Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Bath and Southwell on 28 April 2024.
SHA TIN
THE CHAIRMAN’S SPRINT PRIZE (Group 1)
Race 5: No1 CALIFORNIA SPANGLE
Trainer: Tony Cruz – Jockey: Brenton Avdulla
There’s going to be a scramble for the early lead that CALIFORNIA SPANGLE can win in the first of three marquee races on Champions’ Day. The gelding has succeeded in reinventing himself since dropping back to the sprint distance, and had gone 18 races since his previous attempt at that trip when taking out the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. Cruz is happy with his slot in the gate (7) and believes that the Sha Tin track will absorb the precipitation and dry out should it rain.
VICTOR THE WINNER adds lustre to a strong local defence of the race and will also contest for early supremacy. Japan’s Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner MAD COOL proved his effectiveness in the soft on that occasion and figures to transmit his excellent home form to Sha Tin. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe is delighted with his demeanour.
INVINCIBLE SAGE forms part of a twin attack on the race by trainer David Hall. The Australian import chased home Lucky Sweynesse in the Group 2 Sprint Cup and could cash in if the pace collapses.
Prediction: 1st CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, 2nd Victor The Winner, 3rd Mad Cool, 4th Invincible Sage
THE FWD CHAMPIONS MILE (Group 1)
Race 7: No3 BEAUTY ETERNAL
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Zac Purton
GOLDEN SIXTY bids for a fourth consecutive win in this HK$22 million contest on his second run of the season. The champion of champions returns from a 140-day break for trainer Francis Lui and jockey Vincent Ho but that doesn’t worry the connections as the gelding was coming off a 224-day break when taking out the Hong Kong Mile in December. Rated 133, he’s prevailed in 26 of his 30 career starts and will be sent off at prohibitive odds.
It’s therefore logical to look for some value outside the favourite which can arrive in the shape of BEAUTY ETERNAL. The Starspangledbanner gelding has chased Golden Sixty’s shadow but is getting closer. The chestnut will be held up and need a certain amount of luck in running, but Purton is the man to get the best out of him.
In the same colours, BEAUTY JOY also needs respecting and beat my selection on his latest start. He is however less consistent than Beauty Eternal. GALAXY PATCH has threatened to take out a major purse and can help make this a clean sweep for locally-trained horses.
Prediction: 1st BEAUTY ETERNAL, 2nd Beauty Joy, 3rd Golden Sixty, 4th Galaxy Patch
THE FED QEII CUP (Group 1)
Race 8: No11 MASSIVE SOVEREIGN
Trainer: Dennis Yip – Jockey: Zac Purton
World class stayer ROMANTIC WARRIOR faces a new challenge to his supremacy in this historic race, with MASSIVE SOVEREIGN out to extend his unbeaten record and back up a thrilling triumph in the Hong Kong Derby. The four-year-old, a dual scorer for Aidan O’Brien before being exported to Hong Kong, has raced exclusively over 2000 metres since his arrival, and put down a big marker when bagging the local Classic for Yip. He finished off his work strongly when engaging in a barrier trial at Happy Valley last week, while both Yip and Zac Purton are confident he will handle a rain-softened track.
Romantic Warrior is himself a former Hong Kong Derby winner, a Queen Elizabeth II Cup and two Hong Kong Cups. His status is immense and everything has gone to plan for Danny Shum’s horse in his preparation. DUBAI HONOUR bids to better his third-place finish in this race last year following a tidy success at Kempton, and the William Haggas-trained horse can also get into the shake-up.
Prediction: 1st MASSIVE SOVEREIGN, 2nd Romantic Warrior, 3rd Dubai Honour
BATH
Race 5 No2 TIGER BEETLE (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Rimell – Jockey: Rob Hornby
TIGER BEETLE came from an unpromising position to claim a cheque on his latest start at Lingfield. It wasn’t the first occasion he’d not enjoyed the rub of the green and now that he switches to turf it could be the time to catch him.
Race 6 No4 ARCTIC MOUNTAIN
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
ARCTIC MOUNTAIN claimed a cheque on each of his three starts in 2023 with a near miss on the latest at Chelmsford. Afforded a mark of 80 for this first run in a handicap, he can prevail as a rare runner for his trainer at this course.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No7 BATTLE QUEEN
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
BATTLE QUEEN ran into a well-regarded foe when claiming a runners-up cheque on her return to action, a performance from which she obtained a handicap mark. While it’s hard to put your pen through the names of many of her opponents, the daughter of Churchill holds strong earning claims.
Race 5 No8 BLUE DAY
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
BLUE DAY progressed to finish second on his final of three 2023 starts at Kempton. The son of Blue Point is having a first outing under the wing of rookie handler Charlton but out of the same stable, and poses a real threat to unbeaten top weight Elmanjed.
Race 6 No7 INGRA TOR (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
INGRA TOR has not been without his issues as demonstrated by a campaign that numbered just three appearances in 2023. Bearing that in mind, first time back is probably the time to catch him as he’s been in good form at home.
