The seven-furlong Arrowfield Country Cup at Scone Racecourse in Australia on May 14 was a little too tough for Highly Desired and Total Recall, who finished third and fifth in a field of 14, beaten a length and 3 1/2 lengths. Those two are on the same schedule this month, reappearing as the two principal runners in Sunday’s Gunnedah Showcase Cup at a mile at Gunnedah Racecourse.
Efforia has not faced a serious test in two starts in Japan this year, the leading reason the colt is an odds-on favorite for Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.
Six-year-old Skalleti is a gelding, meaning there is no stud value to enhance by winning a Group 1 race, but to put proper order to the racing universe, Sklaletti should become a Group 1 winner.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, May 30, 2021 at Sha Tin.
Explosive Jack’s 2021 season has been highlighted by three derby wins throughout Australia. The continental tour continues Saturday when the colt will have his ninth career start in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.
Hong Kong selections for Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Happy Valley.
Late last year and early in 2021, Delightful Laos found his footing racing at Happy Valley, where he notched two wins, in Class 3 and Class 2 handicaps, and finished a good second in a third start. The strong form earned Delightful Laos a move to racing at Sha Tin, where he failed to make an impact in two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic series and most recently finished ninth trying a distance as long as 1 1/2 miles for the first time while facing Group 3 competition. Wednesday, Delightful Laos returns to Happy Valley, cuts back to 1,650 meters, and drops down into a Class 2 handicap, the featured eighth race, for horses rated 100-80. But is it too late?
Nikau Spur came out of his last race lame. He has been cleared to resume racing, and is entered in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Ten American-based horses, eight for trainer Wesley Ward plus two others, form the American contingent headed to races at Royal Ascot in England next month.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Happy Valley.
