Having brought some much-needed magic to Randwick’s ridiculously minuscule fields yesterday by taking out The Dulcify aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Hampton Court, followed this up by winning the next on Brazen Beau for Chris Waller and in race 7, again for Waller, brought home his first Group 1 winner in Oz when He’s Your Man won The Epsom Stakes, Joao Moreira will be walking on air- and probably even walking on water- at Shatin today. He won’t be walking on eggshells like Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung.
Yes, The Magic Man showed Sydneysiders why he’s probably the best jockey in the world- and certainly the most popular- with a cameo appearance due to a shortage of jockeys- even though there were mainly six or seven horse fields- as the big guns like Bowman, Berry etc were riding at Flemington.
Frankly, with his incredible popularity with the hundreds of thousands of local racing fans, Joao Moreira can even address all those various factions out there trying to figure out what the hell they’re trying to “occupy”, and probably do more to restore calm in Hong Kong than the city’s Chief Executive who hides behind the skirt of his Chief Secretary Carrie Lam hoping it will all just disappear with him not having to stretch himself by actually doing something.
If only Leung made the time to listen to Jack Ma, the head of Alibaba, and take in his management and corporate strategies based on trust and placing shareholders third on his list of priorities: “If they want to sell and leave, go ahead”. Welcome to The Cult Of Ma. Love it!
Politics, incompetence and perseverance and vision aside, it’s a very good card of horse racing today with big competitive fields, the return of some of the city’s best horses having their pipe openers. Let’s just hope that Hong Kong can have a few hours of sunshine and positivity coming in before returning to what is Occupy Disruption more than Occupy Central.
This disruption has now reached a tipping point where the support for “universal suffrage” has dissipated into a transparent exercise in grandstanding and naive politics that has alienated a city, played havoc with daily life and angered those who, for a few days, were willing to watch the circus and the clowns from the sidelines with mild curiosity.
Enough is enough and action always speaks louder than words. And amongst all the action at Shatin today will be the now familiar team of Joao Moreira and Zac Purton, a welcome break from those opportunist “Occupants” Benny Tai and Joshua Wong and all the other bit players who have photo-bombed the image of this great city around the world where bibs and bobs of CNN-induced histrionics are taken at face value and commented on from afar by social media’s overnight politico pundits.
Race 1
With traffic having to be re-routed, sporadic bus service in certain areas and Off Course Betting Centres in the problem areas of the city closed, a Class 5 race starts things off to give people time to make it all the way to Shatin. See what I mean about how all these demonstrators are affecting daily life?
As for this race- Moreira is not in it- it is a weak affair where two of the local boys- Howard Cheng and Keith Yeung- look to have the best chances- King Of Hearts (3) and Cosmo One (9).
TIPS: 9-3-4-2
Race 2
Another Class 5 race for horses rated 15-40 and where nothing stands out. But based on the riding engagements and ratings, I suggest these: 11-1-2-5.
Race 3
This should be a race in two- Moreira on Gallant Triumph (1) and Universal Union (5) with Purton on and what some see as an easy opening leg to the first Double Trio. But careful. This is no two horse race.
TIPS: 1-8-2-5
Race 4
A tough start to the Triple Trio and with the main chances appearing to be Monte Castello (3), Eastern Promise (6) and Moreira taking over from Alex Lai on Multi-Win General (9) ,which is certain to start favourite after a very good third to The Prince at its last start and the booking of The Cult Of Moreira.
Unless that was a flattering looking third, many will take this as their banker though I might do a saver by having two separate ones-Moreira’s mount and the above average Monte Castello with Douglas Whyte up and having its first start for trainer Me Tsui.
TIPS: 3-1-5-9
Race 5
After the terrific win by Terrific Master over 1600m late last month- it charged through from the clouds-following an equally terrific ride from Keith ML Yeung, the extra 200m will suit it perfectly.
In fact, in time, don’t be surprised to see this Tony Cruz-trained New Zealand four-year-old tackling distance races and competing in better company. I tipped its last win at 6 to 1 and have no hesitation in naming it a good thing in this Class 4 race over 1800m.
