6f)

4 MEGASTAR HEART, who won two of his four starts in Australia, showed very little in three spins here last season, but he left that form well and truly behind when a running out a facile winner over course and trip on his return earlier this month.

The Caspar Fownes five-year-old goes up 8lb for that but he sat outside the leader cutting the breeze all the way that day before putting the race to bed in the twinkling of an eye at the 300m mark. He’s a big lump of a horse (1,248lb) that has plenty of upside and should have the gun run from the inside draw.

Dangers:

3 Aurio, who was a twice winner over course and trip last season, has struggled to get his head back in front since his mark has gone into the 70s, but he’s been placed both starts this season and should enjoy returning to Sha Tin.

2 PI Legend was unplaced but not beaten far on his seasonal return when given enough to do from a high draw, he’d won his final two starts of the campaign last season over this trip and should come on for the first up spin.

12 Mask Warrior won a maiden from nine starts in Australia, but he makes his local debut from toward the foot of the handicap in a class 3 having won and been placed in his two most recent trials.

Race 11: Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Beloved Collection Handicap (11:20am) (7f)

10 PACKING GLORY ran better than the bare result on his recent return over 6f when two lengths behind the winner in fifth. However, he had a tough trip planted wide with no cover that day and the run is worth marking up.

Both of his wins have come over shorter distances but the last time he was seen over this trip was three runs back when two lengths behind Come Fast Fay Fay, but with the claim he is now 18lb better off with that rival. He draws high again, but they have a longer run to the bend over this trip, and with plenty of pace underneath, hopefully he can slot in close to the pace.

Dangers:

14 Come Fast Fay Fay will be having his first run in over three-months but was in career best form with two wins and a silver over course and trip on his final three starts of last season, and a market watch is advised.

5 Enterprise Triumph is an eight-start maiden that makes his local debut, but he was Group 2 placed over a mile in Australia and looked sharp in a couple of recent trials.

7 Endeared doesn’t do a lot of winning but he’s a capable type that should come on for his first up spin over 6f and he does enjoy having a strong gallop to aim at which looks likely here.

SUNDAY'S TRICAST

Race 10: Class 3 Lukfook Jewellery Longmen Vajra Collection Handicap (10:45am)

1st - 4
2nd - 2, 3 & 12
3rd - THE FIELD