SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, October 23, 2022)

The last time the Australian gelding Raoul returned from a layoff, he won a maiden race at Scone Racecourse in September 2021.

Raoul will race at Scone for the first time since that race in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on Thursday evening across American time zones. This time, Raoul will be returning from an 11-month layoff at a track he knows and at a distance that should work for his return.

Anamoe had a rough outing in the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Australia last October, losing by a short head after being carried out by winner State of Rest in the final strides.

A 25-minute objection did not change the outcome in what turned out to be Anamoe’s final start of a 2021 season that included two Group 1 wins.

This year, Anamoe has four Group 1 wins in Australia and will be favored to secure a fifth in Saturday’s $3.13 million Cox Plate at 1 1/4 miles in Melbourne. The Cox Plate is Australia’s leading weight-for-age race.

A significant class drop could not come at a better time for Twice On Sunday, the 5-year-old Australian mare who starts in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Hawkesbury Racecourse near Sydney on Wednesday evening across American time zones.

Twice On Sunday is winless in her last 13 starts since December, but three of those races since mid-September were against higher classes of handicap runners than she will face at Hawkesbury.

Interpretation was a minor stakes winner in Ireland in 2021 for trainer Aidan O’Brien, a fine accomplishment but not enough so far to secure a spot in a field of 24 for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 1.

Interpretation, now trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, needs a win in the Group 3 Geelong Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on Tuesday to help his chances for a start in the Melbourne Cup at two miles.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, October 19, 2022)

Stunning Rose played the spoiler’s role in Sunday’s Grade 1 Shuka Sho Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, winning the $1.45 million race for 3-year-old fillies and denying Stars on Earth a potential sweep of the Triple Crown.

Stars on Earth had won the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas in April and the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks in May, the first two races in the Triple Crown.

Stunning Rose ($12.90) won the Shuka Sho by a half-length over 5-2 Namur, who finished a nose in front of 8-5 favorite Stars on Earth.

Grand Shanghai was winless in 23 starts in Australia last month when the 6-year-old gelding was transferred from trainer Lindsay Gough to Dwayne Schmidt.

Days later, Grand Shanghai won his debut for Schmidt in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Grafton Racecourse on Sept. 27. Schmidt is based at Grafton, and is keeping Grand Shanghai at that track for his next start in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles on Monday evening across American time zones.

The 3-year-old Giga Kick rallied from 10th in a field of 12 to record an upset win in Saturday’s $9.3 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, overtaking 3-5 favorite Nature Strip in deep stretch.

Ridden by Craig Williams, Giga Kick ($38.20) appeared beaten when Nature Strip took a lead of about a length with a furlong remaining. But Nature Strip could not sustain the effort and faded to finish fourth, beaten slightly less than a length in the world’s richest sprint.

Baaeed has run his last race and goes off to a stallion career. He’ll be remembered as a great horse – just not an undefeated one. 

After winning his first 10 starts, Baaeed lost his last one, finishing fourth as Bay Bridge held off Adayar to win the Group 1, $1.46 million Champion Stakes on Saturday at Ascot.