Paul Lally:
R1 2-8-7-4
R2 1-2-6-3
R3 1-12-3-5
R4 5-6-1-10
R5 2-6-9-7
R6 3-2-9-4
R7 4-7-8-2
R8 2-5-6-11
R9 6-7-5-3
Best Bet R9 N6 Fa Fa
Longshot R7 N4 Lucky Archangel
Play R9 QQP 5-6-7
Andrew Le Jeune:
R1: 2-7-8-5
R2: 3-8-1-2
R3: 6-3-1-5
R4: 4-7-6-5
R5: 2-10-9-7
R6: 3-2-4-9
R7: 7-8-5-9
R8: 6-2-4-11
R9: 5-6-7-12
Best: R5 N2 Red Majesty
Each/way: R9 N5 Parterre
Play: R5 Q/QP 2-9-10
A switch to longer races at Happy Valley has brought forth improved performance this Hong Kong season from Meaningful Star, who will try for his second straight win in one of the triple-features on Wednesday in Hong Kong.
The Group 3 Geelong Cup at Geelong Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday is a vital race for Melbourne Cup hopeful Tralee Rose.
As of Monday, Tralee Rose was 25th on the list of candidates for the Melbourne Cup on Nov. 2, a race limited to 24 runners. While there will be numerous changes in the prospective field for the Melbourne Cup in coming weeks, a win by Tralee Rose in the $296,720 Geelong Cup at 1 1/2 miles would certainly enhance her chances of gaining a berth in the race.
Akaitorino Musume was a Grade 3 winner at a mile in her stakes debut in Japan in February. Longer races have defined her career in recent months.
In May, Akaitorino Musume was second in the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse. On Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse, Akaitorino Musume was the upset winner of the Grade 1 Shuka Sho, a $1.7 million race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles.
Smuggler’s Bay won the first two starts of his career in Australia in May by setting the pace, a style that may be tested in a five-furlong handicap at Orange Racecourse in the New South Wales countryside on Tuesday.
A 4-year-old gelding, Smuggler’s Bay is part of a field of eight that includes a few other runners who tend to run near the front. This will be the first start for Smuggler’s Bay since he finished third as the 1-2 favorite in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bathurst Racecourse on June 8, racing in third early before losing by a little more than a length.
The 5-year-old mare Arriva Diva was winless in two starts in 2019 at Ellis Park in Kentucky.
She is a completely different runner in Australia.
Arriva Diva, a three-time winner in Australia this year, will be favored to win again in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Mornington Racecourse near Melbourne on Monday.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Arriva Diva, by Curlin, tends to run near the front and used that style successfully in a seven-furlong handicap at Echuca on Oct. 1, her second start after a six-month layoff.
Sealiway held off Dubai Honour for an upset victory in the Group 1, $1.2 million Champion Stakes on Saturday at Ascot, the featured race on QIPCO British Champions Day.
Favored Mishriff held a contending position in midstretch and had his chance but faded late to finish fourth, beaten one length by Mac Swiney, who was 1 1/2 lengths behind Dubai Honour. Adayar, second choice in the betting, raced too keenly disputing the lead with Addeybb, and tired finishing fifth, a trip similar to his performance two Sundays ago in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Nature Strip was Australia’s Horse of the Year for the 2019-2020 season, one of the most coveted honors in the sport. Now, Nature Strip can claim another milestone: winner of the $11.05 million Everest Stakes, the richest sprint in the world.
Nature Strip led throughout Saturday’s Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in his third consecutive appearance in the lucrative race. Nature Strip was fourth in 2019 and seventh last year.
