A SHOT IN THE DARK
We’re still in the dark as to why when interviews and replays are mentioned- at least in English- during the ‘live’ broadcasts, audiences watching the races on ATV Home or ATV World see NONE of these and makes things come across like the sound of one hand clapping.
We tweeted our Amigos at the HK Racing Team twitter team asking if they could enlighten us about the reasons for this “Basil Fawlty”, but, as usual, our question was greeted by a roaring silence.
So much for “social engagement”.
Then again, perhaps this is all news to them, too, and with The Amigos being even more on the dark side of the moon than us and where ignorance is bliss?
As we also keep hearing that when ATV’s two terrestrial channels have to cut these ‘live’ broadcasts for the Main News and the running of the last race is left up in the air, and audiences are told to “switch to ATV Asia”, we asked an Executive with the station, where in the world is this channel- and is it astral traveling with Carmen Santiago?
His answer: “We have an Asia World channel? Really?”
ATV Home, ATV World, ATV Digital, ATV Asia, Oy Tea Wee. Oh, well, one more reason to just go to the races, see things with our own eyes, and not bother disturbing those asleep at the wheel.
SCHUTZ, A NAME CHANGE AND FUNG SHUI.
We used to laugh at owner John Yuen chopping and changing trainers for his champion miler Good Ba Ba on the advice of his fung shui master- and then cried when the poor horse “retired” from racing, only to pop up in Macau and to be trained by Brother Gary Moore before being sent off to race in Oz as a rising 11-year-old. Mercifully, Good Ba Ba was finally retired.
Andreas Schutz was on the receiving end of many of the stable shuffling in Hong Kong, and it now looks as if the German trainer has been listening to Yuen as, after tonight’s race meeting, he officially changes his Chinese surname.
With him facing a Stewards enquiry into a prohibitive substance found in one of his horses, guess some good fung shui might come in handy. Or, perhaps, he’s hoping his hair grows back.
Two of the non-events of racing happened over the weekend- commingling in Hong Kong with the US where the turnover from there was chump change and another of those pointless fucking exhibition race meetings in Mainland China- Chengdu, to be precise- and this one brought to the world by Sheikh Mo’s Dubai Racing Club.
Horses ran, jockeys we’ve never heard of won the races, prizes were pots and pans and that was it- no follow up, some piffle about “a breakthrough” in the quarantine controls and none the wiser about anything, other than, giving Sheikh Mo some satisfaction to kinda quell his magnificent obsession to be involved with racing in China.
The most interesting thing about this event involves who will replace Frank Daniels, Chief Executive of the Dubai Racing Club, with quite a few mentioning a name from the HKJC- proof positive that the racing world’s talent pool is a very tiny one where the same old names are trotted out to play a tiresome game of creaky musical chairs while paid big bucks for being ineffective Yes, Minister People.
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THE FAST TRACKER FEELS GOOD! SO GOOD! I GOT YOU! UHHHH!
Of course, apart from the facile wins of Able Friend and Divine Ten, the talk of Sunday after the races at Shatin had to do with the argy bargy between jockeys Neil Callan and Eddie Lai during race eight and with each copping suspensions of five and seven days, respectively.
Too harsh? Hmmm, perhaps, and which is why Neil Callan, who looked like a victim of circumstances, will appeal at the severity of his five-day enforced holiday.
As for Eddie Lai, who has been suspended for similar offenses, one really has to wonder about his future as a jockey as his only strong suit appears to be riding sprinters for trainer Gary Ng, but tends to lose his fine motor skills in races over 1000 metres and when his navigational skills have a certain Mr Bean quality to them.
As for tonight’s races, with yesterday’s showers, there should be a fair amount of cushion to the track and which just MIGHT make the going on the inside akin to drowning in quicksand.
As for the chances of jockeys, Magic Moreira is back and should bang home a winner or two, but Zac Purton and Dougie Whyte also have strong winning on one of the better Happy Valley cards with some good betting races.
R1 GREAT RUN/EXCEL ONESELF/YAT DING WIN
One of those rare instances where one can have a bet on the first race with some degree of confidence instead of going walkies to bump into the Ole Ole Brazilian Samba Dancers at the Beer Garden. Well, maybe I can do both. Hell, I SHALL do both.
R2 GOLD TARTINI/STARLIT WARRIOR/MOBILE KING/CHAMPION
Gold Tartini could be The Magic Man’s first win since his return after a three-day suspension- but this is a small horse and going up in the weights.
I’ll take it on with Starlit Warrior, Mobile King and Champion Ranger taking a class drop and apprentice Dickie Lui’s claim making it the interesting runner.
