Sha Tin tipsters look to Circuit Champion and a dirt-track improver
Three selectors nominate Circuit Champion for Race 11, while Thunder Prince and Bright Mortar are also flagged as runners with conditions in their favour. Packing Fighter is named for Race 9, though no supporting analysis is provided.
Circuit Champion is the standout choice among the Sha Tin selections, earning support from Jay Rooney and Paul Lally for Race 11, where the horse is listed as number six. Both point to the runner’s latest performance as evidence that a better result may be possible this time, although they stress different aspects of the race.
Rooney judged Circuit Champion’s return effort courageous despite the defeat. He expects the horse to benefit from a less demanding passage in the upcoming race, suggesting the circumstances may be more favourable than they were on its comeback. Lally also sees a chance to make amends, saying the previous contest did not develop in a way that suited the horse and that its current placement appears promising.
Owen Goulding’s selection is Thunder Prince, number nine in Race 4. Goulding highlighted the horse’s performance from a very poor starting position last time out, describing it as a substantial effort. Thunder Prince has a more advantageous draw for this assignment, and Goulding expects the runner to be fully fit after that recent outing.
Phillip Woo has nominated Bright Mortar, number six in Race 5. The horse returned from a break by finishing second on turf, but Woo expects the preferred dirt surface to offer a better opportunity. His assessment is that Bright Mortar can improve on that runner-up result when racing on the ground Woo considers more suitable.
A further selection is Packing Fighter for Race 9, identified by the Trackwork Spy. No barrier number or explanation for the choice is included, so the nomination is presented without additional detail about the horse’s recent form or expected race conditions.
Together, the tips focus on runners whose prospects are linked to circumstances changing in their favour: Circuit Champion is expected to receive a smoother trip, Thunder Prince has drawn better after overcoming a difficult starting position, and Bright Mortar returns to its preferred surface. The selections identify possible reasons for improvement, but they do not guarantee results; each horse still has to convert those advantages into a strong performance on race day.
