HONG KONG RACING NOVICE – ISSUE #5 – A LOOK AT “STANDARD TIMES”

(Source: WPRI)

Happy Valley selections produced a bit more of a staunch approach and our “time form” ratings coupled with “Speed Map” reading and “Track Work” selections proved a “hiccupy” start to the mid week spectacle but we got home in the end labelling half of the cards winners. And some good prices to boot!

Again, Race 1 we had our bums smacked with nothing coming out on top before Race 2 finding everything but the winner. Race 3, our shaky start continued with our best of Track work producing nothing. Race 4, our top selection Gold Racer got up at a fantastic price proving the Windicator Star form to be a true indicator also labelling Bundle Of Love who found third. Race 5 we labelled the Quinella with Charles The Great beating top selection Windicator Star. Our solitary selection in Race 6, Aomen, stole the show really, stringing them out early and defying the pack in the race to the line, too good in the end at a great price and a great ride. Race 7 we indicated as being a tough choice for HK Racing Novice finding second place getter Regency King before Race 8 and top selection Jolly Victor holding out to win.

Again, two from four from our Top Selections.

We talked about “time form” in our last preview and using this data to reflect on our track work assessments and speed map reading.

(Source: Summer Hill)

The HKJC website provides a “Standard time” resource which is gold for new comers to the game who know nothing about how fast is good fast. This “Standard Time” table indicates the standard times, or average times, a race should be run at over a particular distance at a particular level of racing. This is a MUST reference tool.

Form Guide Tip #5 – Standard Times

A table of standard race times for course and distance at each level of racing is available on the HKJC Racing website in the “Horse Racing” section. Listed under the drop down tab “Racing Info (local)” / “Reference Info” / “Course Standard & Record Times” – HK Racing Novice

(Source: HKJC)

If you know nothing about race times and are wondering about race times you really need to reference this tool. Compulsory reading!

(Source: Equality Canbeareality)

———————————————

Hong Kong Racing Novice Selects:

Race 1

No.10 Gorgeous Life
No.8 Sunshine Boy

Class 5 over 1400m – PACE – Slow early

Gorgeous Life maps to lead in this Class 5 over 1400m. Pace is indicated to be Slow early and over this trip we envisage a leaders dominated race. Gorgeous Life looked well in track work catching the eye with balanced work. Hero’s Win was another I liked the look of, had a skip in it’s work finding a kick under a heavy hold. Getting back from a wide gate off a slow pace is a major draw back but expect this guy to be running on.

(Source: Spilling Energy)

———————————————

Race 2

No.2 Soldier
No.7 Winning Legend

Class 4 over 1600m – PACE – Good to Slow early

Standard time for the Class 4 gallopers over 1600m is timed at 1:35.90.

There were two stand-out runners IMO in the track work coming from Soldier and Winning Legend. These two runners ticked all the boxes in criteria. Ambassadorship was another that I really liked, but, drawing the inside and looking to get back early looked to require luck to clear a pocket from where it mapped and we couldn’t have it.

(Source: Has Bro)

———————————————

Race 3

No.1 Sunshine Kid
No.2 What A Heart

Class 4 over 1200m (All weather circuit) – PACE – Good early

The course standard for Class 4 gallopers on the All Weather circuit over 1200m’s is 1:09.50.

It’s all about the top of the book with a number of gallopers right on standard time or better at this level on the All Weather circuit.

Sunshine Kid looked to come on well in between track work gallops and books our top spot in this group.

Jade Pippo caught the eye in work and was on the fringe of selection here another that maps well on the speed map.

(Source: Azumio)

———————————————

Race 4

No.2 Lord Dragon
No.10 Fulgurite

Class 4 over 1400m – PACE – Good early

Course Standard time for the Class 4 gallopers over 1400m’s is 1:23.05

There was some pretty good work produced by many of the runners that made our early criteria making a decision about this group a bit challenging.

Lord Dragon is a lightly framed runner that produced quiet work, ticked a lot of boxes IMO taking out the top spot in selections. The real decision was about who to include next with a toss up between Fulgarite and Epee De Hua. Fulgarite mapped best on the speed map with Epee De Hua drawing wide looking posted from the draw.

