Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Sha Tin (including video analysis), Deauville, and Gulfstream Park.
Other International Racing:
Port Augusta
Kalgoorlie
Sha Tin Turf
Anthony Delpech
Sha Tin Best Bets
Race 1: No5 – SEA MONARCH
Trainer: Chris So – Jockey: Karis Teetan
SEA MONARCH was too green to do himself justice when fourth on his introduction behind SUNNY STAR. The Dandy Man gelding has subsequently missed an opportunity but that was for a reason, and having had plenty of time to progress in his work he’s the value play to turn the tables. LIKE THAT finished a place behind the selection in the same race and came out three weeks later to win. That in itself indicates how much these horses can progress from race to race.
Prediction: 5-7-1
Race 2: No6 – SO WE JOY
Trainer: John Moore – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
This shouldn’t take much winning and gives SO WE JOY the opportunity to shake off his maiden tag. The So You Think gelding has only five races under his belt but has shown ability on more than one occasion for his top trainer. He welcomes a new rider on his back and the combination are going to prove hard to beat. There’s not much depth outside the favourite, but LEAP OF FAITH can boast a couple of near-misses in his four outings in Hong Kong, and with Moreira up should figure. The other unexposed horse to consider is ARMOR STAR, who also has to go in.
Prediction: 6-2-3
Race 3: No10 – ENJOY LIFE
Trainer: Me Tsui – Jockey: Joao Moreira
Many of these have been out of form, the exceptions being ENJOY LIFE and MONSTER KAKA. Enjoy Life is preferred as he’s carded to enjoy the run of things from his inside draw, and if getting into a rhythm in front must have a great chance of avenging two near-misses. He appeals as one of the stronger bets of the day, as Monster Kaka has work to do from his outer gate, even though the 10lb claim of his jockey is obviously going to help. If there’s another to pose a threat then CITY LEGEND looks the one, breaking from the rail under Teetan who will possibly stalk and then try to pounce late.
Prediction: 10-13-2
Race 4: No1 – HOT KING PRAWN
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Joao Moreira
The Sha Tin Vase can fall to HOT KING PRAWN, who is very closely matched with market rival THANKS FOREVER and this pair should dominate. When clashing in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize Thanks Forever finished third to Mr Stunning, with Hot King Prawn threequarters of a length back in fourth. It was a strange result, in truth, and while you could argue that Hot King Prawn often runs into the money without winning, the grey seemed to have an off day, as he didn’t find from the inner after being switched the acceleration required to take advantage. Another tactical affair lies in front of him, but my call is Hot King Prawn to trump Thanks Forever. WISHFUL THINKER may get involved at a bigger price.
Prediction: 1-2-3
Race 5: No10 – GOOD LUCK FRIEND
Trainer: Ricky Yiu – Jockey: Joao Moreira
Aside from Exultant in the Group 1, GOOD LUCK FRIEND will be regarded by the majority of bettors on this race as the ‘good thing’ on the card. He has a big home reputation to live up to as he steps up the ladder into a Class 3. He might have been unlucky to be mugged by True Legend and beaten a short head last time, and off just three starts in Hong Kong is going to get better. BIZ POWER hasn’t been straightforward, but under Purton could be one to defy a big price with an earning run. The same applies to CRUISING, for whom this is just a fourth start in the last 22 months.
Prediction: 10-1-6
Race 6: No3 – KINDA COOL
Trainer: Frankie Lor – Jockey: Zac Purton
Drawn 14 of 15 makes life tough for Purton and KINDA COOL, but the combination remains the ones to beat if it works out for them in the first 200 metres. Should they obtain a reasonable placing then there’s every chance of a win to endorse the promise shown by the selection when second on debut to Fabulous Eight. That was on the straight track, and if backing the four-year-old it’s with the rider that he’s going around a bend for the first time in public. GALLANT LEGACY is one to include in the belief that a recent overdue success may have boosted his confidence levels. But if fit from a lay off, SKY DARCI could prove just as much as a threat.
