Sha Tin Selections 
(Sunday, January 05, 2025)

Azonto and Magnaprime have developed a blooming rivalry on the Australian island of Tasmania in recent months.

They have met three times since mid-October, with Magnaprime finishing in front twice. Azonto beat Magnaprime by a half-length when they were first and second in their last meeting, an allowance race on Dec. 11.

The two Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds will have their first starts in a stakes in Thursday’s $77,387 Tasmanian Guineas at a mile at Hobart Racecourse.

By Declan Schuster

Magic Control (125lb) has established himself as a sprinter on the rise and jockey Matthew Chadwick is eyeing a first Group race success in Hong Kong with the Cody Mo-trained up-and-comer in the HK$4.2 million G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m).

Paul Lally: 
R1 5-1-2-6 
R2 2-13-1-12 
R3 12-11-1-2 
R4 3-2-1-4 
R5 3-5-1-2 
R6 3-4-5-6 
R7 7-5-4-2 
R8 6-1-2-9 
R9 11-5-2-7 
R10 7-10-2-6 
R11 3-2-9-5 
Best Bet: R6 N3 Yuen Long elite 
Longshot: R5 N3 Devas Twelve 
Play R10 QQP 2-7-10 

Tom Wood: 

A sharp recent comeback race and a low weight assignment make Time to Boogie an attractive favorite in Tuesday’s $124,300 Canterbury Sprint at Canterbury Park near Sydney, Australia.

Time to Boogie returned from an 11-month layoff to finish second by a nose in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 21, leading in the final furlong before being caught at the wire.

A 5-year-old gelding, Time to Boogie is part of a field of 10 in the Canterbury Sprint, which is run as a handicap at six furlongs.

By Declan Schuster

Hong Kong runs two Group races over 1000m at Sha Tin each season and trainer Pierre Ng is aiming to sweep both contests with Beauty Waves (131lb) when the smart sprinter lines up in Wednesday’s (1 January, 2025) HK$4.2 million G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m).

Sha Tin Selections
(Wednesday, January 01, 2025)

Croix du Nord ended his 2-year-old season unbeaten after three starts with a two-length win in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan on Saturday, firmly gaining a place among the prospects for the country’s major stakes for 3-year-olds in the spring.

Sent off favored, Croix du Nord (who paid $4.50 in American pools) closed from slightly off the pace, racing from farther back than his first two wins. Ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, Croix du Nord was third in early stretch and took the lead in the final furlong.

Croix du Nord, the outstanding Japanese-bred 2-year-old, had a five-month gap between a win against first-time starters in June and his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes on Nov. 16.

For his third start, Croix du Nord is back in action after a six-week break.

Croix du Nord is at the fore of a field of 18 in Saturday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Nakayama Racecourse.

by Leo Schlink

In the midst of a strong season, Mark Newnham hopes Bravehearts can maintain the stable’s impetus with success in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Buffalo Hill Handicap (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 December).

Newnham has 22 wins for the season to date and sits third in the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship behind Pierre Ng (26 wins) and Danny Shum (22) with David Hayes fourth on 21 victories.