MARKING TIME?
We know he pops all over the world on his equine buying sprees more than Cantinflas, and though he has, apparently, been a guest paddock parade expert on NSW’s Golden Slipper Day for the past few years, we were still somewhat surprised to see the HKJC’s Mark Richards at Rosehill and doing a sterling job for TVN.
We have to wonder if this might lead to a more permanent role for on your Mark, get set, Go?
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WELSH RAREBIT
Which member of the Wales Rugby Sevens squad during the recent HK Rugby Sevens managed to pull a girl when here, went back to her place, was rather quick when it came to action and- oh, dear- ended up going into the loo, having a crap on the floor and- oy, boyo- sleeping in it?
We’re speechless.
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BRAZILIAN NUTS
Sometimes- actually, quite often- we are baffled by the thinking of some at the HKJC which borders on the anal retentive.
For example, on Wednesday where some in the crowd down at the Beer Garden in Happy Valley Racecourse were more interested in watching the bevy of Brazilian samba samba Ole Ole girls dressed in their Rio Carnivale costumes shake their groove things than some of the racing, over at Adrenaline, the venue’s bastions of morality wanted two (two???) of the girls to dance there- but to be covered up as their costumes might be considered “too sexy.”
Who by? No idea.
Perhaps they should have got some male ballet dancers in leotards to prance about?
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TOASTING MR WALLY
Some in Hong Kong are extremely grateful to our old mate Wally Pyrah of the HKJC for what must be the tip of the year- and all credit to host JoJo McKinnon for not cutting him off during his soliloquy.
As we all know by now, the simulcasts by the HKJC are somewhat odd affairs where those hosting the English broadcast have to follow what’s been said on the Chinese channel in a kinda weird NICAM way- but far tougher to choreograph and ensure that all is in sync.
For example, JoJo and her guests sit there with earpieces- and on tender hooks- as orders where a commercial break might happen in nanu seconds depending on what’s what’s happening with the Chinese broadcast.
Bored? Confused? Nodded off yet?
Well, during the recent simulcast of the Dubai World Cup, JoJo must have suddenly been allowed some extra time as, while Wally waxed lyrical about the maiden UK galloper named Toast Of New York and then stopped himself as he might have been going on for a tad too long- she almost catapulted off her seat and said something like, “No, no, keep talking, Wally as there is nothing coming through on my earpiece.”
Wally loves his stories and went into overdrive about everything he knew about this pretty much unknown horse.
Some listening decided to REALLY listen to Wally and, as they had also been listening to the brilliant Breakfast In America album by Supertramp earlier in the day, took this story about this maiden galloper named Heart Of New York to be an omen bet- and whacked a sizable bet on the horse which won the UAE Derby at odds of 12 to 1 in Hongkers and 28 to 1 in the UK.
Sometimes, it pays to be a Wally- and and follow a Wally.
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THE FAST TRACKER HOPES IT DOESN’T RAIN ON HIS PARADE
It was tough going on Wednesday night at Happy Valley and some important decisions to make: Watch the paddock parade or watch the Ole Ole Samba Girls at the Beer Garden and rub hips with them?
Well, my mates and I gave up and settled for hanging out backstage with the Brazilian Samba girls and going ole ole.
As for the racing, the ride of the night was Dougie Whyte’s brilliant winning ride on the heavily backed favorite Silver Dragon, below, Zac Purton riding a double including his 400th winner in Hong Kongers and Alvin “The Chipmunk” Ng ending a very long drought by winning on Peniaphobia which Tony Cruz had to convince the owners to have the jockey on the horse.
Cruzy, who tipped us into the 9 to 1 shot as being his best for the night, always helps out local riders, and Ng, who was moved from being indentured with trainer Dennis Yip to Cruz, one-time champion Hong Kong jockey, is already showing signs of improvement.
As for the Ole Oles, they’re baaaaaack on Wednesday, so join the conga line as they shake their groove things to Samba De Joao Moreira when the Magic Man returns after a three-day suspension.
