Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Sha Tin on Sunday, September 27th.
The Group 3 Celebration Cup headlines the day's racing in Hong Kong, which sees two of the land's big guns - Beauty Generation and Golden Sixty - face off in their first runs of the season. Tim Geers is keen to get involved at the backend of the card, with three best bets listed in his preview below!
Sha Tin Racing Tips: Sunday, September 27th
Keen to stick with (5) Eight Trigrams here who is two from two on the all-weather track. He has won his past two starts quite easily and now steps up into Class 3 for the first time. It’s a tougher race but apprentice Jerry Chau keeps the ride and that means he gets in with 50.5kg. He’s drawn well in barrier 4 and I think he’s a real winning chance again at $4.50. (12) Thou Shall Sing is the other horse I’ll be backing at $7.00. He’s also won his past two and has won three from four at this track and distance. This is his first start of the season and although his first up record is poor, none of them have been on the dirt at Sha Tin. Drawn well, down in the weights for a lethal trainer/jockey combination. He’s a strong chance.
Also backing: (12) Thou Shall Sing $7.00
(12) Winston’s Lad won on the opening day of the season for us and brought up his third consecutive win in the process. He now steps up into Class 3 so this is a harder test, but he drops down to the bottom of the weights. Although he’s drawn 14, it’s not impossible to win from there at this track and distance and with a touch of luck, I think he’s a decent each way price at $11.
There’s three horses I’ll be backing here. We’ll start with the favourite (6) Good Luck Friend, who I’ll just be backing as a saver bet at $3.60. He’s won four of his six starts, including his past three. He steps up to a restricted Class 2 but he’s ready for the rise in grade. Joao Moreira keeps the ride from barrier 3 and he’s the horse to beat. I do think there’s two at good odds worth backing though. (2) Mr Croissant has a terrific first up record, with a win and two 2nds from three starts. He won a similar race to this first up last prep, which was also over this track and distance. Trainer Chris So has had a terrific start to the season and the horse draws well in barrier 6. I think he’s a very good chance at $8.50. (3) Super Wealthy was a bet for us first up from a spell. Trainer Douglas Whyte came out pre-race and said the horse would need the run, so it was very surprising to see them take him to the lead and set a very fast tempo. He was no hope running that fast out the front, especially if he was underdone, so forget about the fact he dropped out. He should strip much fitter here and should be ready to improve significantly dropping back to 1200m. At double figure odds, I’ll stick with him today.
Also backing: (3) Super Wealthy $12