For value amongst the legs, I would include Dragon Bachelor (9) and Win Along (10). There will be money for Ocean Power (1) which goes well for Neil Callan though the top weight will hinder his chances whereas Sean Woods backs up Oxford Charley after being in the money and finishing a disappointing ninth to Terrific Master. Even if the pace of the race was against it that time, it was too poor a run for me to follow old Charley in this- a galloper that has never won me over. Matty Chadwick, Tony Cruz’s regular rider, retains the ride.
TIPS: 4-9-1-2
QUARTET: (4 win banker) Legs: 1,2,7,9,10,12
Race 6
That was a sensational win by Sensation (10) at its last start and there’s no reason why Zac Purton shouldn’t repeat the dose despite drawing barrier ten in the 1400m race.
The ones that might give it most to do is owner Melody Woo’s Beauty King (4) though at six years old, it’s best days might be behind him, whereas drawn barrier one, this is the only time I like the disappointing Vara Pearl (9)-but to only run into a quinella place spot. Callan, pictured below, takes over for the first time with Moreira deserting it for Celestial Smile (1).
As value place chances, I’d keep Mighty Equus (2) and Speedy Longwah (8) safe. The latter needs more time, but in a race light on chances, this is not a bad galloper and will be worth adding to your legs if at 15s or more.
TIPS: 4-9-1-2
Race 7
The 1400m of this race is too short for more than half of the horses entered here, so, apart from the Pan Sutong-owned Gold-Fun (2), look to those at the bottom of the weights, particularly the John Moore pair of Rewarding Hero (9) and Secret Sham (10). Don’t let the engagement of Eddie Lai on Hero put you off. Moore has been talking up Secret Sham so loudly that birds have been falling from the sky through noise pollution-Moreira is on it- which will mean it starting at very short odds- and could get beat.
As for Hong Kong’s Horse Of The Year- the Moore-trained Designs On Rome (1)- it’s not ready and the distance is much too short- but pure class could see it winning this at odds you’ll never get on it ever again.
TIPS: 9-2-10-1
Race 8
Douglas Whyte seems to have chosen John Moore’s Exciting Dream (2) over his regular ride- Key Witness(10). And though Key Witness seemed to plod home at its last start for a disappointing third, I will give up on following Whyte’s lead, and still. look to the Cruz runner, Berlinski (6) and Precision King (12).
TIPS: 10-12-2-6
Race 9
Pikachu (5) made a big impression at its first start in Hong Kong, but drawing barrier 12 over this 1200m sprint could bring the David Ferraris-trained galloper undone. Same with Zac Purton’s ride New Stamina (9) which was a very good second at its last start, but is drawn barrier 14 whereas, like magic, Moreira has the plum barrier one draw on Moore’s Supreme Falcon. Still, that last run by Pikachu was too good to give up on it now because of a bad barrier draw.
TIPS: 5-14-9-8
Race 10
As always, a tough race to end the day, and after a good pipe-opener, Industrial Way with Howard Cheng up for one of his most loyal group of owners, looks a leading chance.
The favourite will probably be another Moreira ride-Faster More which came second when favourite at its last start- and should be in the top three though the Cheng runner and last start winner President Lincoln would be my choices as the winner of this.
TIPS: 2-10-12-6
QUARTET: (10 multiple banker) Legs: 2,5,6, 7,12
BEST BET: RACE 5: TERRIFIC MASTER (4) NEXT BEST: RACE 6: SENSATION(5) VALUE BET: RACE 7: REWARDING HERO (10)
QUADDIE
R7: 1-2-9,10 R8: 2-6-10-12 R9: 5,8,9,14 R10: 2-6-7-10-12
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SARIKA CHOY’S SIX UP
R5:4 R6:5 R7: 2-9-10 R8: 10-12 R9: 5-14 R10: 2-7-10-12
Total: $480 for a full Six Up ticket
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PARTING SHOT
SHEIKH EXPANDS HIS RACING EMPIRE!
INTRODUCES FLIPPER, THE FIRST GODOLPHIN! NOT TO BE TRAINED BY JOHN O’SHEA!
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