Hong Kong: Selections for Sha Tin the night of April 12

Racing at Sha Tin begins at 12:30 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.

Race 1: RACING FOR CHARITY 1000M PLATE

#6 The All Out has been given a solid foundation with five barrier trials leading into his debut in this Griffin race for unraced two and three-year-olds. He's progressed with each outing and draws ideally for the straight course, where the Jamie Richards-trained youngster looks the one to beat, especially with Zac Purton taking the ride. #5 Hyannis Star has had just the one trial but did enough to suggest he's in the mix for the in-form David Eustace yard. #4 Babieca has shown promise in two trials, the latest a quiet effort where he found the line well to indicate he'll be running on late. #1 Motor has been well educated with a string of trials and could be the surprise packet at a price in this small field of six unraced runners.

Race 2: JC ECHOES OF LOVE FUND 1000M HANDICAP

#1 Northern Beaches can relish the class drop into Class 4 for the first time and is coming off an encouraging first-up effort in Class 3, where he drew the wrong part of the straight but closed off strongly into fourth behind La Forza. #3 Thriving Brothers is an intriguing runner as he makes his stable debut for Dennis Yip after previously being with Douglas Whyte. He's trialed well under Zac Purton since the stable switch, and with Purton sticking, he can't be overlooked. He's hinted at a breakthrough win since dropping to Class 4 four starts ago, even if 1000m might be a touch sharp. #11 Ka Ying Resilience had excuses last time when he knuckled badly at the start, which ended his chances. He's since trialed impressively and has the scope to rebound sharply. #4 Parents' Love has drawn awkwardly for the straight course but possesses early speed to get across. He'll give his usual sight and can improve on his otherwise modest Sha Tin record.

Race 3: CLAP@JC 1200M HANDICAP

#6 Sky Prophet stuck on well for fourth last time in a fast-run race over 1200m on the all-weather—it was a game effort. He receives a jockey upgrade with Hugh Bowman back in the saddle, and in a wide-open Class 5, he looks a genuine contender now well entrenched in the cellar grade. #1 Commanding Missile holds a solid record in this class and was a dominant winner here four runs ago, scoring by over two lengths. Barrier 1 gives him every chance to replicate that performance. #12 California Icon has form that leaves a lot to be desired, but he's had a horrid run of wide barriers and now moves into gate 2, which offers him the opportunity to settle closer and lift his chances. #5 Circuit Ten returned to form last start with a fast-finishing second from barrier 12. He may again need luck from barrier 10, but Zac Purton takes the reins and that boosts his prospects.

Race 4: JC CAMPSITE REIMAGINATION PROJECT 1200M HANDICAP

#4 Ahren is ready to win when things fall into place. Second-up last time he drew wide in barrier 11 and the slowly run race shape was against him, but he still produced a fast-finishing fourth, beaten only two and a half lengths—a solid effort given the circumstances. Again he will need luck from barrier 12 here. #1 Enjoy Golf is due a win this season after five placings from seven outings. Since resuming from a spell in mid-January he has been kept to the sprint distances and has been ultra-consistent, stepping back up to 1200m last start and placing second for a fourth consecutive time. Barrier 3 gives him the chance to go one place better. #7 Honest Witness may be looking for further than 1200m, but he should be up on the pace from barrier 2, gets a jockey upgrade with Zac Purton in the saddle for his second career start, and his fourth on debut over 1000m was a pass mark. #8 Lean Master is going to give a big sight from barrier 1 under apprentice Britney Wong's 10lb claim. There's not a ton of speed on paper and blinkers back on is a plus.

Race 5: THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB COMMUNITY TROPHY (HANDICAP)

#3 Beauty Destiny is one of the most improved horses this season, having won five from eight, and he shoots for four on the trot here. Conditions do change as he returns to Sha Tin for the first time since November 2023, but the way he's been letting down at Happy Valley suggests he'll be hard to hold out. #6 Glory Elite comes into a middle draw and gets Zac Purton in the plate after having no luck from barrier 12 last start, caught wide throughout before fading to sixth. He's capable of rebounding on that effort, and his runner-up finish to Fast Network two starts ago reads as strong form. #1 Gorgeous Win has an awkward alley to overcome in barrier 10 but brings solid form into this race, with a runner-up finish to Lucky With You two starts back before a closing fifth at Group 2 level behind Ka Ying Rising. The drop in class sees him well placed. #9 Stellar Express will enjoy a bit of tempo where he can sit back and launch late. He's still improving and comes off a promising third behind Fast Network.

