Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, September 5, 2021
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Saturday, September 5, 2021 at Sha Tin.
webmasterSep 01, 2021
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Saturday, September 5, 2021 at Sha Tin.
In his brief career, Ashford Street has developed a sharp rally that has led to three wins in seven starts in Australia, all since mid-July. The three victories have been in races at 5 1/2 furlongs and have been achieved by at least a length. That kick may serve Ashford Street well when he starts in the shortest race of his career in a five-furlong handicap at Cranbourne Racecourse on Thursday.
Leale, an Australian-bred 5-year-old, won for the fourth time in her career in a one-mile handicap for fillies and mares on the Lakeside course at Sandown Park in Melbourne in June. Leale returns to the Lakeside course as the likely pacesetter in a handicap for fillies and mares at a mile on Wednesday.
Social Element has found his niche in recent months in Australian steeplechases. The gelding is unbeaten in four starts since June over the tougher obstacles at distances ranging from about 2 1/8 miles to 2 5/8 miles. Sunday at Ballarat Racecourse, Social Element will start in the richest race of his career in the $256,060 Grand National Steeplechase at 2 13/16 miles, his longest race.
The $724,800 Memsie Stakes is the first Group 1 race at Melbourne-area tracks of the month-old 2021-22 season, and features several other prominent runners returning from layoffs through the Australian winter.
Benbatl makes his first start since last September on Saturday at Goodwood Racecourse in England, heading a field of 10 set to line up in the Group 2 Celebration Mile.
Unraced since October, the Group 1 winner Alligator Blood will carry 134.4 pounds in Friday’s listed Goldmarket Stakes at six furlongs at Gold Coast Racecourse in Australia, spotting 12 rivals 13 to 15 pounds.
Barmah Al has won at distances ranging from 1 5/16 miles to 1 1/2 miles in his 24-race career. Trained by Daryl Archard, Barmah Al may be better suited to 1 5/16, the length of his next start in a handicap at Echuca Racecourse in Australia on Thursday.
American-owned and England-based Spanish Mission is headed to Australia as the early favorite for the Nov. 2 Melbourne Cup.
Golden Pal, seventh as the favorite Aug. 20 in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York, was set to return to the U.S. on Tuesday looking no worse for his defeat, trainer Wesley Ward said Monday.