Military Mission and Spirit Ridge have become familiar foes this year in Australia, and meet for the third time in 2023 in the Group 3 Launceston Cup at Launceston Racecourse on Tuesday evening.
Condrieu stretches out to a new distance in a one-mile handicap at Wyong Racecourse on Monday evening.
From a maiden race in late 2020 to his Grade 1 debut in Sunday’s $1.73 million February Stakes, Lemon Pop has been nearly unstoppable on the dirt track at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan.
Ugly Nicos has not won since he beat maidens in March 2021, a drought that is not as severe as it seems. Ugly Nicos is winless in six starts in that span, one race after his win in 2021 and five starts since mid-December. The losing streak could easily end in a seven-furlong handicap at Armidale Racecourse on Sunday evening.
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Sha Tin.
Soul Choice will have a quick turnaround for the $103,000 Tasmanian Oaks at 1 5/16 miles at Launceston on Saturday evening. Owned and bred by prominent North American horseman Charles Fikpe, Soul Choice was the 4-5 favorite in early betting on Friday to beat seven rivals in the Tasmanian Oaks.
Nations Pride, fifth as the 5-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last November, won his 4-year-old debut in Friday’s Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates. Earlier on Friday’s Meydan program, the California-based filly Ami Please finished a game second to local star Mimi Kakushi in the Group 3 UAE Oaks.
Shirl’s Speight will start outside of North America for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 1 February Stakes at a mile on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan. Shirl’s Speight, a 6-year-old horse trained by Roger Attfield, is the only foreign runner in a field of 16 in the $1.73 million February Stakes.
Nature Strip, the two-time Australian Horse of the Year, won the ninth Group 1 of his fabulous career in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in Britain last June. A potential 10th win at the highest level could occur Friday evening in the $690,000 Lightning Stakes at five furlongs on the straightaway course at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Sha Tin.
