Truly Great will start at 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Group 2 Perth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Considering the style of his last two wins, stalking the pace to the final furlong, there is little reason to believe the longer trip in the Perth Cup will be an issue.
Hong Kong Selections for Friday, January 1, 2021 at Sha Tin.
Winning Dreamer is unbeaten in six career starts but surely will be tested Friday at Sha Tin in the Group 3, $450,000 Chinese Club Challenge Cup.
Far from dismayed with Computer Patch’s recent 1200m form at elite level, Tony Cruz is banking on the former Australian galloper’s drop to 1000m for the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap as a decisive change of approach.
Graff, a 5-year-old Australian-bred horse, won his first group-level stakes in the Group 2 Caulfield Stakes at five furlongs on Oct. 17 in Melbourne, Australia, only to finish sixth in the Group 1 VRC Classic at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 7. Graff starts in Friday’s Group 3 Standish Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington, which would seem to be an ideal drop in class from those starts.
Savvy Clown will be favored to win his third consecutive start in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Gosford Racecourse in Australia on Thursday, and will have a familiar rival as a target.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Friday, January 1, 2021 at Sha Tin.
As has become customary, Joao Moreira was the headline act with a Boxing Day quartet but, in Richard Gibson’s eyes, mafoo (stable assistant) Josephine Kwok deserved acclaim as the unsung heroine at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 December) following Wellington’s stunning win in the Class 3 Long Ke Handicap (1000m).
Heritage Sash will have his third start following a four-month layoff in a six-furlong handicap at Doomben, Australia, on Wednesday, a race that provides the gelding an excellent chance to end a seven-race losing streak.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Friday, December 25, 2020 at Sha Tin.
