On a Promise has won his last five starts in Australia, working his way from an official handicap rating of 45 in April to a current figure of 65. The wins occurred from early August to late October in races ranging in distance from 5 1/2 to seven furlongs. On a Promise, who has won 10 of 35 starts, can extend the winning streak in a seven-furlong handicap at Orange Racecourse on Tuesday.
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Sha Tin.
Lugging high weight assignments around Rockhampton Racecourse in Australia has been common of late for the speedy gelding Master Jamie.
Water Navillera, unbeaten in three starts, can clinch the title of champion 2-year-old filly in Japan with a victory in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka.
Wet weather in Australia has forced the transfer of Sunday’s program at tiny Armidale Racecourse to Tamworth Racecourse about 55 miles to the southwest. The feature race on the eight-race program remains the Armidale Cup, which was scheduled for 1 3/16 miles at Armidale but will be run at a mile at Tamworth.
Stablemates Ellsberg and Steely will be the first two choices in a crowded field of 20 in Saturday’s Group 2 Villiers Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.
Last month at Del Mar, a pair of Japan-based horses won two Breeders' Cup races, the first time a horse from Japan had won at the Breeders' Cup. Five weeks later, Japanese horses have a serious chance to win all four Group 1s on the Hong Kong International Races card Sunday at Sha Tin.
On Sunday, his legend growing by the start, Golden Sixty will try to take his place among two-time winners of the Hong Kong Mile, facing 10 foes in the most anticipated of the four Group 1s among the Hong Kong International Races.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Sha Tin.
Last Saturday, the veteran Australian gelding Niccanova was third by slightly less than a length in the Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes at Doomben. Friday, Niccanova is entered in the $93,275 Brisbane Handicap at about a mile at Doomben in what will be the quickest turnaround of his career, but a situation far from unprecedented.
