Sha Tin races preview & best bets | Sunday, February 26
| What | Hong Kong Gold Cup Day 2023 |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
| When | Sunday, February 26, 2023 |
| First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
We’ve got a massive 10-race program to sink our teeth into at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, as we see Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior go head-to-head in the Hong Kong Gold Cup. That’s not all though; as we’ve also got the second leg of the four-year-old series in the penultimate contest the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
We’re on the A+3 course and will be racing on a good to firm surface on Sunday afternoon. Jamie Kah and James McDonald will both be making the trek for some key rides in the feature events and throughout the program. The first race is set to get underway at 1:00pm HKT (4:00pm AEDT).
Click here for our full preview of the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Hong Kong Classic Cup Top Tip: Tuchel
It’s a very intriguing edition of the Hong Kong Classic Cup and although nothing really stamped their authority in the first leg of the four-year-old series we think Tuchel was the one to take out of the Hong Kong Classic Mile. There’s no doubt he got the perfect run-in behind Voyage Bubble on January 29 and when asked got every chance to beat the eventual winner; however, at the 1800m this time we think Tuchel can turn the tables. This son of Redwood has trialled since his placing in the first leg and ran terrific on the all-weather circuit behind Victory Moments. He travelled wide and it was just to stretch out, but he looks fit and well for this. From barrier one Purton can trail Jamie Kah’s mount everywhere she goes on Voyage Bubble and this time with an extra 200m to do the damage, he can see out the trip more effectively. The other runner we’ve got time for is Super Sunny Sing who brings different form to the race, but we’ve lent in favour of Purton and Tuchel on top.
Hong Kong Classic Cup
Race 9 – 
#4 Tuchel (1)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (57kg)
Best Bet at Sha Tin: Beauty Eternal
We’re starting to run out of superlatives for this impressive four-year-old for John Size called Beauty Eternal. He’s a star on the rise in Hong Kong and his last start win was breathtaking in Class 3 on February 12 over the 1400m. He’s now stepping up to the 1600m for the first time along with Class 2 and looks beautifully placed to be winning again. He drops 4kg for his win and did no work to score in his previous win so we see no reason why he can’t do something similar here. He get’s barrier two and should find the one-one with ease before putting his rivals to bed in stylish fashion. He should be winning this before his date with the Hong Kong Derby.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#9 Beauty Eternal (2)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Zac Purton (54.5kg)
Next Best at Sha Tin: Brave Dreams
In retrospect the form from Brave Dreams looks amazing heading into this Class 4 assignment over 1200m. He’s run second behind two very nice types in Daring Pursuit and Supreme Lucky who will both be short-priced favourites wherever they step out next. Zac Purton has ridden him on both occasions and now finally finds a race where he should be the hot commodity, especially from the soft barrier on Sunday. He should be finding the gun spot throughout and while there are some nice horses here in the form of Juneau Flash, Happy For All and Soaring Tower, they’ve all drawn wide and could easily find trouble getting cover. Purton will be smoking the pipe in behind the leaders here before peeling out and getting a much-deserved second career win.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#3 Brave Dreams (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | J: Zac Purton (60.5kg)
Next Best Again at Sha Tin: Victory Moments
The fifth race of the program sees some quality types stepping out and we think we’ll get a nice price for Victory Moments with online bookmakers. He may not have won first-up in Hong Kong, but with any luck he would’ve been right in the finish behind We Are Hero down the Sha Tin straight on January 15. He copped a severe check at a crucial stage and was only getting clear running late to find fifth in his Hong Kong debut. He’s had a trial win since that performance and the King Zac Purton elects to stick in a race with quality straight track horses all over the page. He gets barrier seven and should find a lovely stalking position behind a hot tempo. With any luck this time we think he’s going to give a big shout here.
Next Best Again
Race 5 – 
#7 Victory Moments (7)
3yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Zac Purton (56kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, February 26, 2023
- 1-2
- 3-4-6-7-12
- 1-2-4-7-8
- 1-5-6-7-13
Investment: $250 for 100%