California Spangle, who could emerge as one of Hong Kong’s best horses, makes his first start of the 2022-23 Hong Kong racing season in the featured Celebration Cup Handicap on Sunday at Sha Tin.
California Spangle ran in all three legs of the 4-year-old classic series last season, winning the Classic Cup over 1,800 meters and finishing second to Romantic Warrior in the Classic Mile and the 2000-meter Hong Kong Derby.
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The Australian mare Spanish Tides has had an odd but consistent pattern of results this year.
Through six starts, she has followed a loss with a win, never losing or winning consecutive races.
The pattern could end at an opportune time when Spanish Tides starts in the Benalla Gold Cup at about 1 1/4 miles at Benalla Racecourse on Thursday evening across American time zones.
Mark McNamara:
R1 9.1.6.8
R2 4.1.6.7
R3 8.4.1.2
R4 4.11.2.7
R5 2.12.6.8
R6 1.2.5.9
R7 4.3.8.1
R8 11.1.2.3
Best Bet R6 N1 Copartner Elites
Longshot R8 N11 M M Nebula
Play R6 Q/QP 1.2.5
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Paul Lally:
Too Much Class has won her last two starts in Australia at a mile and 1 1/16 miles, closing from off the pace to prevail as the favorite.
The style of those wins makes her appearance in the Lismore Cup at 1 5/16 miles on Wednesday evening at Lismore Racecourse all the more intriguing. The Lismore Cup will be the first start for Too Much Class beyond 1 1/8 miles.
A winner of 5 of 19 starts, Too Much Class will be tested in the Lismore Cup, which drew a competitive field of 12.
A subtle drop in class, the booking of an apprentice jockey, and a new distance are among the main reasons Canasta will start in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park in Australia on Tuesday evening across American time zones.
Canasta was nominated for a race at 7 1/2 furlongs on the same Canterbury program, but will be the 131-pound topweight against nine rivals in the following race at the longer distance.
Dragon’s Shadow and Alloway were no match for Ambitious Prince in the Tuncurry Cup in Australia on Sept. 9, finishing second and third in the race at 1 5/16 miles on turf.
The extended trip suits Dragon’s Shadow and Alloway who race over that distance in a handicap at Forbes Racecourse on Monday evening across American time zones. This time, Ambitious Prince is not in the field.
In early betting Sunday, Alloway was the 2-1 favorite in a field of nine, while Dragon’s Shadow was an interesting price at 9-2.
Nature Strip rallied for a comfortable win in Saturday’s Group 2 The Shorts Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, his first start in his home country since an emphatic win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June.
Nature Strip closed from a tracking position to win The Shorts Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs by a little more than 1 1/4 lengths over Overpass, who closed from off the pace.
Tom Wood:
R1: 1-6-5-7
R2: 5-13-3-12
R3: 1-2-6-3
R4: 10-8-3-1
R5: 11-1-7-9
R6: 6-4-8-1
R7: 3-5-1-9
R8: 10-1-11-4
R9: 11-2-6-9
R10: 1-6-2-3
BEST: R9 N11 ATOMIC FORCE (WIN)
NEXT BEST: R7 N3 BUNDLE OF CHARM
VALUE: R2 N5 LOTUS FAVORITES (EW)
PLAY: R6 QQP 4,6,8
Paul Lally:
R1: 1-5-6-3
R2: 3-12-1-13
R3: 7-2-6-1
R4:8-5-11-3
R5: 1-6-7-9
R6: 4-6-1-2
R7: 3-2-5-1
R8: 3-5-1-10