Sha Tin preview, best bets & quaddie | Sunday | January 8, 2023
| What | Sha Tin Races |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
| When | Sunday, January 8, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:30pm HKT (3:30pm AEDT) |
Hong Kong racing heads back to Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon for a competitive 11-race program set for decision. The Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Handicap) is the feature event on the card over the 1000m down the Sha Tin straight course, as plenty of Hong Kong Sprint gallopers are looking for redemption coming back in trip after Wellington proved too strong in the Group 1 feature on Hong Kong International Races.
Outside of that we’ve got 10 more races to dissect as the rail moves out to the C+3 course on what will likely be a Good to Firm surface on Sunday. We’ll be looking to find gallopers that are positive from the barriers as when the rail pushes out the inside can prove to be an advantage. The first race is set to get us underway at 12:30pm HKT (3:30pm AEDT)
The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Top Tip: Cordyceps Six
Cordyceps Six has been unlucky to miss out on a win this preparation, but we think that all changes on Sunday afternoon in the Group 3 sprinting feature. His Sha Tin 1000m straight record speaks for itself with 10 starts for four wins and four more minor placings and steps back in trip and grade here after another luckless performance, this time in the Hong Kong Sprint when beaten 2.8 lengths behind Wellington. He drew a horrid gate on that occasion and was force to travel four-wide throughout the contest without any cover or tempo to help out this son of Star Turn, he was never really in the contest. Drawn barrier one on Sunday can sometimes be a negative down the straight 1000m, however, in a race with plenty of tempo, we think returning jockey Alexis Badel can smoke the pipe in behind his rivals before producing his devastating turn-of-foot to be flying over them late.
Bauhinia Sprint Trophy
Race 9 – 
#6 Cordyceps Six (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Richard Gibson | J: Alexis Badel (58kg)
Sha Tin Best Bet Of The Day: Ching
After a six-week let-up we see the return of the Michael Chang-trained gelding, Ching. He’s third-up this preparation and after two luckless efforts we’ve made him the best bet of the afternoon in this Class 4 contest over the 1400m. His last run on November 27 saw him find nothing but backsides turning for home as jockey Luke Currie couldn’t find any clear running turning for home and seemed to have a lap-full of horse when going past the post to only be beaten 2 lengths. Now drawn a perfect gate from barrier three on Sunday and the booking of Karis Teetan look major positives that should see the best of Ching, and should be his best opportunity to break his maiden status in career start number four. He’ll be looking to find the one-by-one and if can land somewhere positive we think Ching will take some chasing down.
Best Bet Of The Day
Race 5 – 
#4 Ching (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Michael Chang | J: Karis Teetan (59kg)
Next Best Bet: Superb Capitalist
The finale at Sha Tin is an absolute barnstormer with three horses all looking to put their hands up as quality sprinters moving forward with two undefeated gallopers, Dragon’s Luck and Mighty Stride, as well as our on top selection, Superb Capitalist. His debut victory was nothing short of breathtaking, smashing the clock in the process, then things just went all wrong last start on November 27 as Angus Chung allowed Superb Capitalist roll at a hectic speed before petering out late to be beaten by only 1.5 lengths. He’s been back to the barrier trials since and Zac Purton took the reins in that effort at Happy Valley to score well on December 23, and we expect the booking of a senior jockey to be the major factor to see the best of Superb Capitalist against the older horses. We also think Purton will be too slick for these guys and change tactic to sit in behind the speed and let what looks a hot tempo unfold in front of him before peeling out with the three-year-old gelding to win against what looks a quality race on this Sha Tin card.
Next best
Race 11 – 
#8 Superb Capitalist (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | J: Zac Purton (56.5kg)
Best Value: The Hulk
We’ll be looking to get an each-way price with online bookmakers when markets open for our best value selection of the afternoon, as the Casper Fownes-trained The Hulk looks a strong chance in this Class 4 1200m contest. His last start performance behind Mighty Stride on December 11 was much better than the 5.3 length margin may suggest as The Hulk drew barrier 14 and had no choice but to head towards the rear in a race where it was difficult to make ground from the rear of the field. His run previous to that was a similar story behind Victor The Winner and now from barrier two, we’re hoping the appointment of Hugh Bowman can see a positive start from the inside draw to keep up early and if he can his form reads very well in this field despite the 61kg he’s forced to carry. If he can jump well from the draw, he’s a major winning hope.
Next best
Race 4 – 
#1 The Hulk (2)
7yo Gelding | T: Casper Fownes | J: Hugh Bowman (61kg)
HK Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, January 8, 2022
- 1-2-3-5-7
- 1-3-4-6-11
- 1-2-5-9-12
- 6-8
Investment: $250 for 100%