SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, December 18, 2022)

The rapidly improving Kovalica will get a class test in his stakes debut in the Group 3 Ascot Green Grand Prix at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia, on Friday evening across American time zones.

It’s a race Kovalica is expected to dominate.

Trained by Chris Waller, Kovalica has won the last three starts of his four-race career, rising through the handicap rankings. In the $167,000 Ascot Green Grand Prix for southern hemisphere 3-year-olds, Kovalica will carry equal weight of 125.6 pounds with his seven rivals.

Semeco set the pace, raced as a stalker, and overcame traffic issues to finish third in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Traralgon Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 27.

A slightly less eventful trip could result in a second career win for Semeco in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on Thursday evening across American time zones.

Derma Sotogake won his third consecutive start, and first stakes, in Wednesday’s $529,000 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at a mile for 2-year-olds at Kawasaki Racecourse in Japan, earning 20 qualifying points for the 2023 Kentucky Derby on May 6.

Derma Sotogake, finished a head in front of Omatsuri Otoko, who was a length in front of the previously unbeaten Perriere in a field of 14.

Galaxy Belle qualified for the Summer Provincial Series final with a win in the last available trial race at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 3. The victory assured Galaxy Belle a berth in a contentious field of 15 in the one-mile Summer Provincial Series final at Hawkesbury Racecourse on Wednesday evening across American time zones.

A 6-year-old mare trained by Kris Lees, Galaxy Belle ended an eight-race losing streak at Newcastle, closing from fifth in a field of eight to win the one-mile race by 1 3/4 lengths.

Paul Lally:

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

Best Bet R4 N1 Durham Star
Longshot R9 N1 California Cible
Play R8 QQP 3-4-9

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Nick Child:

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, December 14, 2022)

Fire Lane is the only winner in a field of 13 in the $135,100 2-Year-Old Classic at Wyong Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday evening across American time zones, but the recent victory has not afforded the filly much respect in early betting.

As of Monday, Fire Lane was 7-1, with the colt Mach Ten (2-1) and fillies Summer Loving (5-2) and Infatuation (7-2) gaining more support even though they were beaten in their last starts.

Liberty Island won for the second time in her third start in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, a performance that makes her the filly to follow in the spring classics in early 2023.

The win in the $917,280 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies is likely to lead to the 2-year-old filly championship for Liberty Island. The year-end awards are announced in early January.

A return to a five-furlong handicap may lead to a second career win for Play My Song at Tuncurry Racecourse in Australia across American time zones on Monday evening.

A 3-year-old filly, Play My Song was the even-money favorite in early betting on Sunday in a field of 12 on the second race of an eight-race program that begins at 9:35 p.m. Eastern, or 6:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.