A layoff of nearly two years was no trouble for Nasdaq Dubai in Australia earlier this month. Unraced since mid-February of 2021, Nasdaq Dubai won a five-furlong maiden race by a convincing 2 1/4 lengths at Kembla Grange on Jan. 14.
The 4-year-old returns in a five-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange on Monday evening. The handicap is the second of seven races on a program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
For the second time in a year the great Hong Kong miler Golden Sixty silenced the doubters, turning in a dazzling performance to win the Group 1, $1.53 million Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.
Beaten a neck with no apparent excuse while racing at level weights with California Spangle in the Hong Kong Mile last month, a performance that hinted Golden Sixty’s brilliance had begun eroding at age 8 on Southern Hemisphere time, Golden Sixty bounced right back to his best in the Stewards’ Cup.
Paul Lally:
R1: 2-1-10-5
R2: 7-10-12-14
R3: 5-6-9-1
R4: 4-8-3-1
R5: 4-1-2-13
R6: 4-5-2-3
R7: 2-1-3-6
R8: 9-6-4-10
R9: 2-3-11-5
R10: 5-1-8-6
Best Bet R2 N7 Nice Birdie
Longshot R5 N4 Find My Love
Play R10 QQP 1-5-8
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming
Tom Wood:
R1: 6-5-9-1
R2: 7-10-12-6
R3: 7-6-5-2
In recent months, the Australian gelding Unzaga has shown an affinity for distance races.
A Southern Hemisphere 4-year-old, Unzaga won a handicap at 1 5/16 miles on Nov. 29, finished fourth by slightly more than 2 1/4 lengths in a race at 1 3/8 miles on Dec. 20, and was a fast-closing fourth in a handicap at about 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 3.
Trooper Knuckle did little right in his first four starts in Australia from March to October of 2022. Since then, he has been nearly perfect, winning four of five races.
The improved form has left Trooper Knuckle as an attractive contender in the Bega Cup at Sapphire Coast Racecourse on Saturday evening.
Trooper Knuckle, who is trained by Keith Dryden, will be ridden by Brendan Ward from post 4 in a full field of 16.
California Spangle just last month took down Golden Sixty, the best horse in Hong Kong over the last three racing seasons. That feat accomplished, California Spangle faces the horse who might be Hong Kong’s best, Romantic Warrior, in the Group 1, $1.53 million Stewards' Cup on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.
California Spangle versus Romantic Warrior alone would be must-watch racing. The presence of gently aging Golden Sixty makes the Stewards' Cup the most anticipated Hong Kong race in years.
A recent win in a Group 3 sprint at six furlongs and a consistent style of racing near the front give Snapper an excellent chance to win for the third time in his last four starts in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday evening.
Snapper seems to like Moonee Valley, which has short stretch of slightly less than a furlong. Snapper has won 4 of 7 starts at Moonee Valley and 6 of 22 starts in his career.
A drop in class after a recent sixth-place finish may help Badda Boom Baby win for the second time in her last three starts in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Scone Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.
Trained by the high-profile stable of Annabel Neasham, Badda Boom Baby won a maiden race for fillies and mares at 6 3/4 furlongs on the infield Beaumont course at Newcastle on Dec. 26, but was only sixth of 10 in a handicap against males at seven furlongs at Kembla Grange on Jan. 14.
The Instructor, a flashy winner of his first start in a maiden race earlier this month, will be a strong favorite to win his stakes debut in the Blue Diamond Preview Stakes at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday evening, provided he can beat 10 rivals including two well-regarded first-time starters.
The Instructor, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, won a five-furlong maiden race by three lengths at Pakenham Racecourse on Jan. 12 as the 9-10 favorite. The Instructor led throughout and ran the final three furlongs in a sharp 34.20 seconds.