Race 6: THRIVING YOUTH 1400M HANDICAP

#10 Max Que is a work in progress but continues to improve with racing. His last-start 11th is best overlooked—he drew barrier 14, jumped awkwardly, settled back and never featured, though his final sectional held some merit. If he can make use of barrier 3 here, he can return to the form he showed two starts back when a close-up second. #8 With a Smile looks ready for 1400m now after several encouraging efforts over 1200m. Barrier 12 is the obvious concern, and where he lands in the run remains to be seen. #7 Leslie is so well rated these days that he can bounce back at any time, and barrier 1 gives him that opportunity. #9 Ace has trialled well ahead of his debut. It won't be easy at his first outing, but he's drawn kindly in gate 2 and can enjoy a smothered-up run to produce his best work late.

Race 7: POSITIVE AGEING 1400M HANDICAP

#7 Quick Contribution is ready for the rise to 1400m, which looks key to his chances after three solid efforts over 1200m. Two starts back he finished a close third behind Sky Joy, and last time out his seventh-place result was better than it reads—tight for room late and beaten just three lengths. #3 Harold Win is knocking on the door for a second career win since dropping back into Class 4, finishing in the placings each time, including a third to Sky Jewellery which reads as a strong form reference. #13 He Was You produced his best effort yet last start when setting a strong tempo up front before fading into third behind South Star. He continues to improve and a nice inside draw gives him every chance to feature again. #10 Night Purosangue has been running over trips short of his best but hasn't been far away. With a step up in distance and a strong recent trial between runs, he looks ready to take a forward step.

Race 8: HEALTHY COMMUNITY 1400M HANDICAP

#3 Patch of Theta is going to receive a sweet run from barrier 2 as Hugh Bowman jumps back in the saddle. He has found it tough in his last two races at Group 1 and Group 2 level but hasn't been beaten far. This race presents an easier task, and an impressive trial between runs looks to have him in fine fettle, where he is well placed to bounce back to winning ways. #5 Taj Dragon gets back to his best distance of 1400m—where he is a six-time winner—after three runs over an unsuitable 1200m. He has also dropped enough in the ratings to strike again, and an encouraging trial win leading into this has him ready to fire. #6 Rubylot was your Hong Kong Derby favorite where he checked in a close-up fifth. 1400m has been his most successful distance to date, which should serve him well to improve on that last start. #7 Drombeg Banner will find it hard to win races now high in the ratings but he is honest and, on paper, looks likely to get a very easy time on the lead, which sets it up for him to give a grand sight and prove hard to reel in.

Race 9: NURTURING TALENT 1000M HANDICAP

#10 Justifying is a promising three-year-old who made a big impression on debut with a sharp three-and-three-quarter length all-the-way win at this course and distance. Trainer Caspar Fownes has noted that "time will be his friend," so the sharp rise in the handicap second-up is the query, but his raw ability should carry him a long way. #1 Celestial Colours resumed with a third behind Colourful King, and that form has already been franked with Colourful King winning again on Wednesday night at Happy Valley. He's turned in a good trial between runs and remains in the mix, though barrier 1 isn't ideal for the straight course. #11 Aurora Patch is improving with more racing and is building towards his first local win, coming off back-to-back placings behind the talented Horsepower and La Forza. #7 Sparkling Fellow had genuine excuses last start after pulling up with blood in the trachea. His earlier form at this course and distance was encouraging and a strong trial between runs suggests he can bounce back.

Race 10: ADVANCING CULTURE & SPORTS 1800M HANDICAP

#1 Enthralled remains the one to beat despite drawing barrier 10, though the long straight run to the bend should allow him to find a position with intent. The John Size-trained four-year-old is a horse on the rise and a smart trial win between runs suggests he's in good shape to atone for a narrow last-start defeat. #9 Winning Wing endured a torrid run last start when finishing sixth as race favorite, beaten five lengths. That effort is best overlooked and he's worth another chance here, especially as he's likely to present better value. #3 Packing Turbine got the better of Enthralled last start and is another progressive four-year-old. He's drawn just outside him in barrier 11 and early tactics could prove decisive between the pair. #7 Flying Luck is likeable on the quick back-up after a solid first attempt in Class 3 last week, where he drew wide, was ridden conservatively, and made good ground late. A mid-draw gives him the chance to map more positively this time.

Race 11: SUSTAINABILITY 1400M HANDICAP

#3 Hong Lok Golf showed a change of tactics last start when rising to 1400m for the first time, taking up the lead and scoring by a neck over Sky Jewellery, who then franked the form with a dominant win last week. He's trialed well since and looks a promising type on the rise. He doesn't necessarily have to lead again here, but now has that extra string to his bow. #4 Light Years Charm is a talented horse who won his first local race stylishly two back before stepping up to the mile, where he was slow away but rattled home for third. The drop back to 1400m suits, though he was again slow out in a recent trial between runs, which remains his main query—especially with barrier 11 also against him. #2 Charming Legend drew wide in barrier 10 last time and was ridden quietly, closing off well into seventh. He can revert to his front-running pattern and give a bold sight. #5 Armour War Eagle blew his chance of back-to-back wins last start when rearing at the jump but made good ground in the straight to finish a fast-closing second, beaten only a head.