Exultant capped a sterling Hong Kong season Sunday at Sha Tin, winning the Group 1, $1.27 million Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup by 1 1/4 lengths.
Champion jockey Zac Purton gave Exultant a perfect trip while recording one of his six winners on the 11-race program. Purton also rode Little Giant to victory in the card’s supporting feature, the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap.
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
