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Pierre Ng isn’t one to shirk a challenge. The second season trainer leads the championship by 12 wins and he is remaining optimistic of securing a first Group 1 when Taj Dragon and Galaxy Patch take aim at the world’s best sprinter, Lucky Sweynesse, in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 10 March.
Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Happy Valley.
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Jerry Chau is running hot and the young rider is hoping to up the ante with a pair of key mounts across the next two fixtures in Hong Kong.
Aurora’s Symphony can become the first three-time winner of the Group 3 Launceston Cup in Australia in more than 20 years on Tuesday evening, if the 7-year-old gelding can handle a hefty weight assignment in the $195,900 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
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Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Happy Valley.
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Luxembourg, the 3-5 favorite in a 13-horse field, got a perfect pressing trip in the $2 million Neom Turf but finished third with no excuse, as Spirit Dancer posted a 13-1 upset. One race later on the Saudi Cup card, dejection became jubilation for Coolmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien, and jockey Ryan Moore won the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf with Tower of London, who had plenty of excuses but needed none.
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The connections of Senor Buscador and their horse on Saturday found themselves under the bright lights at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, smack in the middle of the Arabian Desert, and there, Senor Buscador, breaking through after two tough losses, won the $20 million Saudi Cup by a head, getting up in the final stride over Ushba Tesoro under a perfect ride from Junior Alvarado.
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Based in Japan, Forever Young brought a 3-for-3 record to Saudi Arabia and now heads to Dubai for the UAE Derby next month perfect in four starts. The colt, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, is nominated to the American Triple Crown and connections hope to make the Kentucky Derby. He can earn a spot in that race March 30 in the UAE Derby, which should be easier for Forever Young than the Saudi Derby.
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In the 2023 Riyadh Dirt Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, the Steve Asmussen-trained Gunite could only finish second to the Bill Mott-trained Elite Power. On Saturday, it's Asmussen who has the horse to beat, Skelly, while Mott makes a repeat bid with Bold Journey.
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After a less-than-inspiring running in 2023, this year's Saudi Cup lives up to its $20 million purse, with an excellent field of 14 set to go postward Saturday night at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
