Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Sunday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket and Sha Tin.
Newmarket Best Bets Sunday
Race 2: No2 COMMUNIQUE
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The expression ‘class will out’ should manifest itself in this Listed contest with COMMUNIQUE confidently expected to outclass his foes. He’s shown a liking for both the Rowley course and the July course, plundering the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes here as well as the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes on the other side of the heath. After that victory in mid summer his racing was targeted at Group 1 races in Germany. With his stable right in the zone this week he will take plenty of stopping.
Race 5 Qipco 1,000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)
No8 QUADRILATERAL
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Jason Watson
The legacy of the mighty Frankel can achieve success at Classic level with QUADRILATERAL stretching her unbeaten record to four on her seasonal return. In the Khaled Abdullah silks, this taking filly pulled off a Houdini act on her final 2019 start in the Fillies’ Mile, hitting a flat spot mid-race before quickening smartly to get up on the line, having both LOVE (third) and BOOMER (5th) in her wake.
Prior to that course and distance triumph over Powerful Breeze, the selection impressed in two visits to Newbury, and with the benefit of one of the warmest springs on record Charlton has been able from his Beckhampton base to get his filly in the right place to pass her biggest test.
Cheveley Park Stakes winner MILLISLE looms as one of the main threats as she returns to the fray for Jessica Harrington. She shaped like a staying filly with the way she wore down Raffle Prize that day, and as you might expect from a filly whose dam is by Indian Ridge, she’s shown a liking for cut in the ground. Unusually for a man who likes to see his Classic contenders hunt in packs, Aidan O’Brien relies solely on Love, which is a compliment in itself to this daughter of Galileo. She is also bred to enjoy the soft, although each of her three juvenile successes in Ireland were gained on good ground. She has a length and threequarters to make up on Quadrilateral though, and it’s no certainty that she can accomplish it.
Mark Johnston’s horses have hit the ground running which offers hope that RAFFLE PRIZE can get into the shake-up. She’s as tough as they come, and has to be taken seriously as she will have been trained to the minute. Catching the eye at longer odds is SHIMMERING, who John Gosden throws into the deep end on the back of success in a Lingfield novice contest. But that in itself could be a pointer to her chance, and the master of Clarehaven clearly thinks she’s good.
Prediction:
1st QUADRILATERAL
2nd Raffle Prize
3rd Millisle
4th Love
5th Shimmering
Race 7: No5 EASTERN WORLD
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
EASTERN WORLD represents a Kempton maiden that has thrown up a hatful of winners and seen the victor of which, Starcat, contest the 2,000 Guineas. The Godolphin-owned pick finished just threequarters of a length off that colt, having started a shade of odds-on. He’s been training great guns in Newmarket and can give the likely race favourite King Leonidas plenty to think about, whilst offering up better value for betting purposes.
Race 8: No9 SPECTRUM OF LIGHT
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
When a race works out as well as the novice in which SPECTRUM OF LIGHT was beaten into second at Newcastle in December has, any initial disappointment at the outcome quickly goes out of the window. Since then the third, fourth and fifth horses home have reappeared to give the form a massive injection, and with the experience, card to play this exciting gelded son of Derby winner Golden Horn can prove too strong for Kingman’s half-brother Sunday Major.
Sha Tin Best Bets
Race 1: No12 TIGERLAD
Trainer: Tony Millard – Jockey: Victor Wong
TIGERLAD has taken a move forward since transferring to the Millard stable and figures to continue that revival in spite of having to break from a wide gate. He can get us off to a good start by staying off the challenges of GREAT SON and KWAI CHUNG ELITE. The former made all and hung on in gritty fashion to win by a short-head last time and remains at that Class 5 level. Kwai Chung Elite has a good spot in the gate and with his consistency should make the frame, but that’s tempered by the fact he’s yet to win in Hong Kong.
Prediction: 12-3-7
Race 2: No2 MONKEY JEWELLERY
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Joao Moreira
MONKEY JEWELLERY is a horse well known to Moreira. The ‘ Magic Man’ looks for a third triumph on the Exceed And Excel gelding who can outpoint class dropper GLENEALY GENERALS. The latter is now back in a Class 4, the level of his last recorded win 12 months ago. Another consistent performer is FARM BUMPER, who looks sure to have his usual say in an open heat under Antoine Hamelin.
