HONG KONG – Different trainer, same result.
Mr. Stunning won the Group 1, $2.56 million Hong Kong Sprint in 2017 for trainer John Size, and he won it again Sunday for Size’s former assistant, trainer Frankie Lor, at Sha Tin Racecourse.
It was the first Group 1 for Lor, a Hong Kong national who has carved a solid niche on the local circuit, and a first Hong Kong International Race win for the Mauritius-born jockey Karis Teetan, who had been 0 for 3 in such starts.
HONG KONG – Tony Cruz said all the way through the 4-year-old Championship Series last Hong Kong racing season that Exultant needed at least 1 1/4 miles to show his best. The horse bore out his trainer’s opinion Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, staying gamely to nip the Japanese filly Lys Gracieux and becoming just the second Hong Kong-based winner of the Group 1, $2.56 million Hong Kong Vase.
HONG KONG – It’s true there are no American horses here for the Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, but there are a couple of Americans here with their horse.
Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who reside in Pennsylvania and race as Lael Stable, have traveled from the U.S. to have a first-hand look at One Master in the Group 1, $3.2 million Hong Kong Mile.
One Master won the Group 1 Prix de la Foret in October at Longchamp and finished an admirable fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last month at Churchill Downs.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, December 9)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Brett Davis
R1: 2-9-4-13
R2: 5-12-3-11
R3: 2-5-1-4
R4: 5-1-10-3
R5: 2-5-4-6
R6: 10-11-1-3
R7: 1-4-7-14
R8: 1-9-6-8
R9: 7-6-3-2
R10: 8-7-14-11
Best Bet – R1: #2 Charizard
Longshot – R7: #7 Fifty Fifty
Best Play – Q/Qp: R2 3,5,12
Andrew Le Jeune
HONG KONG – The horse has wide, tender feet that are susceptible to soreness, this Beauty Generation. His personality around the stables at Sha Tin Racecourse comes straight out of cell block A.
“He’s a bit of a head case,” said trainer John Moore. “He’ll savage you; he’ll kick you. You’ve got to get to know him.”
Moore joked he might invest in a heavy padded falconer’s glove for the horse’s groom. Or maybe he wasn’t joking.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, December 9, 2018)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
RACE 1: #2 Charizard, #4 City Legend, #9 Picken, #5 Smart Charade
RACE 2: #5 Jing Jing Win, #6 Regency Legend, #3 Ka Ying Legend, #11 Master Albert
RACE 3: #1 Bigwood, #4 Famous Warrior, #7 Tianchi Monster, #8 Happy Dragon
RACE 4: #2 Pakistan Star, #3 Salouen, #8 Prince Of Arran, #14 Rostropovich
HONG KONG – The name suits him – Beauty Generation.
Not that the gelding, bred in New Zealand and campaigned in Australia before being purchased and sent here to Hong Kong, radiates beauty.
“Tough as nails,” trainer John Moore said. “He’s a big boy. Look up close and you’ll see how big he is. Heavy. Very sound. Not much pedigree, but they breed them tough over there in that great volcanic country.”
HONG KONG – Hong Kong superstar jockey Joao Moreira, having failed to procure a long-term Japanese license this year, returns to the Hong Kong circuit on a regular basis next week. Moreira is in town for the Hong Kong International Races on Sunday but unsurprisingly is keeping a low profile this week.
Brett Davis – Selections
R1 – 5-11-12-9
R2 – 4-2-5-7
R3 – 11-2-10-12
R4 – 1-3-6-8
R5 – 7-6-2-11
R6 – 3-5-1-4
R7 – 2-12-7-1
R8 – 10-3-5-12
R9 – 3-5-11-2
Best – R2 N4 Super Euro Star
Longshot – R3 N11 Gouten Of Garo
Best Play – R8 Q/Qp 3,5,10,12
ANDREW LE JEUNE:
R1: 5-12-1-8
R2: 4-12-7-3
R3: 10-1-3-8
R4: 3-6-1-8
R5: 12-6-7-5
R6: 3-5-9-10
R7: 2-1-5-4
R8: 2-1-4-10
R9: 3-5-2-11
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, December 5, 2018)
RACE 1: #10 Lucky Storm, #3 Best Effort, #5 Wonderful Tiger, #2 The Sylph
RACE 2: #4 Super Euro Star, #5 The Show, #3 Royal Chocolate, #1 Diamond Legend
RACE 3: #4 Hard Promise, #8 Naboo Star, #11 Gouten Of Garo, #5 Energetic Class
RACE 4: #3 Mr Right, #1 General Iron, #7 Royal Racer, #11 Godspeed
RACE 5: #2 Good For You, #6 Marvel Joy, #4 Namjong Invincible, #8 Ishvara