Prediction: 3-1-9
Race 7: No5 – YEE CHEONG PEGASUS
Trainer: Tony Millard – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
For sheer consistency YEE CHEONG PEGASUS takes the plaudits in a sprint where few can win. The Lonhro entire has gone 21222 this season, has the perfect slot in the gate, and newly ensconced French ace Hamelin in the plate. It all adds up to another huge run from the selection whose main concern is XPONENTIAL. That blinkered rival benefits from the 10lb claim of his apprentice pilot and has a good opportunity to lead. If that manifests itself, the combination will be hard to reel in. The inexperienced FAST PACE took home minor earnings on debut, but it was nevertheless an encouraging effort and one that should be improved upon.
Prediction: 5-1-7
Race 8: No1 – EXULTANT
Trainer: Tony Cruz – Jockey: Zac Purton
The final Group 1 of the season, the Champions & Chater Cup, looks to be at the mercy of champion stayer in Hong Kong EXULTANT. There was nothing pretty about the way he added the Queen Elizabeth II Cup to his bountiful career haul but he’s going to be more effective over today’s longer distance, and at level weights is going to start long odds-on to again grind his foes into submission. Cruz should also take care of the Quinella with FURORE, who finished strongly in second behind his stablemate but isn’t guaranteed to enjoy the extra. CHEFANO has the beating of Savvy Nine and Eagle Way and could get into the money on the strength of that impressive triumph the other day.
Prediction: 1-2-5
Race 9: No8 – ENZEMBLE
Trainer: Doug Whyte – Jockey: Jerry Chau
Overcoming a wide gate is the task facing hot apprentice Chau aboard ENZEMBLE. If the teenage prodigy can achieve that and obtain a reasonable early position, the combination can take out their foes in the home stretch. Chau’s 10lb claimer is proving worth its weight in gold, while the gelding has a series of good earning runs and a deserved win two runs back to make him the one to beat. TANGMERE hasn’t looked the same horse here as at Happy Valley, but nevertheless goes to post on the back of successive wins and a solid third placing behind Surrealism at the city track. He could easily get the Sha Tin monkey off his back, while one that I’ve had on my radar is CHARITY GO. He’s a big player and appeals as a horse on the cusp of a winning breakthrough.
Prediction: 8-4-9
Race 10: No3 – BEAUTY SMILE
Trainer: Tony Cruz – Jockey: Joao Moreira
As long as lack of experience doesn’t serve to hamper his progress, BEAUTY SMILE is the one to be on and looks another jewel in Moreira’s book. The Free Eagle colt has performed with credit on both Hong Kong starts, being outmanoeuvred by prolific winner Fantastic Show on debut and then finishing with gusto in fourth behind that same foe a month back. The chestnut is well regarded by his trainer and has bags of room for progression from a good draw. BEAUTY SPIRIT was scoring for the first time in more than a year when successful here earlier in the month and could get into this, but a bigger threat can stem from HAPPY ALUMNI, whose consistency should carry him into the money.
Prediction: 3-10-1
Race 11: No3 – HAPPY FUN
Trainer: Danny Shum – Jockey: Zac Purton
One of the best bets on the card is HAPPY FUN. With limited pace drawn inside the seven-year-old has an opportunity to get onto an easy lead from gate 2 and under Purton, who won on him last September, should prove hard to claw back. GLORIOUS SPECTRUM has endured training issues but there’s nothing wrong with his form. He ran a stormer when just held here last month and has Antoine Hamelin back in the irons from a good spot in the gate. The joker in the pack is WILL POWER, a three-time winner on the all-weather who is getting weight and breaks from the rail.
Prediction: 3-2-14
Deauville Best Bets
Race 1: No7 – EDGE OF VICTORY
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget – Jockey: C Demuro
Few horses in training can match the pedigree of EDGE OF VICTORY, who is by champion miler Kingman out of Group 1 winner Beauty Parlour. A slow developer, he’s nevertheless the subject of favourable reports and can deliver at the first time of asking. Lackeen will command plenty of interest in the betting but a word of caution is required given the few winners Andre Fabre is having compared to the number of runners he’s sending out. Pascal Bary has his horses relatively forward and so Kenyx is another to consider.
