Karma should pay off first-up

Race 1 (1,650m)

3 Night Purosangue produced his best run when second to Yoda’s Choice at his first try over this track and trip last start. It was a game effort after racing wide without cover until the 1,000m, and this looks a prime opportunity for the David Hayes-trained 4YO to break through.

4 Courier Magic was heavily backed into even money when resuming and ran well for second despite racing keenly throughout. He was not a factor in his only try over this course last term, but with few in-form rivals, he is right in contention.

2 View All Things draws ideally in barrier 2 with Zac Purton taking over. His two all-weather runs have both been encouraging, and the drop into Class 5 makes this assignment easier.

10 Euro Rocks has run consecutive fourths on the all-weather, and from barrier 3, the Dennis Yip-trained 7YO maps for a soft run and a possible minor placing.

Race 2 (1,200m)

8 Oriental Surprise can improve from barrier 1, after getting back and running on strongly for fourth from a wide draw last start. His trial before that on this surface was encouraging, and he appears ready to get on the board.

3 Notthesillyone was well backed into favouritism last start at the bottom of Class 4, but could manage only fourth on a wet track he might not have handled. Back in Class 5, he looks a much stronger chance.

12 Double Bingo has finished in the placings at his past three starts, and his latest second carried merit after being checked at the 800m. Barrier 3 gives him every chance to finally break through after 16 attempts.

9 Excellent Daddy can take a step forward second-up as he returns to his preferred track and trip, and is capable of improving into the minors.

Race 3 (1,200m)

3 Watch This One is yet to hit the frame from seven starts but looks ready to turn things around. Blinkers go on for the first time with the tongue tie reapplied, and he draws well in barrier 2. A debut winner on the synthetic track in Australia before his Hong Kong move, the Pierre Ng-trained 4YO is an interesting prospect tackling Sha Tin’s all-weather for the first time.

9 Hinokami Kagura maps to get a soft run just behind the speed, similar to when he finally broke through three starts back, and can run a good race.

10 Jolly Companion mixes his form but returned to life with a third to Dancing Classics over this trip on turf last time. He now gets back to his preferred course and distance.

4 Impending Legacy showed early pace on debut for Mark Newnham before tiring late, and should take good improvement second-up.

Race 4 (1,800m)

12 Super Sicario has been in strong form this season, breaking through in Class 5 before running a solid third to Mighty Steed on the class rise. Last start, the Caspar Fownes-trained 4YO faced pressure throughout on speed, which took its toll late. But, from barrier 1 and carrying little weight, he gets his chance to bounce back.

[ο]3 Supreme Agility is still chasing his first Hong Kong win but continues to race well since dropping into Class 4. He was held up late last start, so his fourth carried plenty of merit.

[ο]1 Reliable Profit, a three-time all-weather winner, returned from an eight-month break with a second to the in-form Precision Goal. Purton taking over is a key booking, though he might be close to his mark.

9 Sight Supreme had excuses last time when unsuited by the tempo, but he can improve if the race shape works in his favour.

Race 5 (1,200m)

3 Vulcanus returns to the all-weather, which looks key to his prospects third-up given his strong record on the surface, boasting a win and four seconds from eight attempts. He was last seen charging home to fifth from a wide draw on turf, a solid platform to build on with Hugh Bowman taking over the reins.

11 Glaciated caught the eye first-up when closing strongly into fifth behind Ruby Sailing on turf, and a subsequent trial win on this surface suggests he will relish the switch.

1 Daily Trophy is hard to ignore on current form. He was rewarded for his consistency with a fourth course-and-distance win last time, though that effort may have been flattered by the wet track.

6 Hong Kong Hall faces a tricky draw but should roll forward. He is better than his rating suggests and could give a sight.

Race 6 (1,650m)

4 Shanghai Style returns to the all-weather third-up after two turf runs to start the season and looks ready to hit his peak. He trialled stylishly between runs, winning his heat with something in hand and, from barrier 4, he maps for an ideal run on the pace.

1 Luck Is Back was well found in betting last start and went close to delivering, beaten a head after racing wide throughout on speed.

8 California Star tends to get back and charge home late, consistently clocking fast-closing sectionals. The 1,650m is still a query with only one previous attempt, though he is a stronger, more complete horse.

7 Glorious Journey deserves respect after a luckless fifth last start when badly held up at a key moment. With a clearer path, he is capable of making his presence felt.

Race 7 (1,200m)

11 Fatal Blow appeals second-up after working hard from barrier 11 on debut over this track and trip. He stuck on bravely for fourth, suggesting he has plenty of improvement to come.

1 Wonder Kit drops back into Class 3 where he is much better suited, and his last-start fifth to Tomodachi Kokoroe in a fast-run turf race reads well for this assignment.

4 Must Go’s ninth last time is better than it looks after being held up late, and his recent trial was encouraging enough to suggest he can bounce back to form.

6 Kempes shocked at huge odds when scoring first-up and, while his follow-up trial was quiet, he looked well. If a solid tempo unfolds, he is one who can charge home late down the outside.

Race 8 (1,650m)

1 Karma returns from a break since mid-March and carries a slight fitness query, but his recent trial on the all-weather, which he races on for the first time, was full of promise. He tends to get back in his races, so he will need the race shape to suit his strong turn of foot.

8 Ariel is one of the speed influences and should give a sight from barrier 1. He reunited with 5lb (2.26kg) claiming apprentice Ellis Wong, who guided him to victory in a similar race four starts ago.

4 Mojave Desert rarely runs a bad race on the dirt, though barrier 11 makes his task trickier. Like Karma, he will get back and be running on late.

5 Mr Energia stretches to 1,650m for the first time after posting his third all-weather win last start. Purton stays aboard and, from gate 4, he maps for an economical run before launching late.

Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club