The feature races start as usual with the GI Charman's Sprint Prize over 1200m with a field of 11. California Spangle won the Al Quoz at Meydan as his latest start and seems happier with the shorter trips. He's favourite here on 1.9 which is a locals price. Brenton Avdulla rides for Tony Cruz. We've liked the look of Japanese raider Mad Cool, a handsome grey who specialises in 1200m races and recently won the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and may be the one to cause an upset. Victor the Winner ran in that same race and finished third which wasn't that far behind the winner – he's currently on 8.7 for Shum-Leung. And David Hall has given us something to think about with Invincible Sage who was just beaten by his stablemate Flying Ace last time out but there were excuses. Bowman rides and they are on 4.8.
The Mile sees Hong Kong favourite Golden Sixty trying to win this for a fourth time. He's been Horse of the Year three times and has been re-writing the record books for most of his career. He probably would be happiest if the going was good or better and he is an 8yo but they love him here and he's on 1.4. Pierre Ng's Galaxy Patch is a serious challenger having run a close second in the Derby to Massive Sovereign (who goes in the Cup) and he will appreciate the drop in trip. Blake Shinn is coming for the ride and at present they are on 4.3. Voyage Bubble is going to run in the Yasuda Kinen after this and he's been a bit unfortunate in bumping into Golden Sixty a few times but he's been working well and the stable are conifdent with J Mac coming in to ride for Ricky Yiu.
We have a roughie here in Red Lion whom we spotted doing some very good work during the week and he's been moving up through the grades and deserves a shot at this. Bowman rides for John Size.
The FWD QEII Cup has 11 runners led by the brilliant Romantic Warrior. He won this the last two years as well as a heap of other races including the Cox Plate in Australia. Gate 10 hasn't handed him any favours but jockey J Mac should be able to plot a course. That and the fact that he prefers faster ground probably explains his current market quote of 3.0. The horse that has attracted a lot of interest is Massive Sovereign who came out and won the Derby at his second start in Hong Kong. He's been impressive on the mornings and will have the services of Zac Purton on Sunday – currently on evens in HK but 4/1 in UK, together with Prognosis, another of the Japanese raiders who has finished second in this race the last two years. He was unlucky last year as he got the worst of some traffic problems. He's by Deep Impact and this week on the track looked as if he was very ready to race. Kawada rides for Nakauichida-sensei. Dubai Honour has come straight here rather than running in the Sydney Carnival, a decision which they are now very happy about considering the conditions in Sydney this year. He was third in this last year and hoping to better that number. Tom Marquand rides for William Haggas and they are on 15.0. And our roughie here is a horse we love dearly although we aren't quite certain he can win but he's definitely e/w value and that is Hishi Iguazu who is on 30.0 for Hori-Sensei and Damian Lane.
We will update from the track tomorrow with price movements overnight and the latest on the track.
