RACE 1
A Class 5 race to start the night where Wonderful Tiger (5) ridden by Zac Purton should go close. A nice race to watch and check out the Beer Garden, which should start to fill up around 8pm. Remember that it’s an early start tonight with the first race going off at 6.30pm.
5-11-3-8
RACE 2
Prepare for a BIG Quartet payout. Could be a race where the local boys shine. It’s worth a fun bet.
3-12-10-8
RACE 3
2-4-1-10
RACE 4
The first leg of the International Jockeys Championship and the first leg of the Triple Trio run over 1000 metres where, frankly, anything can happen. There are so many variables- lead at all costs and hold on or play a stalking game and finish all over the leaders. The overnight favourite is Mr Right with Hugh Bowman aboard which was favourite at its last start and disappointed despite a perfect draw etc. So, make what you will of that. Mr Right could easily be Mr Wrong.
We’re predicting a very close finish between 4-5 runners. These Triple Trio legs always throw up a curve ball.
6-4-3-10
RACE 5
The second leg of the International Jockeys Championship and where Javier Castellano on Good For You (2) and Marvel Joy (6) with Hugh Bowman aboard for trainer Caspar Fownes who almost always strikes gold on the city track, look to be the main choices.
6-2-7-10
RACE 6
Country Star, a regular ride for Zac Purton goes to Hugh Bowman and the John Size trained galloper should take this out. Purton is on Beauty Loyal which might have to do with his strong relationship with the Kwok family who own all these “Beauty” horses, or might mean the end of the Size-Purton partnership. One doubts that rider nor trainer are unduly bothered if things between them have hit a brick wall.
3-1-8-9
RACE 7
The third leg of the International Jockeys Championship and with the main chances being ridden by Champion Irish rider Colin Keane, Silvestre De Sousa, and Javier Castellano. If there’s to be an upset, it could be Vincent Ho on Little Island (12).
9-2-12-10
RACE 8
The last leg of the International Jockeys Championship and with the Class 3 event looking to favour Castellano, Christophe Lemaire, Karis Teetan on Electric Lightning and possibly Hugh Bowman on gelding Lucky Girl who will be racing with the blinkers removed.
The winner of the International Jockeys Championship? We’ll go with Javier Castellano.
2-10-8-3
RACE 9
What gave us whiplash was seeing the booking of Neil Callan for the John Size runner Red Warrior. We can’t remember the last time Callan rode for Size, let alone a galloper with the potential of Red Warrior, a regular ride for Zac Purton with a couple of successive winners for the rider at the city track until a third at his last start.
Purton moves to Victory Boys which has a strong chance of winning for trainer David Hall for whom he’s doing more and more riding- at least when the Aussie trainer has runners with chances. But Neil Callan on Red Warrior, a possible Derby prospect and stepping up in distance here, has raised more than eyebrows.
Size could have had the choice of a number of other riders- Bowman, De Sousa, Lemaire- though Karis Teetan stays loyal to the Tony Cruz trained Super Chic.
With Joao Moreira expected back in Hong Kong on December 9 as stable jockey for John Size, one can only suppose that some riders who expected to be doing quite a bit of riding for the champion trainer this season before the Brazilian magic man’s U-turn back to Hong Kong are now hurriedly looking for new and regular support systems.
The Cruz-Teetan team has been enjoying considerable success in recent times, but the former champion jockey and train can be unpredictable in who he decides to use for his runners. There’s a conga line of riders to choose from- apprentice Dylan Mo, Vincent Ho, Silvestre De Sousa, Alberto Sanna, Derek Leung, Purton and Neil Callan.
As for this race, the money will be on Victory Boys, Super Chic, and Red Warrior. The smart money might be on a couple down in the weights and certainly no slouches, especially Good Omen (11), Giant Turtle (7) and the very interesting Glorious Artist (9) with Grant van Niekerk up for Frankie Lor, one of two runners in the race for the trainer. A very good betting race.
11-5-9-2
BEST BET Race 6 Country Star (3)
NEXT BEST Race 9 Quinella Red Warrior (3) and Good Omen (11)
LONGSHOT Race 7 Little Island (12)
PARTING SHOT
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