There’s a respite from stakes racing on Sunday at Sha Tin, but plenty of talent entered in the featured 11th race, a Class 2 handicap for horses rated 100-80 and carded around one turn at 1,400 meters – about seven furlongs.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, April 12, 2020)

The five-pound spread between Angelic Ruler and Flirtini may play a role in Friday’s $62,300 Marjorie Charleson Classic for fillies and mares at six furlongs at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia.

Flirtini, who will carry top weight of 132 pounds, and Angelic Ruler, at 127 pounds, will have their first starts of 2020 on Friday after campaigns in group stakes in 2019.

International runners will dominate the betting in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, but a local filly should be a danger.

Danon Premium, a five-time stakes winner in Japan, and Addeybb, a three-time stakes winner in England, were the leading choices in future-book betting Wednesday.

Group stakes and seven-figure races in Australia have been too difficult for the 3-year-old gelding Scout in recent months.

Scout, who starts as the highweight in Thursday’s TAB Queenland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme 3-year-old Handicap at Gold Coast Racecourse, has won 3 of 10 starts in his career.

The first four Classic races on the English calendar have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced Tuesday.

The English 1000 and 2000 Guineas, scheduled for May 2 and May 3 at Newmarket, and the Oaks and Derby at Epsom on June 5 and June 6 won’t be run as scheduled, the Jockey Club said in a news release.

Race organizers are considering alternative dates later in the year for the races. All racing in England has ceased through the month of April, though the sport still hopes to resume racing operations in May.

Selections for Hong Kong racing on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at Happy Valley Racecourse.

Paul Lally

R1: 1-8-9-11

R2: 4-2-3-8

R3: 4-6-2-5

R4: 1-3-8-10

R5: 10-1-5-2

R6: 9-8-7-1

R7: 3-6-7-1

R8: 4-2-10-3

Best Bet: Race 8 - 4 Gentle Breeze

Longshot: Race 2 - 4 My Family

Play: Race qqp 2-4-10

In Europe, Surrey Thunder was a minor stakes winner in France, third in Group 3 races in France and Germany, and fifth in the German Derby, all in 2019.

In Australia this year, Surrey Thunder was fourth in his debut in the country, in a handicap at Rosehill Gardens on March 28. Now trained by Chris Waller, who looked after the world famous mare Winx, Surrey Thunder will have his second start in Australia in the Vinery Handicap at a mile at Warwick Farms Racecourse on Wednesday.

They’re busting down the doors to get into the featured eighth race Wednesday night at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong, with an overflow field of 14 entered in a wildly competitive Class 2 handicap.

Twelve can start in this 1,000-meter race around one turn that’s open to horses rated 100-80 in the Hong Kong handicap system; Seven Heavens and Styling City are stand-by starters, Hong Kong’s version of North American also-eligibles.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, April 8, 2020)

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