As for today’s races, we’re in the hands of the weather gods as rain is predicted.
Still, Dougie Whyte has a strong chance of winning the Jockey Challenge with the main dangers being the usual suspects- The Zac Attack and The Teets Man, below- on the last day of his current riding stint here, Gerard Mosse.
R1 MIGHT AND VISION/JUST MISTERE/DRAGON CHOICE/EVERYONE’S CHOICE
Yes, it’s buffet time and no need to bother with this. It’s the quiet before the storm.
R2 GRASSLAND DRAGON/WILD BOY/CALL ME ACHIEVER
A couple of horses are having a quick back-up from Wednesday night. Call Me Achiever is one with apprentice Alvin “The Chipmunk” Ng replacing Whyte and his claim and barrier draw closest to the grandstand giving connections a chance of a win.
Having said that, its record over course and distance is very average whereas others with exposed form are equally so. So, what to do?
Take the newcomers Grassland Dragon or Wild Boys and bung in some roughies to add value to your tierce bets as these 1000m sprints can be a lottery when it comes to place chances coming in at huge odds as they’re usually ridden by that breed referred to as “unfashionable jockeys.”
R3 ABLE FRIEND
Another John Moore Benefit Cup Race. This monopoly situation doesn’t do any good for anyone except for the trainer and the connections, but what can one do when every other trainer says they won’t allow their owners to pay the amount of money the Moore The Merriers are prepared to splurge on equine talent?
R4 LAUGH OUT LOUD/MARK TWO/HIT THE BID/DO YOU GET IT
This will be the last meeting before we bid Adieu to Monsieur Mosse before he returns for the European flat season. “The Parrot” went through a frustrating Happy Wednesday with a couple that came very close to winning, but could be going LOL in this one.
R5 GOLDEN OSMANTHUS/MIGHTY K/APOLLO CAVALIER
R6 SUGAR CITY/CRIMSON HEART/CIRCUIT FORTUNE/GRND PLUS
“You want me to geeev you my riding instructions? I won’t” was Monsieur Mosse’s curt reply to Amigo Clint during an interview for le classique Racing To Win extravagonzola about the chances of his ride Circuit Kingdom.
What did I get out of the interview? Not much other than this is a VERY tough leg of the Triple Trio where I like the engagement of Derek Leung for Tony Millard’s Crimson Heart which could have been a recommendation from Millie’s Assistant Trainer Carol Yu.
R7 DIVINE TEN
Can Divine Ten rack up its fifth win in six starts? It should- should- though it can still go through brain freeze at the barriers.
Dougie Whyte gets down to his minimum weight and takes over Joao Moreira on the galloper, and it should really take this out with only Golden Harvest with The Teets Man aboard capable of an upset.
R8 SHINY DAY/GOLDEN DEER/CHANCELLOR/JAEGER BOMB
A race replete with some very VERY ordinary horses. Take the field in your Six Ups though I did tip Jaeger Bomb when it went close with Jacky Tong at big odds. But running today as a raging favorite? I’ll take it on and have a shooter instead.
R9 GAOLING LUCKY HORSE/ULTIMATE GLORY
One-time very prominent owner Larry Yung of CITIC fame has Eye On You trained by John Size and with very good form when in Brisbane.
It was meant to easily win this, but being withdrawn this morning, it could open things up though Monsieur Mosse should at least run a place on Gaoling Lucky Star and with first-starter Ultimate Glory being an interesting runner as Brett Prebble has been doing a great deal of work on it.
R10 SANTA FE SUN/REWARDING HERO/AUTUMN GOLD/CHATER DREAM
Santa Fe Sun goes for its fifth win of the season with Rewarding Hero probably making the quinella where my voodoo horse- the recently gelded Autumn Gold- will try and show if it has the balls to notch its first win in Hong Kong after an improved effort at its last start.
