Sha Tin Sunday! Beauty Generation And Three Group 2 Races! + 85/1 Treble

With another day of fantastic Cheltenham action in store on Sunday, Sha Tin can provide a brilliant start to the day. They host their Trials Meeting, with three Group 2 contests! With plenty of starts on show, you do not want to miss our horse racing previews and analysis below!

6.45am – Jockey Club Mile

One of the best Hong Kong has seen, it was an almighty shock when Beauty Generation went down as the 3/10 favourite in the Sha Tin Trophy last month. Although beaten, he was far from disgraced, and given his prior accolades, including winning the Celebration on the bridle, he’s going to prove hugely difficult to beat.

His biggest opponent looks to be Waikuku, who finished ahead of him when second in the Sha Tin Trophy. That, however, was a handicap contest, and he’s now fourteen pounds worse off. He’s clearly best of the rest in this field, but with such a turnaround at the weights, it’s unlikely he can confirm places with John Moore’s once in a life-time horse.

For those perhaps looking for an exotic forecast, Ka Ying Star has enough about him to upset the apple cart and finish in the runner-up spot. Landing a  handicap at this venue back in April, he’s been deadly consistent in recent starts and if one of the front two falter, he is likely to be the beneficiary.

Selection: BEAUTY GENERATION (2/5)

7.15am – Jockey Club Cup

It’s another short-priced favourite in the second Group contest, the Jockey Club Cup, with Exultant heading the market at a skinny 10/11. It’s warranted, however, if you delve into his recent form, which includes multiple Group 1 wins. He gained the latter of those over twelve furlongs here back in May, having his first run since when a close third in a Group 3 Handicap over slightly shorter. Up in distance, he has to be respected.

That said, a very strong case can be made for RISE HIGH. He’s been improving at a rapid rate of knots and posted a career-best effort to land the mile Sha Tin Trophy on his latest outing, downing both Waikuku and more prevalently, Beauty Generation. That sort of form entitles him to a huge amount of respect in this line-up and his ceiling remains unknown. With that in mind, he looks a very tempting proposition.

At a bigger price, a case can also be made for Southern Legend, who defeated Exultant to win a Group 3 Handicap on his latest outing. He meets him on six-pound worse terms, granted, but a repeat of that sort of form over a furlong further, shouldn’t see him far away.

Tip: RISE HIGH (46/10)

7.50am – Jockey Club Sprint

What a race we have in prospect here, with plenty of the field having something to recommend them on. Aethero, who posted a career-best to impressively land a handicap over five furlongs here on his latest outing, is rapidly progressive and he should be capable of better. Another with a strong chance is Regency Legend, who is unbeaten in four starts and although this sharp rise in grade demands far more, he’s clearly well-regarded and is the early favourite.

Preference, however, goes the way of BEAT THE CLOCK, who set the turf alight when landing the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize over course and distance on his latest outing and that form sets the standard. He takes on some very unexposed horses, but they have it to prove at this level, which is something this six-year-old doesn’t have to do, and it gives him the edge as a result.

Tip: BEAT THE CLOCK (10/1)