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)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming
The 2-year-old filly Queen of Style recorded consecutive wins within three weeks last November and December before the warm Australian summer began.
Last month, days before the Southern Hemisphere autumn, Queen of Style was second in a handicap at Callaghan Park in Rockhampton, a prep for Tuesday’s Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic, a sale-progeny race at six furlongs at the same venue.
Queen of Style has raced only at Rockhampton in her four starts. The track is home base for her trainer, Fred Smith.
Beauty Generation’s steady presence as an elite racehorse in Hong Kong stood in stark contrast Sunday to the more typical volatility to which even the most talented horses are susceptible.
Favored Waikuku took a major step backward finishing sixth in the Group 2, $548,270 Chairman’s Cup run spectator-free at Sha Tin. Waikuku had beaten Beauty Generation when last they met, but while Beauty Generation might not be quite the horse he was a year ago, he never has dropped off much, and consistency of performance is one quieter characteristic of a true star.
I’m a Cracker didn’t debut until March 12, winning a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs by nearly two lengths at Gunnedah, Australia.
The lack of race experience may work in the favor of the 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding with a light weight assignment in Monday’s Emirates Park Handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Scone Race Club. Gunnedah and Scone are about 80 miles apart, northwest of Sydney.
Nettoyer, a pizza-eating 7-year-old mare, closed from well of the pace to record a shocking 55-1 win in Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia. The victory was the first win at the highest level for trainer Wendy Roche and jockey James Innes Jr.
Notteyer, a Group 3 winner at Randwick on March 7, paid $112.70 to win in North American pools. Nettoyer finished a half-length in front of Star of the Seas, who was a short head in front of Brandenburg in the field of 20.
Paul Lally:
R1: 5-4-1-9
R2: 11-3-2-6
R3: 2-1-5-3
R4: 5-8-2-12
R5: 9-5-10-6
R6: 1-9-5-6
R7: 8-1-6-2
R8: 4-3-11-8
R9: 4-8-7-6
R10: 14-13-1-5
Best Bet R5 N9 Savvy Nine
Longshot R10 N14 Such A Happiness
Play R5 QQP 5-9-10
Tom Wood:
R1: 1 – 4 – 6 – 5
R2: 11 – 3 – 2 – 9
R3: 2 – 1 – 7 – 3
R4: 5 – 2 – 7 – 8
R5: 10 – 4 – 9 – 1
A mere two races into her career, Zeftabrook may have the sufficient experience needed to win the $120,000 Wellington Boot Showcase at 5 1/2 furlongs at Wellington Racecourse in Australia.
The race has a post time of 2:35 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 11:35 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. There are four Australian programs late Saturday and early Sunday. Wagering is available at DRFBets.com.
Beauty Generation does his best work at the front of the pack and for well more than a year has been the top-rated horse in Hong Kong. Waikuku does his running late in the game, and he is coming hard for Beauty Generation’s place atop the Hong Kong mile division.
