The 4-year-old gelding Heika will be an odds-on favorite to win for the fourth time in his seventh start in the longest race of his career at 1 3/8 miles at Scone Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening.
Caring Lass, Lehndorff, and Not Too Bad were all winners of their last starts in Australia in late November and early December in a similar manner, racing near the front throughout races at a mile.
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Top international jockeys have been coming to Hong Kong since the start of the professional era in 1971. In that first season, with Happy Valley the only track, the RHKJC — R was for ‘Royal’ in those days — managed to entice Lester Piggott and Yves Saint-Martin, the best in England and France, respectively.
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With five winners from the past four Sha Tin meetings, Alexis Badel hopes Ping Hai Galaxy can extend the Frenchman’s productive streak when the veteran gelding contests the Class 2 Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 December).
Turk Warrior has won 5 of 8 starts at Hobart Racecourse on the island of Tasmania and will race there for the first time in more than a year in the Winzenberg Handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on Saturday evening.
The undefeated colt Jantar Mantar has drawn an ideal post for Sunday’s Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, a one-mile turf race that annually plays a leading role in balloting for the country’s juvenile champion.
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Sha Tin.
Lekvarte’s recent winning streak will be put to a test when she starts against males in a one-mile handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Friday evening.
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Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Sha Tin.
A slight drop in class, as well as the benefit of a recent start after a four-month layoff, gives the veteran gelding Magic in Me a better chance for a seventh career win in a six-furlong handicap at Murwillumbah Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.
