Riding high after a breakthrough double in Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon (27 October) at Happy Valley, trainer David Eustace returns to the iconic city circuit on Wednesday (30 October) armed with a trio of runners as he aims to build on a productive weekend.
“The support’s been quite good and thankfully they’ve ran well. It gives you encouragement that whatever you’re doing and the routines the horses are in are working,” Eustace said.
Victories by a pair of Hong Kong debutants – Horsepower and Young Emperor – highlighted the Happy Valley meeting on Sunday (27 October) when David Eustace, Vincent Ho, Zac Purton and Luke Ferraris shone with doubles.
Formerly known as Fire Follower when trained in Australia by Anthony Freedman, Frankie Lor-trained Horsepower earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million after sweeping to victory in the Class 3 Zhuhai Handicap (1000m) under Purton.
Do Deuce closed from a seemingly impossible position with a quarter-mile remaining to win his fourth Grade 1 race in Sunday’s autumn running of the $2.77 million Tenno Sho at Tokyo Racecourse.
Do Deuce ($12.30 in American pools) was 14th in a field of 15 early in the long stretch and steadily improved his position with a wide rally to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 71-1 Tastiera. Ho O Biscuits (49-1) finished third by 2 1/4 lengths.
With 100 yards remaining in Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, Via Sistina was well clear of eight rivals, enough for jockey James McDonald to stand up in the saddle and begin celebrating.
Via Sistina rallied from sixth through the final half-mile with a wide run to take a commanding lead in early stretch of the $3.32 million Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles.
You will not find any Group 1 form among the seven entrants in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes on Saturday at Doncaster Racecourse.
Every one of the 2-year-olds makes his Group 1 debut in the final top-level flat race of the British racing season, a straight mile that, like usual, will be run over soft ground. The Futurity Trophy often is regarded as a testing ground for the following year’s Derby at Epsom Downs.
By Leo Schlink
Former Australian galloper Six Pack embarks on a new career chapter in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Sunday (27 October) as trainer Douglas Whyte plots a path towards Hong Kong’s lucrative 2025 Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
By Rubick, Six Pack raced as Hey Fat Cat in Australia where he won two of 10 starts for trainer Robbie Laing, also finishing fifth behind Mr Brightside in the G1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and sixth to Southport Tycoon in the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) before transferring to Hong Kong.
The Grade 1 autumn running of the Tenno Sho at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan is far different than the same race 12 months ago.
Last year, Equinox won the Tenno Sho as the heavy favorite in a Horse of the Year campaign.
This year, finding the winner of the $2.77 million Tenno Sho at 1 1/4 miles is a difficult venture. In a field of 15, arguments can be made on behalf of several runners, notably Bellagio Opera, Danon Beluga, Do Deuce, Justin Palace, Liberty Island, North Bridge, and Sol Oriens.
Pride of Jenni is the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, but even that esteemed title will not necessarily make her the favorite to win Friday’s Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.
Pride of Jenni was second by three-quarters of a length to the improving Ceolwulf in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick last Saturday and will have a rapid turnaround for the $3.32 million Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles.
