Tim Carroll

This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card on the all-weather at Sha Tin getting underway at 11.45am - live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature of the meeting is race 8, the Class 3 Camellia Handicap, over 1 mile, offering more than £200,000 in prize money. 

Now onto this week’s selections:

Race 1: Class 5 Osmanthus Handicap (11.45am) (1 mile)

1 HAILTOTHEVICTORS goes from the top of the handicap, which is never easy, but he’s a low mileage 5yo on an upward curve in a moderate contest. The selection opened his account over course and trip two back with a few of these in behind and arguably ran to an even higher standard when beaten into fourth over 9-furlongs here last time. 
 
He was given plenty to do that day from a high draw, belting home from near last on the bend, to finish less than a length behind the winner. They like to ride him conservatively, but from a slightly better draw, hopefully he’ll sit a tad closer to the pace, similar to when he won.

Dangers:

9 Meepmeep has just the one win from 31 starts which was from a 9lb higher mark last season, he’s a late closer and needs luck but he has been runner up on this track twice recently. 
 
11 Go Go Go was snagged back from a high draw last time when unplaced, but he did record his first win on the dirt the start prior when he went from the front, and he does draw low this time.  
 
13 Oriental Surprise is a long-standing maiden that once again has had no luck with the draw, but with the claim he effectively runs from a 19lb lower mark having been unplaced but beaten just over two-lengths when last seen on this track in October 2025.

Race 2: Class 5 Magnolia Handicap (12.15am) (6 furlongs)

10 VIVA CHALEUR has just the one win from 37 local starts, but it was at his penultimate start when he had Noble Deluxe three-lengths back in second, who he then was runner-up to last time, but he’s on 5lb better terms here for a half-length-defeat.
 
Whilst his overall record is far from inspiring, the well-bred son of Wotton Basett was runner-up (known as Trident) in a Morny for Andre Fabre as a 2yo, and whilst those days are long gone, he only joined Tony Cruz this season, and there has been a resurgence under his new handler.

Dangers:

8 Macanese Master, who with two wins and four placings from his last 6 starts, has been consistent and he does meet the selection on 7lb better terms having finished runner-up to that rival two back when last seen on this track, but he was three-lengths in arrears that day.  
 
9 Robot Knight has just the solitary win from 19 spins on this track but that win and several placed efforts have come from higher marks, and he was a good third on the turf last time with the same 7lb claimer on top.   
 
1 Noble Deluxe took eighteen goes to break the duck but has now won two of his last three on this track, but he does go up 6lb for his latest success and has a high draw to contend with.

Race 3: Class 4 Carnation Handicap (12.45am) (6 furlongs)

7 JUICY DRAGON opened his account over course and trip three back in March and although he’s had the 11 starts for just the one win, he’s an improving type that has run better than the bare result his last two.
 
He was only beaten a nose in second here early last month when he had a tough trip planted wide without cover from the outside draw, then got further back than ideal after a bump at the start before meeting trouble mid race and held up around the bend when fifth last time.  The selection has a similar draw to when he won, and with a clear round should give this a decent shake.

Dangers:

2 Vulcanus is a hard knocking 5yo having start 41 and whilst he’s been unplaced his last six, he takes a drop in grade having won over course and trip when last seen at this level in January, and with the claim he is effectively 11lb better off here, but he does draw high.
 
4 Cloud Nine is a four-start maiden that has shaped with promise including a when runner-up at Happy Valley last time, but he’s a complete unknown on dirt, he draws high and he didn’t show a lot his only trial on this track last November.
 
3 Sight Dreamer won back-to-back races over the mile here before a disappointing effort as favourite last time, but he scoped dirty post-race that day and should bounce back, but he’s probably better suited over the mile.

Race 4: Class 4 Lotus Handicap (1.15pm) (9 furlongs)

9 YODAS CHOICE will be a confident selection, which isn’t something I’d normally say about a runner in a Class 4 on dirt, that can throw up inconsistent types, but he has so much in his favour, if he runs to form, he should take all the beating.
 
