Tom Wood:
R1: 1-6-2-9
R2: 5-8-11-2
R3: 1-11-9-4
R4: 4-1-2-6
R5: 5-4-6-2
R6: 3-13-10-6
R7: 4-10-8-5
R8: 3-9-8-2
R9: 2-11-3-1
R10: 11-3-2-10
BEST: R9 N2 HALL OF CHAMP (WIN)
VALUE: R6 N3 EMERALD SPUR (EW)
PLAY: R10 QQP 2,3,11
Paul Lally:
R1 6-2-9-1
R2 11-8-5-9
R3 1-4-9-8
R4 2-1-4-7
R5 5-4-11-6
R6 8-10-5-6
R7 10-4-5-9
R8 3-9-10-8
R9 9-2-11-10
R10 11-10-3-12
Three races into his Hong Kong career, C P Brave is poised for his first win in Asia and third career victory in a class 2 handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.
Trained by Tony Millard, C P Brave finished fifth, third, and second in starts at Sha Tin and Happy Valley in class 3 handicaps in May and July, losing the last of those races by a half-length.
In the Hong Kong handicap system, a class 2 race is slightly tougher than a class 3, but still below class 1 races which are a level below stakes.
An outside draw in a large field is not ideal for Nikau Spur in Sunday’s $72,700 Gold Nugget Stakes on turf at Ballarat Racecourse in Australia, but his stalking style and recent race record may alleviate any concern.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Nikau Spur has won three of his last five starts and 4 of 9 races in his career, which began in July 2020.
Nikau Spur won his most recent start, in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, closing from sixth of nine to win by a length over Global Gift.
Verry Elleegant, widely considered the leading candidate for the title of Australian Horse of the Year for the 2020-2021 season, will be a heavy favorite to win her ninth Group 1 race in Saturday’s $729,200 George Main Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick in Australia.
The George Main Stakes, which drew a strong field of nine, will be Verry Elleegant’s second start of the new season, which began on Aug. 1. Verry Elleegant was second by a neck to Mo’unga in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on Aug. 21 in her first start since April.
The Shorts (G2) – Key Prep for The Everest: Race 8 is a barn-burning renewal of a Group Two sprint named The Shorts, whose nine entrants boast a collective 76 wins from 165 starts. It features no fewer than six confirmed runners for The Everest, the world’s richest race on turf, which will be run at Randwick on October 15. The Everest (6 furlongs) has a slot-holder format, and the following entrants for The Shorts (5 1/2 furlongs) have guaranteed berths in The Everest:
The 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding Harpo Marx may hold a slight edge over his main rival Berdibek in Friday’s Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia.
Harpo Marx and Berdibek have won their last two starts, tend to run from off the pace, and are the two leading choices in early betting.
Paul Lally:
R1 1-2-10-9
R2 2-9-4-3
R3 2-5-4-7
R4 1-5-2-11
R5 7-1-8-10
R6 9-5-1-10
R7 4-9-1-6
R8 7-1-6-10
Best Bet R6 N9 Fa Fa
Longshot R8 N7 Scores Of Fun
Play Race6 QQP 1-5-9
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming
Mark McNamara:
A low weight assignment, the presence of a popular jockey, and a troubled trip in the not-too-distant past combine to make Sight Success an attractive prospect in Wednesday’s Class 2 handicap feature at six furlongs at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.
A 5-year-old Australian-bred, Sight Success will be ridden by Joao Moreira, the leading rider at the 2020-21 Hong Kong season and a contender for the same title this season.
