By Declan Schuster
Excellent Proposal rose to the top of Hong Kong’s four-year-old pecking order with an impressive win in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) this afternoon (Sunday, 24 January), a result that strengthened trainer John Size’s hand for the remaining two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
Paul Lally:
R1: 8-1-14-13
R2: 8-1-13-2
R3: 7-14-4-6
R4: 4-12-6-8
R5: 2-1-5-7
R6: 11-4-6-1
R7: 1-3-5-8
R8: 1-10-7-4
R9: 11-12-9-1
R10: 7-3-1-12
Best Bet: R2 N8 Rainbow Light
Longshot R6 N11 Entrusted
Play R2 QQP 1-8-13
Tom Wood:
R1: 8-2-13-1
R2: 1-8-7-2
R3: 5-7-4-1
R4: 6-8-12-5
R5: 4-1-2-11
R6: 4-1-11-9
R7: 1-5-3-4
R8: 1-6-3-7
R9: 9-4-2-11
R10: 7-3-2-5
The 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival began Thursday night at Meydan with several encouraging performances, none more so than the one from Lord Glitters, who turned back the clock blasting to a three-length victory in the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes over 1,800 meters.
There were positive aspects of the fifth-place finish by Briseur de Couer in a six-furlong handicap at Mornington Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 27.
Briseur de Coeur set the pace and was beaten only a length in his first start in more than 50 weeks, continuing a span of decent form the gelding showed in December of 2019 and January of 2020.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
By Declan Schuster
Jolly Banner might be in the twilight of his career as a nine-year-old but that didn’t stop him from snaring second in last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) against an international field and his recent form has trainer Ricky Yiu brimming with optimism ahead of Sunday’s (24 January) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).
“I’m really happy with him - more than happy, especially because he is a nine-year-old - I think he’ll run very well,” Yiu said.
Sixty, already rated No. 1, goes for 12 straight Sunday at Sha Tin.
Translation, for those not attuned to the Hong Kong racing scene: Golden Sixty, the top-rated horse in Hong Kong, brings an 11-race winning streak into the Group 1 Stewards Cup. The 1,600-meter race is run at level weights, Golden Sixty and jockey Vincent Ho have a fine draw – post 6 in just an eight-horse field – and anything less than an odds-on victory Sunday will come as a serious surprise.
Bandersnatch has had a steady presence in handicaps at major tracks in Australia in the last two months, finishing in the top three in his last three starts.
A win on Nov. 28, a third on Dec. 12, and a second by a nose in Jan. 9 has led to an appearance in Saturday’s $116,250 Carrington Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Bandersnatch is positioned to win his first stakes.
Since Charmmebaby was transferred to trainer Bob Milligan’s stable in Australia in early 2020, the New Zealand-bred mare has won 4 of 10 starts, including her most recent race in November.
Charmmebaby has won at distances ranging from five furlongs to 7 1/2 furlongs since June, a range that gives her an excellent chance in Friday’s Queen of the North Handicap for fillies and mares at Port Macquarie Racecourse north of Sydney.
Charmmebaby has won 4 of 14 starts in her career. She was winless in her first four starts for trainers Tara and Philippe Vigourox in 2019.
A daring mid-race move by Chad Schofield catapulted Maximus into the thick of Four-Year-Old Classic Series contention and this Sunday (24 January) at Sha Tin the striking chestnut is readying for a big-race upset in the first leg of the three-race series, the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile.
