So far this season through Sunday, April 9, 2023, there have been 566 races contested at Sha Tin and Happy Valley. Two more were scheduled but were abandoned due to accidents. The good news is that the races have been especially formful.
Of those 566 races, 183 favorites won for a 32% strike rate, which is about what it is every season. There were 12.12 starters in each race and the average win price was $18.14.
There are three surfaces that Hong Kong races are run over and each have their nuances. The most, 271, were run over the wide and expansive turf course at Sha Tin. Depending on the rail placement, the homestretch is 430M long and enables horses to build momentum around the turn and have plenty of time before they hit the wire. And most Sha Tin turf races are run around only one turn so traffic is less of an issue.
So, it is no surprise that 92 favorites won the 271 races over the Sha Tin turf for a 33.95% strike rate even though there were 12.67 starters in each turf race. But there can be a chaotic element since the average win price is $19.40.
Inside of the Sha Tin turf course is the All Weather Track (AWT).
Also referred to as the dirt track, it plays very fast with running times going six furlongs often faster than running times going six furlongs on the turf. There have been 59 races run on the AWT this season. 21 favorites won for a 35.6% strike rate. The average field size is 11.93 and the average win price is $16.76.
Happy Valley only races on its turf course which is relatively tight. 1000M races are run around one turn and 1200M races come out of a chute before straightening out. Two-turn races have a long run into the first turn.
Depending upon the rail placement, the homestretch is only around 330M. Considering how tight the final turn is, there is not a lot of room to make up ground. What works at Happy Valley are horses that accelerate quickly. Horses can win from off the pace but need a clear trip to do it. Luckily, since few horses begin their careers at Happy Valley, the ones that race there have established form.
There have been 236 races run at Happy Valley so far this season and favorites have won 70 races for a 29.67% strike rate. The average field size is 11.52 starters per race and the average win price is $17.05.
Just like there are horses for courses, there are trainers for courses. Caspar Fownes only has eight winners on the Sha Tin turf course but his 23 winners at Happy Valley are the most. Francis Lui is next with 22 winners.
Among the jockeys, it is no surprise that Zac Purton has 71 winners on the Sha Tin turf course. Hugh Bowman is a distant second with 28. But at Happy Valley, Vincent Ho has 38 winners to Purton's 32.
Win percentages show how stark the difference is. Purton wins 29.09% on the Sha Tin turf and 17.20% at Happy Valley. Vincent Ho only wins 7.72% on the Sha Tin Turf but his 17.76% at Happy Valley is higher than Purton's.
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