A much-needed drop in class and a return to a race at 1 1/2 miles can end an eight-race losing streak for Oz Legend in a handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday evening.

Oz Legend has won 2 of 17 starts, but the wins were on synthetic tracks in Britain in 2020 and 2021. Sent to Australia in early 2022, Oz Legend has yet to win in eight starts in the country, all on turf. Oz Legend was a good second in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 10.

A handicap at 1 5/8 miles at Gosford Racecourse in Australia on Jan. 25 was probably too far for Celestial Fury. The gelding faded from contention in the stretch to finish fifth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

A handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Gosford on Wednesday evening should be a better distance. 

A drop in class and a return to a familiar venue has made Dynamic Impact an appealing favorite in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park in Australia on Tuesday evening.

Dynamic Impact is unbeaten in two starts at Canterbury, including a win in a handicap at six furlongs on Dec. 16 in which he closed from last in a field of six to win by slightly less than a half-length.

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(Wednesday, February 01, 2023)

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.