There are two days of races remaining in Hong Kong’s 2017-18 season, beginning with Wednesday’s eight-race program at Happy Valley Racecourse. The season ends on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse. The 2018-19 season begins in early September.
Wednesday’s leading race is the $237,003 Sun Jewellery Handicap at six furlongs on turf, which will have 12 starters.
Intellogent, a close fourth in the French Derby at 1 5/16 miles at Chantilly last month, thrived at a shorter distance in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jean Prat for 3-year-old milers at Deauville, taking the lead in the final furlong to prevail by about a head in a 10-1 upset.
Cascadian (6-1) closed well to finish second, a length in front of 3-1 Gustav Klimt. Wusool, the 2-1 favorite, set the pace but could not sustain the advantage in the final furlong. Wusool finished fourth by 2 1/4 lengths.
Roaring Lion edged Saxon Warrior by a neck in Saturday’s Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, outside of London, a result that was scrutinized by the stewards in an inquiry before the outcome was allowed to stand.
Roaring Lion, third in the English Derby last month, was the 7-4 favorite, a slight choice over 2-1 Saxon Warrior, the winner of the English 2000 Guineas in May. The race lost its future-book favorite on Friday when English Derby winner Masar was scratched after he was found to have inflammation in a leg.
Stimulation beat all but one while making his Hong Kong debut on June 10, and in Sunday’s featured fourth race at Sha Tin, he might well beat them all.
Stimulation is top rated at 91 in a field of eight entered to run 2,000 meters in a Class 2 handicap for horses rated between 80 and 100. Stimulation has Tommy Berry riding for trainer Tony Cruz and carries 129 pounds, conceding only a couple to his primary rivals.
Gustav Klimt has a final chance to win a Group 1 race for 3-year-old milers in Europe in Sunday’s $469,680 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, France.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partnership, Gustav Klimt was sixth in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5, third in the Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh on May 26, and third in the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19. Those were all Group 1 races at a mile for 3-year-olds.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, July 8, 2018)
RACE 1: #6 Ruletheroost, #12 Witness Hunter, #8 Romantic Bonanza, #3 Nordic Warrior
RACE 2: #10 Snowhooves, #6 Corre Rapido, #2 Ever Strong, #4 Ambitious Speedy
RACE 3: #1 The Full Bloom, #6 Young Dreamer, #7 Yourthewonforme, #10 Chaparral Star
RACE 4: #4 Glorious Forever, #2 Insayshable, #1 Stimulation, #5 Super Chic
RACE 5: #4 Bellagio, #2 Khaki, #7 Cordyceps, #8 Lightning Treasure
Masar, the 16-1 upset winner of the English Derby on June 2, will start against older horses for the first time in Saturday’s Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, outside of London.
While Masar will race against three older horses in the $1,045,200 Eclipse Stakes at about 1 1/4 miles, his biggest rivals are fellow 3-year-olds Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior.
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, July 4, 2018)
Brett Davis
R1: 7-9-1-2
R2: 9-11-4-1
R3: 6-1-2-11
R4: 6-5-11-8
R5: 11-8-3-12
R6: 11-1-12-10
R7: 1-9-7-11
R8: 2-8-1-12
Best Bet - R5: #11 Smart Baby
Longshot - R1: #7 Paddington
Best Play - R1: Q/QP 1,2,7,9
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, July 4, 2018)
RACE 1: #1 Showing Character, #10 Carry To Win, #9 Rugby Diamond, #2 Peace On Earth
RACE 2: #5 Sparkling Sword, #4 Open House, #9 Gold Velvet, #11 Victory Follow Me
RACE 3: #1 Roman Odyssey, #5 Dr Race, #11 Formula Galore, #8 Lunar Zephyr
RACE 4: #5 Amazing Race, #6 Noble Delight, #1 Peace N Prosperity, #8 Telecom Man
Nine days after finishing a fast-closing second in a handicap at six furlongs, Calculation will start at a mile and 50 yards in Wednesday’s $237,087 Waratah Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong.
The Waratah Handicap, the last of an eight-race program, will play a key role in the jockey’s race for the Hong Kong season, which ends on July 15. Calculation will be ridden by Joao Moreira, who begins Wednesday’s card with 125 wins, three less than leader Zac Purton.
Moreira has won the riding title the last three years in Hong Kong.