Late scratches will have a tremendous effect on a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.

The Milkybar Kid, a sharp winner of a maiden race at a mile in his fifth career start at Wyong Racecourse on June 16, was the 7-2 favorite in early betting but is stuck on the also-eligible list. The race drew a field of 16, but only 11 will start.

The presence of The Milkybar Kid would affect the pace since the 3-year-old New Zealand-bred tends to run near the front.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Tuesday, June 28, 2022)

The eight-race program at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on Tuesday will be a busy evening for jockeys Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, who are currently first and second in the standings.

Purton has 129 wins since the season began in September, a two-race advantage over Moreira. Moreira took off his mounts at Happy Valley last Wednesday, citing chest discomfort, and missed Saturday’s card at Sha Tin. He was medically cleared to resume riding by Hong Kong racing officials for Tuesday’s program.

La Petite Coco extended her winning streak to four races, three in stakes, with a victory in her 2022 debut in Sunday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.

The $316,000 Pretty Polly Stakes was La Petite Coco’s first start in a race at the highest level and gave trainer Paddy Twomey his first Group 1 win.

In the last year, Rodrick’s Secret has raced in distances ranging from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles in Australia. In that time, races at a mile have been key to Rodrick’s Secret’s success.

In 14 starts in the last year, Rodrick’s Secret has won 2 of 6 starts at a mile and was unsuccessful in eight starts at other distances.

That records gives Rodrick’s Secret a leading chance in a one-mile handicap at Taree Racecourse on Tuesday.

The fillies Decadent Tale, Stella Glow and Strelitzia, all winners of their last starts in Australia, dominate early betting for a handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Scone Racecourse on Monday.

Each of those fillies has recent form easy to support, but are starting at the extended distance for the first time.

In a reversal of his troubled third in the Group 1 English Derby earlier this month, Westover had a perfect trip in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, winning his first race at the highest level by seven lengths.

Ridden by Colin Keane, Westover ($4.80 in American pools) stalked pacesetter French Claim to early stretch, took the lead with more than a quarter-mile remaining and quickly pulled clear.

Westover’s days as a longshot ended with a troubled third at 25-1 in the Group 1 English Derby at Epsom Downs on June 4.

In Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, Westover and the filly Tuesday will be the first two choices in a field of eight, with both likely to be prices ranging from 7-5 to 3-2. They bring excellent credentials to the $1.05 million Irish Derby, run at 1 1/2 miles.

The tight duel between Joao Moreira and Zac Purton for the riding title in Hong Kong took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when Moreira was removed from his final eight mounts at Happy Valley Racecourse by racing officials because of chest pains.

While subsequent tests revealed no health issues, Moreira is not riding at Sha Tin Racecourse on Saturday. He is scheduled to resume racing on Tuesday at Happy Valley.

Going into Saturday’s Sha Tin program, Moreira led Purton, 127-126. The standings could very well be reversed after the 10-race program.

The Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan on Sunday has drawn such a strong field that Efforia, the country’s 2021 Horse of the Year, could easily be overshadowed by recent Grade 1 and Group 1 winners Panthalassa, Potager, and Titleholder.

Add other runners such as Authority, Deep Bond, and Stay Foolish, and Efforia will need a top-level performance to win the $2.85 million Takarazuka Kinen at 1 3/8 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 5.