Trainer Manfred Man hopes star sprinter Lucky Sweynesse can recapture his winning thread in Sunday’s (22 October) HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin.
The reigning champion sprinter’s six-race unbeaten streak was halted first-up by the runaway Victor The Winner. Carrying 20lb more than his winning rival, Lucky Sweynesse could only manage second position on yielding ground at Sha Tin last month.
The main race for the Australian gelding Iknowastar in the short-term future is the $1.9 million Big Dance Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Nov. 7.
Iknowastar earned an early berth for the Big Dance Stakes with a win in the Dubbo Cup on Sept. 10, but needs a handicap rating among the top 20 qualifiers to be assured of a position in the gate.
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, October 18, 2023)
Race 1: #3 Modest Gentleman, #5 Miracles, #9 Happily Friends, #2 Fingers Crossed
Race 2: #10 Diamond Flare, #9 Ace Talent, #5 Happy United, #1 A Americ Te Specso
Race 3: #2 Sight Hero, #1 Righteous Arion, #11 Magic Traveller, #3 Hero Star
Race 4: #5 Turtle Again, #2 Yee Cheong Warrior, #3 Right Honourable, #10 Tsuen Wan Glory
Liberty Island completed a sweep of Japan’s Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies with a one-length win as a heavy favorite in Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho at 1 1/4 miles at Kyoto Racecourse.
Liberty Island is the seventh filly to accomplish the milestone and first since 2020.
The win was Liberty Island’s fourth consecutive victory. She is unbeaten this year in the three races that consist of the Triple Crown series – the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at a mile at Hanshin on April 9, and the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo on May 21.
The 4-year-old filly Salisano is part of a contentious handicap at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening. In a race without a strong favorite, Salisano may have a slight weight advantage over some of her main rivals in the six-furlong race.
Salisano has won 3 of 4 starts in a career that began in January, less experience than other contenders such as Cholante, Resistible, and Toronomica.
Salisano, who starts from the rail and is quick enough to lead, will carry 127.8 pounds, compared to Toronomica at 135.5, Resistable at 129, and Cholante at 126.7.
Think About It has an eight-figure prize to go with his unbeaten record in Australian sprints this year after a victory in the $12.8 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday.
The Everest is the world’s richest sprint.
Sent off favored in a field of 12, Think About It ($7.20 in American pools) closed from fourth in the stretch under jockey Sam Clipperton to win the six-furlong race by slightly less than a half-length over 9-2 I Wish I Win, who closed from seventh. Private Eye (9-2) finished third by three-quarters of a length.
Ylang Ylang’s roller coaster 2-year-old season came to a Group 1-winning peak when she captured the Fillies’ Mile on Friday at Newmarket.
After being steadied about a quarter-mile from the finish of this straight mile when Shuwari drifted in front of her, Ylang Ylang found her best stride and powered through the uphill finish under Ryan Moore to best Shuwari by a half-length. Shuwari, the tepid favorite, had three-quarters of a length on third-place See the Fire, who fought for the lead a furlong out but couldn’t quite kick with the top two.
With the benefit of narrow victory in his last race, the Australian gelding Maximum Output can win consecutive starts for the first time in his career in the minor Noosa Cup at five furlongs on turf at Sunshine Coast Racecourse north of Brisbane on Saturday evening.
Liberty Island will attempt a sweep of the Japanese Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies when she has her third start of the year in Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho at 1 1/4 miles at Kyoto Racecourse.
Liberty Island was the unanimous choice for champion 2-year-old filly of 2022 in Japan. She has made an outstanding case so far to gain the same distinction in balloting for champion 3-year-old filly of 2023.
