Simply Brilliant won consecutive starts in minor handicaps at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in February and March with jockey Zac Purton aboard. When Olivier Doleuze took the mount in a handicap at Sha Tin on April 29, Simply Brilliant was fourth behind Rise High, who was ridden by Purton, the leading rider in Hong Kong.

Purton is back aboard Simply Brilliant in Saturday’s $236,975 Lung Mun Road Handicap at a mile on turf at Sha Tin. Rise High is not in the race, but figures prominently in the recent starts of several contenders.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, June 16, 2018)

RACE 1: #1 Triumphant Jewel, #2 Goko, #6 Lightning Steed, #12 Massive Move

RACE 2: #1 Sky Treasure, #5 I'm A Witness, #7 Peace On Earth, #12 Snowhooves

RACE 3: #5 Impeccable Fellow, #4 Team Spirit, #12 Super Euro Star, #10 Regency Darling

RACE 4: #1 Hard Ball Get, #8 Fire And Gold, #7 Emerald Spur, #2 Endearing

With the Hong Kong racing scene still reeling from the news that champion jockey Joao Moreira will leave the jurisdiction for Japan following this season, Hot King Prawn will try to reel off another win in the featured Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday night.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, June 13)

Brett Davis
R1: 1-4-6-11
R2: 7-3-2-1
R3: 3-5-4-8
R4: 5-2-12-9
R5: 3-12-1-11
R6: 7-8-5-11
R7: 3-5-1-12
R8: 8-12-1-4
Best Bet - R8: #8 Encore Boy
Longshot - R2: #7 Spinning Dancer
Best Play - R2: Q/QP 2,3,7

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, June 13, 2018)

RACE 1: #2 My Blessing, #1 Aeroluminance, #4 Penzance, #3 Sweet Bean

RACE 2: #3 Photon Willie, #2 Go Go Win, #1 Heroic Guru, #5 Kiram

RACE 3: #8 Noble Delight, #6 Junzi, #3 Split Of A Second, #11 Formula Galore

RACE 4: #5 Buoyant Boy, #9 Thou Shall Sing, #12 Master Viking, #2 Flying Monkey

RACE 5: #6 High Five, #1 Starlight, #3 Fantastic Feeling, #7 Zero Hedge

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, June 10)

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

Brett Davis
R1: 2-3-1-5
R2: 8-11-6-1
R3: 5-3-8-10
R4: 8-2-4-9
R5: 2-6-1-4
R6: 6-1-2-7
R7: 8-7-10-5
R8: 1-7-3-2
R9: 1-10-2-11
R10: 6-3-7-10
R11: 7-2-5-8
Best Bet - R10: #6 Big Bully E/W
Longshot - R2: #8 Soccer Brave
Best Play - R5: Q 2/1,6

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, June 10, 2018)

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

RACE 1: #2 Super Model, #3 Quadruple Double, #7 Touchdown Striker, #6 Thanks Forever

RACE 2: #11 Jimson The Famous, #4 Happy Beauty, #6 Mi Blanco, #7 The Invincible

RACE 3: #1 Showing Character, #10 Otouto, #3 Yourthewonforme, #8 Scarborough Fair

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, June 6)

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

Brett Davis
R1: 9-11-3-5
R2: 2-7-6-3
R3: 4-1-11-2
R4: 4-10-2-8
R5: 8-1-11-4
R6: 3-1-8-10
R7: 4-12-11-2
R8: 5-7-10-4
Best Bet - R1: #9 The Legend
Longshot - R8: #5 Top Laurels
Best Play - R4: Trio 4/1,2,8,10

Three-year-old Beckford came out of a recent workout with a leg fracture and won’t be making his intended start in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot later this month.

Trainer Brendan Walsh said that successful surgery was performed on Beckford on Monday and there is hope for a full recovery and a return to racing next year.

“It’s something he should be able to recover from, but obviously it’s disappointing,” said Walsh.

The 2018 Royal Ascot meeting begins June 19, and 14 American-bases horses, led by 10 from the Wesley Ward barn, are set to make the trip.

In addition to the 10 Ward-trained runners, Yoshida runs in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of the meeting; Bucchero in the King’s Stand, also on opening day; and Beckford and Gidu in the Commonwealth Cup, a six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds. All of the races are Group 1.