THE FAST TRACKER REMEMBERS THE SUCCESS OF VENGEANCE OF RAIN IN DUBAI AND THINKS EVERYONE MUST WIN TODAY.
It’s a strangely framed card today at Shatin and looks as if whoever was in charge of it, gave up half-way and said, “Who cares? Not me. Am off to the Rugby Sevens”.
There’s an air of, well, nothing much to the card, and let’s just put it down to some deep-rooted malaise after the ultra-successful BMW Derby and, perhaps, after watching Hong Kong’s two wins in Sprint races at last night’s Dubai World Cup- or thinking about wolfing down some pork pies and guzzling down cans of Carlsberg and talking crap to very drunk French fillies at the Sevens.
On the subject of Dubai, not to pour cold water on the two local successes last night, but let’s always remember what trainer David Ferraris achieved with Anthony Delpech and the connections of Vengeance Of Rain which won the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2007 and made major headlines for Hong Kong.
Many in racing have such short memories while some racing writers just can’t stop fawning over their favorite trainers and seeing what they wish to see and turning a blind eye to “angels with dirty faces.”
As for today at Shatin, the card is further weakened as Joao Moreira starts another of his now regular three-day suspensions which robs the meeting of any real meat and potatoes and magic whereas Dougie Whyte makes a cameo appearance by having only two rides- Boy Oh Boy and Gorgeous Life- and starts his day at the office only in race 8 following his arrival from Dubai. Or, after taking his son to see part of the Sevens and forfeits riding in the last race to make it back to the HK Stadium to catch the Finals.
Making the effort to even bother riding today must mean both these rides have very strong winning chances. If not, why bother even rushing back?
He could have just stayed at the Sevens and cheered on South Africa while I would have gone for the Fijians.
Frankly, if the weather holds up though rain is predicted for most of next week, one can’t end up winning today.
If not, one might as well take up tiddlywinks or become a salsa dance instructor and rob those attractive local tai-tais blind who hit Club 97 every Thursday night and pay HUGE bucks to be twirled and dipped and sashayed around the dance floor by rather effeminate looking men- and then pay to be serviced by the more manly variety.
R1 FUNNY FORTUNE/PRINCE OF SUNSHINE/STARLIT WARRIOR/SURROUNDED
I’ve put Prince Of Sunshine in there as surely- and Shirley- Alvin “The Chipmunk” Ng MUST ride a winner soon even if it’s in a one-horse race and the horse is riding him?
His inability to ride a winner is becoming embarrassing to every one and is fast-reaching a breaking point.
The only other thing interesting about this race is that who knew Neil Callan rode in Dubai yesterday- not on any Hong Kong horses- and should go close to taking out this race with Funny Fortune whereas David Hall has two runners with Zac Purton taking over from Moreira on Bamboo Dance- which, to me, is a crap horse.
Hall’s other runner- Surrounded- which takes a voluntary class drop and has Tye Angland aboard, is far more interesting in a drab race that’s not worth winning.
R2 HIDDEN VALUE/DELIGHT FORTUNE/SUPREME FLIGHT/GENTILIS
After its last run, I remain skeptical about Zac’s Gentilis and, add his Archipuss to the list, which had, somehow, lost twenty pounds when it ran like a crab- or looked like having the crabs- last weekend.
Hidden Value, the first starter for Benno Yung with Neil Callan up is a VERY interesting runner.
R3 PACKING WHIZ/MR GNOCCI/SAME WORLD
A race of tactics- but James McDonald gave Gene Choi’s Mr Gnocchi a great ride in the BMW Derby. Keith Yeung takes over this time.
R4 ETERNAL GAINS/LUCKY DAN
Both of these stand out for me while Kissmet will be short as it will have Zac Purton up, fresh from placing fourth to the Irish-trained Gordon Lord Byron in the George Myers Stakes on Sacred Falls at Rosehill
Yes, Kissmet might have been unlucky at its last two starts, but I wonder if the horse is much good, or, perhaps, needs a break.
Fiery Four By Four and Super Team for value.
R5 SUPERKING DRAGON/CHINA DELIGHT/OCEAN POWER/WIN ALONG
David Hall turns to his plunge jockey Ben So for Mr Marfach so Beware The Ides Of March.
R6 PENNY LANE/ALL TIMES LUCKY/OSCAR MIRACLE
The thought of the Peter Ho-trained Kharu winning this race gives me the willies as it will mean multi-colored hair owner Nat “The Sham” Chan hamming it up in the Winner’s Circle and telling everyone he made millions. Put a sock in it, mate.
Chan, who has some strong friendships with many local jockeys has Howard Cheng on his horse whereas the SoHo combination of trainer Ho and apprentice Ben So sees the latter on the Dennis Yip runner All Times Lucky, a value runner.
