by Leo Schlink
Zac Purton continued a relentless quest for Hong Kong racing history with a record-equalling six-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (26 December), closing to within just 16 wins of Douglas Whyte’s towering mark.
Purton took his Hong Kong career tally to 1,797 wins – and ever closer to Whyte’s colossal haul of 1,813 – with victories on Super Charizzard, Noisy Boy, Northern Fire Ball, View Of The World, The Azure and Aurora Lady.
Raikkonen will be a slight favorite to win his stakes debut in Friday’s Group 3 Magic Millions Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Australia after consecutive wins in a maiden race and a minor handicap in recent weeks.
Trained by Bjorn Baker, Raikkonen has won two of three starts in a career that began with a second-place finish in a maiden race on Nov. 5. Raikkonen beat maidens in a six-furlong maiden race at Canterbury Park on Nov. 20, and won a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Dec. 6.
By Declan Schuster
Trainer Danny Shum indicated his delight with the world’s highest-earning racehorse Romantic Warrior as the six-year-old gelding gets familiar with new surroundings at the Dubai Racing Club – his base for an exciting three-run Middle Eastern campaign.
“He’s good. Our team has sent videos of him swimming and at the track with Romantic Charm (companion horse). The horse is very happy – the facilities are great, it has a huge training track and the stables are very good,” Shum said. “They’ve been very good; we even had a police escort.”
Paul Lally:
R1 | 1-5-9-3
R2 | 5-9-1-7
R3 | 3-8-10-2
R4 | 5-7-12-8
R5 | 2-6-3-10
R6 | 4-7-3-10
R7 | 5-1-3-6
R8 | 11-2-8-6
R9 | 1-7-2-10
R10 | 1-5-7-12
Best Bet | R6 N4 Top Time
Longshot | R9 N1 Nordic Dragon
Play R10 | QQP 1-5-7
Mark McNamara:
R1 | 9.2.3.11
R2 | 5.1.9.8
R3 | 10.8.3.1
R4 | 5.9.1.2
R5 | 6.1.4.10
R6 | 4.3.7.6
R7 | 5.3.1.6
R8 | 10.1.2.4
R9 | 5.4.2.7
R10 | 3.1.7.5
Happy Valley Selections
(Thursday, December 26, 2024)Race 1: #1 Speedy Smartie, #5 Super Charizzard, #3 Ever Smart, #12 E Glory
Race 2: #5 Ka Ying Resilience, #9 Parents’ Love, #1 Lean Master, #7 Club Ace
Race 3: #8 Sharpen Bright, #5 Noisy Boy, #1 Natural Storm, #10 Winning Steps
Race 4: #9 Telecom Power, #5 Northern Fire Ball, #7 Meepmeep, #4 Excellent Peers
Race 5: #6 Classic Century, #2 Viva Graciousness, #4 Turin Warrior, #1 Red Majesty
Race 6: #3 View Of The World, #7 Zetta Force, #10 Gimme Five, #4 Top Time
Something about distance races at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan in late December seems to suit the 3-year-old filly Regaleira.
Last December, Regaleira won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama. On Sunday, she was the upset winner of one of the country’s most prestigious races, the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles.
The Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan on Sunday lost its leading name Friday when Do Deuce was withdrawn because of lameness.
Do Deuce had won the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in November and was scheduled to have his final start before going to stud in the $6.1 million Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles. Do Deuce won the 2024 Arima Kinen.
Led by the recent debut winner Hi Barbie, the Group 3 Magic Millions B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia, on Friday evening is expected to be dominated by fillies.
In a full field of 14, Hi Barbie and fellow fillies Icarian Dream and The Playwright led early betting as of Thursday for the six-furlong race for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds.
Hi Barbie was the 2-1 favorite, a slight choice over Icarian Dream (5-2) and The Playwright (3-1).
The field for the $187,500 McLachlan includes six winners.
