Apart from being the last race meeting of 2014, today is also the last meeting before Zac Purton starts a pretty lengthy suspension while arch rival Joao Moreira is sitting out his own suspension and will only return to the fray for the second meeting of the new year.
So what can we expect today?
One would think that Zac Purton will be going all out to bridge the gap between himself and the Magic Man with Nash Rawiller looking to be the major beneficiary of the absence of the brilliant Brazilian. With the licensing committee meeting in January, he’ll be out to prove himself today and add to his four lonely winners brought about through a series of suspensions.
Which other jockeys should we be watching out for? That grand old man of Hong Kong racing-Douglas Whyte-can never be ignored, especially when riding for Richard Gibson, whereas Umberto Rispoli- probably the most popular jockey with local punters next to Moreira- who is riding with immense confidence and with lurve in his heart.
Well, all that’s what many would have been thinking before seeing the race card- and now that I have, it’s back to the drawing board.
Purton has a decent book of rides, Rawiller has an Okay book with the two game changers to the script looking like being the very much-in form Karis Teetan who’s receiving some good support while the Magic Man has his wand in the freezer, and, especially, Brett Prebble. Both have very solid books and winning chances at odds.
The Jockey Challenge is wide open and if Purton starts out in the red, bet against him by taking either Teetan or Prebble, who appears to be clawing his way back into stable support after some time in the wilderness last season. It looks as if he has seen the light and has been saved. He’s way too good a rider to be ignored.
RACE 1
Head for the buffet table. The runners give me a headache.
RACE 2
SELECTIONS: 1-9-2-7
RACE 3
There have been much talk about two Chris Ho new sprinters- Sing Sing Sing that’s expected to make its debut later this month and the first starter here- Fabulous One with Brett Prebble aboard. Though Diamond Master will probably start favourite, have something on Prebble’s mount.
SELECTIONS: 6-5-14-9
RACE 4
This should be a clash between those great mates going through a gushing budding bromance- Zac Purton on Line Seeker and his hero Douglas Whyte on Sky Hero- with Brett Prebble crashing the party on the aptly named Dashing Fellow.
SELECTIONS: 4-3-7-1
RACE 5
A tough first leg to the Triple Trio- aren’t they all?- where I am plonking on Karis Teetan’s ride for John Moore- Happy Moments-as the banker.
SELECTIONS: 5-8-1-9
RACE 6
Trainer Chris So and Douglas Whyte have a high opinion of Forever Accurate- well, as much of an opinion one can have for a Class 4 galloper- and after it won its last start from a wide barrier, here, drawn barrier one, it should win this.
Legs would be G-One Bo Bo, Unique Joyful, first starter Diamond King which has been immediately slapped with blinkers whereas blinkers are on for the first time on the interesting Presidentparamount which disappointed at its last start after a good second at its debut.
SELECTIONS: 3-1-2-5
RACE 7
An even looking race where I like the booking of Keith Yeung, a good young rider who’s had a stop-start season, on Thunder Flyer at odds and the consistent Tom’s Charm which must surely breakthrough soon- like today- for French charmer Olivier Delouze, the Zoolander of Hong Kong racing.
Both should go close along with Wild Boy with Italian lover boy Umberto Rispoli aboard and Zac Purton’s ride, G-One Leader, which will probably be well under the odds because of the jockey booking. It won’t win. Outsiders to consider: Penny Lane and Best Jade Triumph.
SELECTIONS: 6-1-2-13
RACE 8
Could it be Olivier Delouze back in the winning stall, this time with more charm as in Great Charm? Oui oui.
SELECTIONS: 5-1-6-9
RACE 9
John Moore legging up Eddie Lai on the pretty highly rated Selkirk Star made my eyes pop more than Marty Feldman’s eyes did.
Why? Because Nash Rawiller has gone with Turbo Jewellery? Because Douglas Whyte has stuck with Lucky Omens? I would pen the turbo bling horse and lean towards Industrial Way with that man Brett Prebble up which will be suited to the 2000 metres as will Lucky Omens and that strange pairing of John Moore and, er, Eddie Lai on Selkirk Star.
SELECTIONS: 8-9-3-7
RACE 10
After a great second at its first start, Secret Command has gone backwards at its last two starts. Tony Millard has called on Zac Purton to turn things around and give Secret Command another chance in a pretty open race. Will it win? Nah. Will it show improvement? It was an expensive purchase.
SELECTIONS: 10-12-4-1
RACE 11
Douglas Whyte doesn’t have a ride in this race, yet Full Talent, which he has won on three times, runs with Ollie Doleuze on it for the first time? How did that happen? Having said all that, Arpinati looks the winner for Karis Teetan and John Moore.
SELECTIONS: 8-7-14-3
BEST BET: RACE 6: FOREVER AHEAD (3)
NEXT BEST: RACE 11: ARPINATI (8)
VALUE BET: RACE 3: FABULOUS NOVEMBER (6)
SIX UP R6: 3 R7: 1-2-6-13 R8: 1-5 R9: 3-8-9 R10: 4-10-12 R11: 8
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