Group-level stakes have been too difficult in recent starts for Hong Kong veterans Packing Dragon, Sichuan Dar and Winner’s Way. A retreat to a lesser race – Wednesday’s $319,629 Shan Kwong Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse – could put one back in the winner’s circle.
Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Happy Valley.
Nonkono Yume earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November, and Sumahama earned a place in the Kentucky Derby on May 5 with their stakes wins at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan on Sunday.
There will be no sweep of the 4-year-old Classic Series this year in Hong Kong. Singapore Sling got a perfect trip under Chad Schofield and won the $1.278 million Hong Kong Classic Cup, the second leg of the series, by 1 1/4 lengths Sunday at Sha Tin. Singapore Sling had finished second in the first leg, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, while that race’s winner, Nothingilikemore, blew the break Sunday, raced last for much of the trip, and could only finish fourth.
From older horses in the Grade 1 February Stakes to 3-year-olds in the Hyacinth Stakes, Sunday’s program at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan could have ramifications for the biggest races in the United States this year.
At Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, Nothingilikemore figures to be heavily favored to add the Hong Kong Classic Cup to his win in the Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections and analysis for Sunday, February 18, 2018
Gold Town remained unbeaten on dirt and undefeated in Dubai with an easy win in Thursday’s Group 3 United Arab Emirates 2000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse.
Hong Kong selections for Wednesday, February 14, 2018 - Happy Valley
The three-time winners El Chapo and Gold Town will start in a stakes on dirt for the first time in Thursday’s Group 3 United Arab Emirates 2000 Guineas at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
