A five-month layoff was no hindrance for the Australian colt Jacquinot last month.

Jacquinot was sixth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for 2-year-olds in March and won the first start of his comeback in the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Aug. 27. He closed from ninth of 13 to win the stakes at six furlongs.

The win has put Jacquinot in contention for his first Group 1 win in the Golden Rose Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney on Friday.

The focus is on 2-year-old racing at Newmarket Racecourse in England this Friday and Saturday, but the juvenile stakes included in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series are not the most important races during the two days. 

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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SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, September 25, 2022)

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.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, September 21, 2022)

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.