R3 SPEEDY GONZALES/KEY WITNESS
Good old Speedy has taken its time to find the winning post, but once it did for Joao Moreira, there has been no looking back.
With Zac Purton up tonight as he had at its last-start win, it’s sure to be in the money and will go close again though I am leaning more towards the very progressive Key Witness.
R4 FIGHTING BOY/LUCKY HAMMER/NAVEL ORANGE
One thing to bear in mind is that Lucky Hammer’s wins in Oz were with blinkers on and they FINALLY go in this race in Hong Kong.
R5 OWNERS GLORY/ONGOING VOLATILITY/FLYING IN
A tough nut to crack with plenty having place chances in the middle leg of the Triple Trio where I see Ongoing Volatility winning for Howard Cheng and his loyal supporters in the owners of this horse.
R6 HOLMES LEGEND/FORMULA WON/GOOD GOOD VIEW
R7 REDWOOD BABY/SMART BALL/DASHING SUPER
R8 BRAVENESS/BUNDLE OF LOVE/CHARITY SPIRIT
A buffet of sprinters and all with Happy Valley form. This could be The Charge Of The Light Brigade to bring down the curtain with a mighty, Heigh Ho, Silver,Awaaaaay!
BEST BET: R3 KEY WITNESS NEXT BEST: R5 ONGOING VOLATILITY LONGSHOT: R7 DASHING SUPER
SARIKA’S SIX UP
R3- 6 R4- 1,2,5,7 R5- 2,4,7,9,11 R6- 3 R7- 12 R8- 4,5,6,11
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Tonight’s Selections for Happy Valley from Third Dividend
HAPPY VALLEY (HKG) Wed, 9/4/14 Night Races @HKJC_Racing Turf (“B” Course-Worked Back) Weather: Mainly cloudy. Coastal fog in the morning and at night. Sunny intervals during the day. The maximum temperature will be about 24 degrees. Light to moderate easterly winds. Source: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Race 1: ARBUTHNOT HCP CL4 1200M 1 – Yat Ding Win (6) 2 – Great Run (2) 3 – Excel Oneself (11) 4 – Creative Union (7)
Race 2: CAINE HCP CL5 1800M 1 – Gold Tartini (3) 2 – Mobile King (4) 3 – Starlit Warrior (11) 4 – Secretary Of State (7)
Race 3: D’AGULAR HCP CL3 1200M 1 – Key Witness (6) 2 – Speedygonzalez (1) 3 – Medic Swordsman (12) 4 – Nordic One (7)
Race 4: OLD BAILEY HCP CL4 (SPECIAL CONDITION) 1650M 1 – Rising Power (10) 2 – Navel Orange (7) 3 – Fighting Boy (5) 4 – Fortune Bravo (11)
Race 5 (Q1): ON LAN HCP CL4 1800M 1 – Happy Centenary (5) 2 – Owners’ Glory (9) 3 – Superking Dragon (12) 4 – Helene Fun Star (1)
Race 6 (Q2): THE SPORTS CLUB DIAMOND JUBILEE CHALLENGE CUP CL3 1650M 1 – Holmes Legend (3) 2 – Formula One (9) 3 – Invictus (8) 4 – Good Good View (10)
Race 7 (Q3): WYNDHAM HCP CL3 1650M 1 – Redwood Baby (12) 2 – Smart Ball (8) 3 – Royal Partner (4) 4 – Trump (2)
Race 8 (Q4): STAUNTON HCP CL2 1000M 1 – Bundle Of Joy (11) 2 – Beauty Sparkle (2) 3 – Charity Spirit (4) 4 – Caga Force (9)
Best Bet Race 7: Redwood Baby (12)
Next Best Race 2: Gold Tartini (3)
Value Bet Race 4: Rising Power (10) – Currently, $6.30/$2.10
Long Shot Race 8: Caga Force (9) – Currently, $9.50/$2.80
Quaddie ($100 get you 39%) 1.5.9.12 3.8.9.10 2.4.8.12 2.4.9.11
Six Up 6 5.7.10 5.9 3.9 12 2.11
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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)
BEST BET Race 3, No. 6 Key Witness Was blocked for a run in the straight before finishing strongly last time. The one to beat.
SECOND BEST Race 6, No. 9 Formula Won Rattled home to just miss at Sha Tin. Can open account.
LONGSHOT Race 5, No. 12 Superking Dragon Rock hard fit and racing well. Sure to give a bold sight.
QUADDIE 2,8,9,12 / 3,9,10 / 4,8,12 / 4,6,9,11. $50 for 34.72%.
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PARTING SHOT
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