Well I don’t know about you but I can finally admit that boredom is beginning to take a hold here for me (and others) in the UK and when you realise horse racing is your life, you appreciate it all the more – and ache when there is none to watch (or take a punt on). Another three weeks in lockdown came as no great surprise, with the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) following suit though they still hope to resume towards the end of May, albeit without crowds leaving us will a little bit of hope – though only if it is safe to do so for all concerned (obviously).
Taking the dogs out for an early morning walk before most people were up, I walked down a small road called Green Lane near my house, where my love for all things horses possibly first began many many years ago. Treading the same path as a four-year-old, walking home from playgroup with my mother, a lady rushed out from her stables and asked if I would like to see a foal being born. Despite my Mum’s fear of horses, she agreed, and I clearly remember witnessing one of the most remarkable sights of my life to date (despite being a famers boy), and one that influenced the rest of my life – funny how current circumstances bring these memories back to the fore.
Sad news this week with the passing of Shamardal, a top class horse on the track and an even better stallion. Three wins out of three as a juvenile saw him moved from Mark Johnston to Saeed Bin Suroor and wins in the French 2000 Guineas, French Derby, and St James’s Palace Stakes, though looking at the dates (2005), just adds a few more grey hairs – where do the years go. The father of top sprinter Blue Point as well as current 2000 Guineas favourite Pinatubo as well as 23 other Group One winners including personal favourite Able Friend who was pretty much worshipped in Hong Kong, he will be sorely missed though his bloodline will live on via his sire sons over the years ahead.
With so little to catch the eye in recent weeks I note a sudden increase in subscription charging tipsters specialising in American racing, most claiming all sorts of outrageous profits – funny how they didn’t exist a matter of weeks ago? My personal ignorance of their form has no limits and I rather doubt Dave from Essex suddenly knows it inside out, so I guess I am suggesting you give them all a wide berth (social distancing for your wallet) and focus your attentions elsewhere, in my case Australia and Hong Kong.
As you will have noted from last week’s results, Australian racing looks as difficult as others claim thanks to the competitiveness at the highest level, and that looks no different this weekend hence my need to settle for the one good thing and a poor price (but I will take a winner – hopefully) at Randwick. Rubisaki has a touch of swagger about her and could well be a very decent filly indeed on what we have seen so far, and she arrives here on the back of a winning streak connections will hope she can stretch to six this season. Equally adept and five six or the seven furlongs she faces here she handles the cut in the ground better than most and looks ready to step up in class if she wins here as hoped.
Meanwhile, at Morphettville (Adelaide), I quite like the chances of Xilong in the Listed Redelva Stakes over five furlongs. Third on her return in the Group One Surround Stakes at the end of February she seems sure to strip fitter now (won on her second start after a break in November), and with the drop in class very much in her favour, the drop in trip form seven furlongs seems more of a concern than the opposition though presumably her connections know better than I do.
To round things off Sha Tin race again on Sunday and as a massive supporter of Hong Kong racing, how can I not at least give them a mention. Despite the Racing Post heading the card as Sha Tin (dirt), five of the ten races are on the turf track (embarrassing), and although not the best racing we ever see at the venue, I am still hopeful of finding the one winner (second last week at 11/1 by a neck grrrr). If in doubt, rely on Zac Purton has been my motto for most of the season and the same applies today when I am expecting a big run from Superich on the dirt at 7.15am. Upped in trip to this mile plus after running on well over seven furlongs here on the grass last time out at the end of March, he runs off the same mark this morning and should get the race run to suit. Don’t be too surprised to see him held up over this trip as Ping Hai Treasure takes them all along from the start, but if his stamina holds out, I can see him closing off the final bend, and running away from this lot for a well-deserved success and his first since 2018.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Rubisaki 4.10am Royal Randwick Saturday
Xilong 7.11am Morphettville Saturday
Superich 7.15am Sha Tin Sunday
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