By Declan Schuster

Classique Legend took a crucial step towards his G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) tilt with his first Hong Kong barrier trial on the turf at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, 1 December).

But while satisfied with the grey's effort, trainer Caspar Fownes implied caution as he swiftly prepares the talented grey for his Hong Kong debut in the HK$22 million sprint contest on 13 December at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.

By Leo Schlink

Three days after successfully unveiling Hong Kong debut winner Enrich Delight at Sha Tin, Caspar Fownes will attempt a similarly triumphant feat with another former Australian Propice, who runs first-up in the Class 3 Fleming Handicap (1000m) on Wednesday (2 December) at Happy Valley.

Paul Lally:

R1 2-1-6-7
R2 9-1-10-6
R3 4-8-2-10
R4 5-1-7-9
R5 6-1-3-9
R6 4-1-6-9
R7 3-2-1-12
R8 1-6-4-10

Best Bet R7 3 Blastoise
Longshot R4 Happy Time
Play R7 QQP 1-2-3

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Mark McNamara:

A trio of Class 3 handicaps at varying distances caps an eight-race card Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

All are for horses rated 80-60 with race 6 carded at 1,000 meters, race 7 at 1,800 meters, and race 8 at 1,200 meters.

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First post for the card is 7:15 a.m. Eastern. You can bet and watch at DRFBets.com.

King Magnus won consecutive starts in handicap races in Australia in November by stalking the pace and taking the lead in the final furlong.

King Magnus was an 18-1 winner by a nose at Pakenham Racecourse on Nov. 12 and a 20-1 winner by 1 1/4 lengths on the Lakeside course at Sandown Racecourse on Nov. 25.

The same tactical scenario could develop in a seven-furlong handicap at Sandown on Wednesday, although King Magnus will be a fraction of the price. In early betting on Monday, King Magnus was the 5-1 third choice in a field of 15.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, December 02, 2020)

Paul Lally:

R1: 9-2-13-10

R2: 1-2-4-12

R3: 6-4-1-3

R4: 2-5-8-4

R5: 10-8-6-11

R6: 3-4-8-11

R7: 12-11-1-9

R8: 12-10-11-1

R9: 14-13-3-11

R10: 6-1-7-3

Best Bet R9 N14 Chevalier Prince

Longshot R6 N3 Superb Daddy

Play R9 QQP 3-13-14

Tom Wood:

R1:      9-2-7-6

R2:      1-4-6-5

R3:      6-1-3-4

R4:      2-7-1-5
R5:      10-2-1-6

R6:      2-7-10-6

R7:      12-1-11-6

R8:      10-1-11-4

R9:      13-14-11-4

Buddies comes into Sunday’s featured seventh race at Sha Tin after consecutive wins, and he is paying for it in the weights.

Even for a marathon race, the $224,600 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool Racecourse in Australia is a test of stamina.

The race is run at 2 7/8 miles. Not surprisingly, this is a new distance for many of the runners. The Jericho Cup is restricted to Australian- and New Zealand-breds and drew a field of 18, but will have a safety limit of 14 starters.

In a meeting of the young superstar against the established mare, the undefeated Triple Crown winner Contrail has grabbed the role of favorite from Almond Eye in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse.

Contrail, the winner of seven races, will start against older horses for the first time in the $6.21 million Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles against Almond Eye and 13 others, including the undefeated 3-year-old filly Daring Tact. This will be only meeting of the three. Almond Eye is scheduled to be retired after Sunday’s race.