There is an element of familiarity among the leading runners in Friday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup at Doomben Racecourse, near Brisbane, Australia. The first three finishers from last year’s race – Huetor, Numerian, and Kovalica – are part of this year’s race. The forecast is for a different order of finish in the $660,100 race at 1 1/4 miles.
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Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, May 26, 2024, at Sha Tin.
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Rain is at the top of trainer Douglas Whyte’s wish list and the Hong Kong Observatory has currently bestowed a favourable forecast upon him and stable star Russian Emperor.
Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Happy Valley.
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Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from Happy Valley.
The partnership of the 3-year-old filly Cervinia and jockey Christophe Lemaire were reunited for the first time since October in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse. The team recorded a minor upset in the $2.08 million classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
If you had been told early Saturday morning that a 5-year-old trained by John and Thady Gosden had won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, you would not have been surprised. The Gosdens, after all, had the star mare Inspiral entered in the Lockinge for her 5-year-old debut. Inspiral did not win, did not even come close, but the Gosdens did, as Audience, a 5-year-old gelding presumed to be a pacemaker for his heralded stablemate, went to the lead and never came back, capturing this straight-course mile by 1 3/4 lengths while posting a 20-1 upset.
A fine race record and an outstanding pedigree suggest Stellenbosch can handle racing at 1 1/2 miles when she starts at the distance for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Sha Tin.
Racing luck has recently abandoned the Australian sprinter I Wish I Win, who will be heavily favored to win his second Group 1 race in the $1 million Doomben 10,000 Stakes at six furlongs at Doomben Racecourse near Brisbane on Friday evening.
