Paul Lally:
R1 1-3-4-2
R2 5-4-3-6
R3 8-3-4-1
R412-5-2-1
R5 1-11-4-8
R6 7-2-5-4
R7 1-8-5-2
R8 4-12-2-3
R9 11-4-2-9
Best Bet R7 N1 Reel Bizzy
Longshot R8 N4 Wind N Grass
Play R7 qqp 1-5-8
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Tom Wood:
The horses look about standard for a Wednesday night racing program at Happy Valley. The jockeys do not.
This is the annual International Jockeys Challenge card, a fixture of the Hong Kong International Races week. A dozen jockeys have mounts in four designated races Wednesday night – the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth – and whoever accumulates the most points earns a cash prize of about $64,500. A first-place finish is worth 12 points, a second-place finish six points, a third-place finish four points.
The New Zealand-bred gelding Gunaluva will have a weight advantage on his main rivals in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.
Gunaluva will carry 121 pounds, compared to Chains of Honour at 136.6 pounds, Skymax at 135.5 and Perfect Illusion at 122.3. Perfect Illusion gets a weight break because of the booking of apprentice jockey Tom Sherry.
By Declan Schuster
Chad Schofield has the chance of producing a significant piece of history this Sunday (9 December) at Sha Tin when he partners Rattan with the hope of joining his father Glyn on the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) honour roll, which would be a Hong Kong first.
Dad won the race in 2005 aboard Natural Blitz at 27/1 by one and three quarter lengths, the only win of the horse’s career, and this weekend son Chad will look to emulate his father’s heroics in the HK$22 million sprint contest when he pairs with Rattan.
By Leo Schlink
Joao Moreira predicts a galaxy of international star jockeys will swiftly adapt to Happy Valley’s unique contours as 12 of the world’s best riders vie for LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship glory on Wednesday 9 December.
As one of four previous winners of the four-race format in this year’s contest, the 2020/21 championship-leading jockey believes Wednesday’s competition looms as one of the most even in the event’s history – a sentiment echoed by the Brazilian’s great championship rival Zac Purton.
Tom Wood:
R1: 6-7-1-9
R2: 4-1-3-10
R3: 12-1-4-9
R4: 7-1-11-4
R5: 1-9-5-8
R6: 1-9-7-13
R7: 1-2-3-12
R8: 12-3-6-5
R9: 9-3-14-1
R10: 1-3-4-10
BEST: R9 N9 PARTY EVERYDAY (WIN)
VALUE: R3 N12 HAPPY TANGO (EW)
PLAY: R10 QQP 1,3,4
Paul Lally:
R1: 7-1-10-9
R2: 1-4-5-10
R3: 1-4-3-12
R4: 7-6-2-8
In Japan, Chrysoberyl is unbeaten in eight starts, including the Grade 1 Champions Cup on dirt in 2019.
The 4-year-old colt’s only career loss was a seventh-place finish behind Maximum Security in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February.
Chrysoberyl recovered from that setback to win consecutive races at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo in June and on Nov. 3. The recent wins leave Chrysoberyl as the leading contender for Sunday’s Champions Cup at 1 1/8 miles at Chukyo Racecourse.
A week away from the Hong Kong International Races, the Sunday feature at Sha Tin will look nothing like those Group 1 turf races as a field of a dozen Class 2 handicappers take to the dirt oval situated inside the main turf course in the last of 10 races.
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By Declan Schuster
A determined Karis Teetan will defend his LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship crown next Wednesday (9 December) at Happy Valley against 11 world class rivals as he bids to become the second back-to-back winner of the challenge.
“I won it last year - it’s made me hungry to try and win it again this year, so I will be giving it my best,” Teetan said.
Teetan will look to join fellow South African Jockey Academy graduate Douglas Whyte (2007 & 2008) as successful defenders of their LONGINES IJC title.
