Hong Kong Preview & Best Bets – 16/03/2024

Hong Kong Tips for Saturday, March 16

Our form expert provides Hong Kong tips for today’s horse racing at Sha Tin Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 9:  No.10  YOUNG CHAMPION

John Size saddles-up YOUNG CHAMPION here who having his third Hong Kong start today and yet to miss a podium finish, looks set to continue the that trend here. The former Irish galloper finished runner-up at his first start here and then last start, went one better and cleaned them up in a Class 3 Hcp, here over the 1400m trip. Carrying 60kgs and Australian jockey James McDonald, he settled just behind the pace, one off the fence, and always looked a threat from there. On straightening, McDonald eased him out and asked him for a final effort. Inside the final 200m, he took over and comfortably held the late challenges, winning by a length on the line. No J. Mac today (committed to rides in Sydney) so Karis Teetan is the new pilot for this assignment. His first crack at Class 2 company sees him drop 7.5kgs (or 16 pounds on the Hong Kong scale) which should see him in the finish here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 7:  No.4  SMOKEY BEAR

We’re on the all-weather track here and the Michael Chang-trained SMOKEY BEAR is in good touch and has shown enough in his past four starts (all on the dirt track) to suggest he can figure here today. Last start, the British-bred bred gelding made it two-straight podium finishes when he took home third prize in a Class 3 Hcp, here over the 1200m trip. The effort was duly noted as he drew the outside gate (12) and carrying 59.5kgs, did well to finish just 1.5 lengths from the winner, who ran 1:08.8 for the 1200m. Zac Purton was aboard that day and remains the pilot for this contest. Better drawn in gate five here, he drops 2kgs for this assignment and with a trouble-free run, he looks right in the mix today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.4  ACE VICTORY

The Benno Yung-trained ACE VICTORY has run into some form of late and with a better draw today, looks a genuine winning chance in this contest. Last start, the Vancouver gelding came off a Class 4 victory and stepped-up to Class 3 level where he wasn’t disgraced, finishing fourth in the 1400m event with Jerry Chau aboard. He formerly raced in Australia, known as Aslav, and has now shown signs of settling in to the Hong Kong way of racing. Chau sticks with him today and after his claim, the five-year-old carries just 55kgs here and has drawn well in gate six. Already a winner at the track and distance, look set to go on with it today.