Le Vent Se Leve won the richest race of his career in Sunday’s Grade 1, $1.9 million Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan, beating a field that included the American shipper Pavel.

Pavel, the winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June, finished last in a field of 15. A 26-1 outsider, Pavel stalked the pace before fading in the stretch.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez told Japan Racing Association publicists that Pavel was uncomfortable with the 45-minute gap between saddling and the start of the race.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, December 2)

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis

Brett Davis

R1: 3-8-1-6

R2: 1-5-2-10

R3: 9-2-4-1

R4: 7-2-3-10

R5: 1-7-5-2

R6: 3-1-8-11

R7: 11-8-6-1

R8: 7-6-9-2

R9: 3-9-11-2

R10: 3-11-1-8

Best Bet – R3: #9 Lucky Shiny Day  

Longshot – R7: #11 Nice Kick

Best Play – R6: Q/Qp 1,3,8

Paul Lally

The 4-year-old gelding Ugly Warrior certainly has an attractive race record on the infield dirt course at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Ugly Warrior has won 5 of 6 starts on the surface, and there is no reason to believe he should not be a factor in Sunday’s $249,293 Nathan Handicap at six furlongs on dirt at Sha Tin.

Trained by Me Tsui, Ugly Warrior has won his last two starts, including his only appearance at the current season in a six-furlong handicap on the dirt course at Sha Tin on Oct. 13.

Pavel may be a Grade 1 winner in the United States this year, but he is rated as a longshot for Sunday’s Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.

The $1.9 million Champions Cup is run at about 1 1/8 miles on a left-handed dirt track and will be Pavel’s second trip to Asia this year. He was fourth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March.

“He sure seems to travel really well and hopefully that’s a pro for us,” trainer Doug O’Neill said on Thursday.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, December 2, 2018)

RACE 1: #6 Mi Blanco, #3 Holy Unicorn, #4 Triumphal Win, #7 Sweet Bean

RACE 2: #5 Hainan Star, #2 Shinealot, #7 Strapping Bauhinia, #1 Perfect Match

RACE 3: #9 Lucky Shiny Day, #5 Good Fit, #8 Enjoyable Success, #2 Travel First

RACE 4: #11 Jimson The Famous, #10 Corre Rapido, #7 Dragon Warrior, #4 Royal Prerogative

RACE 5: #1 Happy Tour, #2 Dr Proactive, #12 Jumbo Bus, #9 Dominator

HAPPY VALLEY

(Wednesday, November 28)

Brett Davis

R1: 5-4-6-3

R2: 1-5-7-6

R3: 5-8-9-1

R4: 6-9-3-2

R5: 7-2-8-11

R6: 4-5-12-8

R7: 8-3-2-9

R8: 9-11-3-1

Best Bet – R6: #4 E-Master

Longshot – R2: #1 Cool Army

Best Play – R6: Q/Qp 4,5,12

Paul Lally

R1: 4-6-3-1

R2: 7-1-3-6

R3: 2-1-9-5

R4: 5-2-9-11

R5: 7-9-2-1

R6: 4-5-6-2

R7: 1-3-8-7

R8: 9-7-4-3

The geldings Little Bird and Fantastic Feeling should be easy to spot in the opening furlongs of Wednesday’s $176,380 Elgin Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.

The speedy Little Bird is almost certain to set the pace in the field of 12. He has disputed the pace in recent starts, when he breaks well. The style led to a win in a minor handicap by 3 1/2 lengths at six furlongs at Happy Valley on Nov. 7.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday November 28, 2018)

Almond Eye, who swept the Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies in Japan earlier this year, scored an emphatic win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse to confirm her status as that country’s leading runner.

The win is certain to lead to a 2018 Horse of the Year title for Almond Eye when the prizes are announced in January.

Brett Davis

R1: 2-6-3-5

R2: 3-2-12-13

R3: 4-3-6-5

R4: 10-4-9-6

R5: 4-13-12-11

R6: 10-5-11-6

R7: 13-9-3-11

R8: 7-8-12-5

R9: 8-4-9-1

R10: 9-11-3-1

Best Bet: R4 n10   Ever Laugh  

Longshot: R8   n12   Lucky Guy

Best Play: R8   Q/Qp   7,8,12

Paul Lally

R1: 2-6-4-7

R2: 2-3-5-12

R3: 2-6-1-3

R4: 5-9-13-6

R5: 4-12-11-9

R6: 5-1-6-12

R7: 4-9-3-10

R8: 9-7-6-2

R9: 5-9-4-14

R10: 9-14-11-5

Best Bet: R6 N5 High Rev