The lightly raced Australian gelding Cuban State is rounding into form at an ideal time in advance of a lucrative handicap at a mile at Morphettville Racecourse near Adelaide on Friday.

Cuban State won his debut last February and was third and seventh in two additional starts over the next 45 days. After a layoff of more than seven months, Cuban State finished fourth in a seven-furlong handicap at Morphettville on Nov. 13, but rebounded to win a seven-furlong handicap at Balaklava Racecourse on Dec. 8.

Paul Lally:

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

Best Bet R6 N6 Baebae Tsoi
Longshot R8 N3 Never Too Soon
Play R8 QQP 3-6-8

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Tom Wood:

French Star won consecutive races for the first time in her career at minor tracks in Australia in November.

A potential third consecutive win, in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Kyneton Racecourse on Thursday, hinges on whether the 5-year-old mare can be comfortable stalking the pace in a large field.

Hong Kong takes jockey championships seriously, and the race for leading rider during the 2021-22 Hong Kong season changed dramatically when Zac Purton was injured Sunday at Sha Tin.

Purton was part of the terrible accident in the Hong Kong Sprint that sent three jockeys to the hospital and tragically led to the deaths of two horses. Purton’s mount, Lucky Patch, was in the middle of the wreck yet somehow was able to stay on his feet, and on Monday, trainer Francis Lui reported Lucky Patch was bruised and sore but otherwise uninjured, a bright spot in a dark situation.

The debut win of the 2-year-old Command Approved was widely expected at Canberra Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 26.

Sent off at 3-10, Command Approved led throughout a maiden race at five furlongs to prevail by three-quarters of a length over stablemate Speak Now.

Command Approved and Speak Now will now meet in Wednesday’s $142,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2-year-old Classic at Wyong Racecourse. The restricted race is run at 5 1/2 furlongs for sale progeny through the Magic Millions sales company.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, December 15, 2021)

Circle of Life clinched the 2021 championship for the 2-year-old filly division in Japan, and won her third consecutive start, in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka.

Ridden by Mirco Demuro, Circle of Life ($9.40) closed from off the pace in a field of 18 to take the lead in the final sixteenth, winning the one-mile turf race by a half-length over 50-1 Lovely Your Eyes. The Juvenile Fillies was worth $1.1 million.

Golden Sixty grew his legend, becoming Hong Kong’s winning-most horse while landing his second straight Hong Kong Mile. Star Japanese mare Loves Only You showed she’s among the great world travelers of recent vintage, going from success in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf to victory in the Hong Kong Cup. Glory Vase repeated his 2019 triumph in the Hong Kong Vase, storming home to beat in-form English shipper Pyledriver.  

On a Promise has won his last five starts in Australia, working his way from an official handicap rating of 45 in April to a current figure of 65. The wins occurred from early August to late October in races ranging in distance from 5 1/2 to seven furlongs.

On a Promise, who has won 10 of 35 starts, can extend the winning streak in a seven-furlong handicap at Orange Racecourse on Tuesday. To do so, On a Promise will race without his regular rider Clayton Gallagher.

Paul Lally:

R1 3-8-7-6

R2 6-1-4-8

R3 13-5-2-8

R4 4-1-2-5

R5 2-12-5-4

R6 11-1-6-4

R7 1-2-6-4

R8 10-12-11-8

R9 13-14-1-4

R10 1-5-14-10

Best Bet R5 N2 Pixie Knight

Longshot R8 N10 Bolshoi Ballet

Play Race8 QQP 10-11-12

Mark McNamara:

R1 – 3.8.6.7 

R2 – 12.6.8.1 

R3 – 13.3.8.2 

R4 – 2.5.1.4 

R5 – 2.8.6.3 

R6 – 11.6.1.4 

R7 – 1.2.9.3 

R8 – 12.4.11.8 

R9 -13.4.14.7