International Race Fan

2019 Hong Kong International Races

5.40 Sha Tin, Hong Kong Vase

Exultant is by far the best staying horse in Hong Kong over 1m4f, the 11/8 available with the UK bookies may look generous considering how dominant he has been at Sha Tin. There are 7 Europeans and 3 Japanese runners taking on the four Hong Kong based runners. Aiden O’Brien fields two runners in the Epsom derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Mount Everest, with the derby winner looking the best with his firm ground form; both could be available at big prices on the PMU in Hong Kong.

2019 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe

Enable is a strong favourite to win her third consecutive race and with just 11 runners taking her on she looks to have an easier task than in her previous 2 victories. She has won her last 12 races and although she hasn’t been as impressive in recent races as she was as a 3-year-old she keeps winning. She is a best priced 4/5 which looks to be a fair price considering her record.

Helter Skelter can fend off Appleby Duo at Longchamp

17.00 Longchamp, Prix Roland de Chambure

Charlie Appleby looks to have brought over two decent horses in the twice raced Saqqara King and the slightly more highly tried Royal Ascot runner Well Of Wisdom. The English juvenile runners have generally dominated their French counter-parts but this year has seen the home side more than hold their own. The two unbeaten horses Mowaeva and Commander have won minor races and they could well be much better than the bare form. The Rouget trained Helter Skelter was beaten on debut but turned in an imposing win over course and distance 4 weeks ago. He raced wide and travelled with ease throughout, winning by nearly 4 lengths, barely coming off the bridle. He probably didn’t beat anything exceptional but he looks like he could be a really good horse and the 7/2 with the English bookies looks generous.

2019 French Guineas Preview

2.55 Longchamp, Poule d'Essai des Poulains

Persian King comes in to this race on the back of a very impressive seasonal debut 4 weeks ago over today’s course and distance. He was expected to go for the English equivalent but finds himself in this race which looks a much easier task. He finished last season with a neck victory over Magna Grecia over a mile at Newmarket; that horse went on to win this year’s two thousand guineas at Newmarket, making his level of form look exceptional. His only blemish in 5 races was his race debut when he finished second to Anodor, who re-opposes today. Persian King has clearly shown himself to be top class and it will be asking much of Anodor to confirm these placings, but at the prices he could be worth chancing against the favourite if odds-on chances are not your thing.

2019 Dubai World Cup Meeting at Meydan

12.15 Meydan, Godolphin Mile

Last year’s winner Heavy Metal is going to find it tough to reverse the form of his last race, here on the 9th of March where he finished over 11 lengths behind today’s favourite Muntazah in to 4th place. The Turkish Champion, Good Curry also ran in that race finishing second and although he has little chance of reversing form with the favourite he could run in to a place at 50/1 eachway.

Kay Ying Star Has a Great Chance in the Hong Kong Derby

Hong Kong Derby, 8.35 Sha Tin

The ex-Irish trained Waikuku who was trained by John Oxx sets the standard in this year’s Hong Kong Derby, having won his last four races at Sha Tin. He has raced solely in handicap company and takes his first step up to graded company here.

Footstepsanpie and Zemindari Can Continue Good Run at Chantilly

Prix du Bois Bonnet, 1.55 Chantilly

This 6.5 furlong polytrack claiming race has attracted several overseas entrants in Footstepsanpie, Brandon and Beleguerment. All three appeals to some degree, they come in here by far the most experienced, with all escaping a penalty.

Beat The Clock To Gain Revenge on Beauty Generation

7.30 Sha Tin, The Queen’s Jubilee Cup

Beauty Generation has been imperious over a mile in Hong Kong and is rated by far the best in here as well as being rated the world’s joint top-rated miler. He’s won his last 6 races over 1 mile and today’s distance of 7 furlongs, although he may prefer a mile he has been just as dominant over this furlong less when tried. Beat The Clock got within a head of beating Beauty Generation in this race last year when he was actually favoured in the betting ahead against the eventual winner. Both have improved massively since then and while Beat The Clock looks to have a big task against the favourite, he looks to be on an upwards curve having finally registered his first group one win in the 6 furlong Centenary Sprint Cup last time out.

