By Leo Schlink
Angus Chung successfully forged new territory on Sunday (13 April), posting his first Sha Tin treble crowned by Divano’s dominant victory in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Healthy Community Handicap (1400m).
After scoring on Tony Cruz pair Parents’ Love and Gustosisimo, Chung produced a clinical ride on Divano (112lb) in the afternoon’s feature to down Patch Of Theta (127lb) and Taj Dragon (122lb) in 1m 20.69s after trailing Invincible Sage and Drombeg Banner in the run.
SYDNEY – The legendary race mare Winx has company in the record books of Australia racing.
Winx won seven Group 1 races in the 2018-2019 season in the final year of her illustrious career, which included a staggering 37 wins in 43 starts.
On Friday at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Via Sistina equaled Winx’s single-season record of Group 1 wins with her seventh victory at the highest level since August in the $3.08 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles.
Via Sistina is certain to be named Australia’s Horse of the Year for the current season.
By Leo Schlink
David Hayes hopes a change in plans with Rubylot will deliver victory this weekend at Sha Tin as the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner prepares for a tilt at the HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on 27 April.
Hayes had initially scheduled Rubylot to trial over 1600m at Sha Tin on Tuesday (8 April) but after reviewing entries for the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Healthy Community Handicap (1400m) on Sunday (13 April) decided to change tack.
Mark McNamara:
R1 | 6.4.2.5
R2 | 3.4.9.1
R3 | 4.3.7.2
R4 | 4.1.7.8
R5 | 3.1.6.9
R6 | 10.8.7.11
R7 | 3.13.7.4
R8 | 3.5.6.4
R9 | 10.11.1.3
R10 | 1.3.9.12
R11 | 3.4.5.1
Best Bet | R9 N10 Justifying
Longshot | R6 N10 Max Que
Play | FCT R9 10-11
SYDNEY – Via Sistina, the odds-on favorite to win her seventh Group 1 race since late August in Friday’s $3.08 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse, is beatable.
It just does not happen often.
Since she was purchased for approximately $3.5 million in Britain in December 2023, Via Sistina has won 7 of 10 starts. In the last nine months, since the start of the current Australian season, Via Sistina has won six Group 1 races ranging in distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles.
Mark McNamara:
R1 | 2.10.3.1
R2 | 2.11.4.8.
R3 | 2.3.11.8
R4 | 10.11.1.12
R5 | 2.4.3.1
R6 | 8.1.6.9
R7 | 3.9.5.4
R8 | 11.8.7.10
R9 | 7.4.8.9
Best Bet R9 N7 Storm Rider
Longshot R7 N3 Casa Rochester
Play R7 Q/QP 3.5.9
Nick Child:
R1 | 3-2-10-11
R2 | 11-4-8-5
R3 | 7-2-9-11
R4 | 10-2-5-1
R5 | 4-8-5-2
R6 | 8-3-9-6
R7 | 8-4-5-1
R8 | 11-10-7-8
R9 | 4-7-8-12
An in-form David Eustace hopes Colourful King (128lb) can continue to advance when the three-year-old contests the Class 3 Hong Kong China Rugby Cup Handicap (1000m) under Andrea Atzeni on Wednesday night (9 March) at Happy Valley.
Eustace revelled in a first Hong Kong treble on Sunday (7 April) at Sha Tin and the 32-year-old is eyeing more momentum when he saddles four runners – Brave Witness, Colourful King, Jumbo Fortune and Charity Together – at tomorrow’s nine-race card.
Bellagio Opera accented his second consecutive win in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan on Sunday with a course record of 1:56.40 for 1 1/4 miles on turf.
Bellagio Opera raced slightly off the pace in a field of 15 before moving closer to the front in early stretch. Ridden by Kazuo Yokoyama, Bellagio Opera (who paid $7.40 in American pools as the favorite) took the lead with a furlong remaining and finished a length in front of 6-1 Lord Del Rey. Yoho Lake (16-1) finished third, beaten two lengths.
