While Sunday is what is referred to as “the prelude” to this year’s Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) when muchos amigos, mighty hombres, señors and a few señoritas plus a few awesome American chuiquitas will cross the border and do the Mexican hat dance here, the weekend is when we’ll know which horses will move past Go, collect $200 and represent Hong Kong against those foreign banditos. We’re looking forward to seeing the return of the mighty Able Friend, whether Pakistan Star is as hot an enchilada as we all think he is as he tackles 1600 metres for the first time, and our old amigo Gerald Mosse, but only for the day as he begins a riding stint later in Singapore.
Before this, there’s tonight’s races at Happy Valley to get through. And after the events of “rakegate” and 11/9, we have our tacos firmly and crisply crossed that all will go without a Hitchcock, and with only the Good showing up and the Bad and the Ugly staying home. Just wish Nick Columb will stop whistling in the background.
On the subject of Nick, visit @nickcolumb. Forget about following him as this could be fraught with danger. But bathe in the sunshine of his tweets, where he rants about Trump, various governments, politicians and, basically, thinks everyone is a pussycat. He’s an odd mozzarella ball is young Nick, but he certainly brings much colour and experience to the races. Remember, he was the first to warn everyone that Bill Vlahos was selling members of that punting club in the land down under undiluted Cuban cattle cakes.
With sidekick Marko Richard, the Tattoo in the partnership, the two have combined to purchase some extremely good Fantasy Island-type horses for the Hong Kong International Sales. It’s all very Jing Jing Win, baby. We’re just waiting for Ka-Ching Ching Win to show up.
With many in Australia reeling from the news that whizz kid James McDonald is being investigated for a possible faux pas by betting on his ride Astern to win, and the Sheikh Yerboutis at Godolphin waiting on the sidelines for the outcome, we’re tipping other news that could have a mighty big papadum shift on the Australian racing industry happening before one can say Mike Baird. We would have said Troy Grant, but he’s been the sacrificial political lamb in this Greek tragedy of a horse opera.
Closer to home, we were on a roll on the weekend with winners in the first five races before Mr Bogart ended the good times by running outta puff. Those cigarettes will kill you, Humph. Play it again, Sam and tell him.
Of course, no one has to be reminded that on the weekend Joao Moreira had another Big Day Out with five winners which came very close to being eight. But even The Magic Man has to be patient to better Christophe Lemaire’s recent eight win haul in Japan.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire rides eight winners on a 12-race card in Tokyo. https://t.co/u16vMzTkYA pic.twitter.com/ZoD1xwcxmf — Racing.com (@Racing) November 7, 2016
Knowing the competitiveness of Moreira, this must be gnawing at him as he’s not only born to ride winners, he would be especially keen to ride ten winners to all those in Japan following his exploits in Hong Kong… and waiting for his return. We’re willing to put our castanets on the line and say that Joao Moreira will win the Arc for Japan- and next month’s Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Competition.
Onto more immediate things, the race for the third spot to represent Hong Kong in this International Jockeys Championship between Nash Rawiller and Douglas Whyte is running out of time. The Gnasher leads The Durban Demon by one winner and the pendulum is swinging towards a serving of Fried Rice on a wok gone crazy at Happy Valley on December 7.
What about tonight? Who really knows? Not even The Shadow knows. These are the days we need David Blaine with us- that real magic man and very creepy mind reader.
We can’t help but imagine David Blaine at the races and “engaging” through Twitter and hashtags and some hash browns with the HKJC’s Patricio Cummings, the manager of racing communications. Film that meeting of the minds, and this could be a real game changer in racing. Let’s do a Mexican hat dance to that and never forget that Trump is running in the last. So is Raging Bull. And a Trump/Raging Bull quinella, or even quinella place bet will be HUUUUUUUGE!
RACE 1 4-3-5-1
RACE 2 4-2-6-1
RACE 3 2-1-9-5
RACE 4 2-1-8-5
RACE 5 3-1-4-6
RACE 6 8-11-12-2
RACE 7 8-9-12-2
RACE 8 2-4-7-10
BEST BET Race 7: Winnie’s Honey (8)
NEXT BEST Race 6: Pearl Warm Warm (8)
LONGSHOT Race 8: Trump (10)
SIX UP
R3: 1-2-5-7-9-12 R4: 1-2-8 R:5: 3 R: 6: 8 R: 7: 8-9-12 R8: 2-4-7-10
THE DONALD TRUMP OMEN BET SIX UP
R3: Electronic Empire (5), Massive Millennium (7), Fine Rock (9)
Note: Fine Rock was TRUMPED for the race by trainer Caspar Fownes
R4: Rapid Triumph (1), Bossie (2), Giant Turtle (8) R5: Unbeatable Guts (4), Winaswewish (8) R6: The Supreme (2), Go Go Win (12) R7: Ambitious Champion (2), Up And Coming (12) R8: Molly’s Jade Star (2), Trump (10), Raging Bull (11)
He’s no doubt met a Molly at some beauty pageant somewhere. Sam Clipperton riding, well, Trump is obvious as is the President Elect being a Raging Bull capable of upsetting the Liberals apple cart.
PARTING SHOT
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