Horse Antepost
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It's deja vu at Sha Tin tomorrow, Designs On Rome taking on Military Attack again. There is not much between these two Hong Kong warriors but Designs On Rome has had the upper hand when it matters in the big races.
DOR and MA are two horses I have a lot of respect for but this year I've decided to give them a swerve. The trip to Dubai for the first time is my concern for DOR, will he be at his peak for this?! I'm not sure he will. Military Attack has had his problems the last few months with minor injuries and there is a chance he might not run tomorrow from reports this morning. Early in the week the plan was to back MA but Caspar Fownes (trainer) didn't seem that confident and it came across he was more hopeful of a good run. So I decided to back a couple of horses who's prices looked too big, the first one was the Japanese runner Staphanos at 20-1 EW with PP before the draw and after the draw I added Helene Happy Star aka Barley Mow at 50-1 EW with WHill. IMO both horses have been given way too much to do in their races with some exaggerated waiting tactics (especially HHS) but they have both finished their races off really well, which makes me think they might have a good chance of hitting the frame if their respective jockeys get them closer to the pace this time. More hopeful than confident with my two selections but for me the prices were too big to ignore.
DOR and MA are two horses I have a lot of respect for but this year I've decided to give them a swerve. The trip to Dubai for the first time is my concern for DOR, will he be at his peak for this?! I'm not sure he will. Military Attack has had his problems the last few months with minor injuries and there is a chance he might not run tomorrow from reports this morning. Early in the week the plan was to back MA but Caspar Fownes (trainer) didn't seem that confident and it came across he was more hopeful of a good run. So I decided to back a couple of horses who's prices looked too big, the first one was the Japanese runner Staphanos at 20-1 EW with PP before the draw and after the draw I added Helene Happy Star aka Barley Mow at 50-1 EW with WHill. IMO both horses have been given way too much to do in their races with some exaggerated waiting tactics (especially HHS) but they have both finished their races off really well, which makes me think they might have a good chance of hitting the frame if their respective jockeys get them closer to the pace this time. More hopeful than confident with my two selections but for me the prices were too big to ignore.
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Doesn't really look a bet for me tbh. GL though.
Any thoughts on the sprint. Assuming if you're going for Dubai trips as a negative then Gold Fun looks a bet? |
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That may not read as intended. To clarify; I mean there doesn't look to be any bet in the race for me to have, rather than knocking your two selections by the way.
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No problem Benjy, it was the price that swayed me more than anything. I was going to leave the race alone myself with the top three in the betting being on the short side for me. I wouldn't be surprised if any of the three win but haven't been confident enough to pick one of them, with a few nagging doubts about each horse. I thought Criterion would have been a bigger price, he won well last time but RC was a shade unlucky not getting a run in the race at Randwick and would have pushed him for the win with a better run. That wasn't RC's optimum trip and puts doubt in my mind regarding Criterion's chance tomorrow. On the flip side Criterion's trainer has been very bullish about his chance all week and the horse is in better form and shape than he was last December (Hong Kong Cup).
If memory serves me right I don't think a Hong Kong trained horse has come back from Dubai World Cup night and then won the QE II Cup. It must take a bit out of them but saying that MA nearly won it last year after coming back from Dubai. The Sprint looks a tricky race as well and I've decided not to have a bet. Agree, Gold Fun would look the best option with Peniaphobia probably better over 5F and Singapore being the main objective for Lucky Nine... LN very hard to predict these days as well!!! Maybe Dundonnell getting weight from the top three, 14-1 not a bad price but 7F is probably his best trip. |
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Nice call with Dundonnel. Hope you changed your mind about a bet.
Gold Fun used too much early, kind of set it up for Dundonnell really. |
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Nice win by Dundonnell and Gold Fun 2nd.
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Yep Benjy, SBet went 22-1. Had a small EW bet. He had a lovely tow into the race and finished it off well.
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Great win by Blazing Speed. Happy Staphanos got up for 2nd... very close!!!
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WD MrDinos.
Yea very close for the places, would have been a thriller without Blazing Speed  |
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Cheers Benjy, not a bad morning.
