Sha Tin preview, best bets & quaddie tips | March 11, 2023
| What | Sha Tin Races |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
| When | Saturday, March 11, 2023 |
| First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
We’ve got more Hong Kong racing, this time on a Saturday afternoon from Sha Tin Racecourse. It’s quality card before we get to the Hong Kong Derby next Sunday for the finale of the four-year-old series.
The rail in sitting in the C position the entire circuit which generally means you’ll be wanting to favour gallopers willing to sit up on speed. The track should be in pristine condition with a Good to Firm surface expected for Saturday. The first race is set to kick-off proceedings at 1:00pm HKT (4:00pm AEDT)
Best Bet at Sha Tin: Red Lion
As always Zac Purton has a terrific book of rides and his mount, Red Lion, in the penultimate for John Size is our best bet of the afternoon. He comes off an outstanding run at an unsuitable track and trip at Happy Valley on February 15 when beaten less than a length behind Solid Impact. He got well back in a moderately run race and that simply didn’t suit this son of Belardo. Looking two starts back at this track and trip and you’ll see he’s better ridden more prominently and should be able to find the one-one or even lead if he wants to on Saturday afternoon. He’s trialled since his latest effort as well, running softly in behind Lucky Sweynesse, indicating he’s still going well despite the long prep. Zac Purton taking the reins is always worth a length or two and with a perfect run expected on Saturday he looks the clear horse to beat in this field.
Best Bet
Race 9 – 
#1 Red Lion (4)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (61kg)
Next Best at Sha Tin: Laser Victory
We were with Laser Victory in his debut win and on what we saw, we can’t be getting off him now. His win at this course and distance was a soft win on February 12 when pinging the lids from barrier 12 and making every post a winner. He ran good time on that occasion and was able to hold his rivals at bay as Soaring Tower and Togepi were no match for this son of Brazen Beau. He gets a significant penalty of 3kg for the win, but we don’t think that will be an issue, particularly with his pattern. He’ll jump from barrier four on Saturday and be looking to replicate his first-up performance and although we have respect for the likes of Moduleconstruction and Easy Snip who come out of a hot race as well, we think Lasar Victory will make it back-to-back wins.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#2 Laser Victory (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Jamie Richards | J: Zac Purton (61kg)
Next Best Again at Sha Tin: Golden Express
We’ll be hoping Zac Purton can make the final race on the program his winning treble as we’re with him again in the Sha Tin finale. Golden Express is a horse we’ve got plenty of time for and has had zero luck since arriving in Hong Kong. He comes here on a seven-week let up after getting too far back in his latest run behind Not Usual Star on January 15. He flew home when the race was all over and you can find excuses for all three of his starts in Hong Kong. He’s had a lovely tick-over trial leading into this and with barrier two and Zac Purton engaged, we think Golden Express can win this race despite running into Dragon’s Luck, who is another sprint on the rise. Golden Express should get his back throughout and power over the top of them late to snag a much-deserved win in Hong Kong.
Next Best Again
Race 10 – 
#6 Golden Express (2)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (57kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Hong Kong races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Saturday, March 11, 2023
- 1-3-4-9
- 1-4-5-6-7-8
- 1-5
- 1-2-5-6-10
Investment: $240 for 100%