It’s not easy stringing together wins in Hong Kong, where the handicapping system functions fluidly creating well-matched races. One avenue to repeat success is a lightly raced horse who wins well at one handicap level while carrying a high weight, and then can move up one class and have his burden reduced. Rewarding Together is just such a horse.
The early double at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday will offer clues regarding some of that country’s 2-year-old to follow in the next several weeks.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at Happy Valley.
Golden Sixty finally took silver, his Hong Kong winning streak snapped at 16 with a second-place finish to Waikuku on Sunday in the Group 1, $1.54 million Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse.
A five-month break from July to mid-December has contributed to a career revival for Squiggles, a 3-year-old Australian filly who starts in a six-furlong handicap at Bathurst Racecourse on Tuesday.
For a gelding from a high-profile stable, Maple Gold was overlooked at 30-1 when he won his debut in a maiden race at Muswellbrook Racecourse in Australia on Jan. 4. The victory has led trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to enter Maple Gold in a one-mile handicap at Goulburn Racecourse on Monday against runners with multiple wins.
Hong Kong Selections for Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Sha Tin.
There’s a sliver of a chance that were the Stewards Cup a handicap, if Golden Sixty had to give his rivals, say, 20 pounds, he might maybe, possibly be beatable. But the Group 1, $1.54 million Stewards Cup is weight-for-age, all horses carrying 126 pounds, and it’s extremely difficult to imagine Golden Sixty not winning his 17th race in a row Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Naval Crown and his owner and breeder, Godolphin, were the stars Friday of the second racing program of the 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
White Hawk was 100-1 when he scored a shocking win in the Summer Cup at Hobart Racecourse in Australia last January. Sunday, White Hawk returns to the Summer Cup, which is run at 1 3/8 miles on turf. He is not likely to be favored in a full field of 14, but doubtful to be as high a price as his two recent upset wins for trainer Angela Brakey.
