One guesses tonight is a dress rehearsal for Sheikh Mo’s garden party at Meydan on Saturday where the pyrotechnics will, as always, be way over the top, with, personally, myself having no great Dickensian Great Expectations about the racing other than wishing to see Hong Kong’s invaders succeed- again- on foreign soil.
Jeez, only the most miserable Steptoe will look to see where they can throw cold water on the recent International successes of Hong Kong racing talent- horses, trainers, owners and jockeys- right, ‘arold?
There will be winners, there will be losers, and wannabe power brokers and groupies will have their annual freebie trip to Dubai where they’ll be hoping to rub shoulders with the real power brokers of horse racing with the usual expat dolly birds of the Emirates just happy to be part of it all.
As for Shatin tonight and the all-weather track meeting, it doesn’t really scream out, HAVE A BET.
It’s a ho-hum card with the highlight being to watch the clash between favourites Gun Pit and Hypersonic in Race 5- and where we’ll probably see both of them being rolled.
Jockeys to follow? At these dirt meetings, Olivier Doleuze aka The Brown Dirt Cowboy is always the rider to follow as he has ridden similar tracks in the US, and this experience holds him in good stead to do well tonight.
Having said this, other than Good Fit in Race 2 and Imperial Concorde in the last, his book of rides looks pretty weak whereas, as usual, Magic Joao Moreira has winning chances throughout the night though Cartoon Fay Fay in the last might start favourite, but having never won on this surface, is no good thing. It will run a place but despite its US breeding, it’s difficult to have on a win line.
Then again, Jolting Joao, Magic Joao, Joao Joao is no ordinary jockey. Rain, sleek, snow or dirt will not stop him from delivering winners.
Apprentice Jack Wong, below, who rode his first Hong Kong winner on Sunday and shows a great deal of promise has a reasonable book of rides at value odds, but this is a very tough meeting to get seriously involved in.
Far better time would be spent channel surfing or watching the races on your iPhone or iPad while trying out the highly recommended new Brazilian steakhouse Braza Churrascaria and backing Brazilian Joao.
Other than that, wait for Sunday when we get back to some real racing and get away from the sandbox.
Take the suggestions below as just that- suggestions based on previous AW form and the jockey bookings. But tonight’s the day to either go for value or follow the Joao Joao Express. And that’s the best tip of them all.
RACE 1
9-1-2-4
RACE 2
6-8-10-13
RACE 3
(1)-11-8-9-7
RACE 4
(7-14)-13-4-11-9
RACE 5
QUARTET SELECTIONS (2-7)-1-9-5-6
RACE 6
QUARTET SELECTIONS (8-9)-210-11-12
RACE 7
(1-2)-5-7-10-11
RACE 8
10-9-6-12
BEST BET: RACE 6 CHIN CHUN 8) NEXT BEST: RACE 6 QUINELLA: CHIN CHUN(8) AND LOVELY NAUGHTY (9) LONGSHOT: RACE 7 MARVEL TRIBE (5)
SIX UP
R3: 1-11 R4: 7-13-14 R5: 2-7 R6: 8 R7: 1-2-5 R8: 6-9-10
PARTING SHOT
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