A clean start may give the 4-year-old gelding Sheer Class an advantage against his principal rivals in a one-mile handicap at Benalla Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening across American time zones.
Villaden was mired in a 12-race losing streak when he won a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 21. Villaden handled the extended distance without difficulty, closing from fourth to win by more than a length in the longest win of his 14-race career. Villaden’s next assignment is a handicap at the same course and distance against a higher class of rivals on Tuesday evening across American time zones.
The 3-year-old filly Play My Song has had eight starts and has found her niche in five-furlong races. Both of Play My Song’s wins have been at the abbreviated distance, making her presence all the more appealing in a five-furlong handicap at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Monday.
Persan was the 2-1 favorite in early betting on Friday to win for the ninth time in his 37th start when he faces 11 rivals in the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, January 1, 2023, at Sha Tin.
In the last six weeks, Ucalledit has won three consecutive races in Australia for the first time, leading to his group stakes debut in the Group 3, $203,400 The Buffering Stakes at 6 3/4 furlongs at Doomben Racecourse near Brisbane, Australia on Friday evening across American time zones.
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Dismissed at 47-1, Dura Erede edged 25-1 Top Knife by a nose to post a stunning upset in Wednesday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.
Oceans of Stanima was mired in an eight-race losing streak until he closed from off the pace to win a one-mile handicap at 6-1 at Albury Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 10. The race marked the first time the 6-year-old gelding was ridden by apprentice jockey Fiona Sandkuhl, a partnership that continues in a handicap at about a mile at Wangaratta Racecourse on Thursday.
Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Happy Valley.
The undefeated colt Phantom Thief will face a class test in his graded stakes debut in Wednesday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.
