Sunday 8th December Sha Tin Preview !!!

On early Sunday morning we have some top quality action from Hong Kong .Just quick preview of four big races from Sha Tin .(Vase)(Sprint)(Mile) (Cup) 

Starting with Hong Kong Vase at 6.00 am .14 runners declared for vase over 12 furlongs on ground described as good/firm .Plenty British interest here with the four main contenders being Red Cadeaux ,Mount Athos ,The Fugue & Galileo Rock .

6.00  SHA TIN HONG KONG VASE 12 FURLONGS : 
RED CADEAUX : Likeable seven year old gelding ,been campaigned in all top international races ,including winning this race last year and finishing third in 2011 .Also finished second in Dubai World Cup and Melbourne Cup .

MOUNT ATHOS : Won 8 races from 33 starts ,won group three Ormonde Stakes at Chester in May ,also finished creditable third in Melbourne Cup last month .Has bit to find with Red Cadeaux on that form .

THE FUGUE : High class four year old filly winning three group one races .Been in good form this season winning Yorkshire Oaks & Irish Champion Stakes .Finished close second in Breeders Cup turf last time at Santa Anita .

GALILEO ROCK :Consistent sort ,Ran some good races this season without winning ,finishing placed in Epsom Derby ,Irish Derby & St Leger .Looks open to improvement after six starts ,though doesn't have best draw in stall 13 .

VERDICT : The Fugue is 6LB clear on official ratings and will be difficult to beat if reproducing her recent group one form.However at best price 6-4 does look on short side ,though very much the one beat .

At the prices last year winner RED CADEAUX looks fair each-way value at around 8-1 .Has good record in these top international races and seems go well here at Sha Tin, having won this race in 2012 and finishing third in 2011 . 
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Hong Kong sprint over 6 furlongs at 6.40 am .14 runners declared for sprint .This race looks to concern the runners from far east .Lord Kanaloa ,Lucky Nine & Charles The Great 

6.40 SHA TIN HONG KONG SPRINT 6 FURLONGS :
LORD KANALOA : High class sprinter from Japan winning 8 from 12 starts ,winning five grade one races ,including winning this race last year  in good style .Not drawn the best in stall 12 ,though rated one the worlds best sprinters . 

LUCKY NINE :Won 9 races from 33 starts,winning five grade one races ,including winning this race in 2011 .Could only manage fifth in this race last year and had has plenty to find with Lord Kanaloa on that form .

CHARLES THE GREAT : Won 4 races from 10 starts ,winning grade two Jockey Club sprint  last time over course & distance .Will need improvement to win this much stronger grade one race .

VERDICT : LORD KANALOA stands out here having won six of last seven starts including winning this race by 2.5 Lenghs last year .Has the class to over come tricky draw in stall 12 .Odds around 7-4 look fair value .

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Hong Kong Mile at 7.50 am .14 runners declared for mile .This looks cracking contest for the mile with the three main contenders Gold-Fun , Moonlight Cloud & Sky Lantern .

7.50 SHA TIN HONG KONG MILE :
GOLD FUN :Progressive four year gelding ,winning 5 from 9 starts, including winning last three starts at Sha Tin .Has good record over 1 mile winning 4 out 5 . Should go well with ideal conditions .

MOONLIGHT CLOUD : High class French mare ,winning 12 from 20 starts ,including winning 6 grade one races .Been in great form this season winning all four starts ,though her best form has been on good or softer ground .Will be difficult to beat if handling this quicker ground .

SKY LANTERN : Top Class three year old filly winning 6 from 12 starts, winning four grade one races this season over 1 mile ,including 1000 guineas ,Coronation Stakes and Sun Chariot .Obvious claims with ideal conditions here 1 mile on fast ground .

VERDICT : Moonlight Cloud has clearly the best form unbeaten this season and 7lb clear on official ratings .However all her best form has been on softer ground over 7 furlongs and was beaten on both starts over mile on fast ground .Looks worth taking on at short odds .

GOLD-FUN will need to improve to beat Moonlight Cloud ,though 1 mile at Sha Tin on fast ground are his optimum conditions and looks the value bet against the short price favourite at around 5-1.

Of the others Sky Lantern can't be dismissed ,though takes on the colts for first time and will need to produce career best effort to land this high quality grade one contest .

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The feature race at Sha Tin The Hong Kong Cup over 10 furlongs worth 1.7 million to the winner .12 runners declared for another cracking looking contest .The the three main contenders Cirrus Des Aigles , Military Attack & Endowing .

8.30 SHA TIN HONG KONG CUP 10 FURLONGS : 
CIRRUS DES AIGLES : High class seven year old gelding ,winning 19 races from 54 starts .Including four grade one races .Won twice this season in grade two & grade three company in France .Also finished good second in champion stakes at Ascot in October .However all his best form has been on soft ground and was well beaten in this race in 2010 and 2011 .

MILITARY ATTACK : Former British trained gelding winning three times for John Hills in 2011 .Big improver this season since racing in Hong Kong ,winning five times ,including three grade one races .Impressive winner of Singapore International Cup at Kranji in May .Obvious claims with conditions to suit .

ENDOWING : Former British trained  gelding finishing second for Richard Hannon as two year old in 2011 .Been good form this season at Sha Tin winning two races and finishing second twice.Won grade two Jockey Club Cup last time at Sha Tin .Should go well with optimum conditions . 

VERDICT : MILITARY ATTACK wasn't at his best last time ,though will take plenty of beating if he can reproduce his early season grade one winning form ,including winning Singapore International by 3.5 lenghs .Odds around 3-1 look decent value .

Of the others Endowing rates as main danger if reproducing his recent Sha Tin form ,which includes 1.75 defeat of Military Attack last time ,though has still to win in grade one company.  .


 SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER SHA TIN  SELECTIONS :

RED CADEAUX 6.00 SHA TIN 
0.50 PTS EACH-WAY @ 7-1 BETVICTOR
(FOURTH SP 5-1 LOSS £100.00)

LORD KANALOA 6.40 SHA TIN 
1PT WIN @ 15-8 BETVICTOR.CORALS .WILLIAM HILLS
(WINNER SP 11-8 PROFIT £187.00)

GOLD-FUN 7.50 SHA TIN 
0.50 PT EACH-WAY @ 5-1 BETVICTOR.PADDY POWER.CORAL
(SECOND SP 7-2 LEVEL )

MILITARY ATTACK 8.30 SHA TIN 
1PT EACH-WAY @ 10-3 CORALS (NAP)
(FOURTH SP 9-4 LOSS £200.00 )

(STAKED £500.00 RETURN £387.00 TOTAL  LOSS £113.00)