Race 1: 4 Podium, 2 Gallant Crown, 5 Manythanks Forever, 8 Ivictoriam

Race 2: 4 Laserblanca, 1 Victor The Rapid, 2 Top Dragon, 3 Beauty Missile

Race 3: 7 Dragon Four Seas, 1 Magnifique, 8 Everyone’s Gallop, 2 The Heir

Race 4: 4 Telecom Dragon, 1 Magnificent Nine, 10 Lucky Blessing, 12 Circuit Mighty

Race 5: 2 Master Of All, 1 Spirit Of Peace, 10 Draco, 6 Win Speed

Race 6: 2 Beauty Alliance, 13 Cervin, 14 Soaring Bronco, 12 California Moxie

Race 7: 5 Lo Rider, 4 Steps Ahead, 8 Family Jewel, 12 Midori Giant

Race 8: 7 Mid Winter Wind, 4 Karma, 2 Sunlight Power, 8 Mickley

Race 9: 7 Crimson Flash, 4 Colourful King, 2 Horsepower, 6 Sparkling Fellow

Race 10: 4 Invincible Shield, 12 Lifeline Express, 1 Swift Ascend, 2 Glory Elite

Race 11: 3 Bundle Award, 5 Dragon Joy, 12 Excellence Value, 4 New Future Folks

Race 1 Camellia Handicap

No. 4 Podium has been progressing well since joining David Eustace, and after breaking through for his first win five starts ago, he has remained consistent. He steps out 11 days after a fast-finishing second over the extended mile at Happy Valley for the second consecutive time. No. 2 Gallant Crown should find the lead comfortably from his low draw. Although he hasn’t won in over a year and a half, he is edging closer in this grade, having placed third in his last three runs. No. 5 Manythanks Forever shifts from barrier 1 to 12, but his form has been exceptional since joining Chris So. With any luck in running, he is firmly in the mix. No. 8 Ivictoriam draws well and is starting to come to hand after sliding down the ratings into Class 5. His last-start ninth was better than it reads, as he was held up for a run in the straight.

Race 2 Daisy Handicap, first division

No. 4 Laserblanca appears to be a handy 3-year-old who will carry high expectations to win first-up for John Size, having been a standout at the trials in his four Hong Kong hit-outs since arriving from Australia, where he trialed under the name Five Foot Fence and showed ability there as well. No. 1 Victor The Rapid drops into Class 4 and is one to follow, though the query is that he hasn’t raced since mid-October. Still, his debut third to Call Me Glorious is a strong form reference, and his recent trial was decent without being fully tested. No. 2 Top Dragon is improving with racing and lines up third-up after a narrow second to Blazing Wind, who has since measured up in Class 3. No. 3 Beauty Missile remains a long-standing 25-start maiden but is coming off an encouraging fourth, beaten less than a length by Sky Joy. Hard to like on a win line, but he must be kept safe for a placing.

Race 3 Daisy Handicap, second division

No. 7 Dragon Four Seas backed up his maiden victory with a solid second-place finish to Yee Cheong Glory after starting wide from barrier 10 last start. This looks an easier assignment, and he is the one to beat. No. 1 Magnifique made a lasting impression with a strong debut win as a well-backed odds-on favorite, confirming the promise he had shown in trials leading into that run. The rise to 1,200 meters looks ideal second-up. No. 8 Everyone’s Gallop is a debutant for Frankie Lor who has shown steady progression in his barrier trials, particularly in his last two, where he displayed sharp early speed to lead and win each heat in good style. No. 2 The Heir returns first-up after a fast-finishing second behind New Future Folks on his first attempt in Class 4. He has been frustratingly winless from 14 attempts but remains well placed to break through in this grade.

Race 4 Jasmine Handicap, first division

No. 4 Telecom Dragon has been knocking on the door for a win this season, and the step up to 1,400 meters for the first time might be just what he needs to get his nose in front. He was last seen closing strongly for fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Sky Jewellery at Happy Valley, a solid form reference, while the switch to Sha Tin is a positive. No. 1 Magnificent Nine tackles Class 4 for the second time, and his chances of shedding his long-standing Hong Kong maiden tag look better in this company. He was sent off favorite two starts ago in a similar race, flashing home into third from a wide draw. No. 10 Lucky Blessing remains unplaced from five starts but has been running honest races from an on-pace position. He may get a comfortable time in front without much pressure, which could spark improvement. No. 12 Circuit Mighty needs to lift but can also be favored on pace. He is suited dropping back in trip and has been finishing close in recent runs.

Race 5 Jasmine Handicap, second division

No. 2 Master Of All, a three-time winner and four-time placegetter from eight attempts over this course and distance, deserves plenty of attention and will be giving his opposition something to chase down. No. 1 Spirit Of Peace is a horse on the rise for John Size. He broke through for his first win at his third start over 1,200 meters at Happy Valley, and that form has held up well with runner-up Hayday winning subsequently. The step up to 1,400 meters should suit, as does remaining in Class 4. No. 10 Draco has been racing well since joining Ricky Yiu’s yard and performed admirably last time, racing on pace from a wide draw over 1,200 meters at Happy Valley before holding on for third. The rise to 1,400 meters is an unknown, but he remains untapped and is closing in on a breakthrough win. No. 6 Win Speed is honest and has the required early speed to position advantageously on pace.

