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.

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, December 22, 2024)

Reliable Profit has evolved into a serious player on Sha Tin’s dirt course and the Reliable Man gelding is chasing a fourth consecutive win on the alternate surface in the first section of Wednesday night’s (18 December) HK$1.17 million Class 4 Ngan Shing Handicap (1650m).

Since finding his winning groove three starts ago on dirt, Hong Kong International Sale graduate Reliable Profit has worked his way up to Class 4, and a rating of 57, for trainer Danny Shum and jockey Hugh Bowman – who rides the six-year-old grey from barrier 10.

Paul Lally:

R1 4-2-11-3
R2 1-6-4-13
R3 2-6-7-11
R4 1-4-11-10
R5 13-6-2-8
R6 8-1-4-13
R7 1-4-2-8
R8 4-2-3-1

Best Bet: R7 N1 Dancing Code
Longshot: R6 N8 Ace Power
Play: R8 QQP 2-3-4

Mark McNamara:

R1: 9.4.3.2
R2: 13.6.1.12
R3: 5.6.2.7
R4: 6.1.8.9
R5: 2.5.6.13
R6: 4.7.8.9
R7: 2.8.4.6
R8: 4.7.3.6

Best Bet: R3 N5 Robot Knight
Longshot: R4 N6 Natural High
Play: R3 Q/QP 2.5.6

Nick Child: