The progressive gelding Bear on the Loose needs a bit of luck to gain a starting spot in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.

As of Wednesday, Bear on the Loose was the only runner on the also-eligible list for the $170,400 Cameron Handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs. If he gets into the field of 16, he may be favored in what could be a vital race for a lucrative goal later this year.

Leo Schlink

Francis Lui accelerated his bid for successive Hong Kong trainers’ championships with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (18 September) as Lyle Hewitson and Karis Teetan slotted doubles.

Lui’s title defence gathered impetus with Sweet Briar, Forever Glorious and Brave Star’s victories to vault into second place in the standings with four wins behind Danny Shum, who also has four wins but leads overall with more minor placings.

by Declan Schuster

Romantic Warrior coasted through a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning (17 September) as trainer Danny Shum’s eight-time Group 1 winner prepares to return in 17 November’s HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Romantic Warrior clocked 57.52s in second position over 1000m on turf under Hugh Bowman, a short head behind Macau import Wonderstar.

by Declan Schuster

This season’s Group racing gets underway at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 September) with the running of the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m), where game veteran Healthy Happy is aiming for a second straight win in the HK$4.2 million feature.

One of seven entries for the race, Healthy Happy scooped last year’s prize first-up from out in front against five rivals as the race’s longest odds chance. Trainer Frankie Lor has prepared the eight-year-old – who has five wins in Hong Kong – with a pair of trials at Conghua.

Paul Lally:

R1 3-2-5-7
R2 4-6-5-7
R3 3-9-1-2
R4 3-4-6-5
R5 2-5-3-9
R6 3-10-5-7
R7 9-4-7-1
R8 8-1-11-7

Best Bet R2 N4 Golden Luck
Longshot R7 N9 Mojave Desert
Play R8 QQP 1-8-11

Nick Child:

R1 | 5-2-3-1
R2 | 9-5-6-4
R3 | 3-6-1-9
R4 | 10-1-3-4
R5 | 5-1-2-9
R6 | 3-10-2-5
R7 | 6-8-7-10
R8 | 7-2-8-9

BEST BET | R1 N5 PERFECT GENERAL
LONGSHOT | R4 N10 DOUBLE SHOW
PLAY | R2 (W/P 9)

Tom Wood:

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, September 18, 2024)

Sosie gained the role of future-book favorite for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 6 with a comfortable win in Sunday’s Group 2 Prix Niel at the same track.

European bookmakers made Sosie 4-1 for the $5.53 million, which, like the Prix Niel, is run at 1 1/2 miles.

In the $144,200 Prix Niel, Sosie stalked 7-10 favorite Look de Vega to early stretch before taking the lead under jockey Maxime Guyon. Sosie (who paid $8.60 in American pools) won by 1 1/2 lengths over 6-1 Delius while being eased down in the final strides.

By Leo Schlink

Ricky Yiu believes emerging talent Sunlight Power can continue a sharp rise and eventually join the city’s elite after the gelding’s stunning win at Sha Tin on Sunday (15 September) as Zac Purton dominated the meeting with a quartet.

Ridden by Jerry Chau, Sunlight Power travelled three-wide before surging clear of his rivals to win by two lengths and easing down before the line to notch his fourth win from 15 starts.

The authority of the performance fuelled the wily Yiu’s hopes he has another quality galloper on his hands.

Economics handled the transition from racing against 3-year-olds to competing against older horses with a hard-fought win in his Group 1 debut in Saturday’s $1.37 million Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, Ireland.

In doing so, Economics narrowly beat the brilliant Auguste Rodin, the winner of the 2023 Irish Champion Stakes as well as the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November.