Race 1
A small, but quality field of six runners and where tactics will come into play. I’ll be banking on Douglas Whyte to take this out, the next and also well worth a bet in the Jockey Challenge.
Race 2
SELECTIONS: 1-8-5-7
Race 3
Though it flopped at Happy Valley, the win of Eroico at Shatin was sensational and though up in class, this purchase from Price Bloodstock looks like being one of those John Size youngsters with plenty of rating points in hand.
If Jenny Chapman makes it her Best Bet and tips it from the paddock, jump on it and scream “Yeeeehaaaa!”
SELECTIONS: 12-6-2-4
Race 4
Nothing will beat the Andre Fabre-trained Flintshire, so, with this being the first leg of the Triple Trio, it’s all about finding the quinella and tierce legs where Willie Cazals and, as a roughie, Rainbow Chic, must be included.
SELECTIONS: 1-5-8-9
Race 5
The Hong Kong Sprint and from everything we know, Caspar Fownes has his wonderful Lucky Nine in outstanding fitness. Forget its last start and also that of rising star Aerovelocity. They were bashed about, held up and, basically, eased out of the race. For my money, it’s been on these two to produce the winner or even the quinella. They’ll certainly be my double bankers in one set of Triple Trios- and will be cheering on Lucky Nine as I love this horse and it would be good to see Cas break into his famous Village People Macho Macho Man dance.
SELECTIONS: 1-9-8-10
Race 6
Teofilo Calva was the surest of Sure Things and still got beat when meeting with some scrimmaging at the start and has a huge chance here as do Key Witness, which is reunited with Douglas Whyte after Monsieur Mosse has seemingly chosen to ride Lang Tai Sing instead. These three standout. For outsiders, take Let Me Go, Precision King and Berlinski.
SELECTIONS: 1-6-7-10
Race 7
Though drawn barrier eleven, I cannot see Able Friend beaten with Gold Fun and Glorious Days filling the minor placings.
If Ambitious Dragon has overcome its setback, the Tony Millard-trained galloper and former Hong Kong Champion Of The Year WILL be in the top three and give Hong Kong a clean sweep of the race. If any of the foreign raiders wins this race, I’ll eat my left buttocks.
SELECTIONS: 1-2-3-5
Race 8
An extremely even Hong Kong Cup and am predicting a very close and “crowded” finish with only heads between the top five in the race.
SELECTIONS: 4-3-7-5
Race 9
Another Callan-Purton quinella here where The Golfing Buddies ride two very exciting youngsters in Packing Pins and Star Trek, respectively with many watching first starter Giant Treasure.
Giant Treasure is the latest equine purchase by multi-billionaire businessman Pan Sutong, and, say many, he paid way WAY too much for. But when one has billions to burn, what’s a little chump change on a horse?
SELECTIONS: 9-5-7-3
Race 10
Such a very good race to end International Day with Beauty Queen, Packing Llaregyb, Tableaux and What You Dream being the standouts. Golfing buddies Neil Callan and Zac Purton have had many duels over the past two seasons and this could keep those Duelling Banjoes going.
Beauty Only was awesome when winning her first start though not as devastating winning its second race in Hong Kong, whereas Andreas Schutz has a future champion in Packing Llaregyb and the best horse his stable has had since the halcyon days of Good Ba Ba.
Having said all this and knowing how meticulously John Moore prepares his horses for International Day, his What You Dream and Selkirk Star can never ever be ruled out. Take Tableaux for value in your tierces and Quartet bets.
SELECTIONS: 4-12-1-10
BEST BET: Race 2: Got Fly (1) NEXT BEST: R9: Packing Pins (9) VALUE BET: The Jockey Challenge: Douglas Whyte
SIX UP R5: 1-4-8-9-10 R6: 1-6-10 R7: 1 R8: 3-4-7 R9: 9 R10: 4
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