Our Big Mike was a stakes winner in New Zealand in 2018 and raced unsuccessfully in group stakes in that country. Where he fits in Australian racing will be better known after Sunday’s $98,280 R.M. Ansett Classic at Mornington Racecourse near Melbourne.
Aidan O’Brien never has won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but he starts the favorite Friday at Newmarket for the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In for the Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Keeneland.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, September 27, 2020 at Sha Tin.
Bella Vella has compiled a four-race winning streak since March, a span highlighted by a victory in a Group 1 sprint in May. Fabergino has also won her last four starts since October and won her group stakes debut in a Group 3 in May. The two Australian-bred mares, both 6-year-olds, are in peak form approaching their first meeting in Friday’s Group 1 Moir Stakes at five furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.
Russian Camelot is an Irish-bred colt who rose to prominence in Australian racing earlier this year with an impressive win in the Group 1 South Australian Derby in May. The win pushed Russian Camelot to the top of the future-book market for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 3, a position he can solidify with a win in Saturday's Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne.
The Lismore Cup at 1 5/16 miles in Australia on Thursday is run at a familiar distance, though at a new venue, for the 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding Tavion Prince.
Picks for the Happy Valley card on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020.
Equipment tinkering appears to have brought out the best in the 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding California Rad, who will be among the favorites in the featured 8th race Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Let’s Karaka Deel, a New Zealand-bred 3-year-old who made his debut in July, has had two starts and is rated as a derby contender in Australia in coming months. A specific race target could be decided after Let’s Karaka Deel starts in the Victoria Derby Trial at 1 1/8 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at Happy Valley.
