SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, February 27, 2022) 

Maybe you, North American racing fan and bettor, have not heard of many of the horses in the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf, but that does not mean this is not a strong race.

The Red Sea Turf, contested over about 1 7/8 miles, drew 15 entrants, at least two of which – Mirinaque and Baron Samedi – ought to be familiar to we Americans.

Mirinaque campaigned in American during 2020 and into 2021 before returning to his native Argentina but was only seventh in this race a year ago.

Brad Cox could not beat Mishriff with Knicks Go. Maybe he will get him Saturday with Mandaloun.

Those two excellent racehorses are joined by a dozen others in the $20 million Saudi Cup, given international Group 1 status for this, its third renewal.

The gang's not quite all there for the inaugural running of the $200,000 Jumeirah Derby on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.  

Island Falcon won the Jumeirah Derby Trial on Jan. 21 by 1 1/4 lengths but was not among the eight horses entered in the Jumeirah Derby, a 2,000-meter grass race for 3-year-olds.  

That ought to leave New Kingdom, trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin and with William Buick named to ride, as the favorite for the Jumeirah Derby, the last leg in a new series created by the Dubai Racing Club for the 2021-22 racing season.  

Recent starts in stakes were too difficult for Steely, the 5-year-old Australian gelding who takes a drop in class for a start in Friday’s $108,600 Canberra Mile at Canberra Racecourse.

The Canberra Mile is a handicap that is a level below a listed stakes and should be a good fit for Steely, a winner of 8 of 22 starts.

Trained by the partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Steely was 13th of 16 in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 11, and seventh of 13 in the Carrington Stakes at seven furlongs there Jan. 22. 

Mishriff will break from post 14 on Saturday, near where he drew a year ago, when he tries to win the $20 million Saudi Cup for the second year in a row.

Drawing widest in this field, with far more depth than the 2021 renewal, is not necessarily a bad thing. The Saudi Cup, a Group 1 for the first time this year, is contested over 1,800 meters, about 1 1/8 miles, around one turn. There’s a very long straightaway before the turn comes, giving Mishriff plenty of time to get into a decent position.

Paul Lally:

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

Best Bet R5 N1 Scotch Tycoon
Longshot R4 N11 Fortune Hero
Play R4 QQP 4-8-11

Tom Wood:

R1: 4-10-9-5
R2: 8-3-4-5
R3: 10-2-7-11
R4: 4-6-8-9
R5: 7-2-1-9
R6: 6-1-2-10
R7: 1-5-12-11
R8: 2-3-12-5
R9: 7-1-3-11

Two races into her 2022 campaign, the Australian filly Oakfield Arrow is in career-best form.

She won a seven-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on Jan. 8, and three weeks later was beaten a nose in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at the same venue.

A 4-year-old, Oakfield Arrow has won 2 of 12 starts and is being given a clear goal in coming months – qualifying for the $360,200 Provincial Championship Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on April 9.

Sight Success this Hong Kong season has demonstrated versatility to match his ability, winning races over the Happy Valley turf course and the Sha Tin dirt track, and finishing a solid second in a Sha Tin grass contest. His latest challenge: carrying top weight of 132 pounds and breaking from post 12 in the co-featured ninth race Wednesday at Happy Valley.  

Ho Ho Khan, In a Twinkling and White Hawk were the first three finishers in the Grade 3 Hobart Cup at Hobart Racecourse on Feb. 13.

They meet again as part of a field of 10 in Wednesday’s Group 3 Launceston Cup at Launceston Racecourse, with a predictable change in weight assignments for the handicap.

Ho Ho Khan’s assignment has been increased from 130 pounds to 134.4. In a Twinkling remains at 125.6 pounds, while White Hawk drops slightly from 123 to 122.3.