The selection, who is a course and trip winner, was runner-up to Happy Universe last time with several of these in behind, beaten a lip with the first two well clear of the rest. However, with 10lb claimer, Nichola Yeun (young rider with a big future) on top, he meets that rival on 13lb better terms. Finally, whilst there are a few here that like to sit handy, he’s the only natural leader and is ideally drawn to point and shoot.

Dangers:

10 Firefoot has a modest overall record but has only recently been switched to the dirt track, shaping with promise in defeat a few times including when runner-up over course and trip last time when just failing to reel in a rival that made all. 
 
2 Enthralled, who represents a powerful combination, has his first try on this track and he’ll probably be out the back, but he takes a drop in grade having won on the turf here last season and if he takes to the surface (x American Pharoah), he should be rattling late.
 
1 Happy Universe had the selection a nose back in second when recording his first win on dirt at just his third try on the track last time and he could have more to offer on this surface, but as forementioned, he’s on far worse terms.

Race 5: Class 4 Carnation Handicap (1.45pm) (6 furlongs)

1 TOURBILLON GOLFER was unplaced last time when going over an unsuitable 5-furlongs for the first time on the straight course, a race where he was tardy out of the gates and had to switch to the centre of the track, a run easily forgiven.
 
The selection probably has been a tad disappointing since winning early in the season from a high draw over this trip at Happy Valley, which is never easy, but he was placed over this trip here two back, which has been his only spin on this track. He’s ideally drawn for his punch forward run style, and with the claim he is effectively 6lb below his winning mark in November.

Dangers:

2 Light Years Glory only success was on his introduction in May last year, but he has shaped with a bit of promise his only two starts on this track, most recently when picking up the bronze, and he’s drawn to have all the favours. 
 
10 California Bay, who is likely to sit handy, is yet to shed the maiden status is 18 starts (two in Australia when runner-up), but he continues to slide down the handicap having placed from up to 9lb higher, and he has inside draw for his first try on dirt.  
 
5 Mega Awesome is a debutant and whilst he hasn’t excelled at the trials, he does represent the Hayes-Purton combination, he has a sprinters pedigree, and a market watch is advised.

Race 6: Class 4 Chamomile Handicap (2.15pm) (1 mile)

11 BULL ATTITUDE has recorded just the solitary win from 18-starts, but he probably has a bit more ability than his overall record would suggest, however they do tend to ride him cold, meaning he always needs things to fall right.
 
The Mark Newnham 4yo has never been outside the top four in four spins on this track, and only just failed get there last time, beaten a less than a length behind Blossomy, who he meets on 6lb better terms, with several of these in behind. He draws low, and that could go either way, but he should have a decent gallop to aim at.

Dangers:

6 Never Peter Out, who was a four-time course and trip winner last season, is yet to hit the frame this campaign, but hasn’t been beaten far a few times recently since dropping in grade, and he should have the sit on the leaders from the low draw.
 
7 Hinokami Kagura is a bit cabbage and caviar but he’s a dirt specialist that has recorded two wins over 6-furlongs on this track, this most recent from just 3lb lower and he arrives after a promising effort in third last time when having his first try over this trip.
 
5 Blossomy has been unwanted in the market all five starts including when breaking his duck over course and trip last time, although he goes up 6lb, that was just his second spin on the track and over the mile, and he’s open to further improvement.

Race 7: Class 4 Carnation Handicap (2.45pm) (6 furlongs)

9 SKY PHOENIX, who after three unplaced efforts and losing the rider out of the stalls last time, will be a right old swing and given the yard, I would like to see some market support, but the selection does interest me.
 
The son of Shalaa showed nothing his first two starts before an improved effort to finish fifth at Sha Tin in February, with three of the four that finished in front of him all subsequent winners. He met with support at a bigger price when last seen, but reared as the starter let them go, losing the rider in the process. He goes onto the dirt for the first time but has looked sharp in two recent trials on this track.

