LONGINES Hong Kong International Races – Sunday 11 December 2016 - Entries 26/10/2016

Signing in!

Lucky Bubbles the obvious one for the Sprint at this stage. Important to remember how strong the HK sprinters are on home soil.

Jack Hobbs is available at 33/1 for the Vase. Gosden's most recent comments indicate that it is a distinct possibility he will go. If that's the case, what is he, a 6/1 shot?

Maurice seems to have Mile and Cup options. Tepin an interesting possibility for the Mile. Best horse in the race last night IMO.

Trainers to look out for in the mile and Cup - local trainers who have great records in these races

John Size
John Moore
A Schutz
A S Cruz

Other notable Trainers who have history around there -

P F Yiu
C Fownes
R Gibson


Sprints have notoriously been won by Aussie imports - but in the last 5 years there has been a change but im always aware of Aussie/NZ bred sprinters when being trained by the local trainers - i also see the Aussie trainer Chris Waller has a few entered

Hope you are all doing well lads.

The big international G1 races have been coming thick and fast this month, cannot believe how quick this meeting creeps up on us but here we are again.

Looking forward to see how the big fella gets on tomorrow, he looked like he has lost none of his zest in the barrier trial, travelling strongly, I was pretty impressed with him considering how long he's been off. Able Friend will have to be on his A game up against some top class sprinters which include my new favourite HK horse Lucky Bubbles, hopefully his bubble will not burst!

The Japanese look like they will be sending over their biggest amount of runners ever for this meeting and the HK Cup looks like it will be chock-full of them, it will almost be the Tenno Sho (Autumn) Volume 2 if Maurice does line up. Queens Ring, the winner of last weeks QEII Cup (G1) is a confirmed runner with Mirco Demuro riding. She could be the dark horse in the HK Cup, improved runner this year and she has a very good turn of foot. My old pal Staphanos ran another cracker in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) 3rd behind Maurice, given too much to do from a wide draw like last year (backed him both times). He will have the services of Christophe Soumillon (confirmed runner/booking earlier this week). Staph will more than likely be my bet again this year but I will wait for the draw this time.

Japanese runners for the HK Cup:

A Shin Hikari
Maurice (HK Mile an option)
Lovely Day
Staphanos
Queens Ring

Big Arthur and Red Flax are the Japanese runners to look out for in the Sprint. Big Arthur didn't get a great ride in the Sprinter Stakes which Red Flax won but I was very impressed with BA's win earlier this year at Chukyo, powered home in a very quick time. He's one I will be keeping an eye on. The HK sprinters will be tough to beat though and as we all know the draw will be key.

Anyone have any knowledge of a site in reference to looking up their runners i.e equivalent to racing post or alike

Link below Rozelkid, very good website that has had an update/redesign. Videos, form and news available... all free.

www.japanracing.jp

Thanks Dinos,

I use that website all the time.

Im absolutely gutted i didn't back John Moore's "Not Listenin'tome (AUS)" last night - wrote it down and had my head in my hands when i work up this morning and see the result.

You cant go wrong backing the trainers , that ive mentioned above, around Sha Tin.

Going to be interesting to see which of those Japanese entries are going to putting up a show this year - so hard sussing them out.

Not Listenin'tome has become a bit of a frustrating horse this year. I backed him on Dubai World Cup night when he never got into that race (drawn wrong side) and he hasn't really ran that great in any of his races since. Bit of a surprise how well he ran today but he is a horse with ability. Lucky Bubbles ran fantastic from well off the pace and was closest at the finish. Very consistent sprinter, hopefully he will be a bit bigger price on the day! Able Friend also ran well after a long layoff, the HK Mile would be the best option IMO.

Sun Jewellery ran a cracker HK, I thought he had it won for you but got mowed down near the line... very close.

The HK Cup looks like it will be going back to Japan again this year, not sure what to make of the Jockey Club Cup today.

Try the link below Rozelkid, this might be better for you!?

http://www.jbis.jp/horse/

Mr D - I backed Notlistnen last run......

Very frustrating HK... Strathmore is another one I will be keeping an eye on, first run after a long break today and it sounded like he was on the porky side. His weight should be bang on next time in the HK Sprint, he's not far behind the best of these!

Yep, Contentment will be on the short list for the HK Mile, good run today.

The form was turned up side down in the Jockey Club Cup, probably best not to take the result of the race too seriously. As you mentioned HK, today was not the main objective for the golden oldies!!!

