Twilight Payment, who raced earlier this year with mixed results in Saudi Arabia and Ireland, led throughout Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup to record a surprise win in Australia’s most famous race.

Ridden by Jye McNeil for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien, Twilight Payment ($58.70 in American pools) was fully extended in the final sixteenth of the two-mile race to prevail by a half-length over 4-1 favorite Tiger Moth, trained by Joseph O’Brien’s father, Aidan.

Paul Lally:

R1 1-12-5-2
R2 4-11-2-6
R3 1-5-2-3
R4 3-1-7-11
R5 6-9-2-5
R6 10-3-2-8
R7 4-6-1-2
R8 1-3-6-12

Best Bet R7 N4 Czarson
Long Shot R6 N10 Party Genius
Play R7 QQP 1-4-6

Tom Wood:

R1: 1-9-5-10
R2: 4-6-1-11
R3: 1-3-5-8
R4: 3-1-11-12
R5: 9-6-2-5
R6: 8-2-3-10
R7: 1-2-3-4
R8: 6-3-1-2

BEST: R8 – 6 RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE (EW)
VALUE: R5 – 9 WINNING STRIKES (EW)
PLAY: R8 – QQP 1,3,6

The last time Kings Shield raced at about a mile on the infield dirt track at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong he led throughout to win a handicap in late May.

Kings Shield lost three subsequent starts, two turf races at Happy Valley and Sha Tin in June and July and a seventh-place finish in a six-furlong handicap on dirt at Sha Tin on Oct. 18.

The $140,400 Goulburn Cup, take 2, will be run on Wednesday at Goulburn Racecourse in New South Wales, Australia, southwest of Sydney.

At least that’s the plan.

The Goulburn Cup was scheduled for Sunday, but was postponed until mid-week because of rain.

The field has maintained its two leading candidates in Man of Peace and Handle the Truth.

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SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, November 4, 2020)

Paul Lally:

R1 1-3-2-8

R2 4-8-7-11

R3 5-4-2-12

R4 2-6-1-8

R5 3-4-1-8

R6 14-5-11-6

R7 5-7-1-10

R8 2-6-8-1

R9 11-9-8-4

R10 11-9-12-2

Best Bet R5 N3 Galactic

Longshot R9 N11 Like That

Play Race9 8-9-11

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Andrew Le Jeune:

R1: 4-5-1-8

R2: 4-9-7-8

R3: 5-4-1-3

R4: 4-2-10-6

R5: 3-8-4-1

Almond Eye will be in a familiar position at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan on Sunday, a heavy favorite for the autumn running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Last year, Almond Eye won her sixth Grade 1 or Group 1 race in the autumn Tenno Sho, her final win in a season that included a victory in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Sunday, Almond Eye is part of a field of 12 in the $2.76 million Tenno Sho, which could serve as a prep for the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 29.

Man of Peace and Handle the Truth were separated by about a head when they finished third and fourth in the $912,600 Kosciuzko Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 17.

Heavily favored It’s Me won for the fourth consecutive start in the Kosciuzko, a six-furlong race restricted to horses trained in the states of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Man of Peace and Handle the Truth were beaten about 1 1/4 lengths.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, November 1, 2020)

Through 2020, the Australian mare Sky Call has raced in lucrative handicaps or restricted races, winning once and finishing second or third three times in eight starts.

Sky Call has not won since February, a span of five races, and will get a reprieve from the tougher competition when she starts in a minor handicap at seven furlongs at Wagga Wagga Racecourse in New South Wales on Friday.

Sky Call, trained by Mitchell Beer, is part of a field of 12, and rates as a leading hopeful along with probable favorite Zelago and the 8-year-old gelding Thistledo.