Sha Tin races free betting preview & best bets | January 1, 2025

[Wandering Eyes]

What	Sha Tin Races
Where	Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong
When	Wednesday, January 1, 2025
First Race	12:30pm HKT (3:30pm AEDT)
Visit Dabble

---

New Year’s Day racing heads to Sha Tin Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, with a bumper 11-race program set down for decision. The rail moves out to the C course the entire circuit for the meeting, and with nothing but sunny skies forecast early in the week, punters can do the form expecting a genuine Good 4 surface prior to the opening event at 12:30pm HKT.

Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Tip: Magic Control

Magic Control has impressed in his three attempts racing down the Sha Tin straight course, with two wins and another minor placing to his name. He held off Wunderbar in his latest victory on November 9, with the pair clearing out on their respective rivals to fight out the finish in a ding-dong battle. He has since run good time in a nine-length barrier trial victory on December 17, and provided he can take the leap into Group 3 company, Magic Control must be considered one of the leading chances in the 2025 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy.

Bauhinia Sprint Trophy

Race 4 – #3 Magic Control (5)

4yo Gelding | T: Cody Mo | J: Matthew Chadwick (56.5kg)

Bet with Neds

Chinese Club Challenge Cup Tip: Patch Of Theta

Patch Of Theta goes in search of back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) after securing a dominant 2.3-length victory at Sha Tin on November 24. The Zoustar gelding won a tick-over barrier trial on December 20 leading into this fourth-up assignment, and although he drops back to the 1400m, the progressive five-year-old looks well-placed with 52kg on his back. He’s the horse with upside in this race, and with even luck, it would come as some shock if Patch Of Theta wasn’t fighting out the finish.

Chinese Club Challenge Cup

Race 8 – #6 Patch Of Theta (7)

5yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Karis Teetan (52kg)

Bet with BlondeBet

Best Bet at Sha Tin: Fun Elite

Fun Elite finally steps out to the 1200m for the first time and appears perfectly placed in this Class 4 contest. The son of Brazen Beau has been consistent racing down the Sha Tin straight, hitting the line well to suggest the extra 200m should be ideal. Britney Wong takes 4.5kg off his back after the claim, and with gate five allowing Wong to land into the ideal stalking position, Fun Elite should get every opportunity to claim his second career win.

Best Bet

Race 1 – #1 Fun Elite (5)

4yo Gelding | T: Benno Yung | J: Britney Wong (a4.5kg) (61kg)

Bet with Picklebet

Next Best at Sha Tin: Brilliant Express

Brilliant Express didn’t have much luck at a crucial stage at Sha Tin on December 8, powering home to get within a half-length of Happy Park. Punters can expect the John Size-trained galloper to take dramatic improvement heading into this second-up assignment, and with the 1400m allowing the son of Starspangledbanner to go through the gears, watch for this guy to be putting in the big strides in his quest to break his maiden status.

Next Best

Race 5 – #5 Brilliant Express (6)

4yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (58kg)

Bet with Playup

Best Value at Sha Tin: Joyful Treasure

Joyful Treasure represents terrific each-way value with horse racing bookmakers as he debuts for the Francis Lui barn. The Charm Spirit gelding caught the eye in a recent barrier trial at Conghua on December 6, sitting three-wide without cover throughout the 1200m journey. Watch for Lyle Hewitson to take luck out of the equation and lead from gate eight, and provided he can tick-over a soft sectional in the middle stages, expect Joyful Treasure to cling to victory at a good price with Dabble.

Best Value

Race 3 – #5 Joyful Treasure (8)

3yo Gelding | T: Francis Lui | J: Lyle Hewitson (56.5kg)

Bet with Dabble

Wednesday quaddie tips for Sha Tin

Sha Tin quadrella selections

January 1, 2025

1. 1-2-6
2. 2-4-5-11
3. 1-2-5-6-7-10
4. 2-3-5-9-13

Horse racing tips

View the full article