JAPAN ADVANCE By Steve Andersen In marathon races in Japan, Titleholder is sometimes impossible to catch. Titleholder won the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles in 2021 from the front, and used

With the benefit of a recent prep race and a fine record of 4 for 6, Kovalica deserves the role of favorite in the one-mile Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on Friday.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, April 30, 2023)

Denetta ran to expectations when she finished 12th of 15 at 100-1 in the restricted Provincial Championship Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on April 8.

An appearance in the $332,500 race was worth a try after Denetta qualified with a good second at 40-1 in a trial race at Hawkesbury on March 4.

Denetta’s time as a longshot ends, at least briefly, when she starts in a handicap for fillies and mares at 7 1/4 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Thursday evening. She was the 7-2 second choice in a field of eight as of Wednesday.

Mayapple is the sort of mare who wants to be involved from the start.

After finishing third once in her first six starts in Australia, trainer Jason Coyle changed tactics. Instead of having Mayapple closing from off the pace, she was sent toward the front beginning in mid-March.

Mayapple finished fourth at 40-1 after setting the pace March 18, was beaten a short head after racing near the front on March 28, and finally won April 15 as a pacesetter.

Mark McNamara:

R1 - 1.4.10.6
R2 - 9.4.3.5
R3 - 4.8.6.10
R4 - 4.7.1.2
R5 - 7.5.6.8
R6 - 12.2.3.11
R7 - 6.11.4.8
R8 - 9.1.7.2
R9 - 7.1.10.3

Best bet R2 N9 Snowalot
Longshot R8 N9 Harmony Fire
Play R2 q/QP 3.4.9

Tom Wood:

R1: 4-10-1-7
R2: 1-9-7-4
R3: 6-8-3-10
R4: 2-4-7-1
R5: 10-8-6-7
R6: 12-2-1-9
R7: 6-8-11-1
R8: 1-7-5-9
R9: 7-8-1-10

A return to racing at 1 1/4 miles may help Roccaforte end a four-race losing streak in a handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Tuesday.

Jockey Dean Holland died on Monday as a result of injuries sustained in a spill at Donald Racecourse in the Australia countryside, according to the state regulatory agency Racing Victoria and the Victorian Jockeys Association.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, April 26, 2023)

A familiar ensemble of turf marathoners starts in the Anzac Day Cup at 1 1/2 miles on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia on Monday evening, with several meeting for the second time this month.

At Warwick Farm Racecourse on April 10, Casual Connection closed from fifth of seven to win a handicap at 1 1/2 miles by a head over pacesetter Yarrawonga. Those two are part of the Anzac Day Cup, but are likely to yield the role of favorite to Secret Glamour, who was fourth in the same race on April 10.