Prediction: 7-3-4
Race 2: No2 – SAMAHER (Each Way)
With no public form to go on I can pass on a whisper for SAMAHER, who is by Toronado out of a Pivotal mare, meaning any easing in the ground might play to her strengths. Cubit should strip as fit as most and this Bated Breath filly has Christophe Soumillon doing the steering. The betting will give us some sort of guide, and money for Right Hand would also interest me.
Prediction: 2-14-1
Race 6: No4 – CALL THE WIND
Trainer: Freddy Head – Jockey: Olivier Peslier
With a possible trip to Royal Ascot in mind, CALL THE WIND can preserve his unbeaten record for 2020 in this Group 3 stayers’ contest. The long-striding son of Frankel served notice that he will be a force over longer distances this year when taking out a valuable handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard in February. He way he travelled and quickened at the business end of that race suggests he’s as good as ever at the age of six. Holdthasigreen returns from a seven-month break but on the basis of his good effort in the Prix Royal Oak has to be a threat. Diluvien landed a Listed prize at Saint-Cloud when last seen, and is capable of stepping up.
Prediction: 4-1-3
Race 7: No1 – BRING ON THE NIGHT
Trainer: Andre Fabre – Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot
This shouldn’t take too much winning, and as it wasn’t long ago that we saw BRING ON THE NIGHT score at Compiegne on only his second start there should be much more to come from the son of Gleneagles. Keep an eye in the betting for interest in Mandarita, who shows ability but is the only debutant in the field. L’Aigle ran well enough on his seasonal return and should improve.
Prediction: 1-7-2
Gulfstream Park Best Bets
Race 3 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No4 – TEMPLE
Trainer: Mike Maker – Jockey: Cristian Torres
The ‘now’ horse in this is TEMPLE, a horse that’s gotten better race by race this year, won stylishly here last time and could have a valuable fitness edge on Seismic Wave. The selection landed some good bets at the $32K level when beaten a highly regarded UK import in Arthur Kitt. Against that, Seismic Wave went 2 from 2 here in the winter of 2019 before campaigning in New York where he signed off with a win at Belmont. But that was seven months ago. Monarchs Glen has menaced at this level here in three starts since joining Danny Gargan and has to be of interest.
Prediction: 4-7-5
Race 6: No2 – FUDDLED
Trainer: Saffie Joseph – Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
The course and distance debut form of FUDDLED is hard to ignore in a maiden that nevertheless will take a bit of winning. The daughter of Invincible Spirit chased home First Wave and that reads as good as Maggie Fitz produced on her introduction when second to Four Grands. Mane Attraction has strong claims of her own but is far more exposed, which leaves Humor Me Dixie as another to consider putting in.
Prediction: 2-3-7
Race 9: No6 – BLUE BLUFF
Trainer: John Servis – Jockey: Miguel Vasquez
To win in the manner he has in three straight races, BLUE BLUFF is an upwardly mobile performer that can take this step up the class ladder in his stride. His improvement for the move to the Servis barn is a thing to behold, and unless Colonel Liam is something out of the ordinary the grey should deliver. Colonel Liam was promoted to take the spoils after getting bumped on his debut. It was a very good effort nonetheless, and he is preferred to Krachenwagen to fill the exacta.
Prediction: 6-5-4
Race 10 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No14 – BELGRANO
Trainer: Frank Russo – Jockey: Cristian Torres
Getting 5lb taken off his back by a capable apprentice, BELGRANO is the safest option as he takes a step up the ladder. He’s done well since joining his trainer and after winning a $15K claimer in March ran above what the market expected to be third in a better race early last month. Kokokomo figures to play a part of fit from 246 days off for Todd Pletcher, while Willing To Speed took out an allowance last time, and has similarly solid claims to earn.
Prediction: 14-12-2