Pegasus World Cup Races 2019

9.51 Gulfstream Park, Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes

The Aiden O’Brien trained Magic Wand and the Japanese trained Aerolithe are interesting contenders who benefit from a 7lb concession with not being on Lasix. Both have drawn well, though this 1m1.5f may be on the sharp side for Magic Wand and the same can be said for Channel Maker, whose chance would be vastly improved with some give in the ground, with soft ground bringing him right in to contention.

Pakistan Star Can Go Close Against the Europeans in the Vase

6.00 Sha Tin, Hong Kong Vase

Andre Fabre’s Waldgeist brings in the best form here and if this race was run in his homeland of France then he would be the bet here but he has run well below his best in four previous runs abroad so he can be swerved here.

Outsider Roxinela Looks Great Eachway Value at Auteuil

1.35 Auteuil, Prix Georges Courtios

This valuable grade 2 event has attracted a few well-known staying stars in Milord Thomas and So French up against the well regarded Saint Goustan Blue. Saint Goustan Blue sets a high standard having won his last 6 starts, beating many of today’s field previously. He is a justified favourite but he has to concede weight to most of this field alongside Milord Thomas. The favourite is going to be hard to beat but one horse stands out a big price at 33/1 with the UK bookies is Roxinela.

Sacred Life Looks to Bounce Back at Chantilly, But Pagero Could Surprise

14.02 Chantilly, Grand Prix du Nord

Sacred Life looked like been one of the stars of the following classic season after two impressive wins on testing ground, but he has failed to match that level of form this year. For the first time this year he does get the testing ground conditions that he performed so well on as a juvenile and he could well bounce back to something like he showed as a 2-year-old. He has shown form good enough this season to be competitive here and I couldn’t leave him out now he finally gets soft underfoot conditions; at 3/1 with Corals I will back him but the horse that really interests me at a big price is Pagero.

Sistercharlie Can Fend Off the Europeans in the Filly & Mare Turf

16.38 Churchill Downs, Breeders Cup Turf Sprint

This race is loaded with pace, with most of it drawn wide which could see carnage upfront early as the early lead is contested. It’s bound to be fast run and maybe too fast to set something up for a closer. Disco Partner is the type of horse that can benefit if they do go off really quick and while 6 furlongs maybe his ideal trip, the slower ground may help him and may bring the front-runners back to him as long as it’s not too soft. He‘s forecast to go off at 7/2 on the U.S. morning line but can be backed at 6/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair with 4 places on offer.

Uncle Benny Can Outrun His Odds in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf

19.21 Churchill Downs, Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

There has been a huge amount of rain fall in the last few days and if the ground does come up yielding or soft then it has to be a big advantage to the Europeans. While being drawn wide is usually a disadvantage, especially in sprint races, it could be an advantage on soft turf where the inside is usually the slowest ground. If the ground has been adversely affected then I’ll chance Queen Of Bermuda at a big price (14/1 with the UK bookies, but could be bigger in the U.S. pools), drawn in stall 11, along with Soldier’s Call at 7/2 who looks more than good enough.

Anecdotic Can Step Up to Group One Company

1.35 Saint-Cloud

Jimmy Two Times has yet to win in 6 starts this season but he may have found the easiest opportunity of the season to finally gain a victory before the end of the year. Even though he has no wins to show for his efforts, he has run consistently having come up against some of the season’s best performers in the likes of Rocoletos, Polydream and Efaadah. He ran with credit in the group 1 Prix de la Foret, beaten 3 lengths returning after a 77 day break; he should now strip much fitter. Many of the horses in opposition come in to this race seemingly below their best and at the ratings Jimmy Two Times comes out top and well-treated with no penalty.

Fifty Fifty and Nothingilikemore Could take Advantage of Low Weights

9.10 Sha Tin: The Premier Bowl

Ivictory emerged as the new kid on the block in the Hong Kong sprinting division at the end of last year. He ran with credit first time out this year under top-weight to be beaten by under a length by Hot King Prawn who re-opposes today. While Ivictory does look the horse to beat, he has a lot of weight to concede and has been given a wider post post than ideal in stall 8.