3 minute read
The moment of truth is fast approaching so here's our take on these races.
The Vase is probably the hardest to sort out. The locals are all going for Exultant, and while we think he's a nice horse local odds of 1.9 don't look very generous. Better value with Anthony van Dyck who is a UK Derby winner after all and is on 6.4. He also has the benefit of the weight allowance for a 3yo. However we are thinking of directing the hard-earned in the direction of Japan in the form of Deidre, one of the most honest horses in training and she is on 18.0 here (shorter in other markets) and we may also include her compatriot Glory Vase who has impressed us on the track this week and is on 9.0 and some of my Japanese colleagues are going for Lucky Lilac. She had a lameness scare during the week but has been passed fit and is on 14.0.
The Sprint is a no-brainer with the local Aethero ticking all the boxes. As they say there is no knowing how good he may be. Zac Purton has courted starvation in order to get the weight required so keen is he to ride this exciting horse. You can play around with multiples here – locals Hot King Prawn and Beat The Clock popular here or go wider and include Mr Stunning who won this twice before and is on 14.1. The Aussie rep In Her Time is under a vet cloud at the moment with a cracked quarter but should she run she is not the worst and is huge value. As is Danon Smash, a son of Lord Kanaloa who won this twice as well. They are around the 14.0 mark.
The Mile has local favourite Beauty Generation going for a third win in this race, but while he should be respected he's not been the super horse this prep. We are happy to oppose him with Indy Champ who won the rare double in Japan this year of the Yasuda Kinen and the Mile Championship. Around the 4.0 mark. Another local who has been waiting for a chance to break through is Waikuku, who beat Beauty Generation at their last meeting. Also around the 4.0 mark. Ka Ying Star has done nothing wrong in his prep for this and is value at around 7.0. Some of our Japanese colleagues are very enthusiastic about the grey filly Normcore and she has looked good this week – 15.0 available at present.
The Cup has the smallest field and may be the hardest race to pick. Win Bright won the QEII here in April in a track record time. While his two starts at home since then haven't been spectacular he's been building up to this and his trainer feels he's in the same form as he was in April. He's got a great turn of foot too and will be able to show that to full advantage on a fast track. 4.9.
We are a huge fan of Magic Wand. What she has done this year is amazing and while she was only second she was twice hard on the heels of America's Horse of the Year Bricks And Mortar. She's coming from Australia where she won the G1 Mackinnon at Flemington and she's by Galileo and a nice horse person. 6.1 at present but watch the betting with her Irish connections.
The locals are all going for Furore with Frankie Lor booking Hugh Bowman for the ride. The HK Derby winner showed he was back in business when second in the Jockey Club Cup. 4.2.
Glorious Forever won this last year. It's often a battle of brothers here with his older brother Time Warp generally wanting to lead and GF also wanting to be up in front. 8.9.
We might have a rough e/w on the French filly Edisa. She has been progressing steadily all year and comes into this with no weight on her back. 14.1 could be worth a little of the hard-earned.
We will update from the track tomorrow.