Dangers:

11 Conrad The Great, who is a low mileage maiden with scope, bombed from the outside draw last time but he’d been runner-up his previous two over course and trip, he’s favourably drawn this time and goes from the foot of the handicap.  
 
1 Notthesillyone disappointed here last time with no apparent excuses, but he’s a thrice winner this season, twice on this track, and this is a lessor Class 4 than latest assignment 
 
2 Natural High goes up 6lb having defied market expectations when winning over course and trip last time, but that was just his third outing since June last year and he’s ideally drawn for a pace runner.

Race 8: Class 3 Camellia Handicap (3.15pm) (1 mile)

9 ENDEARED is a hard knocking 6yo having start 47 and whilst the wins are few and far between these days, he’s a consistent type more than capable of winning these types of races as he showed when runner-up and only beaten a nose on the turf last time.
 
The selection was last seen on this track early April when third, beaten in a photo behind Lock Tay and Talents Ambition and he is on 2lb better terms with the winner. All things been equal, chances are there wouldn’t be much between the trio again, but with the other two drawn high and the selection drawn the inside, he looks worth a play in an open contest.

Dangers:

1 Talents Ambition has run with merit in defeat since dropping in grade two starts ago, finishing runner-up beaten a nose behind Loch Tay last time, who he meets on 4lb better terms, and although drawn high, he is a stretch runner, but he does have to concede up to 20lbs to his rivals.   
 
6 Loch Tay, who was a winner in Ireland for Jessica Harrington, goes up 6lb having won by a narrow margin over course and trip when he was sent forward last time, thus, the high draw doesn’t help, but he’s now two from three on this track. 
 
2 Steps Ahead, who was thought highly enough of to contest last year’s Derby, has been unplaced his last three, but he drops in grade having won, albeit in from a 10lb lower mark, when last seen at this level (Feb 2025), but he’s never been on the dirt.

Race 9: Class 3 Begonia Handicap (3.50pm) (6 furlongs)

2 VICTORY SKY, who won a maiden from three runs in Australia, ran well enough in defeat several times on turf, but went winless his first 15 local stats, however, he has looked a different horse since the switch to the dirt.
 
He has now recorded three wins and a silver from five spins, with genuine excuses for one unplaced effort. The selection arrives having won over course and trip last time with several of these in behind. He goes up 6lb for that, but in a shrewd move connections go for a 10lb claimer which sees him on better terms with horses he accounted for last time, and as one of two pace runners in the race, he’s perfectly drawn in 3.

Dangers:

11 Target Audience, who won a maiden his only start in New Zealand, showed very little in four runs during his first season in Hong Kong, but won here from the front when having his first start in nine-months last time and although he moves up in garde under a 6lb penalty, he has plenty of upside and draws up against the paint. 
 
4 Aurora Patch form figures on the dirt this season read 2-1-7-2-2 and he stays on the same mark as when runner-up over course and trip last time with the first two a long way clear of the others, but he does like to sit handy and is drawn in 10.
 
1 Romantic Son has turned into one of the more versatile and consistent handicappers in Hong Kong and is sure to run his race again, but it will take a decent effort to win this from the top of the weights.

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT

Today’s Place Pot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 81 combinations (1x3x3x3x3x1), which will cost £8.10 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.  

LEG 1- 9 YODAS CHOICE  

LEG 2- 1 TOURBILLON GOLFER 2 LIGHT YEARS GLORY 10 CALIFORNIA BAY

LEG 3- 6 NEVER PETER OUT 7 HINOKAMI KAGURA 11 BULL ATTITUDE

LEG 4- 1 NOTTHESILLYONE 9 SKY PHOENIX 11 CONRAD THE GREAT

LEG 5- 1 TALENTS AMBITION 6 LOCH TAY 9 ENDEARED

LEG 6- 2 VICTORY SKY