HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, March 06, 2024)

The most noteworthy part of the Group 2, $275,000 Al Maktoum Classic, featured race on the Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse, is who’s not running. 

Nick Child: 
R1 | 9-7-1-5 
R2 | 3-9-2-14 
R3 | 2-6-3-9  
R4 | 12-4-9-6 
R5 | 8-6-5-2 
R6 | 10-7-6-3 
R7 | 1-2-4-14 (Q/QP 1-2-4)  
R8 | 8-4-5-3 
R9 | 6-2-12-4 
R10 | 1-6-11-7 

  
BEST BET | R9 N6 NOBLE PURSUIT  
LONGSHOT BET | R8 N8 NERVOUS WITNESS  
PLAY | R9 (Q/QP) 2-6-12  

The brilliant 5-year-old mare Fangirl will be an odds-on favorite to win the fourth Group 1 of her career in what is certain to be a poignant running of the $649,800 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.

In late January, the Australian Turf Club announced that the one-mile race formerly known as the Chipping Norton Stakes had been renamed in honor of Verry Elleegant, the 2021-2022 Australian Horse of the Year.

On Feb. 17, Verry Elleegant died as a result of complications of foaling, former trainer Chris Waller said.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, March 03, 2024) 

Pierre Ng isn’t one to shirk a challenge. The second season trainer leads the championship by 12 wins and he is remaining optimistic of securing a first Group 1 when Taj Dragon and Galaxy Patch take aim at the world’s best sprinter, Lucky Sweynesse, in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 10 March.

The Group 3-winning Taj Dragon is a five-time winner over seven furlongs at Sha Tin, while rising star Galaxy Patch is set to feature on the seven-day back-up following a Class 2 test over 1000m this Sunday (3 March).

Mark McNamara:

R1 – 9.3.2.8
R2- 7.6.3.12
R3 – 1.8.5.12
R4 – 11.9.7.3
R5 – 3.5.1.8
R6 – 2.10.9.1
R7 – 4.9.10.7
R8 – 2.3.4.7
R9 – 3.1.5.11

Best Bet R9 N3 Jumbo Legend
Longshot R4 N11 Yeaboi
Play R9 FCT 3.1

Paul Lally:

R1 9-4-3-5
R2 7-6-9-5
R3 10-8-3-1
R4 5-4-3-11
R5 1-5-3-8
R6 10-9-1-2
R7 3-7-4-1
R8 2-7-3-4
R9 1-5-3-7

Best Bet R8 N2 Joyful Hunter
Longshot R6 N10 Tattenham
Play R7 QQP 3-4-7

By Declan Schuster

Jerry Chau is running hot and the young rider is hoping to up the ante with a pair of key mounts across the next two fixtures in Hong Kong.

He partners impressive talent Chill Chibi in Sunday’s (3 March) HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin and debut winner Super Joy N Fun in the second section of Wednesday’s (28 February) Class 4 Tsuen Wan Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley.

“Everything is well and Chill Chibi is running in the Hong Kong Classic Cup this Sunday – I’m very much looking forward to that,” Chau said.

Aurora’s Symphony can become the first three-time winner of the Group 3 Launceston Cup in Australia in more than 20 years on Tuesday evening, if the 7-year-old gelding can handle a hefty weight assignment in the $195,900 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Aurora’s Symphony, who has won the last two runnings of the Launceston Cup, will carry 135.5 pounds, much higher than the 119 to 122.3-pound assignments for his nine rivals.

Race 1: #10 Loyal Ambition, #3 Palace Pal, #8 Brilliant Pioneer, #12 Mighty Star
Race 2: #3 Fire Ball, #1 Chiu Chow Brother, #7 Double Show, #6 Tactical Command
Race 3: #10 Circuit Seven, #3 Parents’ Love, #12 Lean Master, #5 Oversubscribed
Race 4: #7 Gold Tack, #3 Dragon Star, #2 Samarkand, #5 Sturdy Ruby
Race 5: #1 Superb Capitalist, #5 Raging Blizzard, #6 Wings Of War, #3 Healthy Healthy
Race 6: #2 Super Joy N Fun, #9 Crystal Powerful, #3 Golden Bull, #10 Tattenham