The 2-year-old colt Command Line has fashionable elements of Japanese and American bloodlines in his immediate family. No wonder the undefeated colt will be favored to end his 2-year-old season with a victory in Tuesday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.
Efforia, Japan’s top 3-year-old this year, may very well be that nation’s Horse of the Year.
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, December 26, 2021, at Sha Tin.
The featured third race Monday at Sha Tin could open a window onto the 2022 Hong Kong Derby. This Class 2 handicap for horses rated 100-75 is carded at 2,000 meters, about 1 1/4 miles and the same distance as the Hong Kong Derby, the culminating event in the 4-year-old classic series.
Efforia’s consistency puts him at the fore of a field of 16 in Sunday’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles at Nakayama Racecourse. The $5.02 million Arima Kinen consists of a field partially determined by a vote of fans and brings together many of Japan’s leading horses.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, December 26, 2021, at Sha Tin.
Yardstick, the 4-year-old Australian gelding, has been ambitiously campaigned at times in his career, running poorly in a Group 1 race last year and finishing seventh in the South Pacific Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in April.
Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Happy Valley.
Voyage Warrior looks to snap a long losing streak in the 1,000-meter, Class 2 feature Wednesday at Happy Valley.
Rule of Law seemed to appreciate a gap of more than nine months between races when he recorded an expected win in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney, Australia earlier this month. Rule of Law will start against a slightly tougher field of handicap runners at Warwick Farm in another race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Wednesday. This time, Rule of Law is likely to be around 2-1, judging from early betting on Monday.
