By Declan Schuster

Packing Hermod shapes as one of Hong Kong’s most exciting prospects this season and, ahead of his four-year-old campaign, the impressive youngster reappeared for a barrier trial on Monday morning (23 September) at Sha Tin alongside Helios Express and Galaxy Patch.

Firing to an early lead, Packing Hermod finished a restrained second under Zac Purton in 1m 12.03s over 1200m on the dirt course. The talent won his only two races in Hong Kong by a combined five and a half lengths over 1200m last season.

By Leo Schlink

Tony Cruz claimed the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) for the third time in four seasons when The Golden Scenery produced a career-best performance under Brenton Avdulla at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 September) to win the first Group race of the 2024/25 Hong Kong season.

Champion City of Troy, the leading European-based candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, turned in a key public gallop Friday on the Tapeta at Southwell, seeking to prepare him for his dirt debut and American racing conditions.

By Leo Schlink

Alexis Badel will attempt to join Zac Purton and Joao Moreira as multiple winners of the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) when the Frenchman combines with Manfred Man’s Chiu Chow Spirit in the HK$4.2 million feature on Sunday (22 September).

Badel last year landed the Celebration Cup aboard Frankie Lor-trained Healthy Happy - who returns for a third tilt at the first Group race of the season, having finished second to California Spangle in 2022 – and hopes Chiu Chow Spirit can handle the class rise.

Paul Lally:
R1 9-4-8-2

R2 9-10-1-4

R3 4-5-3-7

R4 11-1-6-3

R5 2-5-1-4

R6 8-6-10-2

R7 5-3-1-2

R8 3-7-2-1

R9 1-5-8-9

R10 6-11-2-5
Best Bet R10 N6 Young Champion

Longshot R2 N9 Patch Of Watch

Play R3 QQP 3-4-5

Tom Wood:
R1: 9-8-2-4

R2: 9-4-1-3

R3: 5-4-1-6

R4: 8-1-3-5

R5: 2-5-1-9

R6: 4-8-3-1

R7: 6-5-3-1

Leo Schlink

Throughout Golden Sixty’s storied career, Zac Purton and Karis Teetan were united in two facets as they searched for ways to foil the Hong Kong champion – the almost certain inevitability of defeat and unqualified admiration.

As of Wednesday morning, I Am Me, Lady of Camelot, and Private Eye were all low double-digit odds in the future book for the $13.6 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 12.

Those prices are likely to change after Friday’s Group 2 The Short Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Randwick. The Shorts Stakes, worth $681,800, is a key prep for the Everest Stakes, the world’s richest sprint.

Leo Schlink

Pierre Ng hopes Taj Dragon’s imposing course and distance prowess will offset the gelding’s weight challenge in the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 September).

Taj Dragon has won six times and placed twice from 12 starts over Sha Tin’s 1400m trip, but Ng is aware the Irish-bred gelding will have to post a new career-high when he shoulders 135lb against six rivals this weekend, having never won with more than 133lb previously.

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, September 22, 2024)

The progressive gelding Bear on the Loose needs a bit of luck to gain a starting spot in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.

As of Wednesday, Bear on the Loose was the only runner on the also-eligible list for the $170,400 Cameron Handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs. If he gets into the field of 16, he may be favored in what could be a vital race for a lucrative goal later this year.