This is Class could not have had an easier trip when he won a six-furlong handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong from the front on Feb. 5. The same scenario is unlikely to occur in Wednesday’s $186,420 Kowloon City Handicap.
Hong Kong selections for Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Sha Tin.
A severe early pace foiled the front-runner, and top American sprinter Imperial Hint failed to fire. That left New York Central and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to post a surprise victory in the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint on Saturday evening at King Abdulaziz Racetrack.
Maximum Security can take this vindication to the bank this time. The 2019 champion 3-year-old chased away remaining demons of his Kentucky Derby disqualification by scoring a game victory over an outstanding field in the world’s richest race Saturday night at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the Middle East.
The audience was small and the money was big on a warm, comfortable Saturday evening at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, where a crowd estimated at 8,000 or fewer witnessed top-class Thoroughbred racing. International runners dominated the early stakes as American runners fell short.
Crossfirehurricane remained unbeaten after three starts with a half-length win over stablemate Choice of Mine in Friday’s $82,500 Patton Stakes at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, the first race of the year in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.
Unless traditional handicapping principles are turned upside down in the Lasix-free, Bute-free Middle East, the $20 million Saudi Cup should reward the most important quality of an American dirt horse – speed.
Mike Smith made a grand return to the Middle East and a bold statement about racing surfaces Friday night in Saudi Arabia. A day before his scheduled ride on Midnight Bisou in the $20 million Saudi Cup, Smith won with two of four mounts to capture a jockey competition and offered praise of the King Abdulaziz Racetrack surface that will resonate at his home track.
Crossfirehurricane, an undefeated Kentucky-bred colt by Kitten’s Joy, may start favored in Friday’s $82,500 Patton Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, the first race of the year in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.
Glorious Spectrum was winless in four starts in the 2018-19 Hong Kong season with valid excuses – he never had a clean trip.
