Three Group 1 races in Hong Kong highlight weekend horse racing

There are three Group 1 races in Hong Kong this weekend. The rest of the world's horse racing is out of action because of coronavirus. Next week's top race in the United States is the Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes at FONner Park in Grand Island, Neb.

Champions Day program is one of Hong Kong's two big days of international racing. There are three Group 1 races on the card: the FWD QE II Cup at 2,000 meters, the Fwd Champions Mile and the Chairman's Sprint Prize at 1,200 meters. Beauty Generation is the reigning and two-time Horse of the Year. Golden Sixty is a "young" upstart winner of this year's Hongkong Derby. The HKIR races were run before a severely limited crowd because of street demonstrations. The Champions Day will be conducted with no fans in the stands because the coronavirus prevention measures.

Beauty Generation beat Waikuku in the Chairman's Trophy at 1 mile last time out. Waikausu lost the previous race by 4 3/4 lengths.

Joao Moreira and Zac Purton are jockeys competing in the Champions Mile. Moreira rides Waikuku and Puron rides Beauty Generation. Ka Ying Star, Southern Legend and Fat Turtle are also in this race.

There are seven horses in the QE II Cup. Exultant and Time Warp are the favourites. Playa del Puente is making his first start since the Hong Kong Derby. He is starting from the No. 5 gate. The race features a short run to the first turn. Time warp is the front-runner. Furore is winless in eight starts since landing last season's BMW Hongkong Derby, but has perked up since transferring to trainer Tony Cruz's care in February.

Purton has the mount on Aethero and Moreira pilots Hot King Prawn. A few weeks ago, Beat the Clock, Hotking Praw and Aethro won the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. The next race is a Group 2 Sprint Cup, which Aithro finished last of eight.

The Bachelor is one of the most important races at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The main threat is Long Weekend, a Majesticperfection colt trained by Tom Amoss. Bellafina is a multiple Grade I winner from California. The Carousel is for fillies and mares. It's a $125,000 race. Three Group 1 races in Hong Kong highlight the weekend. They are held at the Hongkong Grand Prix. There are also two races for 3-year-olds at 1.1 miles. Kentucky Derby is in September. Bob Baffert is looking for a record-tying sixth win in the Run for the Roses.

Gulfstream Park offers a 3-year-old feature Saturday, the $75,000 Unbridled Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Dr Post, a Quality Road colt, could jump into the Derby picture with another step forward. Attachment Rate is trainer Dale Romans' top hope for the Run for The Roses. Algorithms colts have to improve on a third-place finish in the Grade III Gotham.