(Courtesy of http://www.fasttrack.hk)

THE FAST TRACKER GOES LOOKING FOR HIS ARC AND ARF.

With Joao Moreira taking another of his enforced holidays- how long before he says Adios to these frequent pit-stops?- the Jockey Challenge looks signed, sealed and delivered to Zac Purton while, somewhat surprisingly, we see Anthony Delpech in tonight’s riding ranks and who’ll also ride on the weekend- meaning there’s been another of those jockey shortages brought about through injuries and suspensions.

With a tempting Six Up jackpot up for grabs, despite looking like a two-jockey show involving Purton and Whyte, there MUST be some upsets lurking amongst the favorites which could make this card end up being as muddling a card as some of the rides in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup and with the dodgy weather and humidity that’s like a gorilla’s armpit not making things any easier.

R1 DIAMOND ANGEL/ENJOY THE FUN/LEELI’S STAR

The Thailand Handicap and I’d be at the Beer Garden trying to find someone who can give a soothing foot massage and back massage while wolfing down some Chicken Pad Thai. Bothering with a Class 5 lottery and the possibilities of some ordinary weather? Bad combination.

R2 EXCEL ONESELF

Really can’t see anything beating this.

R3 BEAUTY KING/ABSOLUTE FANTASY/INDIGO WAY/ROBUST MOMENTUM

The first leg of the Six Up and more open than a hooker’s legs.

R4 HO WONGCHOY/ ONE OF A KIND/FORTUNE TERRITORY/STARTING OVER

The key reason for putting Ho Wongchoy on top is that it has form on a track with give over course and distance. It’s certainly no champion- then again, none in this race are exactly top draw purchases.

The booking of Tommy Berry for Ho Wongchoy helps whereas trainer Andreas Schutz changing his Chinese surname has brought some much-needed good fung shui to his stable.

R5 NORDIC ONE SPEEDYGONZALES/LONDON WALK/HONG KONG DANCER

Nordic One is drawn barrier ten for Andrasch Suborics, but its neck second to the very good Key Witness when looking as if it had run off with the race is something that draws me to this one with probable favorites Speedygonzales- certainly The Most Improved Horse Of The Season and going for its FIFTH straight win- and London Walk being under the odds and looking beatable in the first Quartet race of the night.

R6 LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHTY EIGHT/FAT CHOY HONG KONG/WINNIE’S HORSE/HO IN ONE

After it’s very good second to Secret Sham at its last start over course and distance and with Zac Purton taking over from Vincent Ho, Lucky Double Eight should win the Asian Federation Trophy. SHOULD though Fat Choy Hong Kong might be an omen bet with the city being hosts of Noah’s ARC. No playing of Chopin’s Funeral March at the presentation ceremony, OK?

R7 SUPREME ESSENCE/SMART BALL/FLYING ELITE/SPINNING DANCER

Could this race provide Hughie Bowman with his first winner of this stint in Hongkers? Or will this be another winner for The Zac Attack?

And will we see another Roadrunner ride from Speedy Chadwick or will sanity prevail?

R8 NOBLE BOY/BEST SHOW/WINNING MASCOT/HORSE APLENTY

The best and most competitive race on the card and with a Six Up Jackpot up for grabs, this could be where an upset takes place.

Let’s not forget what happened last Wednesday when, in truly spooky manner, NONE of the horses in the market came even close to running a place.

It was too weird to be true and history could very well repeat itself as this also happens to be a Quartet race where, more and more, we’re seeing upsets kill off many bets.

BEST BET R2 EXCEL ONESELF
NEXT BEST R5 NORDIC ONE
LONGSHOT R7 SMART BALL

GUILT

Having an anti-gambling PSA shown smack dab in the middle of ATV’s screening of Racing To Win.

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SARIKA’S SASSY SIX UP

R3- 3-4-7-8
R4- 1-2
R5- 4-6
R6- 1-6-10
R7- 6-9
R8- 2-4-6-9

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SELECTIONS FROM THE BIG APPLE (@SW064351)

BEST BET
Race 5, No. 4 London Walk
Luckless when blocked for a run throughout the straight. Deserves another chance.

SECOND BEST
Race 7, No. 9 Smart Ball
Weakened after setting a fast pace last start. Take plenty of running down.

LONGSHOT
Race 6, No. 2 Business As Usual
Back into Class Two and drawn well. Will be in this for a long way.

QUADDIE
4,6 / 1,2,6,7,8 / 1,3,9 / 1,2,4,5. $50 for 41.66%.

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PARTING SHOT

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