The free-running filly Hyannis Port may prove impossible to catch in a six-furlong handicap Tuesday at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia.
In her last two starts in May and June, Hyannis Port raced on or near the front and finished second, beaten a length in both races.
In Tuesday’s race, Hyannis Port may not face significant pressure in a field of 12. Many of the other runners are stalkers or race from the back of the field.
A three-race winning streak in recent months has left Jungle Book in a precarious situation in a handicap at 1 9/16 miles at Wagga Wagga Racecourse in Australia on Monday.
A 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Jungle Book has understandably risen in the official handicap ratings through the winning streak, resulting in higher weight assignments. Monday, Jungle Book is the 133-pound topweight in a field of 12. Jungle Book was assigned 140 pounds, but the presence of apprentice jockey Georgina McDonnell reduced the weight.
If Serpentine was meant to be a pacemaker for a more highly regarded Aidan O’Brien-trained runner in the Epsom Derby, they forgot to tell him.
Serpentine snaked out to a large early advantage and as furlong after furlong of the 1 ½-mile English classic unfurled, it became more and more apparent he wasn’t stopping. Clear a half-mile out, well in front a quarter-mile from the finish, and home a 5 1/2-length winner, Serpentine gave O’Brien an eighth Derby but very much a first for 30-year-old Irish jockey Emmet McNamara, riding his first Derby.
Mark McNamara:
R1 – 3.1.4.2
R2 – 7.10.9.4.
R3 – 2.7.13.1.
R4 – 1.10.4.6.
R5 – 4.9.8.2
R6 – 12.2.5.7
R7 – 3.4.1.13
R8 – 4.7.5.8
R9 – 1.5.8.4
R10 – 13.4.2.9
R11 – 11.10.8.2
Best Bet R8 N4 California Concord
Longshot R9 N5 Sun of Makfi
Play R8 – Q/QPL – 4.5.7
Tom Wood:
R1: 4-8-3-1
R2: 7-6-1-11
R3: 2-3-7-9
R4: 1-10-4-5
R5: 7-6-4-9
R6: 12-2-5-9
R7: 3-8-2-1
R8: 4-6-3-5
An American owner landed the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club in 2019, and an American stallion could produce this year’s winner.
Owner Peter Brant watched Sottsass triumph last summer, and while Brant has no runner in Sunday’s renewal of France’s Derby, Ocean Atlantique, a prime player for trainer Andre Fabre, was sired by American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
The great mare Enable dives right into the deep end of the pool when she makes her 6-year-old debut Sunday at Sandown in a crackling renewal of the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes over 1 1/4 miles.
Enable began her 2019 season winning the Eclipse over the excellent filly Magical, but principal rival Ghaiyyath could pose an even greater challenge Sunday.
The question for Enable is whether she’s had too much time between starts, this being her first race since finishing second to Waldgeist on Oct. 6 in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
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.
