The race card Sunday at Tokyo has linkages to America. The Group 1 February Stakes over 1,600 meters on dirt is a Breeder’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race linked to the BC Classic, while the Hyacinth Stakes, another 1,600-meter dirt race, is the third race in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Ten are entered in a fascinating renewal of the $1.28 million Hong Kong Classic Cup, middle leg of the 4-year-old classic series in Hong Kong.
While the $20 million Saudi Cup will become the world's richest horse race when it is run for the first time on Feb. 29, its influence on United States racing has already begun. Five U.S. runners bound for the Saudi Cup, and seven others for lucrative undercard stakes, arrived this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The various strategies that racing organizations across the globe are enacting in the wake of animal-welfare concerns buffeting nearly every major racing jurisdiction in the world were outlined Friday morning at the Asian Racing Conference, a sobering rundown that illustrated the existential crisis facing racing worldwide.
On Thursday, making his first start since distinctly not getting the right conditions in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October, Ghaiyyath mauled five overmatched foes in the Group 3, $200,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes, winning the 2,000-meter turf stakes by 8 1/2 lengths while clocking a Meydan course-record 2:00.33.
Hong Kong selections for Saturday, February 22 at Sha Tin.
Hong Kong selections for Wednesday, February 18 at Sha Tin.
Big Time Baby is one of the few runners on the Hong Kong circuit equally as effective in turf races and on the infield dirt track at Sha Tin.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong selections and analysis for Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Sha Tin.
Beauty Generation, the Horse of the Year in Hong Kong the last two seasons, ended a four-race losing streak in Sunday’s Group 1 Queen’s Jubilee Silver Cup at Sha Tin, a victory that could lead to an appearance in Dubai on March 28.
