Hong Kong racing: Sunday selections at Sha Tin (22/02)

Courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, see the tips from Luke Middlebrook below:

Race 1: #13 Conspirator, #5 Almighty Lightning, #9 Run Run Sunrise, #1 Master LuckyRace 2: #9 Stormy Knight, #2 Thousand Spirit, #6 Happy Brethren, #5 Giant BallonRace 3: #11 Cool Blue, #2 Beauty Missile, #3 Iron Legion, #6 Romantic FantasyRace 4: #2 Colourful King, #3 Stellar Express, #4 Magic Control, #1 Invincible SageRace 5: #1 Smart Golf, #4 Gallant Design, #2 Quartz Legend, #10 Get FriendlyRace 6: #14 Shotgun, #1 All Round Winner, #4 Aerovolanic, #8 MerlionRace 7: #1 Turin Champions, #6 Jolly Brilliant, #12 Peridot, #3 All’s WellRace 8: #1 Ka Ying Rising, #2 Lucky Sweynesse, #3 Helios Express, #9 Raging BlizzardRace 9: #4 Cool Boy, #10 Ever Luck, #3 Lifeline Express, #7 Packing GloryRace 10: #8 Without Compare, #5 The Red Hare, #1 Beauty Alliance, #3 LoveroRace 11: #1 Six Pack, #9 Salon S, #6 Ka Ying Attack, #2 Sky Heart

Race 1 – DAFFODIL HANDICAP#13 Conspirator has been racing well without much luck in his last two starts, and his third behind Turquoise Velocity looks even better now that that form has held up. He was badly held up last time and never got a true chance, but finished two and a half lengths off Master Lucky. #5 Almighty Lightning has had three trials to get him ready, and he won his second-most recent heat in a piece of work that has since stood up. Baby Sakura, who chased him home, scored on debut on Thursday. #9 Run Run Sunrise has shown improvement across two trials since his debut no-show in November. Barrier 12 suits the straight course where he should get every chance. #1 Master Lucky won impressively on debut despite being unwanted in betting, and he shapes as the sort of John Size runner that can take another step forward.

Race 2 – GLADIOLUS HANDICAP#9 Stormy Knight has been crying out for an inside gate after jumping from barrier 14 in his last two, and he gets that today from barrier 2. Those runs have been better than they read, finding the line well from the back but never close enough to land a blow. #2 Thousand Spirit led quickly at 1400m last time and stuck on well for fourth under the circumstances. The drop back in trip looks a plus, and even from a wide draw he can press on, find the front, and give a sight. #6 Happy Brethren has trialled well for his debut, most recently sticking on for second behind Good Chap, Lucky Ranger was third, and both of those horses have since won their next start. #5 Giant Ballon should appreciate barrier 3 after jumping from barrier 11 in his last two runs.

Race 3 – JASMINE HANDICAP#11 Cool Blue is better suited back in trip after finishing fourth at 2000m when he was held up late. #2 Beauty Missile broke through at start 37 last time and did it in style after making a mid-race move. His overall form since switching to the Brett Crawford stable has been solid, and from barrier 2 he maps to get the right run again and stay competitive. #3 Iron Legion won well from a handy spot at the mile two starts ago, but when he stepped up to 2000m last time he reared at the start and was never a factor. He has trialled well enough twice since, and in a race that looks light on speed he can roll forward and make his own luck. #6 Romantic Fantasy arrives in good form off back-to-back seconds and looks to be trending the right way since dropping into Class 5.

Race 4 – ORCHID HANDICAP#2 Colourful King had plenty go wrong last time when beaten into second as the short-priced favourite in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy. Held up from the 500m until the 200m, his chance of winning was all but gone as leader and winner Stellar Express had already kicked clear. He gets his chance to atone today. #3 Stellar Express arrives in career-best form off back-to-back wins, including in that same race over Colourful King. The small field suits and he’ll look to lead and be hard to peg back again. #4 Magic Control is better placed at this track and distance, and his last-start fifth to Sky Trust had merit after he was held up late and not beaten far. #1 Invincible Sage will sit off the pace and look to strike late, as he did when third to Stellar Express two runs back.

Race 5 – THE HEUNG YEE KUK CENTENARY CUP (HANDICAP)#1 Smart Golf did more work on the lead from a wide draw last time than he did the start prior when the sectionals were softer, and it told late as he stuck on for third. An inside gate today from barrier 2 makes a clear difference to his chances. #4 Gallant Design shaped well on debut when charging late into second behind Lucky Eight, and he has trialled well between runs. #2 Quartz Legend has his second attempt in Class 4 and should get a cleaner run in transit this time. Some of his Class 3 form has been encouraging, and now that he has the relief of the class drop it looks only a matter of time before he measures up. #10 Get Friendly is an improver heading into his fourth start, and a good trial since a close-up eighth last time suggests he can take another step.