 It sure was a thriller for the places, relieved more than anything with Staphanos staying on to nick 2nd on the line. He probably could do with stepping back up in trip, got outpaced a bit but liked his attitude fighting back. Blazing Speed has put in some cracking performances over the last year but his last few races have been a tad disappointing. He's very hit and miss but he was definitely on a going day today, surprised a bit with his turn of foot... scooted clear. |
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Yea, I was surprised at the relative ease for the winner. Pleased for Neil Callan though. Underrated jock when he was UK based imo.
Think Designs on Rome is still the best horse in the race tbh. |
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Sorry Mr D - missed this, would have added my thoughts to the AP race (I told all of my mates here in HK and didn't think there was interest on here). Not too sure about this coming Sunday - they were a little unhappy with AF's last run and will make a Royal Ascot decision afterwards, think only Luger will give him a run this weekend.....fingers crossed we see him run like December so he gets the plane to Ascot. Out of interest what price was Blazing Speed in the UK?
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That's OK HK... what did you tell your mates?
Not sure what Blazing Speed's best price was HK, there were some big price difference's with our bookies on the Sprint and QE II race. He might have been around 14-1 price. Should be another easy win for AF Sunday. |
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Should be an easy win but with 6 runners it may not be as impressive as before - just seen that 7-2 is available for the Queen Anne so I'm assuming they are pricing in the fact they think it's worse than evens that he turns up. I have a feeling they may not go, this weekend will be race 7 of the year - and he seems to be at his peak for this weekend (like Dec) so to keep him at that level for June may not prove easy - I do hope I'm wrong as I think 7-2 is a massive price for Ascot, if he ran to December I can't see anything getting near him.
4-11 in the UK for Sunday isn't a working price but you'd have to be tempted to lump on if you had it, Luger to beat who could be anything as he ran a great race in the Derby but you'd think AF will have far too much for him. BTW - MR D I sent you a mail re last Sunday! |
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It will be disappointing if AF doesn't come over for Royal Ascot but you can understand connections if they decided against it. He has had a lot of racing again and for him to be at his peak after a long flight as well is a big ask.
No bet for me Sunday but always love watching AF run... he's a monster! Replied to your mail HK.  |
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Was going to go up to ST today to watch him but I'm confined to barracks after over celebrating Bournemouth's promotion and title win.....getting in at 6.30 am isn't conducive to a harmonious matrimonial bed so I've missed the boxing at the pub too!!
You are correct about the connections as it can't be for the money to run him at Ascot (The last HKG2 race he won was worth over GBP 300k in prize money) and he's not got his nuts so I'm sceptical at best as to the noises they are making about running him, even though I think the course would suit him with no bend to go round as he's such a big horse I think he'd be even better. |
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Congrats on the Cherries going up, thoroughly deserved it and hope they give it a good crack next season against the big boys. My lot just missed out on getting in the playoffs... goal difference!!!
 I suppose you can't turn down good prize money when your horse is so good compared to the opposition. If the plan has always been to run at Royal Ascot I would have liked to have seen him run more sparingly than he has in Hong Kong this year. At least here will be a good excuse if he comes over and gets beat!  John Moore sounds like he's up for it! "But win or lose, as long as my horse runs admirably on Sunday, Royal Ascot is still on the cards. "As it stands, the plan is to go to the Queen Anne Stakes on June 16, but it would be nice going there with another win under his belt." |
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Missed the T off there!
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They have to go to Ascot now surely?
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Wow, that was super impressive again. The Magic Man didn't move a muscle, lovely prep for Royal Ascot.
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Doesn't really tell us much though, he's beating the same horses all the time but it was visually very good - not too sure Luger ran his race though
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That's true but I like what I see and I think we know this fella is the real deal. That was like a piece of work for him, did it with so much ease. Still some 7-2 available!
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Another Moore runner entered for Ascot running in the next - the 1 horse
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SCMP Racing Post tweeted the following:
Everyone very coy on Able Friend and Royal Ascot trip. No decisions today #shatin |
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It's all down to the owner - the norm is for him and Moore to discuss over a lunch, I'm not convinced he"s that keen to travel with him
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The money and prestige for winning a Queen Anne (even if he wasn't gelded) just aren't that attractive.
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