Hong Kong form expert Luke Middlebrook provides his thoughts on every race at the Hong Kong meeting at Sha Tin on Saturday, 5 July.
Motor (#4) looks ready to win after an unlucky second to The All Out last start over 1000m, where he was held up for room late.
Selections: 4-9-12-1
Gimme Five (#1) looks ready to break through. He resumes off a pair of solid trials and returns to a course and trip where he’s placed twice from two starts.
Selections: 1-6-12-10
Mr Energia (#1) returns to Class 4 after starting favourite in a deeper Class 3 contest, where he was shuffled back and did well to finish fourth. That form reads strongly for this and he looks ready to strike.
Selections: 1-2-5-3
Beautiful Win (#1) has the speed map in his favour and looks set to control things from the front. He’s posted back-to-back placings over this course and trip since dropping to Class 5 and is well placed to break through.
Selections: 1-6-5-9
Lucky Symphony (#1) had excuses last start after working hard from a wide draw to sit outside the leader in a strongly run race. He faded late into seventh but wasn’t beaten far. Drawn slightly better this time helps.
Selections: 1-2-3-8
Endued (#4) has been trending the right way since the switch to Benno Yung and a slide in the ratings. From barrier 12 last start he gave away a big head start but closed off strongly for fourth. He’s knocking on the door.
Selections: 4-7-6-12
Szeryng (#2) made full use of barrier 1 to break through stylishly at his third start and did it with a bit in hand. He maps for another soft run and should be right in the finish again.
Selections: 2-1-3-5
Fortune Boy (#3) is a three-year-old trending the right way and steps up to 1800m for the first time. He tends to get back and hit the line, as seen when narrowly missing back-to-back wins last start.
Magnifique (#6) had genuine excuses when his winning streak ended in March, but his recent trials suggest he’s returned in top order and can bounce back first-up.
Selections: 6-5-3-8
Masterofmyuniverse (#4) steps into Class 2 after back-to-back wins that took his tally to four from nine, and he’s trialled well between runs to suggest he can keep progressing.
Selections: 4-5-2-7
Patch Of Stars (#1) is a three-year-old on the rise looking to extend his winning streak to four, and remains the clear benchmark. He made light work of them last start and while short in the market again, he’ll take plenty of beating.
Selections: 1-10-3-7