Mr D - I see you've now got co-mingling into the JC pools via the tote. is it only for HV and do you see it live?

Sha Tin will be early in the a.m.!!!

Good luck with any bets.....I don't need to tell you where to find the decent form guides or who to look out for!!

Just doing the form for tomorrow, C+3 course so it's best to watch to see how the course is running from the early races, that would be my only advice for HV. Plus recently in the C5 races early n the card if magic man is on one that you can't work out why they are favourite or a shorter price than they should be - they do invariably win. Whyte hasn't ridden a winner for 18 rides and Callan for 31.

Mr D - I like R7 and R8 tomorrow, but it all depends on how the track is running and if there's a bias away from the rail.

JM's ride in R7 EW as he should get a good run from trap 1 and get a run up the rail in the straight as they all fan out round the bend to the home straight (EW if he stays at the current price).

The 11 in R8 also EW as he's drawn well and could get a decent position in the run, danger is agin the JM horse if they are running on as there should be a good pace on and he'll be finishing down the middle if he gets a clear run from gate 10 - not always guaranteed on the C+3 course.

http://campaign.hkjc.com/en/hkir/feature.aspx?in_file=hkir_road_2016112301600_reporter0.html&cid=TWJCPOA_1617HKIR

Think it could be a clean sweep for overseas runners this year

Hahaha - my selection n R7 tonight has lost all value, it's been steadily backed all day. Was 7.2 this morning and is now 3.2.......no bet

I like - Maurice, Highland Reel and then fook knows!

Military Attack has a leg issue so watch the bets if you fancy him

Nuovo Record is an interesting runner in the Vase

I agree Dinos - interesting french runners in the vase.

This Nuovo Record is a nemesis of mine - i backed her at Santa Anita last time out and the trainer said she didn't even have a race.

I dont accept that and i think she is a mare who is now on a downward slope - i will however back her tomorrow at DEL MAR as its a race that she should win on ratings and who she is racing against- the morning line price is 3/1 on equibase.

http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR112416USA7-EQB.html

Nuovo Record wins Red Carpet Handicap, heads to Hong Kong Vase

managed to get the 6/1.

Only just got up in a photo

Well done with your bet Roz. Nuovo made it hard work in that G3 at Del Mar... but she got her head in front at the right time. I've still got my doubts about her!

I've backed One Foot In Heaven at 33-1 EW, hopefully he runs as well as his mom did at Sha Tin.

Erupt out of the Vase too

The link is not working for me HK... get 'The page is currently unavailable' message.

I was impressed with Able Friend's latest Barrier Trial, looks like the big fella is back to me... still got it!

Done the double (BWay) with Able Friend and Lucky Bubbles and added Strathmore in the HK Sprint at 33-1 EW (should have took the 50-1!!!). I would have backed Signs Of Blessing EW (backed him a number of times over last 3 years) but the HK Sprint looks like it will be run at a frantic pace and SOB will be taken on by a number of horses for the lead. I think this race will be set-up for a closer... Lucky Bubbles and Strathmore are the two for me. Jenny Chapman's paddock analysis of Strathmore before the Jockey Club Sprint has stuck in my head, he should come on a lot for his last run... which wasn't too shabby. I will have another dabble after the draw.

A fair few of the international horses have already arrived in HK, cannot wait for next week.

Mr D - you read my mind about AF.....but, he may bet a little too short now for me, I expect him to be near to fav on the day, I'm hoping he gets an outside draw as I think he does enjoy space and not being in among horses. Also beware of the other Moore horse in the race, he's had a better prep than AF and maybe should have won the recent trial race.

I thought Sun Jewellery looked to be coming nicely into form too so he may be the overlooked horse.

In the sprint Notlistnen also looked very well in the trial with AF, I think he's over priced at the moment considering his last run. It's definitely going to come down to the draw for this so I'm waiting until Thursday.

Highland Reel does look like the open goal, but they can miss (Kevin De Bruyne, Ronnie Rosenthal......), I think a live one is Helene Happy Star, he seems to be coming to hand nicely and 2400m will definitely suit him and at 20-1 you'll get a good run for the money.

The Cup I think one of my old favs could run well - Blazing Speed also at 20-1 ew but think the 1st place could go to A Shin again, he's too big a price to ignore.

More mind changes to follow during the week


http://campaign.hkjc.com/en/hkir/vase-contenders.aspx

What a comeback and win by your boys HK... unbelievable.