Consecutive group-level stakes in the second half of November have left Sniztanova an early favorite to win Friday’s $1.85 million Magic Millions 3-year-old Guineas at Gold Coast Racecourse in Australia, but only a slight one.
In a full field of 18, the Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old filly will need a clean trip in the seven-furlong race to utilize her late kick.
Do Deuce, winner of the Grade 1 Japan Cup in November, was honored as Japan’s Horse of the Year and leading older colt or horse for 2024 in awards announced earlier this week.
Do Deuce, now 6, finished his accomplished career with consecutive Grade 1 wins, beginning with the autumn running of the Tenno Sho Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on Oct. 27. The Japan Cup turned out to be his final start. Do Deuce, by Heart’s Cry, was withdrawn because of lameness from the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama in the days before the race was run on Dec. 22.
By Leo Schlink
Danny Shum surged to the top of the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a quartet at Happy Valley on Wednesday (8 January), crowned by Helene Feeling’s triumph in the HK$4.2 million G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m).
Shum dominated the undercard with Judy’s Great, Happy Soul and Eternal Fortune, rising to the top of the trainers’ standings with Helene Feeling’s (117lb) victory under Harry Bentley, who drove the former British galloper to victory in Happy Valley’s only Group contest of the season.
By Leo Schlink
David Hayes is confident Ka Ying Rising is primed to continue his barnstorming form in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) on 19 January after the star sprinter dominated a 1200m trial at Sha Tin this morning (Thursday, 9 January).
Partnered by regular rider Zac Purton, the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) victor sat three-wide early before coasting to the lead and was untroubled in beating G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) winner Voyage Bubble by three quarters of length in 1m 10.43s.
Paul Lally:
R1 5-1-10-8
R2 4-12-2-11
R3 4-2-9-8
R4 1-4-9-7
R5 4-8-2-9
R6 1-10-3-4
R7 7-4-10-6
R8 4-3-1-8
R9 4-9-6-10
Best Bet R6 N1 Harmony Galaxy
Longshot R7 N7 Helene Feeling
Play Race QQP 4-6-9
Mark McNamara:
R1 – 1.5.8.10
R2 – 4.2.11.7
R3 – 6.9.4.2
R4 – 7.1.4.12
R5 – 8.4.5.2
R6 – 11.1.10.7
R7 – 6.10.4.7
R8 – 4.8.3.1
R9 – 4.9.3.10
Best Bet R8 N4 Eternal Fortune
Frankie Lor is aiming to extend his terrific record in Wednesday’s (8 January) HK$4.2 million G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) when the trainer saddles Happy Together (135lb), Money Catcher (115lb) and Flamingo Trillion (115lb) in Happy Valley’s sole Group race.
By Leo Schlink
Andre Atzeni hopes a light weight and favourable barrier will pave the way for Swift Ascend to offset a class rise and post a third consecutive win when the in-form gelding tackles the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Tai Tong Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 January).
Triumphant in Class 3 under James McDonald at his past two starts, Swift Ascend has surged from 59 in the ratings to 84 to earn a tilt in Class 2, justifying trainer David Eustace’s faith in the Lord Kanaloa five-year-old.
