HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday May 17, 2017)

Brametot came charging out of the back of the pack from the stand’s side and converged in the final yards with Le Brivido, who was running on the opposite side of the Deauville course. The two 3-year-olds came together in the final half-furlong of the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Sunday, and Brametot came away with a nose victory.

The unheralded Precieuse proved much the best Saturday at Deauville in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliche, the French 1000 Guineas, running out a 1 3/4-length winner over English raider Sea of Grace.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Heuristique in third, with Wajnah another head behind in fourth. Aidan O’Brien ran fifth and sixth with Rain Goddess and Roly Poly, while the favored Senga was on or near the lead about a quarter-mile out before quickly being swarmed by better-traveling runners and checking in a well-beaten 10th.

Mikki Queen, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks in 2015, had a quiet 2016 season at 4, going winless in four starts, all Grade 1 or Grade 2 races in Japan.

Her 2017 season at 5 is off to a much brighter start, with a win in the Group 2 Hanshin Himba Stakes on April 8. The victory has led to hopes Mikki Queen can win her fourth graded stakes in Sunday’s Grade 1 Victoria Mile for fillies and mares at Tokyo Racecourse.

Brametot is the mild ante-post betting favorite for Sunday’s Group 1 French 2000 Guineas, but the straight-course mile at Deauville with a 13-strong field could fall in several different directions.

Brametot was conservatively managed last year at age 2 by trainer Jean-Claude Rouget – who never has won the French Guineas– winning three of four starts while kept to maiden and conditions races. But Rouget rolled Brametot out for his 3-year-old debut in the Group 3 Prix Fontainebleau last month at Chantilly, and Brametot impressed.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, May 13)

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Brett Davis 

Race 1: 9-4-7-3

Race 2: 10-2-3-11

Race 3: 3-5-2-4

Race 4: 4-5-3-11

Race 5: 9-3-1-4

Race 6: 1-8-9-5

Race 7: 1-4-13-11

Race 8: 11-1-5-4

Race 9: 3-1-7-8

Race 10: 10-3-13-4

Best Bet - Race 9: #3 Friends Of Nanjing    

Senga is the favorite Saturday at Deauville in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas, but the 18-horse field of 3-year-old fillies set to contest a straight-course mile appears to be a mass of still-unformed talent yet to take firm shape.

Senga, a Flaxman Holdings homebred, at least is proven at the Group level, and if she continues improving, she stands a solid chance for trainer Pascal Bary and jockey Stephane Pasquier.

California Whip, the Kentucky-bred who starts in Sunday’s $320,948 Macwhinnie Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, has already been around the world, or at least three continents.

California Whip was sold as a weanling at Keeneland for $250,000 in 2013 and began his career in England in 2015. He won a maiden race at 2 and was third last summer in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, his final start in England.

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SHA TIN SELECTIONS

(Saturday, May 13, 2017)

RACE 1: #9 Hot King Prawn, #4 Lucky Master, #7 Amusing City, #1 A Shin Hoof

RACE 2: #3 Merrygowin, #7 G-One Union, #2 Hard Ball Get, #1 Charity Kingdom

RACE 3: #5 California Whip, #3 Winner's Way, #7 Pablosky, #2 Lucky Year

RACE 4: #8 Forever Posh, #11 Five Stars Agent, #2 Super Talent, #10 Crown Avenue

RACE 5: #3 Encore Boy, #7 Ivictory, #4 Strathclyde, #9 Nice Fandango

Brett Davis - Selections

R1 - 8-1-6-5
R2 - 10-1-6-3
R3 - 2-3-9-11
R4 - 6-11-10-7
R5 - 8-3-5-6
R6 - 4-12-8-9
R7 - 6-5-12-3
R8 - 7-4-8-2

Best - R7 N6 Friends Of Ka Ying Racing well and likely to appreciate the rise to 1800m.
Longshot - R1 N8 Seven Luck
Best Play - R1 Q/QP 1,6,8

Paul Lally:

R1 1-4-8-3
R2 3-6-11-1
R3 2-3-4-5
R4 11-9-6-10
R5 4-12-6-11
R6 8-4-10-9
R7 5-1-6-3
R8 5-7-6-8