Race 6 – PEACH BLOSSOM HANDICAP#14 Shotgun can roll forward and control the speed as a 1200m horse up in trip. He backed up his all-the-way win two starts ago with a third on the class rise last week, and under a light weight he will give a sight. #1 All Round Winner broke through in good style once the blinkers went on last time and he stays in Class 4 well placed as a four-year-old who is only starting to hit his straps. #4 Aerovolanic raced wide when runner-up to Lucky Ranger, and barrier 11 makes it a little awkward again, but there does not look to be much speed on paper and he should be able to work across and find a spot. #8 Merlion finished 12th on debut but had excuses, getting checked and then eased down in traffic late in the straight. The rise to 1400m second-up looks suitable from barrier 1.

Race 7 – PEACH BLOSSOM HANDICAP#1 Turin Champions sits atop Class 4 under top weight but is the one to beat after an impressive breakthrough success, defying the race shape from barrier 14 to win narrowly but with authority. The three-year-old shapes as a horse headed higher. #6 Jolly Brilliant ran on for fifth behind Turin Champions last time, his best effort yet, and he is getting better with racing. #12 Peridot over-raced last time and did not finish off, but two runs ago he ran a good race for third to Island Buddy and that is the effort to go on. #3 All’s Well had no luck in running last time when beaten over six lengths into eighth after being checked at the 300m and he gets another look in a weak race with McMonagle on from barrier 4.

Race 8 – THE QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP#1 Ka Ying Rising chases a record 18-win streak today, which would break the 21-year mark for consecutive wins set by Silent Witness. This is his second run at 1400m since his first look at the trip in this race last year, when he dominated. #2 Lucky Sweynesse won this in 2023 and arrives off a second to Romantic Warrior in the Stewards’ Cup at the mile. He is a three-time winner at 1400m from four tries and the drop back in distance today looks timely. #3 Helios Express was runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in this race last year and arguably comes here off his best run of the season after finishing second in the Centenary Sprint Cup. #9 Raging Blizzard stretches beyond 1200m for the first time and 1400m is a fascinating test given his sharp turn of foot which could bring him into this late.

Race 9 – PEONY HANDICAP#4 Cool Boy chases a hat-trick and has been winning like a horse on the up. This is a fresh test stepping into Class 3, but his trial between runs against higher-rated horses such as Stellar Express and Helios Express was a big tick. #10 Ever Luck should appreciate the move into Class 3 on a lighter weight. He is a talented three-year-old with more to come, but he has raced a bit keenly in his last two and paid for it, and the key to his chances today is the weight relief. #3 Lifeline Express comes off back-to-back thirds in solid Class 3 races and looks close to another win. In a field full of unexposed types, his experience counts for plenty. #7 Packing Glory went down by a head to Island Buddy last time and that reads well now after Island Buddy came out and won again at his next start.

Race 10 – PRIMULA HANDICAP#8 Without Compare is on the quick back-up after a narrow defeat to Stormy Grove, only collared late after leading throughout. He finds a race where the map looks suited to his profile and remains on track to win his first race. #5 The Red Hare was set a task from a wide draw last time, settling last before striking traffic in the straight, then getting out late and attacking the line strongly for sixth. He can settle closer today like he did when winning two runs ago. #1 Beauty Alliance did not have the best of trips when fifth to Flying Luck last time, dragged back through the field against the sluggish tempo, and there was merit in the run as he heads into this third-up. #3 Lovero is racing well since the switch to Brett Crawford’s stable, posting a win and two placings this season, and he cannot be ignored.

Race 11 – ROSE HANDICAP#1 Six Pack can go one better after his narrow second to Super Express, a run that turned sour when he was held up from the 400m until the 100m. The form has stood up from that race and it looks the right formline to follow. #9 Salon S is a three-year-old on the up, unbeaten after leading throughout in his two starts. This is a tougher assignment, but the authority of those wins suggests he will measure up. #6 Ka Ying Attack is another pace influence who is still chasing his first win of the season, but he is trending the right way through three placings. #2 Sky Heart needs luck from barrier 14, but he is a good fresh horse and is better placed back in Class 3. He has a strong record at the track and trip, scoring twice from five attempts.