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Welcome to Globeform's Hong Kong International Special, a free section dedicated to the racing at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 14, with race-by-race previews, Globeform ratings, selections and betting plans.
Our next international meeting special will be for the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba in March.
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| Sha Tin: Saturday works, notes and comments |
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A contender for the Hong Kong Mile (G1) here on Sunday, the Carlos Laffon-Parias trained Balius, runner-up over course and distance in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (G1) in April, had a canter Saturday morning on the all-weather, and threw in a couple of playful bucks to signify his well being.
Assistant Stephane Duprey who has travelled everywhere with the horse confirmed this, adding: "This race has been the horse's target ever since his run here in April. We have bypassed other options to come here in the best possible shape. He's a fresh horse and he's very, very well."
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| Hong Kong Sprint: Australia vs. France |
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Sha Tin 14 Dec: Two top horses are set to clash in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1), where Australia’s white-faced speedball Apache Cat looks set to go off favourite.
The one he has to beat, to bring this prize to Australia yet again, in Europe’s champion sprinter Marchand d’Or. He has been incredibly reliable in France and England this year and is hard to oppose.
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| Hong Kong Mile: Super Hornet looks strong |
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Sha Tin 14 Dec: Japan may hold the ace in what is a higly competive edition of the Hong Kong Mile (G1). The betting is headed by last year’s winner Good Ba Ba and top North American turf miler Kip Deville, but take a closer look at Super Hornet’s form. It is very solid and, at around 6-1 he could be the value bet on the big day.
Not that this is a three-horse race, far from it. There is little between the top seven or eight in this Mile contest. Armada, another high-class local runner, the classic winning filly Natagora and the game and consistent Pressing are all in with a good chance.
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| Hong Kong Vase: It’s a wide open affair |
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Sha Tin 14 Dec: Doctor Dino is out to defend his title in this stamina test but, athough Globeform 121 makes him the top rated runner, last year’s winner has the look of a vulnerable favourite this time.
His most recent has not been so good, and the Hong Kong Vase (G1) is a wide open race, where you can make a case for all of the 14 runners. There are several question marks in this heat, one being the fear of a slowly run race, something that could play it into the hands of Jackpot Delight, who tries 2400 metres for the first time. But how good is he now, on his second start after a long break? Hard to say.
The Australian Vase runner Douro Valley has many supporter, as does Japan’s hope Jaguar Mail. His form was given a massive boost two weeks ago. Others with strong claims are Packing Winner, conqueror of Hong Kong Cup favourite Viva Pataca over course and distance in the spring, the German trained Poseidon Adventure, as well as Purple Moon from England. Breeders’ Cup form is represented by Muhannak. Has the winner been mentioned by now? Hopefully.
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| Hong Kong Cup: Three names stand out |
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Sha Tin 14 Dec: Viva Pataca, runner-up last year and according to local experts even better these days, looks certain to start a warm favourite for the Hong Kong Cup (G1), but he will get stiff opposition.
In particular from two corners of the ring; those of the Irish trained filly Lush Lashes and the South African trained Eagle Mountain - who also began his career in Ireland. These are the top three on Globeform Ratings, and just below the trio come solid performers like Linngari, running for England, the French challenger Loup Breton and a pair of US raiders, the Bobby Frankel trained Out of Control and Neil Drysdale’s Artiste Royal.
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