Fri, 09/29/2023 - 14:40

Prix de l'Opera likely to provide runners for BC Filly-Mare Turf

By Marcus Hersh
Susie Raisher
Kinross, third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, tries to go back to back Sunday in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.

Warm Heart might be the best European female who winds up in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November, and she is having a quiet weekend training in Ireland, but Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera often produces Filly and Mare Turf runners and is likely to do so again this year.

The Group 1 contest over 1 1/4 miles drew a dozen entrants, none, to date, anything near the quality of Tarnawa, who won the Opera and the Filly and Mare Turf in 2020. But, like Tarnawa, horses coming from Ireland to the Opera could have a major say.

Fri, 09/29/2023 - 14:15

Undefeated Ace Impact tepid favorite in Arc de Triomphe

By Marcus Hersh
Dubai Racing Club
Westover looks to be become the first older English-based horse to win the Arc since Marienbard in 2002.

It’s strange calling an unbeaten French Derby winner an unknown quantity, but that might be an apt description of Ace Impact, who lines up Sunday at Longchamp Racecourse as the favorite to win the Group 1, $5.28 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Ace Impact faces 14 foes in the 1 1/2-mile fixture, which is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series and is contested around right-handed bends over a course as of Friday labeled soft. Breezy, warm weekend conditions could lead to an upgrade that might include the word “good.”

Fri, 09/29/2023 - 10:55

Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, October 1, 2023

By DRF Staff

Paul Lally: 
R1: 7-2-8-1 
R2: 3-6-7-10 
R3: 7-5-1-8 
R4: 7-2-12-1 
R5: 1-8-6-2 
R6: 7-9-12-5 
R7: 1-7-2-8 
R8: 2-4-3-6 
R9: 2-9-1-5 
R10: 2-1-7-8 
Best Bet R4 N7 Ka Ying Cheer 
Long Shot R6 N7 Chancheng Glory 
Play Race 3 QQP 1 5 7 

Fri, 09/29/2023 - 09:01

Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, October 1, 2023

By The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Super Sunny Sing is a contender in the Class 2 Beijing Handicap.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, October 01, 2023)

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 16:21

Crisfords have another top stakes runner in Vandeek for Middle Park Stakes

By Marcus Hersh

From Newmarket to New York, it will be a day of high-level racing for the father-and-son co-training team of Simon and Ed Crisford. Team Crisford has sent Algiers to the Grade 1 Woodward on Saturday afternoon, while earlier in the day they start favored Vandeek in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in England. 

Vandeek is favored over River Tiber in the six-furlong straight course Middle Park, which is restricted to 2-year-old colts. The race drew eight entrants with the top two betting choices far shorter in antepost wagering than the other six runners. 

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 15:02

Australia: Just Fine favored in Metropolitan Stakes on big night at Royal Randwick

By Steve Andersen

Just Fine must finish in the first three in the Group 1 Metropolitan Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening to enhance his chances to qualify for the country’s most famous race, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 7.

Thu, 09/28/2023 - 11:30

Frankie Lor chases more early-season G3 success in National Day Cup Handicap as milestone looms

By The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Frankie Lor hopes to add the G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 October) to last weekend’s G3 Celebration Cup Handicap success when he saddles Adios and Rewarding Together in the HK$4.2 million sprint feature.

By Leo Schlink

Frankie Lor hopes to add the G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 October) to last weekend’s G3 Celebration Cup Handicap success when he saddles Adios and Rewarding Together in the HK$4.2 million sprint feature.

Needing only one more win to reach the 400-win milestone in Hong Kong, the 2021/22 champion trainer is optimistic Adios or Rewarding Together can prevail.

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 16:41

Shuwari heads Rockfel, with possible designs on BC Juvenile Fillies Turf

By Marcus Hersh

Shuwari is the solid early favorite to beat seven rivals and run her career mark to 3 for 3 in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on Friday at Newmarket Racecourse. 

The seven-furlong, straight-course Rockfel, for 2-year-old fillies, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and thus offers the winner automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and travel expenses to Santa Anita this fall. 

One could imagine Shuwari making that long trip if she runs to expectations in the Rockfel. 

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 13:27

Australia: Chop the Ice hits the road hoping to extend win streak

By Steve Andersen

The Australian gelding Chop the Ice will have his first road trip when he starts in a sprint handicap at Moruya Racecourse on Thursday evening.

A winner of 2 of 6 starts, Chop the Ice has raced only at Canberra Racecourse where he is part of trainer Gratz Vella’s stable. At Moruya, approximately 100 miles from Canberra on the southeast coast, Chop the Ice will start for the first time at 7 1/4 furlongs with a chance to extend his winning streak to three races.

Tue, 09/26/2023 - 13:53

Australia: Oakfield Prince looks to snap losing streak at Wyong

By Steve Andersen

Oakfield Prince, a veteran of 26 races, has finished second in his last two starts in Australia since mid-August, losing by a neck and three-quarters of a length.

The near-misses make Oakfield Prince the favorite to end a 21-race losing streak since June 2021 in a one-mile handicap at Wyong Racecourse on Wednesday evening, provided he can hold off a late threat from the upstart filly Moritz Girl.

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