Prediction: 2-1-11
Race 3: No8 WOOD ON FIRE
Trainer: Peter Ho Jockey: Dylan Mo
From a plum draw there’s every chance that WOOD ON FIRE can lead from gate to wire. He was reeled-in last time but is now in a position to dictate his own fractions. Class 4 winner WINNING FEELING is down a notch under Moreira and has to go into the mix, while if able to get across from his wide gate LUCKY QUALITY has a good chance to end a frustrating sequence of near-misses.
Prediction: 8-3-1
Race 4: No14 GREAT SMART
Trainer: Manfred Man Jockey: Matthew Chadwick
GREAT SMART should acquit himself well now back to his last winning mark of 23. Admittedly he’s been a bit frustrating since then, but his latest offering was eye-catching, while Chadwick’s presence could also help make the difference. GOLDEN GENERAL went close last time and is likely to go well again now that he’s up to 1800 metres. LITTLE GENERAL will also enjoy a longer distance, but is a long-standing maiden.
Prediction: 14-12-5
Race 5: No2 JADE FORTUNE
Trainer: Manfred Man – Jockey: Zac Purton
JADE FORTUNE switches from dirt to turf seeking a deserved change of luck under Purton. The race is set up to see the combination put in another big earning run. LEAP OF FAITH rates a huge danger. He was returning from a four-month break when only just beaten over 1400 metres last time and will enjoy the step up to 1600 metres. He will be a lot fitter, is a lightly-raced 3yo and can advance. TELECOM ROCKET is going to relish the extra furlong here, and with his knack of troubling the judge should again be involved.
Prediction: 2-5-8
Race 6: No10 EPITWINS
Trainer: David Hall – Jockey: Zac Purton
Since joining a yard that excels with its converts, EPITWINS has twice rattled the crossbar and can now make it third time lucky and add to what should be a good haul for title-chasing Purton. He remains something of an enigma but there will be no excuses this time. HEZA BEAUTY is lightly-raced and open to improvement on just his sixth career start. He’s looking to avenge a narrow defeat last time and is preferred to CASA DE FORCA for the quinella slot.
Prediction: 10-4-1
Race 7: No5 WAR OF COURAGE
Trainer: Manfred Man – Jockey: Joao Moreira
WAR OF COURAGE appeals as the best bet on the card. He’s converted twice in seven attempts since his arrival in the old colony as well as running several good races in defeat to post figures of 12132 this season. Granted the rub of the green in this Class 3, he can deliver. TOTAL EXCESS makes his debut for Michael Chang and Zac Purton and has shone in his trials. He’s the joker in the pack while CALIFORNIA ARCHER must also be respected from the in-form Tony Cruz stable.
Prediction: 5-3-9
Race 8: No14 STREET SCREAM
Trainer: David Hall – Jockey: T H So
The way he finished behind Amazing Chocolate last time, STREET SCREAM is one to stay on the right side of. The winner was gifted that race as my selection closed strongly. Today he mustn’t let the same happen with SIMPLE ELEGANT who should make a bold fist of leading throughout. GUY DRAGON is one to include, even though he’s been gifted a horrible draw.
Prediction: 14-2-5
Race 9: No5 BEAUTY DAY
Trainer: Benno Yung – Jockey: Zac Purton
If he can overcome the wide gate BEAUTY DAY can provide Purton with another vital winner in his quest to retain the jockeys’ title. A course and distance winner this season, he needs to fend off a strong challenge from SUCH A HAPPINESS. The last-named has converted with aplomb to the Tony Millard stable, doing well in all three starts for him, while returning to this track from gate 3 is another plus for the Antoine Hamelin-ridden contender. Lower in the weights, DECISIVE ACTION can also get into the shake-up under Moreira.
Prediction: 5-11-14
Race 10: No2 GLORIOUS SPECTRUM
Trainer: John Moore – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
GOLDEN SPECTRUM hails from a Moore stable that does well with conversion rate horses as does Ricky Yiu, trainer of DAN CONTROL. They clashed in a Class 2 last time when Dan Control suffered an interrupted run before finishing strongly. Glorious Spectrum looked all over the winner only to be inched out of it but did nothing wrong. The way today’s race should pan out is in favour of my selection. TRANSCENDENT seems to have lost his form but from a kinder barrier draw could bounce back.
Prediction: 2-12-8
