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

Luxembourg, the 3-5 favorite in a 13-horse field, got a perfect pressing trip in the $2 million Neom Turf but finished third with no excuse, as Spirit Dancer posted a 13-1 upset. One race later on the Saudi Cup card, dejection became jubilation for Coolmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien, and jockey Ryan Moore won the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf with Tower of London, who had plenty of excuses but needed none. 

Todd Fincher knows about the desert. His training stable took root during the late 1990s in the high desert of New Mexico, where Fincher began racking up wins at Sunland Park, Albuquerque, and Ruidoso Downs. There’s desert, too, in the best horse Fincher ever has trained, Senor Buscador. The 6-year-old horse is by Mineshaft and out of Rose’s Desert, by Desert God. He’s the last horse bred in partnership by the late Joe Peacock and his son, Joe Peacock Jr.  

Forever Young made many mistakes yet still won the $1.5 million Saudi Derby by a head over Book’em Danno on Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. 

Based in Japan, Forever Young brought a 3-for-3 record to Saudi Arabia and now heads to Dubai for the UAE Derby next month perfect in four starts. The colt, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, is nominated to the American Triple Crown and connections hope to make the Kentucky Derby. He can earn a spot in that race March 30 in the UAE Derby, which should be easier for Forever Young than the Saudi Derby.