By Leo Schlink
David Hayes hopes to make a statement of intent for the 2021/22 season by parading a string of leading hopes - including an intriguing first-starter - at the season-opening meeting on Sunday (5 September) at Sha Tin.
The dual Hong Kong champion trainer has eight entries spread across the 10-race program, headed by Naboo Attack, Super Axiom, Master Montaro and newcomer Nervous Witness, an emphatic 1000m trial winner at Sha Tin on 28 August.
Rich and Shameless inherited the role of top weight in Sunday’s Moree Cup in Australia with the withdrawal of Eiger after entries were taken.
Rich and Shameless will carry 126.7 pounds, and will be favored on the strength of a recent win in a minor handicap at seven furlongs at Mudgee Racecourse on Aug. 29. The Moree Cup is also run at seven furlongs.
A winner of 5 of 22 starts, Rich and Shameless was the 3-1 favorite in early betting on Friday in the Moree Cup, which will have a maximum field of 14. There were 18 entries accepted earlier in the week.
General gambling principles suggest taking a very short price on a horse trying something for the first time constitutes poor wagering. Which doesn’t mean you can’t look forward to watching Baaeed race Sunday at Longchamp in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.
Based in England with trainer William Haggas, unbeaten Baaeed absolutely has given the appearance of a Group 1-level performer. Still, the fact is he has yet to compete above the Group 3 level and is the strong favorite in the one-mile Moulin. So far, just watching Baaeed race has been nearly as fun as cashing a bet.
The primary goal with Zaaki in coming months is the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 23, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race.
Zaaki’s appearance in Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney is part of an expected two-race buildup to the $3.7 million Cox Plate.
The breather following a long racing season is a short one. It’s been only about seven weeks since the end of the 2020-21 Hong Kong season, and already, on Sunday at Sha Tin, it is on to 2021-22.
A 10-race card, first post 1 a.m. Eastern, starts off the new racing year with some things similar, others different since live races last were run in Hong Kong.
There will be 16 runners in Friday’s $147,500 Wyong Cup at 1 5/16 miles in Wyong Racecourse in Australia, a big field without a clear favorite.
As of Wednesday, Berdibek, Dashing Willoughby, Inverloch, and Laure Me In were all 6-1, the shortest prices in early betting. With all four showing top-class form in the last year, there is little surprise that early-bird bettors are reluctant to throw support behind an individual runner.
In his brief career, Ashford Street has developed a sharp rally that has led to three wins in seven starts in Australia, all since mid-July.
The three victories have been in races at 5 1/2 furlongs and have been achieved by at least a length. That kick may serve Ashford Street well when he starts in the shortest race of his career in a five-furlong handicap at Cranbourne Racecourse on Thursday.
Leale, an Australian-bred 5-year-old, won for the fourth time in her career in a one-mile handicap for fillies and mares on the Lakeside course at Sandown Park in Melbourne in June.
The last few months have been tougher for her, with two fourth-place finishes and a fifth, all against fillies and mares in handicaps at Melbourne-area tracks.
Trained by Michael Kent, Leale returns to the Lakeside course as the likely pacesetter in a handicap for fillies and mares at a mile on Wednesday.
At the age of 8, Social Element has found his niche in recent months in Australian steeplechases.
The gelding is unbeaten in four starts since June over the tougher obstacles at distances ranging from about 2 1/8 miles to 2 5/8 miles. Sunday at Ballarat Racecourse, Social Element will start in the richest race of his career in the $256,060 Grand National Steeplechase at 2 13/16 miles, his longest race.
Trained by Gai Waterhoue and Adrian Bott, Social Element was even money in early betting on Friday in a race with seven entrants.
