ENTER THE BLIMPCAM
Apart from the usual three-camera setups and the obligatory “Chariots Of Fire”- influenced slow motion shots- seemingly reserved only for the big Cup races- it was good to see the “Blimpcam” being used as part of the broadcast of the Audermars Piguet QEII Cup Day at Shatin on Sunday.
However, what we still don’t understand is why these overhead shots were of the empty all-weather track- and nothing else.
It was as exciting as watching paint dry.
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ALL FUKU-D UP
While applauding the win of Designs Of Rome with Tommy Berry aboard, Dougie Whyte’s treble and Karis Teetan winning on an eightysomething pop, let’s not forget the ride of Japanese jockey Yuichi Fukunaga.
Fuko-san, an extremely good jockey albeit in Japan where one can afford to be three and four wide as that’s how it works over there, in Hong Kong, he sure got himself into a righ y-rated Epiphania that had been working the track down before the running of the Group 1 QE11 Cup race.
Calling it an “upside down ride” would be kind- and simply not what racing fans expect to see in a Group 1 race.
Though Gerard Mosse got totally lost earlier on aboard Demokles in a lowly Class 4 race, we had no idea what was going through Fuko-san’s head, who had won the QE11 Cup- twice- aboard Eishin Preston.
We’re no jockeys, but when Joao Moreira on Military Attack decided to keep Epiphania 3-4 wide in a great piece of competitive ridin n’t seem to have a Plan B- or any plan- and was put off stride so quickly that, for a nanu second, we thought Vincent Sit was back riding.
On the subject of the now-retired local jockey- and hardly a successful one-how on earth he became a Director and part-owner of Jamaican Freight Airlines still has us scratching our heads.
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THE FAST TRACKER PICKS HIMSELF OFF THE GROUND.
When Lucky Warrior won race four for Karis Teetan at over 80 to 1- the shocking performances of all those in the market in this race remain a mystery- quickly followed by Jacky Tong throwing everything at 20 to 1 pop Schnitzel Kid to beat the Brett Prebble-ridden Calling With Love- Ying Tong had ridden it at its last start- and THEN followed by Anthony Delpech driving Admiral Lord home in the very next race, well, that wiped out all chances of winning the Triple Trio and killed off many Six Up tickets.
As for tonight’s races, the team of Caspar Fownes and Zac Purton look to hold a very strong hand, but, Beware The Durban Wizard as Douglas Whyte could easily ride a double with his rides in races 4 and 8.
Moreira wears his heart on his sleeve and when he admits to the media that he has “lost confidence”, the Fat Lady has not only sung, she’s sung and left for her next gig.
So, unless Whyte can pull a few more rabbits outta his hat and Purton hits a brick wall, it will be a tepid ending to the season.
Let’s hope not, and here’s hoping that Dougie Whyte keeps his late run for a fourteenth successive Jockey Premiership going and going and going.
R1 RED ADVENTURE/WINNING ADVENTURE/NO TIES R2 HIGHLAND DRAGON/OCEAN ROAR/LUCKY PIONEER R3 BUNKER SHOT/RAY OF GOLD/FLASHING GUY R4 MAZANDARAN R5 SKY MAN/FUN N GAMES/SIGHT BELIEVER R6 FORMULA WON/KOKODA R7 SILLY BUDDIES/GETAWAY GUY R8 EXCITING DREAM
BEST BET: R8- EXCITING DREAMS NEXT BEST: R4- MAZANDARAN LONGSHOT: R6- KOKODA
SARIKA’S SASSY SIX UP
R3: 3-12 R4: 2 R5: 4-7-8 R6: 5-11-12 R7: 1-6-7 R8: 3
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Tonight’s Selections for Happy Valley from Third Dividend 30.4.14
HAPPY VALLEY (HKG) Wed 30/4/14 Night Races Turf (“A” Course) Weather: Mainly cloudy with a few showers. Showers will be more frequent with a few thunderstorms later. The maximum temperature will be about 25 degrees. Moderate easterly winds. Source: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Race 1: CORNWALL HCP CL5 1650m 1 – Winning Advantage (5) 2 – Pearl Start (1) 3 – Young Happy (4) 4 – High Speed Metro (7)
Race 2: DORSET HCP CL4 1000m 1 – Nazakat’s Lad (9) 2 – Ocean Roar (6) 3 – Genuine Champion (1) 4 – Double Master (2)
Race 3: HEREFORD HCP CL4 1200m 1 – Ray Of Gold (12) 2 – Helen’s Choice (9) 3 – Bunker Shot (3) 4 – Flashing Guy (6)
Race 4: LANCASHIRE HCP CL4 1650m 1 – Robust Momentum (5) 2 – Owners Glory (7) 3 – Mazandaran (2) 4 – Go Sandy Go (9)
Race 5 (Q1): NORFOLK HCP CL3 1000m 1 – Sight Believer (4) 2 – Sky Man (7) 3 – Fun ‘N’ Games (5) 4 – Super Abundante (8)
Race 6 (Q2): SUFFOLK HCP CL3 1650m 1 – Formula Won (5) 2 – Kokoda (12) 3 – Noble Boy (4) 4 – Forgive And Forget (6)
Race 7 (Q3): THE ST GEORGER’S CHALLENGE CUP HCP CL3 1200m 1 – Silly Buddies (1) 2 – Cour Valant (2) 3 – Getaway Guy (7) 4 – Tonyboy (4)
Race 8 (Q4): WARWICK HCP CL2 1200m 1 – Exciting Dream (3) 2 – My Name Is Bond (6) 3 – Rainbow Fighter (8) 4 – Bundle Of Joy (11)
BEST BET Race 6: Formula Won (5)
NEXT BEST Race 1: Winning Advantage (5)
VALUE BET Race 4: Mazandaran (2)
LONG SHOT Race 7: Tonyboy (4)
Quaddie ($100 get you 39%) 4.5.7.8 4.5.6.12 1.2.4.7 3.6.8.11
SIX UP 9.12 5.7 4.5.7 5 1.2 3
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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)
BEST BET Race 6, No. 5 Formula Won Finally broke through for his maiden win last time. Not much depth here and can win again.
SECOND BEST Race 5, No. 4 Sight Believer Just nabbed on the line by a classy sprinter last start. Take running down.
LONGSHOT Race 7, No. 4 Tonyboy Drawn the carpark but sure to be charging home late. Consider.
QUADDIE 4,7 / 4,5,10 / 1,2,4 / 3,8,10. $50 for 92.59%.
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PARTING SHOT
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