Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Sha Tin on Sunday, June 21st.
It's an 11-race card at Sha Tin this Sunday, headlined by dual Group 3s: The Premier Cup and The Premier Plate, which come up in Races 3 and 8 respectively.
Find our preview and betting tips for the feature races below, along with our best bets for the meeting.
Sha Tin Racing Tips: Sunday, June 21st
Best Bet: Race 4 - (5) Golden Link
Not often I'm keen to bet into the early Class 5s on the card, but I'm pretty keen on the chances of (3) Oversubscribed. He's been competitive in a number of Class 4 races at Happy Valley throughout the season, but he finally drops into Class 5 tonight and David Hall wastes no time booking Zac Purton for the ride. It's the first time Purton has ridden the horse and the first time the horse has dropped into Class 5. I don't see a great deal of depth to this race so I expect him to be very hard to beat and $5.00 looks a decent bet. The interesting runner is (6) Aurora Steed who makes his stable debut for Casper Fownes, previously with John Size. Not many runners improve after leaving the stables of John Size, but Casper has Joao Moreira booked and the trial was decent. He could be worth having a saver on.
(3) Winning Brew trialled exceptionally well leading into his debut, and although he was comfortably beaten in his first run, it was a good effort nonetheless. That was on the dirt and he moves to the turf today, which I think is a big positive as trainer Frankie Lor doesn't have a great record on the all-weather track. Purton takes over, he draws out in barrier 14 but with a decent run, he should prove very hard to beat. (2) Noble Man had his first up run on the dirt as well and Moreira takes over from Schofield today for trainer John Size, which generally means they are probably ready to win. Keep him safe.
Race 3 - The Premier Cup (Market)
The first Group 3 of the day sees a small field of five line up over 1400m. (1) Thanks Forever comes up favourite after his last-start win in the G3 Sha Tin Vase. He carries top weight of 60.5kg and gives at least 7kg away to every other horse in the race. He's the best horse in the race but that makes it very tough for him to win here in my opinion, and with him installed as favourite, I think we have to bet around him. (5) Perfect Match bounced back to the Perfect Match we are used to last start. He had an eight-week freshen up and got the job done in Class 2 compay, making it six wins from eight starts over this track and distance. This is a much harder race but he drops down to 51.5kg and gets in-form hoop Karis Teetan on board. He is just behind Thanks Forever in the market at $3.00 but at the weights, I'd prefer to be in his corner. (3) Jolly Banner comes into this third up from a break and he's been sound in his last two runs. He was only 0.8L off Thanks Forever last start but meets him 3kg better at the weights today. He ran home in the second-fastest final sectionals of that race last time out so you'd think third up today he will be ready to peak. He's more exposed than the rest but can't be dismissed. (2) Fat Turtle was the horse to record the best final sectionals in the Sha Tin Vase and he gets Moreira on board today. He was 0.5L off Thanks Forever and meets him 1.5kg better at the weights here. He's got definite claims.
(5) Golden Link could be an absolute moral here. He was only plain on debut but that was in a strong race and he improved nicely last start, where he motored home from the back of the field having drawn barrier 12. He clocked a 22.77sec final 400m, the quickest of the race by far, and the only horse to break 23 seconds. Moreira takes over from Matthew Chadwick and he's drawn much better in barrier 3 today. He looks exceptionally tough to beat and the price reflects that.
We see the return of the exciting (3) Sky Field here, who was huge on debut over 1000m at Happy Valley back in January. He started from a wide gate and charged home with his final two splits reading 21.94/22.01. You don't see that often at Happy Valley and especially from a horse on debut. He has trialled nicely leading into his return today and from barrier 8, he should get a run in midfield somewhere. If he's within striking distance on the turn, he should go very close to winning.
Race 8 - The Premier Plate (Market)
(1) Southern Legend carries top weight of 60.5kg but that's proven no hurdle for recent winners of this race and I think he's quite clearly the best horse here so I'll be with him on top at what looks a very decent price of $4.50. He was the winner of the G1 Champions Mile two starts back, before a brave run in defeat in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy last start, where he was beaten a neck by Ka Ying Star. 1800m no problem for him, he draws well in barrier 2 and I suspect he will prove very hard to beat here. (7) Helene Leadingstar may be the value in the race at $11. He started $2.20 favourite last start but failed badly, however he did pull up lame the next day. Respect his SP profile in that and also consider his two wins leading into it. He carries just 51.5kg and looks over the odds at that price. (2) Furore looks well and truly short enough at $3.30. He's coming out of two Group 1s but I think Southern Legend has his measure, especially over this distance. (4) More Than This was beaten 3.5L in the Champions Mile and the form out of the 4YO series is looking particularly suspect. Purton sticks with him but I'll be against him. Southern Legend and Helene Leadingstar the two for me.
Value: (7) Helene Leadingstar $11
(1) Southern Legend
$4.50
