Californiadeepshot turned an easy lead into a comfortable victory in his Hong Kong debut in a handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse on Jan. 29.
The win left Californiadeepshot unbeaten in three starts, a career that began with two wins at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia last August and September. The Happy Valley win also exposed Californiadeepshot’s dangerous tactics.
Andrew Le Jeune:
R1: 6-4-8-2
R2: 13-4-5-11
R3: 3-1-11-2
R4: 6-12-1-2
R5: 4-13-5-10
R6: 5-6-3-4
R7: 7-5-2-11
R8: 9-11-14-2
R9: 6-1-9-10
R10: 3-9-14-6
Best: R7 N7 Preciousship
Each/way: R8 N9 Hercules
Play: Q/QP R8 9-11-14
Tom Wood:
Preciousship has made considerable progress since he finished last of 14 in a seven-furlong handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in September.
Since that defeat, Preciousship has won three of four starts and was a troubled second on Dec. 8. The success has left Preciousship with a career-high rating of 93, a ranking that determines race eligibility in Hong Kong’s handicap system.
Benbatl will audition for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup – if not an even richer race before then – when he makes his dirt debut Thursday night at Meydan in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2.
The race, over 1,900 meters (about 9 ½ furlongs) is a Grade 2 worth $450,000, but those particulars are secondary consideration for owner Godolphin, trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and jockey Christophe Soumillon. Benbatl won the $6 million Dubai Turf on the 2018 World Cup card and is a Group 1 winner on three continents, but dirt racing is a land he’s yet to explore.
R1 4-5-9-1
R2 5-6-8-11
R3 6-5-3-11
R4 5-3-9-11
R5 10-5-1-3
R6 2-9-6-4
R7 3-11-2-1
R8 6-8-4-3
Best R7 N3 BEAR AGAIN
Value R3 N6 PERFECT TO PLAY
PLAY - R8 Q 3-4-6-8
Paul Lally:
R1 1-9-5-4
R2 6-8-5-12
R3 2-8-10-3
R4 5-3-1-9
R5 1-5-2-3
R6 6-9-4-12
R7 4-2-11-3
R8 4-8-1-6
Best Bet R8 N4 Meridian Genius
Longshot R3 N2 Harrier Jet
Play R8 1-4-8
Tom Wood:
Aside from his humorous name, Horsesain Bolt is a gelding with considerable ability.
Third in his Hong Kong debut on Jan. 11 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Horsesain Bolt will start at Happy Valley Racecourse for the first time in Wednesday’s $186,699 Russell Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards. Horsesain Bolt, trained by first-year trainer Doug Whyte, is part of a full field of 12 and will be ridden by Karis Teetan. Whyte is the all-time leading rider in Hong Kong who retired in early 2019.
