Tue, 07/19/2022 - 14:28

Australia: Tidal Creek turns to apprentice rider in stretch-out bid

Tidal Creek will start at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in a handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Thursday, which has led to a jockey switch for the lightly raced Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old.

Tidal Creek will be ridden for the first time by apprentice jockey Ellen Hennessy, an assignment that reduces the weight from 134.4 pounds to 130.

Mon, 07/18/2022 - 14:56

Australia: Green Flash reunited with McDonald in handicap

Green Flash will be reunited with a familiar jockey when the 4-year-old gelding has his third start of the year in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.

Green Flash has won 2 of 11 starts and won his debut when ridden by James McDonald in March 2021. McDonald later rode Green Flash to a fourth- and second-place finish in 2021 and regains the mount for this race.

Sat, 07/16/2022 - 16:06

Magical Lagoon hangs on to win depleted Irish Oaks

Magical Lagoon held off Toy and won the Irish Oaks by a half-length on Saturday at The Curragh. 

The Group 1 Classic lost its overwhelming favorite late this week when airplane issues left Emily Upjohn stuck in England. 

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 15:52

Hong Kong: Jockey race between Moreira, Purton could come down to Class 1 feature

Turin Redsun and Money Catcher have managed to put together successful 2021-22 Hong Kong campaigns without actually winning a race, and they’ll have one last chance Saturday at Sha Tin to notch a victory this season.  

The two 4-year-olds are among 11 entered in the featured eighth race Saturday, closing day of the Hong Kong season. First post for the program is 12:30 a.m. Eastern with the feature, a Class 1 handicap carded for 1,600 meters on turf for horses rated 115-90, set for 4:05 a.m.

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 11:06

Travel issues keep Emily Upjohn from Irish Oaks; will go to King George instead

The Irish Oaks lost its odds-on favorite Friday when Emily Upjohn was withdrawn from the race, her England-based connections citing travel complications. 

Thady Gosden, who co-trains Emily Upjohn with his father, John Gosden, told overseas racing media that a plane coming from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Stansted Airport near London was intended to pick up the filly and fly her to Ireland but had been unable to make the trip after a bird strike. No other plane could be found Friday, forcing Emily Upjohn to stay home. 

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 09:59

Hong Kong Selections for Saturday, July 16, 2022

Mark McNamara:

R1 – 6.14.9.7

R2 – 12.11.9.3.

R3 – 12.8.5.1

R4 – 1.8.2.5

R5 – 1.11.6.7

R6 – 7.2.4.13

R7 – 12.9.3.7

R8 – 7.6.8.9

R9 – 13.11.10.2

R10 – 6.2.7.10

R11 – 5.7.4.11

Best Bet: R6 N7 All is Good

Longshot: R3 N12 City Legend

 

Nick Child:

R1: 14-12-6-5

R2: 3-1-10-14

R3: 6-1-8-12

R4: 1-8-5-2

R5: 10-12-6-1

R6: 8-7-2-5

R7: 7-12-9-13

R8: 7-6-8-3

R9: 13-11-1-2

Thu, 07/14/2022 - 13:56

Emily Upjohn gets chance to make amends in Irish Oaks

Emily Upjohn lost for the first time finishing second in the Oaks at Epsom Downs last month, but the filly lost absolutely nothing in defeat and is odds-on to land her first Group 1 on Saturday at The Curragh in the Irish Oaks.

Emily Upjohn faces seven rivals in the 1 1/2-mile Irish Oaks, and the uber-talented filly should love the vast, galloping Curragh course. She meets considerably softer opposition than she did at Epsom, where she was the best horse while finishing second.

Thu, 07/14/2022 - 11:36

Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Saturday, July 16, 2022

SHA TIN SELECTIONS BY DECLAN SCHUSTER
(Saturday, July 16, 2022)

Tue, 07/12/2022 - 10:36

Hong Kong Selections for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Paul Lally:

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

Best Bet R8 N4 Yo Beauty
Longshot R6 N4 Regency Star
Play R8 QQP 1-4-6

Mark McNamara:

R1 – 10.7.9.5
R2 -2.4.6.9
R3 – 5.1.8.3
R4 – 8.3.4.1
R5 – 4.11.10.9
R6 – 6.5.10.1
R7 – 11.2.9.7
R8 – 6.4.1.8
R9 – 8.4.1.6

Best Bet R3 N5 Yellowfin
Longshot R1 N10 Farm Bumper
Play R5 Q/QP 1.5.8

Mon, 07/11/2022 - 17:21

Hong Kong: My Ecstatic steps up to Class 2 company at Happy Valley

Who can tell when the light bulb might go on for a racehorse? My Ecstatic won once in his first 18 Hong Kong starts but comes into the featured ninth race Wednesday a winner three times in his last four starts.