Australia: Kissinger likely favorite at Ballarat
For his 2021 debut, Kissinger will start for the first time at Ballarat Racecourse in Australia in a one-mile handicap on turf on Sunday.
Steve AndersenApr 09, 2021
For his 2021 debut, Kissinger will start for the first time at Ballarat Racecourse in Australia in a one-mile handicap on turf on Sunday.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Sha Tin.
In his second start of 2021, Mugatoo won the $3.85 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley Racecourse on March 13 by a half-length over the top-class colt Russian Camelot. Saturday at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Mugatoo will be favored to win his second seven-figure race of the year in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.
The Grand National steeplechase, run at Aintree Racecourse in England on Saturday, has been on the minds of owners and trainers with leading prospects for months.
In her first three starts this year, Silent Tryst won a maiden race at six furlongs at Gosford Racecourse, finished second in her debut against winners in a seven-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Newcastle, and won a seven-furlong handicap against males at Orange Racecourse. Those results give Silent Tryst the role of favorite in a handicap against males at 7 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Friday.
Politogue won the Grade 1 JLT Melling Chase at 2 1/2 miles at the Aintree Grand National meeting in 2018 and was second in the same race in 2019. There was no Grand National meeting in 2020 because of the coronavirus, but on Friday Politogue will have his familiar position in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase, which has had a name change since 2019 but is still the top steeplechase of the week at 2 1/2 miles.
Hong Kong Selections for Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Happy Valley.
Whatever transpires during the nine-race card Thursday at Happy Valley, it will almost certainly be more predictable than the stakes races on the Easter Monday card at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Happy Valley.
A field of 40 is expected for the grueling 4 1/4-mile English Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, but there will be a notable absence in Tiger Roll, the popular winner in 2018 and 2019. Tiger Roll has been held out of the race after owner Michael O’Leary said he was unhappy with the weight assignment. Instead, Tiger Roll starts in an equally testing race in Thursday’s Grade 1 Betway Bowl Chase at 3 1/4 miles on the first of three days of racing at Aintree.