Hong Kong racing from Sha Tin is overnight at 1:00 a.m. EDT, 11:00 p.m. PDT. Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty will parade on track one last time before retirement, and the first graded stakes of the season, the Group 3 Celebration Cup is the feature race on a stellar 10-race card. Free PPs are available at Horse Racing Nation. For more free handicapping information, visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Race 1: 9 Lucky Banner, 1 Billionaire Secret, 7 Hakka Radiance, 4 Excel Wongchoy

Race 2: 6 Precision Goal, 1 Go Go Go, 8 Medic Elite, 2 Viva A La

Race 3: 5 Storming Dragon, 4 Fun N Fun Together, 7 Sugar Ball, 6 Pearl Of Pang’s

Race 4: 1 Santorini, 2 Run Yes Run, 3 Northern Fireball, 7 Cashiscash

Race 5: 5 Dragon Air Force, 4 Panda, 2 Cheval Valiant, 9 Run Run Cool

Race 6: 4 Illuminous, 5 Eighteen Carat, 8 Turin Starspangled, 1 Awesome Fluke

Race 7: 6 Chiu Chow Spirit, 1 Taj Dragon, 3 Healthy Happy, 4 Packing Treadmill

Race 8: 3 Ballistic Win, 7 Master Mastermind, 2 First Love, 5 Highland Rahy

Race 9: 1 Wunderbar, 8 Storm Rider, 5 Lucy In The Sky, 9 Captain Win

Race 10: 6 Young Champion, 5 Superb Capitalist, 2 Copartner Prance, 11 Full Credit

Race 1 – Hwamei Handicap

No. 9 Lucky Banner may find himself in front controlling the tempo. It’s been a long time between drinks for the five-year-old, but he won’t get a better chance to break through for another win than in this week’s assignment. No. 1 Billionaire Secret resumes first-up for his new stable under Jimmy Ting. He is always a contender at Class 4 level and can be competitive here. No. 7 Hakka Radiance has slipped down the ratings and steps out for Danny Shum for the first time. His trials suggest he can turn his form around. No. 4 Excel Wongchoy was showing improvement late last season, and he looks ready to take the next step.

Race 2 – Magpie Handicap

No. 6 Precision Goal was a gallant third upon resuming after setting the pace. He will strip fitter now and should receive a gun run from barrier 2. No. 1 Go Go Go finally broke his long-standing maiden first-up, and it’s tough to see him out of the finish, especially with Purton sticking from barrier 1. No. 8 Medic Elite will relish the step up to his best distance second-up after a solid late effort first-up. No. 2 Viva A La was a dominant winner first-up over about six furlongs, leading comfortably to score. Apprentice Britney Wong claims 10 pounds, and this looks like a good opportunity for her to figure in the finish.

Race 3 – Parrot Handicap

No. 5 Storming Dragon went close to breaking through several times last season, placing in three of his four starts. This looks his race to lose. No. 4 Fun N Fun Together ended last season with a strong third behind up-and-comer Courier Aladdin and should be knocking on the door for a win soon. No. 7 Sugar Ball dropped in the ratings last term and finished with his best run yet when third to First Love. His trials suggest he’s ready to fire first-up. No. 6 Pearl Of Pang’s attracted market support on debut but needed the experience. Expect him to improve second-up.

Race 4 – Shrike Handicap

No. 1 Santorini is a progressive three-year-old who looks poised to continue his winning form after a strong breakthrough victory last start. No. 2 Run Yes Run struggled on a rain-affected track last time out but is better than that and can bounce back. No. 3 Northern Fireball makes his debut for the Dennis Yip stable and has caught the eye in his trials. No. 7 Cashiscash showed improvement in his recent trial after an eighth-place finish on debut last season. Expect him to take a step forward.

Race 5 – Golden Sixty Handicap

No. 5 Dragon Air Force caught the eye with a promising fourth on debut late last season. His recent trial win signals he’s ready to make a statement first-up. No. 4 Panda secured a nice win two starts back before a disappointing run, but a strong trial suggests he can bounce back fresh. No. 2 Cheval Valiant will set the tempo as usual and give a bold sight out in front under Britney Wong’s 10-pound claim. No. 9 Run Run Cool was held up late when ninth first-up, but with a clear run this time, he could spring a surprise second-up.

Race 6 – Tai Hang Handicap

No. 4 Illuminous will need to make early use of barrier 1 and settle closer to the pace than in previous runs to enhance his chances. He showed potential last season and could be set for better things this campaign. No. 5 Eighteen Carat will benefit from the blinkers again, and an on-pace position gives him an edge. No. 8 Turin Starspangled didn’t fire last season but closed out with his best run yet. His trial form suggests further improvement, and he’s primed for a stronger second season. No. 1 Awesome Fluke switched to Ricky Yiu late last season and showed improvement. While he’ll need further than the mile eventually, fresh over this distance suits him for a positive return.

Race 7 – The Celebration Cup Handicap (G3)

No. 6 Chiu Chow Spirit is in career-best form and looks the one to side with as he chases a hat-trick, despite having the widest draw (7) to navigate. No. 1 Taj Dragon is high-class and can start his season in promising style, even with top weight. No. 3 Healthy Happy aims for back-to-back wins in this race after scoring from the front last year and will look to repeat the dose. No. 4 Packing Treadmill was ridden too conservatively first-up but can make his presence felt second-up with earlier intent.

Race 8 – Deep Water Bay Handicap

No. 3 Ballistic Win lost no admirers with a solid third first-up. With a favorable draw in gate 3 for jockey Ben Thomson, he can bounce back to winning form. No. 7 Master Mastermind had a testing first-up run from a wide draw but finished strongly into fourth. The seven furlongs should suit him better second-up, and drawing barrier 1 can turn his luck around. No. 2 First Love was disappointing first-up but showed ability last season. With a tongue tie applied for the first time, he deserves another chance to atone. No. 5 Highland Rahy will be fitter for his second-up run and is steadily improving with each race in Hong Kong.

Race 9 – Tailorbird Handicap

No. 1 Wunderbar is one of Hong Kong’s most exciting horses, having won four of five in his debut season before an injury sidelined him. He is the only horse to have beaten Ka Ying Rising – and he has done so twice. No. 8 Storm Rider is better than his recent form suggests, having had genuine excuses for his last three runs. The summer break should have refreshed him, and he can return with promise. No. 5 Lucy In The Sky has strong form and looks set to build on it this season. No. 9 Captain Win finished third behind Gorgeous Win first-up, which bodes well for his chances here.

Race 10 – Woodpecker Handicap

No. 6 Young Champion displayed huge potential last season, winning two of his three starts stylishly. Though he’s first-up since mid-March, and fitness might be a concern, this John Size-trained four-year-old has the class to overcome these hurdles. No. 5 Superb Capitalist was solid in third behind Ka Ying Rising first-up. With match fitness on his side and a favorable draw in gate 1, he’s a strong chance. No. 2 Copartner Prance’s impressive rise in ratings last season was built on a streak of six straight wins. No. 11 Full Credit, from the Mark Newnham stable, is progressing well and the light weight should benefit him in his first Class 2 assignment.

Luke Middlebrook is a Contributor at Idol Horse. After catching the Hong Kong racing bug, Luke spent several years blogging about the sport before relocating to Singapore in 2016. There, he spent eight years as the resident expert at iRace Media, overseeing all form-related and editorial content for horse racing in Hong Kong and Singapore.

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