The 3-year-olds Barney Roy, Cliffs of Moher, and Eminent will race outside their age group for the first time in Saturday’s Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Sandown Park, south of London.
Judging from their positions in the future-book market, they are more than ready for a new test in the $647,500 race.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, July 9, 2017)
RACE 1: #11 Lucky Stryker, #8 Bingo, #1 Lucky Master, #2 Chater Thunder
RACE 2: #4 Hastily Feet, #5 Unique Joyful, #9 Plain Blue Banner, #11 Yourthewonforme
RACE 3: #1 Wushu Champion, #2 Jolly Bountiful, #3 Experto Crede, #5 Cool And Neat
RACE 4: #2 Star Superior, #1 High Energy, #6 Respect, #7 Giddy Giddy
Nezwaah won the first Group 1 race of her career in Sunday’s $256,792 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf, beating a field that included Zhukova, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park on May 13.
Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Nezwaah (13-2) closed from the back of a field of 10 to win by 3 1/4 lengths over 6-1 Rain Goddess, one of two fillies in the field trained by Aidan O’Brien. Turret Rocks, a 25-1 outsider, finished third, a head in front of Zhukova, in the race held at the Curragh in Ireland.
The deck keeps getting shuffled, but Aidan O’Brien still holds all the right cards.
O’Brien upset the Epsom Derby last month with longshot bomber Wings of Eagles, who beat his better-fancied stablemate Cliffs of Moher. On Saturday, it was Wings of Eagles who was favored in the Group 1, $977,652 Irish Derby, but O’Brien won it with Capri, who was ridden at The Curragh by Seamie Heffernan.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Saturday, July 1)
Brett Davis
Race 1: 12-4-7-1
Race 2: 4-10-6-7
Race 3: 8-1-12-3
Race 4: 2-8-4-6
Race 5: 2-1-5-4
Race 6: 6-9-3-10
Race 7: 2-1-3-12
Race 8: 8-12-5-6
Race 9: 10-4-7-13
Race 10: 6-12-9-14
Best - Race 5: #2 All You Need
Longshot - Race 3: #8 Holy Unicorn
Best Play - Race 5: Q/Qp 1,2,5
Paul Lally
Race 1: 12-4-7-14
Race 2: 4-1-9-2
Zhukova had a successful journey from Ireland to New York last month, winning the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes against males at Belmont Park on May 13.
Her next assignment is much closer to home – Sunday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at The Curragh in Ireland. Zhukova won the Man o’ War on a very soft course and is expected to get a similar type of ground Sunday.
My Darling, a 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, ended a four-race losing streak with a comfortable win in the Viva Pataca Handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on May 28.
The win may be the start of a new streak. My Darling will carry topweight of 133 pounds in Saturday’s $224,195 Hong Kong Reunification Cup at Sha Tin, which is run at seven furlongs on turf.
My Darling will be ridden by leading rider Joao Moreira for leading trainer John Size. They have been a potent team in Hong Kong this year, winning at a 23 percent clip.
He won the Epsom Derby as a 40-1 shot with little-known jockey Padraig Beggy on his back, but can Wings of Eagles score again Saturday at The Curragh under Ryan Moore as one of the favorites in the Group 1 Irish Derby?
His trainer, in his unique way, is due to win the 1 1/2-mile race; Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby drought stands at two long years. Before that, O’Brien had won the Irish Derby every season between 2008 and 2014, and Wings of Eagles is one of five O’Brien-trained entrants in the nine-horse Derby who could give him a 10th win.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Saturday, July 1, 2017)
RACE 1: #12 Hurricane Hunter, #2 None Other, #7 Leisured Feet, #9 Remarkable
RACE 2: #3 Super Euro Star, #4 Bright Star, #9 Golden Cannon, #8 Bonheur
RACE 3: #2 Rhode Assassin, #9 Invisible, #1 Consistent, #8 Holy Unicorn
RACE 4: #1 Bullish Glory, #2 Ensuring, #8 Gorgeous Again, #6 Best Reward
RACE 5: #2 All You Need, #4 Regency Darling, #1 Amazing Moment, #9 Southern Express
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, June, 28)
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, and analysis
Brett Davis
Race 1: 3-2-6-4
Race 2: 5-1-7-6
Race 3: 7-1-8-4
Race 4: 7-5-4-1
Race 5: 5-10-3-11
Race 6: 3-5-4-6
Race 7: 5-11-6-4
Race 8: 6-5-3-11
Best Bet - Race 5: #5 Peace N Prosperity
Longshot - Race 2: #5 Goal For Gold
Best Play - Race 2: Q/QP 1,5,7
