In late October, Erupt was withdrawn from the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5 after French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said the colt needed more time to recover from a win in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 16.
The timing of Sunday’s $5 million Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Tokyo Racecourse seems to be a better fit. Erupt is the leading foreign runner in a field of 17 led by the local Grade 1 stakes winners Gold Actor and Kitasan Black.
The horses selected to participate Dec. 12 in the four Group 1 races at Sha Tin Racecourse were announced Wednesday by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. There are 14 selected invitees in each race, and 26 of those 56 horses are Group 1 winners.
Chief among them is Highland Reel, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in his most recent start and will try to win the $2.13 million Hong Kong Vase over about 1 1/2 miles for the second year in a row. Also selected for the Vase are Erupt, who won the Canadian International, and the very good French horse Silverwave.
Brett Davis - Selections
R1 - 2/1/12/8
R2 - 10/3/2/7
R3 - 2/8/12/4
R4 - 10/2/7/4
R5 - 5/7/11/9
R6 - 6/2/5/7
R7 - 8/7/3/11
R8 - 3/11/10/4
Best - R8 n3 Victory Machine
Longshot - R5 n9 Winningli
Best Play - R5 Trio 5 Banker from 1,7,9,11
Andrew Le Jeune
R1: 1-10-3-2
R2: 4-3-5-10
R3: 1-2-10-8
R4: 1-11-7-2
R5: 5-3-9-11
R6: 2-6-10-11
R7: 11-7-10-5
R8: 3-9-8-12
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, November 20, 2016)
Brett Davis - Selections
Race 1: 2-11-7-1
Race 2: 3-7-1-6
Race 3: 2-10-9-14
Race 4: 14-6-5-11
Race 5: 14-4-3-2
Race 6: 1-8-5-2
Race 7: 3-9-4-8
Race 8: 5-3-2-4
Race 9: 10-9-5-3
Race 10: 7-12-3-2
Florent Geroux is among nine riders invited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to participate next month in the lucrative Longines International Jockeys Championship.
Geroux is the lone American-based representative in a field that includes Ryan Moore, Joao Moreira, Pat Smullen, Mickael Barzalona, Mirco Dimuro, Keita Tosaki, Hugh Bowman, and Gavin Lerena, who won the competition last year.
R1 - 3-4-5-9
R2 - 4-10-2-5
R3 - 2-1-5-12
R4 - 5-10-3-1
R5 - 1-3-5-8
R6 - 8-5-12-9
R7 - 9-8-5-4
R8 - 2-4-3-8
Best - R8 n2 Molly's Jade Star
2nd Best - R2 n4 D B Pin
Longshot - R4 n10 Wealthy Fortune
Best Play - R4 Q/QP 3,5,10
Paul Lally – Selections
R1 4-5-6-12
R2 4-6-10-2
R3 5-4-12-1
R4 2-8-5-11
R5 7-3-8-6
R6 8-5-4-11
R7 8-5-11-4
R8 2-7-3-9
