Koby’s & Marie-Francoise’s Sunday Selections for 26th April 2026

Koby’s Sunday Selections from Sha Tin & Marie-Francoise’s ParisLongchamp Picks

Sha Tin

Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Group 1) 07.35
Ka Ying Rising
Here we go Kids! The biggest show in town is the world’s best sprinter…. Ka Ying Rising. All’s set for another record breaking win here at his home track, and you gotta be mad to say anything’s gonna lay a finger on Ka Ying Rising, with Zac Purton just a passenger for the duration! Now lookie here yall, Ka Ying broke the track record here last time, so as this boy just gets better and better, who’s gonna get close. Well, Japanese champ Satano Reve was second in this last year, and has just blitzed ’em in a Grade One at Chukyo, but he’s out wide man in Gate 8, with Ka Ying firing outta 3, so Zac knows he can play it anyway he wants from that prime slot. Then, you got Helios Express between these two, and Hugh Bowman, oh boy!! must he be getting fed up with the back end of Zac and Ka Ying in front of ‘im! But I reckon this is where the value is, I’m gonna be looking for a place or a show on Satano Reve and Helios to make my Hong Kong Dollar, as I’m just happy to be here for the sheer beauty of seeing this great sprinter make it twenty straight wins!! Past the brilliant Golden Sixty already, every race is another record in the book man, but check out Satano Reve and Helios Express to chase him home for your HKD!

FWD Champions Mile (Group 1) 08.45
My Wish
The big guns here at home for the mile are Lucky Sweynesse, Voyage Bubble and My Wish. Now yall, remember ya heard it here first when I tell ya this is the one for My Wish, who would’ve taken the Chairman’s Trophy here three weeks back if the track had been 10 yards longer! No doubt about it!! My Wish has won over the mile at Sha Tin, but in a four year old restricted race, and now in open company this is his. Gate 10 don’t matter a dime to me, Hugh Bowman’s dropping My Wish in anyhow, all the pace is gonna be on rounding out the home turn, and Lucky Sweynesse better have a few lengths out in front if he’s gonna hang on. It’s way worse, man, for Voyage Bubble, way out wide in Gate 12, so Jerry Chau’s gotta take him forward and maybe three or four wide into the bend, or drop him in with My Wish, and hope he’s still got the pace in the last quarter. Sorry kids, I can’t see Voyage Bubble winning that way, so Jerry’s gonna take him fast outta the Gate and hope for some track position. Now, you’ve got Japanese raider, Jantar Mantar, and yeah, he did win a Grade One Mile at Kyoto back in November, but might not be fully tuned after not being trackside since, so Harry Eustace’s Docklands, with a prime slot in Gate 1 could be the danger, and now Mark Zahra is up top. Jeez, this is one open race man, but My Wish to get upsides of Voyage Bubble in a real fast finish, with Docklands and Jantar Mantar vying for place or show.

FWD QEII Cup (Group 1) 09.55
Romantic Warrior (nap)
There’s only one way this QEII Cup is going man, and that’s to Charlie Shum with Romantic Warrior! Still on course for the Hong Kong Triple Crown, with just the third leg, the Champions & Chater Cup still to go next month, but here he is at one mile two, where our JC reckons he’s the best in the world. I get it that Charlie Shum said at the start of this season that Romantic Warrior ain’t gonna get no better, but just standing still he’s better than anything else here, so get on! I spose that Japanese raider Masquerade Ball would have some supporters after taking the Tenno Sho over this trip back in November, yeah in a great time man, but this is Sha Tin, so this ain’t gonna be so easy. I’ve got Karl Burke’s Royal Champion down as the main contender man, he’s been winning out in Arabia and has Oisin Murphy on board, so that’s my place or show bet, but boy, Romantic Warrior is just as good as JC says he is, and he’s winning this! Romantic Warrior and Royal Champion to battle this one out, pick your strategy!!

ParisLongchamp

Prix de Barbeville (Group 3) 12.58
Asmarani (nb)
I will be backing Asmarani with all my heart for this Prix de Barbeville. He was very very good in the Prix Right Royal last month, and I think that Mickael Barzalona always had enough to be in front of Double Major, so this must be the same result again, non? This time the ground is a bit faster, but I think that Asmarani’s action is suited to this, and I cannot find any other reason not to be with him for this Group 3. Oui, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Asmarani will be having some big races this year, and will be on this hat-trick on Sunday.