Sunday’s Sha Tin racing preview & best bets | January 29, 2023
| What | Stewards’ Cup Day |
| Where | Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong |
| When | Sunday, January 29, 2023 |
| First Race | 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) |
Ever since the Hong Kong International Races, all punters have been thinking about is the possibility of the three stars of HK racing meeting up in the Stewards’ Cup, and that’s exactly what we get on Sunday afternoon. Golden Sixty, California Spangle and Romantic Warrior will all line up in the Group 1 over the 1600m, so make sure you check out our preview and betting strategy for that one.
The quality racing doesn’t stop there, however, with the first leg of the four-year-old series getting underway with the Hong Kong Classic Mile. The world’s best have even made the trek with James McDonald, Jamie Kah and Ryan Moore all heading over to pick up some key chances throughout the 10-race card.
We should have picture-perfect conditions for the meeting as well, with nothing but clear skies forecast heading into Sunday as the rail moves to the A+3 course. The first race is set to get underway at 1pm local time.
Hong Kong Classic Mile: Keefy
The Hong Kong Classic Mile looks a wide-open affair; however, we’ve landed with Keefy in the first leg of the four-year-old series. Trainer Frankie Lor seems to have this son of All Too Hard airborne heading into Sunday’s 1600m contest and looks to be improving on every start. Despite being beaten last time out by likely favourite, Packing Treadmill, Keefy wasn’t disgraced on December 24. After drawing wide in the Class 2, Derek Leung was forced to go forward and sit outside the leader before Packing Treadmill peeled off his back to score, beating Keefy by 1.3 lengths. The pattern just didn’t suit him and now drawn barrier seven on Sunday he can replicate what he did two starts back in the Class 1 Chevalier Cup on November 27. He was ridden with cover in the one-by-one and produced an electric turn-of-foot smashing the clock in the process. Take him on that effort and he’s the one to beat in our opinion. Silvestre de Sousa takes the reins now and gets a major 6kg swing on Packing Treadmill which should make all the difference in Keefy turning the tables to win.
HK Classic Mile
Race 9 – 
#2 Keefy (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Frankie Lor | J: Silvestre de Sousa (57kg)
Best Bet at Sha Tin: Beauty Tycoon
We’ve been with Beauty Tycoon for his back-to-back wins at Happy Valley and see no reason to be jumping off him now, as he looks for three straight victories. He goes up into Class 2 for the first time and is going outstanding this preparation for trainer John Size. He’s been a work in progressive; however, his two wins at Happy Valley have been dominant when either leading or sitting on the leaders back in transit and that shouldn’t change despite the change of scenery at Sha Tin. He won at this course and distance back on October 1 in Class 4 in style when beating One Voice. Then subsequently ran third behind King Land in Class 3 after sitting wide throughout to cling on well for third on that occasion. Purton gets off Beauty Tycoon for Rock Ya Heart, although the jury’s out as to whether that’s more of a case that Purton couldn’t make the 53.5kg. Regardless, we’re happy to have Karis Teetan aboard, who from barrier four should get a perfect run to lead if he wants it, with a real lack of tempo on paper. Beauty Tycoon has been rock solid for us, so we’ll be sticking solid with him on Sunday.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#7 Beauty Tycoon (4)
4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Karis Teetan (53.5kg)
Next Best Bet: Innoconstruction
Zac Purton has another strong book of rides and Innoconstruction looks one of his better chances throughout the card. He comes here second-up after an eye-catching debut performance behind Chilli Baba down the Sha Tin 1000m straight on New Year’s Day and was unlucky not to be winning at a monster price, going down by a nostril. He started at $101 with online bookmakers and clearly outran his quote on that occasion sticking on gamely only to be chased down in the shadows of the post. He now draws barrier seven with the king Zac Purton hopping aboard, should be seeing Innoconstruction ping the lids and come across to sit outside the other likely speed horse, Cheval Valiant. You can tie the form in between these two galloper via Flying High, who ran into second last weekend behind Prince Of Porty. Innoconstruction beat home Flying High, while Cheval Valiant was a neck in behind him. An interesting factor analysing the race. We’re happy to be with Innoconstruction though, with the upside he may possess.
Next Best
Race 6 – 
#4 Innoconstruction (7)
3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Zac Purton (58kg)
Best Value Bet: Karma
Karma has to be one of the more intriguing gallopers on the program, as he comes here for his debut performance over the 1400m. This Turn Me Loose gelding has had three barrier trials in total; however, only the last two in last month with both catching our eye. He made ground comfortably in his Conghua turf trial on December 22, before finishing three-lengths behind Prince Of Porty in a 1000m trial at Sha Tin on January 10. The latter saw Karma do no work to the line and still have plenty up his sleeve chasing them home. There’s an X-Factor about this unraced four-year-old and the fact that Caspar Fownes has elected to kick-off his campaign over 1400m suggests to us he ready to make a statement here. He draws to get the beautiful run in behind the speed and if his trials are anything to go by, he might just be able to storm over the top of them late. We should get a decent price with online bookmakers too when they open, with gallopers like Gluck Racer and Beauty Mission, sure to have their admirers.
Best Value
Race 8 – #8 Karma (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Caspar Fownes | J: Luke Currie (57.5kg)
HK quaddie tips for Sha Tin races
Sha Tin quadrella selections
Sunday, January 29, 2023
- 1-2
- 1-3-4-8-9
- 1-2-3-5-10
- 1-2-3-7-8
Investment: $250 for 100%