The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 8th December 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sha Tin & Cork

Sha Tin

Longines Hong Kong Vase (Group 1) 06.10
Dubai Honour
In the first of the Group Ones on Sha Tin’s top-class card, Dubai Honour might be the answer for William Haggas. He’s been a regular visitor here, finishing fourth in the Hong Kong Cup at this meeting in 2021, then twice having to see the brilliant Romantic Warrior ahead of him in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at the FWD meeting in April of 2023 & 2024. This is arguably the most competitive of the Group Ones on the card, with Aidan O’Brien sending over both Luxembourg and Continuous, while Japanese raider Stellenbosch is also well fancied, and last year’s winning trainer, Andre Fabre has Marquisat in the mix. Add in Marco Botti’s Giavellotto and this is a cracker of a race, but course experience and Tom Marquand in the saddle gives an edge to Dubai Honour, so that’s where we’ll stick our pin.

Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1) 06.50
Ka Ying Rising
It wasn’t the best draw for Hong Kong’s star sprinter Ka Ying Rising, but with great gate speed Zac Purton can track him into a workable position before the bend. Given here for his win in the Jockey Club Sprint Stakes last month, he set a course record over 1200 metres, and now goes into Group One company for the first time. Of course, California Spangle has been there and worn the T-Shirt at this level, both here and in Meydan earlier this year, so drawn in Stall 2 has a great lead into the race. That said, California Spangle is six now, and isn’t going to get any faster, while Howdeepisyourlove might have more to come so completes the shortlist. Ka Ying Rising is the best of the best over 6 furlongs, but the race could be over if he’s forced wide, and California Spangle and Howdeepisyourlove get track position and an edge. Fascinating.

Longines Hong Kong Mile (Group 1) 08.00
Voyage Bubble
There’s no Golden Sixty here now, in a race that he ruled for many a year, so Voyage Bubble, Beauty Eternal, Galaxy Patch and Chancheng Glory all bid to take up the mantle of Hong Kong’s best miler. Obviously, with over $4,500,000 in the pot, there’s plenty of raiders, not least Harry Eustace’s Ascot specialist, Docklands, Jerome Reynier’s as yet unbeaten Lazzat, who always seems to find something extra in his extraordinary rise through the ranks, Japanese raider Soul Rush and James Ferguson’s each-way chance Ramadan, so it’s one hell of a race. Verdict given to recent course scorer Voyage Bubble, who looked to be be a couple of yards quicker last time out, and has James McDonald in the driving seat.

Longines Hong Kong Cup (Group 1) 08.40
Romantic Warrior (nap)
We think this is the best 10 furlong horse in the world, and have been giving him the heads up for a couple of seasons now. Danny Shum’s stable star has got the plum draw in Stall 1, and with regular partner James McDonald getting the leg-up once more, he’s got all the stars aligned. Just a review of this year’s record, which includes the Hong Kong Gold Cup in February, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April, the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo and the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup here last month and it’s clear to see how highly he is rated. Perfect draw, perfect partnership and just about impossible to oppose.

Cork

Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 1.05
Just For Love
The chance is taken on Willie Mullins’s Just For Love, who takes on this trip for the first time. However, he was only a furlong short of this distance when scoring at Killarney in the summer, and with form on soft going could be the answer in a trappy looking race. Stablemate Luckinthecity looks the Closutton first string on jockey booking, but Danny Mullins has a habit of springing the odd surprise on his weighing room colleague, while Gordon Elliott’s Minella Saxo has been all the rage in the ante-post markets so completes the shortlist. Just For Love to outrun her odds with this extended trip to suit.

Coolmore N.H. Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.40
Only By Night
This Grade 2 can go to Gavin Cromwell’s Only By Night, chiefly at the expense of Henry de Bromhead’s Nara. Both were last time out winners, but Only By Night was so impressive in serving it up to the useful Mirazur West at Tipperary she’s taken to double up for the season here. That said, Nara gets a weight for age allowance in her favour, but might not act so well on ground with plenty of cut in it, while Willie Mullins’s Zenta is also likely to make the frame. Only By Night to go in and keep the unbeaten record over fences.

Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2) 2.15
Energumene (nb)
It’s the early Willie Mullins Christmas show, with six of the eight declared coming out of the Closutton yard. The class act of this field is Energumene, who returns from a long absence, so it could pay to watch the market signals before plunging in. Energumene did win this in 2021 & 2022, before going on to win the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for a second successive year in 2023. Not seen since capping off that season with a win in the Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival, all eyes will be on this return to action, but he’s always won first time out over fences. Both Blue Lord and Dinoblue will be there to pick up the pieces if Energumene isn’t back to his best, while Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge looks wrongly marked at around 14/1, so is a super each-way angle if the ground holds.

The Mandarin