R7 OUR FOLKS
Well, so much for Olivier Doleuze being Hong Kong’s “King Of Dirt” last Wednesday. All he did was kick sand in our faces- over and over and over again.
R8 BOY OH BOY
Dougie Whyte’s first cameo appearance for the day.
R9 Double Bankers: MY LITTLE FRIEND/ GORGEOUS DEBUT
R10 Banker: STAR OF BOND
Legs: BRILLIANT SHINE/PACKING LLAREGYB/DASHING FORTUNE/
One could do worse than to use the Benno Yung-trained and Gerard Mosse-ridden Star Of Bond- going for its fourth consecutive win for the season- and My Little Friend as bankers for the third Double Trio and go wide with the legs so the payout isn’t only enough to catch the MTR to Admiralty.
Best Bet- R2- HIDDEN VALUE Next Best- R9- BOY OH BOY Longshot- R4- ETERNAL GAINS
SARIKA’S SIX UP
R5: 2-5-6-8-11-12-13 R6: 2-5-6-10 R7: 5 R8: 5 R9: 1-7 R10: 5
PARTING SHOT
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Today’s Selections for Sha Tin from Third Dividend
SHA TIN (HKG) Sun, 30/3/14 Day Races @HKJC_Racing Turf (“A+3” Course) Weather: Cloudy with showers and a few squally thunderstorms. Showers will be heavy at times at first. The maximum temperature will be about 24 degrees. Moderate south to southeasterly winds. Source: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Race 1: CASTLE PEAK BAY HCP CL5 1600m 1 – Funny Fortune (2) 2 – Bamboo Dance (11) 3 – Power Blitz (4) 4 – Yuan’s Fortune (5)
Race 2: CROOKED HARBOUR HCP CL4 1200m 1 – Gentilis (5) 2 – Addole (2) 3 – Hidden Value (8) 4 – Mr Vanilla (12)
Race 3: THE PREMIER PLATE HCP – HK GROUP 3 1800m 1 – Ashkiyr (4) 2 – Mr Gnocchi (5) 3 – Packing Whiz (1) 4 – Same World (2)
Race 4: MIRS BAY HCP CL4 1600m 1 – Lucky Dan (8) 2 – Eternal Gains (5) 3 – Kissmet (9) 4 – Super Team (12)
Race 5: PORT SHELTER HCP CL4 2000m 1 – Spicy Siam (3) 2 – Ocean Power (8) 3 – China Delight (5) 4 – Dragon Bachelor (6)
Race 6: SHA TIN HOI HCP CL4 1400m 1 – Penny Lane (5) 2 – Fay Deep (7) 3 – Sparkling Sword (10) 4 – Gold Talent (12)
Race 7 (Q1): THE CUHK ALUMNI CUP HCP CL2 1200m 1 – Our Folks (5) 2 – Tour De Force (1) 3 – Fabulous November (7) 4 – Fionn’s Treasure (4)
Race 8 (Q2): TOLO HARBOUR HCP CL3 1600m 1 – Boy Oh Boy (5) 2 – Real Generous (3) 3 – Club Life (7) 4 – Ambitious Champion (4)
Race 9 (Q3): THE SKOL (DEVISED) CUP HCP – CL3 1200m 1 – My Little Friend (1) 2 – Gorgeous Debut (7) 3 – Sparkling B (3) 4 – Brave Brother (4)
Race 10 (Q4): YAN CHAU TONG HCP CL3 1400m 1 – Packing Llaregyb (5) 2 – Star Of Bond (8) 3 – Brilliant Shine (9) 4 – Starting Over (14)
Best Bet Race 8: Boy Oh Boy (5)
Next Best Race 10: Packing Llaregyb (5)
Value Bet Race 6: Fay Deep (7) – Currently, $8.30/$2.90
Long Shot Race 5: Mr Marfach (11) – currently, $15.00/$4.50
Quaddie ($100 get you 39%) 1.4.5.7 3.4.5.7 1.3.4.7 5.8.9.14
Six Up 3.5.6.8 5.7.10 1.5 3.5 1.7 5
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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)
BEST BET Race 8, No. 5 Boy Oh Boy Just missed last time after covering plenty of ground. Will be flying late.
SECOND BEST Race 3, No. 1 Ashkiyr Enormous run behind Akeed Mofeed two starts back. Gets a big weight pull off Packing Whiz.
LONGSHOT Race 10, No. 13 Hong Kong Dancer Has won over this distance and should get a soft run in an open race. Each-way.
LAY Race 4, No. 9 Kissmet Maiden, yet continues to go up short odds. Won’t be suited by the lack of pace.
QUADDIE 1,5,7 / 5,7 / 1,4,5,7 / 5,8,13. $50 for 69.44%.
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