The claim on best horse in Hong Kong may have shifted Sunday at Sha Tin, where superstar miler Golden Sixty went down to defeat in the Hong Kong Mile and rising star Romantic Warrior scored a breathtaking victory in the Hong Kong Cup. 

Romantic Warrior can’t hold a candle to Golden Sixty’s accomplishments – not yet, at least - but pound for pound he could be the superior performer after posting a dominant 4 1/2-length win in the $4.37 million Hong Kong Cup, the feature on the annual Hong Kong International Races program. 

The lightly raced gelding Ithicus may have a slight edge thanks to a recent win and a tactical advantage in a five-furlong handicap at Orange Racecourse in Australia on Sunday evening across American time zones.

Ithicus won his second start in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Narromine Racecourse on Nov. 15 and followed with a second by three lengths to pacesetter Jet Pack at 5 1/2 furlongs at Mudgee Racecourse on Dec. 2.

Paul Lally:

R1: 9-1-4-12

R2: 8-2-13-1

R3: 14-4-5-6

R4: 10-3-9-5

R5: 1-4-3-14

R6: 3-4-1-9

R7: 1-2-10-4

R8: 6-3-2-11

R9: 10-6-12-7

R10: 1-2-8-12

Best Bet R4 N10 Stone Age

Longshot R8 N6 Danon The Kid

Play R3 QQP 4-5-12

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

Mark McNamara:

R1 - 9.3.1.12

R2 - 8.2.3.13

R3 - 4.14.9.5

There are 18 2-year-olds in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, and it seems as if half of those in the field have the credentials to win the one-mile turf race.

The $917,280 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies plays a pivotal role in the year-end championship, a title likely to go to Sunday’s winner.

Many of the more attractive starters are closers.

After facing field of 20 and 18 in his last two starts, Point Counterpoint may seem lonely with nine rivals in the Armidale Cup at Armidale Racecourse in Australia on Saturday.

A winner of 6 of 22 starts, Point Counterpoint was fourth by a length in a field of 20 in the Little Dance Handicap at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Nov. 1, and fourth by slightly less than a length in a field of 18 in the Country Classic Handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 26.

The role of favorite for the Group 2 Ingham Handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia on Friday will not be known until final scratches are submitted.

Nugget, the sharp winner of a one-mile handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Nov. 16 in his second start on Australia, is stuck on the also-eligible list, but was 5-2 in early betting as of Thursday. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Nugget is the even-money favorite in early betting for a lesser race, a $101,000 handicap at a mile on the same program.

The great Golden Sixty goes for his third straight Group 1 Hong Kong Mile on Sunday at Sha Tin.

Who can stop him from getting it?

Probably not the 4-year-old California Spangle – not yet, at least. On Nov. 20 in the Jockey Club Mile, California Spangle had two races on the season, got five pounds from 7-year-old Golden Sixty, who was making his first start in seven months, and took the easiest of leads. Still, Golden Sixty ran him down to win by a neck.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, December 11, 2022)

Linthorpe Lad had a two-race winning streak end with a fourth-place finish in a one-mile handicap at Sunshine Coast Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 19.

Fortunately for Linthorpe Lad, the three runners who beat him that day are not part of the field for the Brisbane Handicap at Doomben Racecourse on Thursday evening across American time zones.

Street Dancer, who finished third on Nov. 19, returned to win a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben last Saturday.

California Press, Captain George, Invictus Lad, Ponca, and Sebring Sunset meet for the first time in a six-furlong handicap at Wyong Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening across American time zones.

The four geldings and the filly Ponca approach the race with similar form – they all won maiden races in their last starts in the final weeks of November.

The handicap drew a field of 12, including Sacred Delago, a maiden race winner in his last start in June.

As of Tuesday, Invictus Lad (3-1) and Sebring Sunset (4-1) led early betting.