(Source: Asia Team)

———————————————

Race 5

No.2 Longwah Supreme
No.3 Strathtay

Class 3 over 1400m – PACE – Good to Slow early

Course standard for the Class 3 gallopers over 1400m’s is 1:22.75

Had a bit of trouble sorting this group out. I thought Longwah Supreme was a nice rangy type that looks to be building well and the other I liked was Strathtay who pulled hard in track work before settling well in between track gallops. Lord Sinclair was on the fringe of my selections, looked a nice “racey type”, great coat, has drawn wide in a race without a lot of speed. I’m expecting this guy to be on the scene late. Watching him.

(Source: Whsmith Net)

———————————————

Race 6

No.3 Turin Champion
No.8 Cultural City

Class 3 over 1650m (All Weather circuit) – PACE – Good to Slow early

Course standard time for the 1650m on the all weather track is 1:39.30

This is the Journalists Challenge Cup.

Turin Champion steps up to the 1650m here and draws well on the inside with speed around him, mapped here to get the gun run in this group behind the speed. Cutural City won a 3yo Stakes race in New Zealand in it’s second start leading on that occasion and we suspect they could try to lead here in this from the wide gate. Tough go on track work. Speedygonzalez was another on the fringe of selections, worked well, but I felt Cultural City’s 2nd up win in New Zealand at Stakes level was too good to ignore.

(Source: Tumblr)

———————————————

Race 7

No.5 Sea Dragon
No.7 Smart Kids
No.3 Affluence Of Rain

Class 3 over 1200m – PACE – Good to Slow early

Course Standard time for the Class 3 gallopers over 1200m is 1:09.80

Three very interesting runners presented in this group. Sea Dragon took the top spot in this, wasn’t a great worker but looked like he knew the drill. Affluence Of Rain maps to get a gorgeous trip behind Smart Kids who will no doubt look to post Sea Dragon early in the run keeping him on the outside working for his money. This could set up this race for Affluence Of Rain

(Source: New Grounds)

———————————————

Race 8

No.2 Penglai Xianzi
No.8 Absolutely Win

HK Gp3 over 1400m – PACE – Good to Fast early

Course standard time for Gp racing over 1400m is a lightning 1:21.20

Much of this field has comparable time form over the 1400m and a lot of what will happen here will come down to trips received “in-running”. The best I could do with this group of gallopers was to assess them on their lead up track work for this assignment. Penglai Xianzi and Absolutely Win came out best in a combination of factors including Time Form, Form, Speed Map positions and Track work.

No goats in this group.

(Source: Alispagnola)

———————————————

Race 9

No.7 Masquerader
No.3 Cosmic Boom

Class 2 over 1200m (All Weather) – PACE – Good to Fast early

Course Standard time for the 1200m All weather circuit is 1:08.45

This is a very interesting race across the board. The fast early pace indicates we want to look at something coming off the pace. This brings a runner like Masquerader into the equation who is perfectly placed out the back on the outside. Should get an uninterrupted attack at the line late. The other runner I want to look at here is Cosmic Boom who ticks a lot of boxes also and is drawn to map well in behind the speed. I also liked the sub Sterling City should it get it’s chance to compete here.

(Source: Movie Posters Shop)

———————————————

Race 10

No.1 Beauty Lead
No.4 Akeed Mofeed
No.10 Chater Dream

Class 2 over 1800m – PACE – Good to Slow early

Course Standard time for the Class 2 gallopers over 1800m’s is 1:48.05

Akeed Mofeed maps terribly and will need every ounce of the master, Douglas Whytes’ intuition and brilliance. Hard to have from the Speed Map. If he can somehow clear a pocket, great, gets a good straight to work off an average pace. Really liked Beauty Lead, a gorgeous looking chestnut, well balanced in action, great coat and a well proportioned head.

Big calls to be made here

(Source: Hockey Dino)

***************************************************************

HK Racing Novice Top Selections:

Best Bet on Track Work
R2 No.2 Soldier

Interested in Watching
R7 No.5 Sea Dragon

Most looking forward to seeing
R9 No.7 Masquerader
R10 No.4 Akeed Mofeed