The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 28th April 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sha Tin & ParisLongchamp

Sha Tin

Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Group 1) 07.50
California Spangle
A brilliant race in store for the Chairman’s Sprint, with plenty of depth to this field. Fresh from a win in the 6 furlong Al Quoz at Meydan last month, California Spangle usually plies his trade over a mile, but dropped back to 7 furlongs here for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup to win from the front. Out of Stall 7 this time instead of the more favourable inner draws, but Brenton Advulla will fire California Spangle like a bullet out of the stalls and try to get good track position no more than three wide. There’s a whole host of dangers though, not least course and distance scorer Victor The Winner, Japanese raider Mac Cool and the improving Howdeepisyourlove. California Spangle to continue his reinvention as a sprinter, and take more Group 1 honours

FWD Champions Mile (Group 1) 09.00
Golden Sixty (nap)
The brilliant Golden Sixty, Hong Kong’s most famous horse in training and a winner of no less that 10 Group Ones is the one to beat here. Not seen since winning the Hong Kong Mile back in December with plenty to spare, Vincent Ho will employ the usual tactics, dropping in Golden Sixty towards the rear of the field before gradually winding him up round the home turn and unleashing that devastating finish. Voyage Bubble couldn’t quite catch Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Gold Cup, so drops back in trip and will give Golden Sixty most to think about, but the veteran still rules the roost at Sha Tin

FWD QEII Cup (Group 1) 09.40
Romantic Warrior (nb)
Romantic Warrior has become the premier 10 furlong horse over the last couple of seasons in Hong Kong, and can confirm his superiority here. A winner of thirteen of his eighteen starts, including six Group Ones over this trip, he’s still at his peak over this trip. Voyage Bubble was making inroads into his lead in the Hong Kong Gold Cup here in February, but goes today over the mile against the mighty Golden Sixty, so this race looks there for the taking for Romantic Warrior, with last year’s third, British raider Dubai Honour leading the chasing pack

ParisLongchamp

Prix de Barbeville (Group 3) 12.58
Double Major
Christophe Ferland will have every confidence that Double Major will be taking this Group 3 on his seasonal reappearance. Last seen demolishing the field in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at the end of last season, this should be just a warm-up for some bigger dates in the dates in the diary. He had the re-opposing Skazino over 7 lengths behind in the Prix Royal-Oak, and should be even better as a four year old. Highly respected, and very hard to oppose

Prix de l’Avre (Listed) 1.33
Mister Gatz
The hat-trick seeking Mister Gatz can take this Listed contest for Stephanie Nigge, with Roadshow needing to find 5 lengths from their last clash at Saint-Cloud. Jockey Tony Piccone stole a lead on the field to teach a lesson to odds-on favourite Roadshow in that 12 furlong contest, going away with plenty in hand in the final quarter mile. One going the right way with more to come

Prix Ganay (Group 1) 2.50
Al Riffa
A terrific renewal in store as Irish raider Al Riffa takes on the Prix d’Harcourt one-two Zarakem and Horizon Dore. There was no doubting the quality of the finish that Zarakem had in that Group 2 contest, and although Horizon Dore might prefer a firmer surface, Zarakem won going away belying the 12/1 starting price. That said, National Stakes winner Al Riffa has Group 1 form in the book, and was next seen chasing home Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville. Ace Impact went on to with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and that rock solid form can see Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa winning this on ground to suit

Prix Allez France Longines (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 3.25
Ottery
Andre Fabre holds the key to this Group 3 for Fillies & Mares with Ottery, who just needs to repeat her run here three weeks ago to take this. She had the re-opposing Quisisna and Tygress back in third and fourth in that Listed contest, so that pair have to move forward to square up to Ottery. Joseph O’Brien brings over the consistent American Sonja, but Ottery is the one to follow

The Mandarin