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.
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
Lugging high weight assignments around Rockhampton Racecourse in Australia has been common of late for the speedy gelding Master Jamie.
Master Jamie was second by a nose while carrying 140 pounds in a handicap at 5 1/4 furlongs on Nov. 5, and second by three-quarters of a length in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs while carrying 139 pounds on Nov. 21.
On Monday, Master Jamie will have his 17th career start at Rockhampton, where the 5-year-old is based with Graeme Green. This time, Master Jamie will carry 139 pounds due to the presence of apprentice jockey Tessa Townsend.
Water Navillera, unbeaten in three starts, can clinch the title of champion 2-year-old filly in Japan with a victory in Sunday’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse near Osaka.
Water Navillera won the Grade 3 Kyoto Sho Fantasy Stakes at seven furlongs at Hanshin on Nov. 6 in her stakes debut, racing near the front throughout. Water Navillera is likely to have a forward position in the $1.1 million Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at a mile.
Wet weather in Australia has forced the transfer of Sunday’s program at tiny Armidale Racecourse to Tamworth Racecourse about 55 miles to the southwest.
The feature race on the eight-race program remains the Armidale Cup, which was scheduled for 1 3/16 miles at Armidale but will be run at a mile at Tamworth.
A new venue and a new distance should not affect Beckford, a leading contender along with Point Counterpoint, Battle Guardian, and Reposition.
Stablemates Ellsberg and Steely will be the first two choices in a crowded field of 20 in Saturday’s Group 2 Villiers Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.
Trained by the team of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Ellsberg and Steely meet for the first time in a race in which they both are expected to be a factor following recent wins.