BEST BET: R5 GOLDEN OSMANTHUS NEXT BEST: R10 SANTA FE SUN LONGSHOT: R6 CRIMSON HEART
SARIKA’S SIX UP
R5 4-7-8-12 R6 1-2-10-14 R7 7 R8 1-8-11 R9 2 R10 1-6
PARTING SHOT
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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)
BEST BET Race 9, No. 2 Gaoling Lucky Star Finished well after getting held up last time. Deserves another chance.
SECOND BEST Race 10, No. 5 Kabayan Failed to see out the 1800m last start. Can bounce back.
LONGSHOT Race 8, No. 1 Shiny Day Down in grade and should give a good sight. Don’t dismiss.
LAY Race 5, No. 4 Capital K Been costly to punters and has yet to run a place at Sha Tin. Keen to oppose.
QUADDIE 2,7 / 1,3,5,8 / 2,12 / 1,5,6. $50 for 104.16%.
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Today’s Selections for Sha Tin from Third Dividend 6.4.14
SHA TIN (HKG) Sun, 6/4/14 Day Races @HKJC_Racing Turf (“B+2” Course) Weather: Mainly cloudy with rather low visibility in some areas. Dry during the day. It will be rainy with a few squally thunderstorms later. The maximum temperature will be around 22 degrees. Moderate to fresh easterly winds, occasionally strong offshore. Source: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Race 1: DENGSHIKOU HCP CL5 1200m 1 – Just Mistere (3) 2 – Kowloon East King (11) 3 – P J Hall (5) 4 – Cosmo One (13)
Race 2: DONGCHENG DISTRICT HCP CL4 1000m 1 – Flashing Guy (7) 2 – Call Me Achiever (1) 3 – Fortune Territory (11) 4 – Grassland Dragon (9)
Race 3: THE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY – HK GROUP 2 1600m 1 – Able Friend (3) 2 – Helene Spirit (1) 3 – Packing Whiz (2) 4 – Destine For Glory (5)
Race 4: CHAOYANGMEN HCP CL4 1200m 1 – Hit The Bid (3) 2 – Lightning And Gold (10) 3 – Laugh Out Loud (1) 4 – Do You Get It (5)
Race 5: DONGZHIMEN HCP CL4 1400m 1 – Golden Oshanthus (12) 2 – Reborn To Win (7) 3 – How Speedy (3) 4 – Capital K (4)
Race 6: THE BEIJING CLUBHOUSE ANNIVERSARY CUP
HCP CL4 1600m 1 – Win It (9) 2 – Circuit Fortune (1) 3 – Industrialist Way (6) 4 – Trendy Win (3)
Race 7 (Q1): THE BAUHINIA SPRINT TROPHY HCP – HK GROUP 3 1000m 1 – Divine Ten (7) 2 – Golden Harvest (6) 3 – Straight Gold (2) 4 – Best Eleven (3)
Race 8 (Q2): JIANGUOMEN HCP CL3 1600m 1 – Jaeger Bomb (8) 2 – Shiny Day (1) 3 – Supreme Essence (4) 4 – Admiral Lord (7)
Race 9 (Q3): WANGFUJING HCP CL3 1200m 1 – Eye On You (1) 2 – Gaoling Lucky Star (2) 3 – Multiexpress (12) 4 – Ovett (4)
Race 10 (Q4): JINBAO STREET HCP CL2 1600m 1 – Santa Fe Sun (6) 2 – Rewarding Hero (1) 3 – Autumn Gold (9) 4 – Kabayan (5)
Best Bet Race 8: Jaeger Bomb (8)
Next Best Race 10: Santa Fe Sun (6)
Value Bet Race 1: Just Mistere (3) – Currently, $6.00/$3.40
Long Shot Race 4: Bernard’s Choice (13) – Currently, $21.00/$5.90
Special Race 3: Able Friend (3)
Quaddie ($100 get you 39%) 2.3.6.7 1.4.7.8 1.2.4.12 1.5.6.9
Six Up 7.12 1.9 6.7 8 1 6
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