By Leo Schlink
Zac Purton believes Circuit Stellar’s barrier manners will be crucial to the outcome of the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 September) when Tony Cruz searches for a third successive victory in the season’s first Group contest.
The lightly raced 5-year-old gelding Cliff House faces the most difficult task of his career from a wide draw in the Panorama Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Bathurst Racecourse in Australia on Saturday evening.
Cliff House has won three of four starts this year against lower classes of handicap runners than he will face in the Panorama Handicap, which will have a full field of 14.
A winner of 4 of 8 starts, Cliff House drew post 14, but may move to the inside, pending late scratches.
Shinzo, unraced since an upset win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes in March, faces a familiar rival in his return in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.
In the $3.32 million Golden Slipper, the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds, Shinzo closed from seventh in a field of 14 to win by slightly more than a length under jockey Ryan Moore at 15-1.
By Leo Schlink
Caspar Fownes hopes Straight Arron can lay the foundations for a bountiful campaign when the emerging staying star contests the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 September).
Winner of three of his past five starts, including the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) on 7 May, Straight Arron closed last season with a close fourth in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) behind Russian Emperor, Romantic Warrior and Five G Patch.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, September 24, 2023)
Race 1: #3 Hinokami Kagura, #1 Kaholo Angel, #7 Joyful Prosperity, #2 Super Bonus
Race 2: #8 Daily Beauty, #3 Chiron, #5 Sun Of Makfi, #1 High Cloud
Race 3: #6 The Golden Scenery, #1 Beauty Joy, #4 Circuit Stellar, #5 Encountered
Race 4: #2 All Are Mine, #7 Mission Bravo, #3 Fast Buck, #6 Bear Slam
Race 5: #9 Always Fluke, #7 Speedy Fortune, #3 Go Hero, #1 Island Golden
By Leo Schlink
Danny Shum’s aspirations of landing the 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) soared with Helene Feeling’s brilliant triumph in the Class 2 Victoria Harbour Handicap (1650m) under Karis Teetan at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (20 September).
One of Hong Kong’s most accomplished and respected horsemen, Shum immediately outlined plans for the Sioux Nation gelding’s participation in the lucrative Four-Year-Old Classic Series after the three-year-old out-gunned older opposition to claim a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus as well as HK$1,747,200 in prizemoney.
Pretty Eyed’s career changed in Australia when she was tried at a mile last month.
After finishing second in her debut at the distance in early August, Pretty Eyed won two consecutive starts at a mile in a maiden race and a handicap, both at Moruya Racecourse.
Those wins have been the foundation for a new objective, her first start at about 1 5/16 miles in a handicap at Goulburn Racecourse on Thursday evening.
Saavy Lad is proving tough to catch in the final furlong of turf marathons in Australia in the last month.
With wins in his last two starts at 1 1/4 miles and 1 5/16 miles, Saavy Lad has earned the role of topweight for the Lismore Cup at about 1 5/16 miles at Lismore Racecourse on Wednesday evening.
The key to a victory will be holding off an expected late threat from Holstein, who had a two-race winning streak end with a sixth-place finish by three lengths in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday.
By Declan Schuster
Helene Feeling has swiftly garnered a strong set of BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) credentials and trainer Danny Shum is hopeful the exciting three-year-old can advance his claim when he resumes in Wednesday night’s (20 September) Class 2 Victoria Harbour Handicap (1650m).
With nearly 200 days to go until the 2024 renewal of Hong Kong’s most famed age-restricted test, the Irish-bred has been engaged with an early season assignment against a group of hardened 80-plus raters in the final of eight races at Happy Valley tomorrow.
Paul Lally:
R1 4-3-5-2
R2 6-1-4-3
R3 1-5-7-2
R4 1-3-9-7
R5 8-3-7-5
R6 4-3-7-9
R7 1-3-7-2
R8 6-11-7-2
Best Bet R8 N6 Rise Brethren
Longshot R5 N8 Cosmo Navigator
Play R2 QQP 1-4-6
Nick Child:
R1 | 2-1-3-5
R2 | 1-6-4-3
R3 | 1-7-5-2
R4 | 1-9-7-3
R5 | 3-6-2-8
R6 | 9-1-7-2
R7 | 9-7-1-2
R8 | 7-6-11-10
BEST BET | R6 N9 UP AND UP
LONGSHOT BET | R7 N9 E UNIVERSE
Mark McNamara:
