Sha Tin preview, best bets & quaddie tips | March 5, 2023
| What | Sha Tin Races |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
| When | Sunday, March 5, 2023 |
| First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
We’ve got more Hong Kong racing lined up on Sunday afternoon from Sha Tin Racecourse and it’s a competitive 10-race program to break down. We have a varying class of gallopers on display from Class 1 to Class 5, and there is a split focus with six races on the turf circuit and four on the all-weather.
The track should be in pristine condition with no rain expected over the weekend, and with the rail sitting in the B+2 position for the turf, it should be a fair day of racing. The first race is scheduled for 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT).
Best Bet: Courier Wonder
We think Hugh Bowman is in for a big day with Zac Purton out this weekend due to suspension. Courier Wonder looks like one Purton would’ve taken and after his run in the Group 1 Centenary Cup Sprint effort, it’s easy to see why. He ran into fourth behind Lucky Sweynesse on February 5 and was powering to the line. He was no match for the likes of Wellington and Lucky Sweynesse; however, back into Class 1 company should see this gelding out of Sacred Falls get his best opportunity to find his first win since May 2021, where he put together five straight wins to kick off his career. His trial since was just to stretch out and seems to be going well for John Size this time in. He gets 4kgs dropping back into Class 1 and despite giving a hefty weight swing to his rivals, Sunday should see Hugh Bowman track a strong tempo from barrier two, before peeling off the likes of Campione and Nervous Witness to score a well-deserved victory.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#1 Courier Wonder (2)
5yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (61kg)
Next Best: Perfetto
We were with Perfetto last time out and he didn’t disappoint. He smashed his rivals over this course and distance on February 5 and was given a perfect steer from Zac Purton to swallow up his rivals turning for home. This is another one Hugh Bowman picks up and despite copping a significant 3.5kg penalty for the win, he earns every bit of it on that performance. He draws a slightly more awkward gate this time, but that shouldn’t be a problem as he tends to get back in his races anyway. Provided Bowman can find the three-wide line with cover turning for home, we can see a replica of what he produced in his latest victory. He might be too good for Class 4 and on Sunday we’ll find out.
Next Best
Race 6 – 
#2 Perfetto (8)
4yo Gelding | T: David Hall | J: Hugh Bowman (60.5kg)
Next Best Again: Ching
We’re very interested to see how Ching can perform up into Class 3 for the first time on Sunday afternoon. He was a winner two back at this course and distance before being a total forgive last time behind Flying Mojito on February 19. Simply put, this son of Frosted should’ve been winning with any luck in transit. Jockey Lyle Hewitson just kept getting pushed further back in the field off a slow tempo and had no choice but to check off heels with very little galloping room late to fly home into fourth position, less than a length off the eventual winner. It was of no fault by Hewitson but the race just didn’t unfold the way he would’ve liked. This time with the feather weight of 53.5kg in Class 3 for the first time, it should be a great set up for Ching to show his best again. We expect Hewitson to be more positive from gate six and find somewhere close to the one-one position and if he does, he’s a cracking bet to finish the card.
Next Best Again
Race 10 – 
#12 Ching (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Michael Chang | J: Lyle Hewitson (53.5kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Hong Kong races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, March 5, 2023
- 5-6-9-10
- 1-5-7-9
- 3-5-7-8-11
- 1-11-12
Investment: $240 for 100%