Excellent Proposal rose to the top of Hong Kong’s four-year-old pecking order with an impressive win in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) this afternoon (Sunday, 24 January), a result that strengthened trainer John Size’s hand for the remaining two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Sha Tin.
The 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival began Thursday night at Meydan with several encouraging performances, none more so than the one from Lord Glitters, who turned back the clock blasting to a three-length victory in the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes over 1,800 meters.
There were positive aspects of the fifth-place finish by Briseur de Couer in a six-furlong handicap at Mornington Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 27.
Jolly Banner might be in the twilight of his career as a nine-year-old but that didn’t stop him from snaring second in last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) against an international field and his recent form has trainer Ricky Yiu brimming with optimism ahead of Sunday’s (24 January) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).
Golden Sixty, the top-rated horse in Hong Kong, brings an 11-race winning streak into the Group 1 Stewards Cup. The 1,600-meter race is run at level weights, Golden Sixty and jockey Vincent Ho have a fine draw – post 6 in just an eight-horse field – and anything less than an odds-on victory Sunday will come as a serious surprise.
Bandersnatch has had a steady presence in handicaps at major tracks in Australia in the last two months, finishing in the top three in his last three starts.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Sha Tin.
Since Charmmebaby was transferred to trainer Bob Milligan’s stable in Australia in early 2020, the New Zealand-bred mare has won 4 of 10 starts, including her most recent race in November. Charmmebaby has won at distances ranging from five furlongs to 7 1/2 furlongs since June, a range that gives her an excellent chance in Friday’s Queen of the North Handicap for fillies and mares at Port Macquarie Racecourse north of Sydney.
A daring mid-race move by Chad Schofield catapulted Maximus into the thick of Four-Year-Old Classic Series contention and this Sunday (24 January) at Sha Tin the striking chestnut is readying for a big-race upset in the first leg of the three-race series, the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile.
