General gambling principles suggest taking a very short price on a horse trying something for the first time constitutes poor wagering. Which doesn't mean you can't look forward to watching Baaeed race Sunday at Longchamp in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.
The primary goal with Zaaki in coming months is the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 23, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race. Zaaki’s appearance in Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney is part of an expected two-race buildup to the $3.7 million Cox Plate.
The breather following a long racing season is a short one. It's been only about seven weeks since the end of the 2020-21 Hong Kong season, and already, on Sunday at Sha Tin, it is on to 2021-22.
There will be 16 runners in Friday’s $147,500 Wyong Cup at 1 5/16 miles in Wyong Racecourse in Australia, a big field without a clear favorite.
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.
