Super Saturday, preview day for the March 25 Dubai World Cup Day, includes eight Thoroughbred races, and chances are, if you don't closely follow winter racing in Dubai, you're unfamiliar with most of the horses.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, March 4, 2023, at Sha Tin.
A winner of 5 of 11 starts, Cross Talk was third in a Group 3 at seven furlongs in September, but only eighth of 10 in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at a mile in his final start of the year in October. The prospects for a breakthrough win are promising for Cross Talk in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes at seven furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday evening.
Ami Please is in the midst of an unconventional preparation for a potential start in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5. Second in the Group 3 United Arab Emirates Oaks at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Feb. 17, Ami Please starts in Saturday’s $175,000 Al Bastakiya Stakes against males at 1 3/16 miles at Meydan.
Cool Amigo may have an ideal race scenario when he starts for the first time since October in a five-furlong handicap at Coffs Harbour Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, March 1, 2023
A bad start and traffic issues could not prevent Sanstoc from winning her first start of 2023 in Australia earlier this month. The gritty win has led to a high-profile role in a seven-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
The fillies Smooth Sailing and Sumptuary and the gelding Cable Tie had perfect starts to their careers earlier this year, winning maiden races for sprinters in Australia. All three have been given a logical assignment to a start in a six-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse on Monday evening for their second races.
Romantic Warrior is two years younger than Golden Sixty and has made 12 starts to Golden Sixty’s 28. His legs are younger and fresher and the 2000-meter distance of Sunday’s Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin Race Course hits Romantic Warrior’s sweet spot. Golden Sixty’s best trip always has been one mile and Sunday, when Romantic Warrior got first run, going for home with three furlongs left to race, trying to empty Golden Sixty’s tank, it should have been game over. Instead, it was game on, Golden Sixty coming steadily down the outside, getting up in the shadow of the wire, and winning by a head.
With only five races of experience, the Australian gelding Golden Breeze has found his niche in five-furlong races.
