A seven-pound break in the weights makes Casino Mondial an attractive starter in Sunday’s Grafton Cup for milers at Grafton Racecourse in Australia.
Casino Mondial, a winner of 6 of 18 starts, will carry 123 pounds, seven less than topweight Jazzland, who is rated as another leading contender in the field of 14. Trained by Michael Byers, Casino Mondial has won three of his last five starts. He was third by a half-length in the Wingham Cup at a mile at Taree Racecourse on June 5.
All In Mind should have winning on his mind in the featured 11th race Sunday at Sha Tin.
A 3-year-old facing older rivals, All In Mind is favorably weighted, well drawn, and in good form for this Class 2 handicap over 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on turf.
As of Thursday, it was difficult to predict the favorite for the $86,500 Bright Shadow Stakes or $58,850 Tattersall’s Club Stakes at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Australia on Saturday.
There were too many contenders.
Australian bookmakers had 5-1 favorites in both races on Thursday, and that could easily change before racing.
At a glance, English King looks like a pretender to the throne of English Derby favorite. A seventh at Newmarket, a win at Newcastle, another in a listed race at Lingfield: That’s the résumé of the horse favored to win the Derby on Saturday at Epsom.
Yes, 2020 has been a year like none other, so why not a Derby favorite who never has run in a group race and whose trainer, Ed Walker, has his first Derby starter.
Lake’s Folly had little chance to win a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse in Australia on June 6. In a field of six, Lake’s Folly closed from fifth to be a clear second behind pacesetter Lombardo, who was a heavy favorite and won by a comfortable three lengths.
Lake’s Folly has won 2 of 7 starts and will be favored to end a two-race losing streak in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Bendigo Racecourse. Trained by Anthony Freedman, Lake’s Folly won a six-furlong handicap in April in his first start since mid-December. He is a threat from off the pace.
Riding Snitzinnati in a handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse in Australia on Thursday will be a welcome distraction for jockey James Innes Jr.
Snitzinnati won 2 of 3 starts in February and March with Innes aboard. The 3-year-old Australian-bred filly will be at the top of the betting market in a five-furlong handicap.
Paul Lally
R1: 1 2 9 8
R2: 12 11 2 8
R3: 2 7 1 5
R4: 4 5 7 11
R5: 10 2 9 4
R6: 12 10 6 1
R7: 2 1 5 8
R8: 5 3 6 10
R9: 12 7 3 9
R10: 14 4 9 7
Best Bet R6 N12 Wayfoong Charmer
Longshot R5 N10 Sparkling Star
Play R6 QQP 6 10 12
The rivalry between Columbus County and Hello Daddy might not be long term, but it’s definitely long distance.
The two horses met twice during 2019 at Te Rapa Racecourse in New Zealand and renew their acquaintance about 5,700 miles away on Wednesday at Sha Tin. The pair starts in the featured eighth race, the Hong Kong Unification Cup, a Class 2 handicap for horses rated 100 to 80 carded for 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) around one turn on turf.
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming
Mark McNamara:
R1 – 9.5.11.3
R2 – 10.9.2.1
R3 – 1.3.10.12
R4 – 13.12.7.5
R5 – 13.3.1.9
R6 – 3.2.4.9
R7 – 8.1.7.2
R8 – 13.8.7.1
R9 – 6.9.13.4
R10 – 1.8.11.2
Best Bet – R4 N13 Bright Vision
Longshot – R5 N13 Winning Together
Play – R4 – Q/QPL- 5.7.12.13
Andrew Le Jeune:
R1: 2-9-6-3
R2: 2-1-9-13
R3: 12-3-7-5
R4: 7-12-3-4
R5: 1-9-5-3
R6: 2-3-14-11
R7: 12-1-7-3
R8: 7-1-8-5
R9: 6-1-8-13
R10: 11-3-8-14
