Race 1
TWO dirt races to start off proceedings? Jeezus, No Thanks.
If I WERE to have a bet, I’d probably box these up for the quinella- with zero confidence.
SELECTIONS: 4-3-10-2
Race 2
Forget tips and tipsters. This is a pin job. My pin landed on these.
SELECTIONS: 12-7-2-1
Race 3
After his double tipped here AND, also as tipped, him winning Wednesday’s Jockey Challenge, why look further than Brett Prebble riding Bear Rapper for “Darth” Ferraris. Take it with Bossie for the quinella.
SELECTIONS: 4-1-5-7
Race 4
This is the running of the HKJC 130th Anniversary Cup and which should prove entertaining when the chorus of “DIIIIIIUS” will almost certainly greet the hugely unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung when he makes his appearance on the grassy knoll where the presentation ceremony will be held. Let’s just hope there’s no Umbrella Movement at Shatin.
CY’s appearance at Shatin will definitely be more exciting than this race which should be between Let Me Go and Key Witness with a good outsider for the tierce being Little Men. Don’t let the booking of little man Jacky Tong put you off.
SELECTIONS: (3-2)-1-11-12-13
Race 5
There was so much expected of Soul Achiever after its emphatic win for Tony Millard in a 1200 metre race where it beat recent winner Longwah Amber.
This was after being transferred from the stable of David Hall for which it had one start, but lameness issues have stopped that long march forward. It steps out here after that win in September with Moreira back aboard, and knowing how meticulous Millard is in getting his horses right, one can only assume that Soul Achiever is back to something like its best. It’s sure to start in the red and should win though beating Longwah Amber- an expensive International Sales purchase, but, seriously now, was it money well spent when even trainer Gary Ng poured cold water on its last-start win?- is nothing to do handstands over. Still, it should have more of an upside than others in this Class 4 race. Confused? Join the club.
SELECTIONS: (4)-10-1-2-14
Race 6
With its second to Contentment over 1400 metres, Sugar City will- and should- start favourite over this 1600 metre race- The Better Future Handicap. Does Sugar City have a better future? There are a few other runners lurking in the background offering much greater value out to prove that this second placing was a fluke. Sugar could turn to spice and not all things nice to those looking for a, er, Wealthy Fortune with my man Prebble aboard.
SELECTIONS: 5-4-1-12
Race 7
Take Douglas “Accapi” Whyte on Master Kochangwong to upset race favourite Access Years with Joao Moreira up.
SELECTIONS: 6-2-3-4
Race 8
Country Melody seems to be running at every other race meeting, and here he is again after an admirable second at its last start to Dane Petrol over the same 1000 metre sprint when drawn “the wrong side” of the track.
Today it’s drawn barrier 7 and, again, meets Dane Petrol, but is certain to turn the tables this time giving regular jockey Karis Teetan a look on his face that will be very different to the shock and awe we saw when he won on Wednesday night on 43 to 1 bolter Silver Dragon.
Hell, even The Three Amigos were stumped by that win with Amigo Brett almost making groaning and sighing sounds- and not in ecstasy either.
SELECTIONS: 3-4-12-7
Race 9
What always happens is that Titanic Moment when one is overjoyed setting eyes on a standout and then hitting an iceberg and getting that sinking feeling seeing the barrier they’ve drawn.
And so it is here where Travel First is drawn barrier 11. Same thing happens in the next race where the very impressive John Size-trained Contentment is drawn barrier 14. It’s like the luck of the draw instead of any increase in weights creating a level playing field.
SELECTIONS: 2-11-7-1
Race 10
Many keep hoping Nash Rawiller adds to his four winners and vindicates the extension of his riding license in Hong Kong. And despite being drawn barrier 14, surely the very promising Contentment will help this cause? If not, those Chinese racing media conspiracy theories will grow louder like a murder of crows on spiked birdseed.
SELECTIONS: 7,13,3,1
BEST BET: 2×1 ALL UP WIN: RACE 8 COUNTRY MELODY (3) ONTO RACE 10 CONTENTMENT (7) NEXT BEST: RACE 4 QUINELLA: 2,3 VALUE BET: RACE 6 WEALTHY FORTUNE (5)
SIX UP
R5: 4 R6: 4-5-12 R7: 2-6 R8: 3-4-12 R9: 2-7-11 R10: 7
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FROM THE RACING TWITTERVERSE
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PARTING SHOT
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