Since his debut in a maiden race at 1 1/4 miles in September 2022, the Japanese colt Durezza has had a career strictly in distance races.
Durezza was unbeaten in four starts as a 3-year-old, a season that ended with a win in the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles at Kyoto last October.
Fantastic Moon was unable to win France’s most important Group 1 of the season Oct. 1 at Longchamp, but he’ll have a much better chance to land France’s first Group 1 of the 2024 flat season Sunday at Longchamp.
A disappointing 11th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, a race in which he did not appear to be overmatched, Fantastic Moon was one of nine older horses whose names passed the entry box for the Prix Ganay. The 1 3/16-mile contest not only is France’s first Group 1, it annually opens Group 1 flat-racing competition across Europe.
DRF is happy to provide International racing nightly on DRF Bets. Watch and wager on top-tier International races daily from Australia, France, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Major tracks include Flemington, Moonee Valley, Royal Randwick, Sha Tin, Happy Valley and more. Bet on all the big races from The Melbourne Cup to The Championships at Royal Randwick and the Hong Kong Cup. Past performances are available here for free courtesy of Sky Racing World.
Jimmysstar had a bad day when he finished seventh of 11 in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on March 8.
Starting from the rail, Jimmysstar was stuck behind rivals on the inside through the final half-mile, never able to gain a clear path. He was beaten 4 1/4 lengths.
Jimmysstar has a better draw in post 7 for the $195,300 Brisbane Mile, a handicap at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Friday evening. A winner of 5 of 8 starts, Jimmysstar will be a strong favorite to rebound and win his first stakes.
In sprints, at a mile, and in routes, California Spangle, Golden Sixty, and Romantic Warrior have been nearly impossible to beat in Hong Kong in recent years, which is why they are favored to win Group 1 races at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.
Golden Sixty, the Horse of the Year in Hong Kong for the last three seasons, will be the lowest-price of the trio when he starts at around even-money in the $2.8 million Champions Mile.
A win would be Golden Sixty’s fifth consecutive victory in a Group 1 race. Golden Sixty has won the last three runnings of the Champions Mile.
Luke Morris is hoping to strike gold on his first big ride in Hong Kong on Sunday when globetrotting Brave Emperor tackles the HK$22 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).
The British jockey enjoyed his finest moment in the saddle when Alpinista landed the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and has a wealth of international experience, while he can also leverage plenty of local insight from his fellow riders.
By Daryl Timms
Hong Kong’s challenging spring weather rather than barrier position is the only concern Tony Cruz has for his highly-fancied California Spangle in Sunday’s (28 April) HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.
California Spangle, who won his past two starts at the highest level, continues to reinvent himself as a sprinter after taking out the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in Dubai at his most recent start.
By Declan Schuster
Golden Sixty will attempt to land a record-extending fourth consecutive win in the HK$22 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (28 April) after receiving gate seven at this morning’s (Thursday, 25 April) barrier draw.
