Almond Eye gave Lucky Lilac her first loss when they finished first and second in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at Hanshin Racecourse in April.

They meet for the second time in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse and there is likely to be very little between the two fillies, in terms of betting.

Lucky Lilac, a winner of four of five starts and the champion 2-year-old filly of 2017 in Japan, is expected to be a slight favorite over Almond Eye, who is unbeaten in two starts this year, including a Grade 3 stakes in January.

Rise High just did, raising his official rating in Hong Kong by eight points on the strength of a 1 3/4-length win April 29 to 92.

Rise High runs back at the same level, a class 2 handicap open to horses rated 80 to 100, and at the same 1,600-meter distance, but picks up seven pounds when he starts in the featured Tourmaline Handicap on Sunday at Sha Tin.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Sunday, May 20, 2018)

RACE 1: #1 Bullish Glory, #6 Audacity, #9 King Bountiful, #2 Cloud Nine

RACE 2: #13 Snowhooves, #6 Golden Cannon, #9 Otouto, #5 Triumphal Trumpet

RACE 3: #2 Solar Patch, #8 Top Beautiful, #3 Volitation, #6 Lady First

RACE 4: #1 Starship, #3 Leisured Feet, #14 Top Ace, #4 Bossiee

RACE 5: #3 Montreal, #2 Mr Lumieres, #1 Money Boy, #8 Wayfoong Vinnie

Four horses that ran in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar last November, including Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron and Mile second-place finisher Lancaster Bomber, are part of a strong field of 16 in Saturday’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at a mile at Newbury Racecourse in England.

As of Thursday, the favorite in future-book betting was Rhododendron, the only filly in the field, who was fourth on April 29 in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, her lone start this year.

Roaring Lion has emerged as a clear second choice in the future book for the English Derby on June 2 after winning Thursday’s Group 2 Dante Stakes at York Racecourse in England.

Ridden by Oisin Murphy for trainer John Gosden, Roaring Lion (the 3-1 favorite) stalked the pace early in the 1 5/16-mile race before taking the lead with a little less than a quarter-mile remaining. Roaring Lion was not challenged in the final sixteenth and won by 4 1/2 lengths over pacesetter Mildenberger, a stakes winner at Newmarket last month.

SEOUL, South Korea – Around the world, racing industries are grappling with many similar problems, as can be obvious to any attendee at an international racing conference. An urgent one, the aftercare of horses, took center stage on Thursday on the closing day of the Asian Racing Conference, held this week in Seoul, South Korea.

SEOUL, South Korea – Laboratories associated with racing have developed tests and methods that will be able to detect illegal gene doping and gene editing in racehorses, according to speakers on Wednesday at the Asian Racing Conference in Seoul, South Korea.

The stakes winners Roaring Lion and Crossed Baton give trainer John Gosden the two leading choices in early betting for Thursday’s Group 2 Dante Stakes at York Racecourse in England, a key prep for the English Derby at Epsom Downs on June 2.

Crossed Baton was the 9-2 second choice in early betting for the Dante on Thursday, but is coming off an important win in the minor Blue Riband Trial at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Epsom on April 25. The English Derby is run at 1 1/2 miles. The Dante Stakes is run at 1 5/16 miles and drew a field of nine.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS

(Wednesday, May 16)

Brett Davis
R1: 5-10-11-1
R2: 5-9-7-3
R3: 8-1-2-9
R4: 3-1-2-9
R5: 2-1-10-12
R6: 10-6-7-2
R7: 2-1-4-3
R8: 5-6-1-11
Best Bet - R2: #5 Split Of A Second
Longshot - R1: 5 Starlit Night
Best Play - R1: Q/Qp 5,10,11

SEOUL, South Korea – Racing authorities around the world should collectively agree to unite behind principles of a “global brand” in order to protect the sport in the face of rapidly changing economies and the evolution of consumer tastes and spending patterns throughout the world, speakers at the Asian Racing Conference said during presentations on Tuesday, the opening day of the international forum.