Race 6 Lotus Handicap

No. 2 Beauty Alliance finished a close-up fourth last time, beaten just 1.5 lengths after racing wide without cover throughout—a game effort that followed a fast-finishing sixth from a wide draw in his prior run. The rise to 1,800 meters looks ideal, and he can bounce back to winning ways. No. 13 Cervin needs to improve on his Class 4 form, but he is an improved horse this season and gets his chance with a light weight and barrier 1 affording him the opportunity to step up. No. 14 Soaring Bronco has been costly for punters, going winless despite starting as race favorite on four occasions. However, he is rarely beaten far and remains a contender. No. 12 California Moxie generally settles back and runs on, making him an interesting runner first-up over 1,800 meters, a distance he has yet to be tested over. As an improving northern hemisphere-bred 4-year-old, he looks on track to break through soon.

Race 7 Marigold Handicap

No. 5 Lo Rider is on the quick seven-day turnaround after closing in for fifth over this course and distance last week, up against an on-pace-dominated race shape. He also had excuses, being hampered in the concluding stages. Moving into barrier 1 is a plus, and Caspar Fownes’ stable is finding form again. No. 4 Steps Ahead should improve from a mid-draw after racing wide without cover from a tough gate last start. His prior form has been ultra-consistent, and he remains well placed here. No. 8 Family Jewel, Fownes’ other runner in the field, resumes for the first time since early December when finishing a closing sixth behind Californiatotality, a form line that has since proven reliable. No. 12 Midori Giant steps out third-up in Hong Kong with blinkers applied, which piques plenty of interest. He is improving with race experience and looks capable of taking another step forward.

Race 8 Heung Yee Kuk Cup Handicap

No. 7 Mid Winter Wind made a huge impression on debut over 1,200 meters, producing a near last-to-first victory while clocking a blistering final 400 meters sectional of 21.72 seconds, the fastest of the entire meeting. Mark Newnham will be hoping his South African import can maintain his winning streak and stay on course for the next two legs of the Classic Series. No. 4 Karma boasts a strong second-up record with three wins from four, and his first-up closing run into third behind Sunlight Power was full of promise. No. 2 Sunlight Power sets the benchmark in a race of this nature after breaking through for his second win of the season last start and remains a major contender once again. No. 8 Mickley often finds trouble in his races, including last start in the Classic Mile, where he was ridden for luck from a wide draw before suffering interference at the 350m mark. His fifth-place finish, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths, carried plenty of merit.

Race 9 Osmanthus Handicap

No. 7 Crimson Flash produced a promising second-place finish over this course and distance on debut for Mark Newnham. He was on the wrong part of the track that day but stuck on well and should improve with that experience and a better draw here. No. 4 Colourful King faces a deep race with plenty of chances on debut, but his trials have been eye-catching, and David Eustace has a good record with first-starters in Hong Kong. He has shown plenty of natural early speed in his trials, so expect him to be handy and give a bold sight. No. 2 Horsepower was an impressive winner over the minimum trip at Happy Valley in October but was scratched at the barriers at his next intended start after being found lame and hasn’t raced since. No. 6 Sparkling Fellow finished third on his local debut in the same race as Crimson Flash and should strip fitter second-up with experience now on his side.

Race 10 Primula Handicap

No. 4 Invincible Shield had no luck on debut after drawing barrier 14, racing wide without cover throughout before weakening in the home straight. He has had 28 days to recover from that tough run, has trialed well between starts, and should get his chance to show up second-up with a better passage. No. 12 Lifeline Express was desperately unlucky last time, finishing ninth, beaten 2.5 lengths, after being held up at a crucial stage. His get-back, run-on style often sees him finding more trouble than others, but he is itching to break his Class 3 duck when things fall into place. No. 1 Swift Ascend has done exactly that in the ratings for the David Eustace stable and will be hard to hold out late, dropping back into Class 3 after a close-up fourth to Raging Blizzard. No. 2 Glory Elite piques interest back to 1,200 meters after weakening into 10th in the Classic Mile, though he was only beaten 3 1/4 lengths that day. He will give a sight.

Race 11 Rose Handicap

No. 3 Bundle Award broke through for his first Hong Kong win last start over Sky Trust, a form line that has proven solid. After three local runs over 1,400 meters, he now steps up to the mile, a trip he was unbeaten at overseas. No. 5 Dragon Joy stamped his credentials with a stunning last-to-first victory over this course and distance last start. Ricky Yiu’s charge can keep the momentum going in a competitive race against many of his peers, all on a similar path toward the remaining two legs of the Classic Series. No. 12 Excellence Value could be worth keeping an eye on at odds, third-up in Hong Kong, having shown sharp improvement second-up when running on from last to finish fourth, 1.65 lengths behind The Boom Box over 1,200 meters. He will enjoy the extra ground here. No. 4 New Future Folks continues to build a strong resume, winning his second race from seven attempts last start, overcoming a wide draw to lead all the way at his first attempt over this course and distance.

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. Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.