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.
Reward Seeker is among the leading candidates for the Quirindi Showcase Cup at a mile at Quirindi Racecourse on Thursday evening. With his closing style, Reward Seeker will try upset stablemate Sea of Flames, who will be favored.
Ami Please was winless in three starts in one-mile turf stakes at California tracks in the final months of 2022, finishing second, fourth, and third. The 3-year-old filly will have her 2023 debut under greatly different circumstances in Friday’s Group 3 United Arab Emirates Oaks at 1 3/16 miles on dirt at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
The Seven Seas was an odds-on favorite when she won a maiden race at Bathurst Racecourse in Australia in her seventh career start on Jan. 24. She can play the role of spoiler for Atmospheric Rock, a gelding held in high regard, in a six-furlong handicap at Goulburn Racecourse on Wednesday evening.
The 4-year-old Australian gelding Journalism may provide a scoop for bettors in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at Happy Valley.
In three consecutive starts in December and January, the Australian filly Zelady Luck found trouble in seven-furlong races at Royal Randwick and Warwick Farm racecourses in Sydney.
The Australian gelding Binkou returns to the venue of his lone career win when he starts in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs on the infield Beaumont course at Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday evening.
