Following the success of last weekend’s World Pool operation, highlighted by CALIFORNIA SPANGLE’S magnificent G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in Dubai, our attention today turns to Randwick Racecourse in Sydney and Turffontein in Johannesburg.
Randwick will provide eight races for our simulcast from 10.35am, including the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Doncaster Mile, T J Smith Stakes and ATC Australian Derby, while Tuffontein provides four races from 8.55pm, including the SA Derby and the World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge, on a fascinating day for international racing.
Randwick has received 232mm of rainfall over the past two days and the track rating before the start of the meeting is a Heavy 10 and one should look for horses with proven form on a going which is Heavy or Soft.
The G1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) is carded as S1-5 and run at weight-for-age at 12:55pm.
I WISH I WIN beat GIGA KICK and MAZU in this race last year on rain-affected ground. I WISH I WIN has not raced since finishing second to THINK ABOUT IT in The Everest in October. I WISH I WIN had a setback delaying his return to racing but has trialled well recently and James McDonald takes over as his rider. I WISH I WIN is a win and place chance from gate four.
IMPERATRIZ has an incredible record having won ten of her past 12 starts. She was beaten in the Newmarket Handicap when she gave weight to all her rivals and then bounced back to win the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. IMPERATRIZ has won on heavy ground and is a win and place chance.
MAZU has not won for an extended period but has an excellent record on heavy tracks and is a place chance at good odds.
The G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) is carded as S1-6 and is run under handicap conditions at 1:35pm. The pace in the race will be good with a field of 19 runners.
Hong Kong owner Bon Ho has one of the leading chances in the race with three-year-old CELESTIAL LEGEND for veteran trainer Les Bridge. CELESTIAL LEGEND was brave when pushed wide and fought on strongly to win the G1 Randwick Guineas over this course and distance on 9 March. CELESTIAL LEGEND has been given time to come through that tough run and is a win and place chance with his lightweight of 49kg for Tyler Schiller.
Hong Kong champion rider Zac Purton takes the ride on another three-year-old in MILITARIZE, who has drawn well in gate four and has 54kg. MILITARIZE won the ATC Sires last year and ran well last start when third to VEIGHT in the George Ryder Stakes. Zac should give MILITARIZE a perfect run from his draw and is a place chance.
OBAMBURUMAI is a Japanese-trained horse who has not run since winning the Golden Eagle (1500m) in November. He has settled in well back in Sydney ahead of this race and is a win and place chance for Damian Lane. OBAMBURUMAI will travel on to Hong Kong for the FWD Champions Mile on 28 April where he will take on GOLDEN SIXTY. OBAMBURUMAI has won four of six career starts and is a win and place chance if he handles rain-affected ground.
LINDERMANN, LADY LAGUNA and top weight THINK ABOUT IT all have chances in the race.
The ATC Australian Derby (2400m) is carded as S1-7 and run at 2:15pm.
RIFF ROCKET is looking to join an elite list of horses to win both the Victoria Derby and the ATC Australian Derby. RIFF ROCKET comes into the race off a hard-fought Rosehill Guineas (2000m) win on 23 March. He will be even better suited at the 2400m and is my win and place selection for James McDonald and Chris Waller.
TOM KITTEN won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m last October and was a good fourth in the Randwick Guineas to Celestial Legend before finishing close up in the Rosehill Guineas behind RIFF ROCKET. TOM KITTEN is a place chance.
CEOLWULF and WYMARK are also a place chances.
This evening, our focus shifts to South Africa for SA Derby Day and I am sure this meeting will be closely monitored by our owners and trainers given the recent announcement that the European Union (EU) has approved the reinstatement of direct exports of registered equines from South Africa is certainly a very welcome development.
The South African thoroughbred racing and breeding industry has spent 13 years in relative isolation since an outbreak of African horse sickness in 2011 led to a ban on directly exporting horses to the European Union.
But the reinstatement, after many years of hard work by the South African Government, South African Equine Health and Protocols and the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa has paved the way for the export of South African horses to Europe, including Great Britain.
This means that Hong Kong owners and trainers will eventually have the opportunity to once again import South African horses to Hong Kong. From this perspective, the races from South Africa – especially meetings such as SA Derby Day – will become more interesting for our owners and trainers to assess potential talent for Hong Kong.
The SA Derby (2450m) is carded as S2-3 and run at 10.05pm.
The overwhelming favourite is PURPLE PITCHER, who has won six of his seven starts in his three-year-old season. The pace in the race will be good and PURPLE PITCHER will be in the leading division from gate six. He fought on well for Kabelo Matsunyane in the G1 SA Classic over 1800m at this track holding off SANDRINGHAN SUMMIT in the run to the line. PURPLE PITCHER extends to the 2450m and is a win and place chance.
MARAUDING HORDE is an emerging talent having won his past three starts, including two over 2000m. At his most recent run, he beat older horses under handicap conditions and is a place chance for trainer Mike de Kock. MARAUDING HORDE should get a perfect run from gate two for Marco V’Rensburg and is a place chance.
PRESLEY is another progressive type who steps up in journey from his last win in restricted company over 1600m and is a place chance if he handles the step up in trip, along with TWENTY DRACHMA’S.
The World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge is carded as S2-4 and run at 10.45pm.
ROYAL VICTORY was an impressive winner of the G1 Summer Cup over this track and distance when he beat SAFE PASSAGE by a comfortable margin. ROYAL VICTORY had a lead-up run for this race, finishing third over 1500m on 18 February when resuming and is a win and place chance.
PUERTO MANZANO is the defending champion having won this race last year in a photo finish with Keagan de Melo aboard. PUERTO MANZANO was disappointing when well beaten resuming in the Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on 2 March. Gavin Lerena takes the ride and on his best form PUERTO MANZANO is a place chance.
DAVE THE KING is the highest- rated horse in the race and champion rider Piere Strydom gave him every chance when he was runner-up to Main Defender in the Horse Chestnut Stakes last start. DAVE THE KING is consistent at the highest level but is yet to win a group race and is a place chance from his rails draw.
Of the other runners, WITHOUT QUESTION is a place chance.
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