SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Saturday, October 24, 2020)

Less than a week after a fourth-place finish in the $10.7 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, last Saturday, Trekking runs in Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, attempting to win his third Grade 1 in the last 17 months.

A familiar rival poses a major threat.

Pippie, a 5-year-old Australian-bred mare, beat Trekking by three-quarters of a length in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley on Sept. 25. Trekking closed from ninth in a field of 12 to finish second.

With a slightly battered reputation, Russian Camelot will start favored in Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Australia in a final prep for the Melbourne Cup on Nov. 3.

At times in recent months, Russian Camelot has been at the top of the future book for the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most famous race. But a second at 2-5 to the five-time stakes winner Arcadia Queen in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 10 left him relegated behind runners such as Tiger Moth and Surprise Baby on the list.

A six-month gap between starts, and the addition of a tongue tie, has revived the career of Atherton, a 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding who will start favored in a handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse outside of Sydney on Thursday.

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

Best Bet R8 N7 Prince Of Gems
Longshot R1 N9 universal Record
Play R8 QQP 1 5 6

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

A trio of Class 3 handicaps, spread over three distances, round out the Wednesday racing action at Happy Valley in Hong Kong this week.

The Hong Kong Racing week takes a slight turn from standard with the weekend program scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23, at Sha Tin rather than the usual Sunday.

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

Wednesday’s eight-race program starts at 7:15 a.m. Eastern with live video and wagering at DRFBets.com.

The European import Ashrun needs a win in Wednesday’s Group 3 Geelong Cup at Geelong Racecourse in Australia to help his chances of making the 24-horse field for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup on Nov. 3.

Ghaiyyath, a four-time Group 1 winner in England and Germany, has been retired and will miss the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 7, according to a statement released on Monday by owner Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing.

Ghaiyyath was diagnosed with muscle soreness following a workout in England over the weekend, the statement said.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, October 21, 2020)

Paul Lally:

R1: 1-4-3-7

R2: 5-14-2-6

R3: 1-6-4-7

R4: 5-6-2-13

R5: 7-1-4-12

R6: 11-9-1-7

R7: 4-1-2-8

R8: 4-2-6-1

R9: 6-3-10-2

R10: 8-5-13-9

Best Bet R9 N6 Chicken Dance

Longshot R6 N11 Super Kin

Play R6 QQP 1-9-11

Andrew Le Jeune:

R1: 1-8-4-6

R2: 5-14-6-1

R3: 7-6-1-4

R4: 5-13-2-4

R5: 1-4-7-12

R6: 3-2-1-9

R7: 1-4-2-6

R8: 8-4-2-5

R9: 6-3-10-2

R10: 8-13-9-2

Best: R4 N5 Seaweed Fortune