Phoenix of Spain was impossible to catch in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas for 3-year-old milers at the Curragh Racecourse, spoiling a heavily hyped showdown between the Group 1 winners Magna Grecia and Too Darn Hot.
Ridden by Jaime Spencer for trainer Charlie Hills, Phoenix of Spain (16-1) led throughout and won his 3-year-old debut by three lengths over 3-2 co-favorite Too Darn Hot, who finished a half-length in front of 20-1 Decrypt in the field of 14.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, May 26)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Brett Davis
R1: 7-9-5-8
R2: 8-10-2-1
R3: 12-9-4-3
R4: 1-7-12-11
R5: 7-2-4-8
R6: 4-1-7-5
R7: 2-1-9-5
R8: 4-1-5-7
R9: 1-10-5-12
R10: 6-7-9-1
R11: 9-8-1-3
Best Bet - R2: #8 Supreme Plus
Longshot - R11: #9 Cot Campbell
Best Play - R11: Q/Qp 1,3,6,9
Tom Wood
Group 1 racing Sunday at Longchamp showcases the stakes debut of the exciting 3-year-old filly Siyarafina and the seasonal debut of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Wild Illusion.
Siyarafina is one of 11 3-year-old fillies entered to race 1 1/4 miles in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary, an important race itself but also a stepping-stone to the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks. An Aga Khan homebred by Pivotal and out of Siyenica, Siyarafina already has hinted at Group 1-level ability and on Sunday gets to show she actually possesses it.
Surprise, surprise! Aidan O’Brien, Ireland’s leading trainer (if not the world’s) holds a strong hand Sunday in a pair of Group 1 races at The Curragh.
Magical will be favored, Flag of Honour likely the second choice in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, and a race later O’Brien runs four of the 10 fillies entered in the Irish 1000 Guineas. One of those, Hermosa, is the early favorite for this one-mile classic for 3-year-old fillies, while her stablemate Just Wonderful was priced at about 6-1 as of Friday by English bookmakers offering antepost wagering.
They were separated by a head and a nose in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas last month, but Saturnalia, Velox, and Danon Kingly are not considered equals in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.
At least that’s the case if likely betting scenarios are considered. The undefeated Saturnalia is expected to be a heavy favorite, with Danon Kingly and Velox the second and third choices in a field of 18. The $3.8 million Japanese Derby is run at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Damian Lane of Australia will ride Saturnalia for the first time in the Japanese Derby.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, May 26, 2019)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Race 1: #7 Aethero, #9 Judy’s Star, #4 Sparkling Knight, #3 Shadow Breaker
Race 2: #2 Chicken Dance, #7 Victory In Hand, #8 Supreme Plus, #10 Shining Ace
Race 3: #7 Exponents, #1 Majestic Endeavour, #9 Surewin, #5 Sports Master
Race 4: #1 Voyage Warrior, #11 Thanks Forever, #2 Orionids, #7 Goko
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
Brett Davis
R1 – 10-4-1-2
R2 – 5-1-8-2
R3 – 4-1-2-10
R4 – 6-1-12-8
R5 – 9-1-6-12
R6 – 7-6-2-4
R7 – 5-1-9-6
R8 – 11-6-5-1
Best – R4 N6 High Rev
Longshot – R5 N6 Faithful Trinity
Best Play – R5 Q/Qp 1,6,9,12
Andrew Le Jeune
R1: 1-3-10-11
R2: 5-8-1-4
R3: 1-8-2-10
R4: 6-2-1-8
R5: 1-8-3-10
R6: 7-2-1-6
R7: 5-1-3-4
R8: 6-11-8-12
Best: R8 N6 Yee Cheong Baby
Long: R3 N1 Gold Win
It is not easy for a horse to win its debut in Hong Kong in new training and racing surroundings, and sometimes racing at night for the first time.
Yee Cheong Baby, an accomplished runner in Australia in 2017 and 2018, won his first start in Hong Kong in a handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse on April 24 and did so as the 2-1 favorite.
It would be no surprise if Yee Cheong Baby is favored again in his second start in Hong Kong – Wednesday’s $248,432 Suffolk Handicap at six furlongs on turf at Happy Valley.
