Lawrence Ireland and Ray Stubbs had two chances in nine to win the Scoop6 bonus pool of 1.6 million pounds as the horses were let go in Doncaster’s finale on Saturday. It was a handicap hurdle over 3200 metres. Riguez Dancer and Duke of Touraine were the picks. It was the latter who went down fighting after a bitter duel with Charlie Crab. The winner was able to spare one half length. So close and yet so far and the Scoop6 bonus continues to be elusive.

The controversy about Chris Munce, the Australian jockey is heating up. Munce got out of prison after serving a sentence. He had been found guilty of ‘tips for bets’ in Hong Kong. Another penalty was imposed on Munce but New South Wales, ignoring HK’s ban, gave Munce a riding licence. Munce rode on Friday at Frandwick, a NSW facility. Hong Kong has taken exception. The head of the HK club has expressed outrage. Other jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand have agreed to honor HK’s punishment.

Jockey Ruby Walsh had his spleen removed after a fall at Cheltenham less than a month ago. He returned to riding on Friday. He was second aboard Mahonia in the last race at Cheltenham.

“I have come back from injury before, you know. I’m not dead. I’m fine. Everything is grand but I’ll be better when I’ve ridden a winner.”

Pepper’s Pride, the five year-old mare, goes for her 19th consecutive win on Sunday at Sunland Park. It is a handicap event. Sunland Park is a track in New Mexico. Trainer Joel Marr expressed optimism. He said, “as long as everything is good, that’s what we’re looking at. She is training well and wanting to go. So right now everything looks great.”

Four Group I races will be run at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday. Conspicuous by his absence will be the flamboyant Frankie Dettori. Diabolical, a Godolphin runner who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was Dettori’s main hope. The Italian decided not to go to Hong Kong on learning that Diabolical had been withdrawn.

On December 10, a jockeys’ challenge contest was held at Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong. A ‘points system’ was put in place in three races. Doug Whyte, eight-time Hong Kong champion, won the tournament without winning a race. Jockey Whyte was successfully defending the title. He was second in all the three races. The winning jockeys were, Cornelio Velasquez of America, Christophe Lemaire of France and Andrasch Starke of Germany.

Jockey Whyte spoke about the contest. “You’ve got to earn the points and get good runs with all the horses. They helped me do it. It’s imperative you get one or two decent rides and one or two decent alleys.”

On Sunday. the races get under way at 12 25 P M Hong Kong time. Sha Tin is a right handed course. Racing started in 1978 at Sha Tin. There is a grass course. There’s an all weather track. The grass course is 1899 metres in circumference and there is a 430-metre long stretch.

The fourth race in the card is the Hong Kong Vase over 2400 metres. Post time is 2 P M and it’s a Grade I event.  There are 13 runners. The winner gets 7,980,000 HK dollars. One American dollar gets you 7.75 HK dollars.

Doctor Dino, Olivier Peslier up, is expected to repeat. In 2007, Doctor Dino, trained by France-based Richard Gibson, came from behind to deliver the goods. In his most recent start, Doctor Dino was a disappointment in the Canadian International at Woodbine. The Dr needs to raise his game.

Muhannak, fresh off winning the inaugural BC Marathon at Santa Anita, checks in. Pat Smullen, the 2008 Irish champion, has the call. Luca Cumani’s Purple Moon is in the field. An unhappy trip was given as the reason for Purple Moon’s lackluster effort in the recent Japan Cup in Tokyo. Purple Moon, second in the 2007 Melbourne Cup, will have the riding services of the incomparable Jamie Spencer.

Purple Moon has been racing well enough in recent outings. He is due for a breakthrough and finds the opportunity to step up to the plate. He is my pick.

The fifth race at 2 40 P M is the Hong Kong Sprint over 1200 metres. The Grade I contest has a winner’s purse of 6,840,000 HK dollars. There are 13 starters.

Apache Cat, C Brown up, represents Australia. In his last start at Ascot in Australia, Apache Cat was touched off by Takeover Target. A six-time Grade I winner, Apache Cat has draw two.

Europe’s hopes are carried by the brilliant Marchand D’or. The Paris-based five year-old gelding has won four times in his last five trips postward. Sixth in the 2007 Hong Kong Sprint, Marchand D’or, trained by Freddie Head, will be ridden by Dave Bonilla. On French Derby day at Chantilly, Marchand D’or won the Prix du Gros-Chene. The next race was the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot on June 21. Marchand D’or failed badly. Then on, it has been three in a row. The July Cup at Newmarket, the Maurice de Gheest at Deauville and the Prix Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day, all high profile prizes, have been won by the French sprinting star.

Seeing is believing and that is what influences me in going with Marchand D’or. I saw him at Chantilly and again at Longchamp. Talking about his ward at Santa Anita, trainer Head was oozing with confidence.

The seventh race, the Hong Kong Mile, will be run at 3 50 P M. Fourteen runners will vie for the winner’s purse of 9,120,000 HK dollars.

Good Ba Ba won the Mile last year. It is widely believed that the six year-old gelding will get an encore and keep HK’s flag flying high. Good Ba Ba won his three 2008 starts. He has been beaten in his next three. His form does not generate optimism. However, trainer A Schutz has been speaking with confidence. Good Ba Ba is a horse who steps up when it matters. The irrepressible Belgian, Christophe Soumillon, will be aboard.

America relies on Kip Deville. The Richard Dutrow-trained Kip Deville won the BC Mile at Monmouth Park in 2007. In 2008, Kip Deville was second to Goldikova. The loquacious Dutrow has been making a lot of noise and that’s a measure of his confidence. Cornelio Velasquez rides.

Neil Callan, the British ace, rides the M A Jarvis-trained Pressing. A world traveler, Pressing won Istanbul’s Topkapi and in November won the Premier Robot in Rome. Pressing is testing deeper waters but he is in irresistible form.

Egyptian Ra, Felix Coetzee up, won the Mile Trial last month. He is sharp and there’s a lot more to come.

Richard Hughes rides Major Cadeaux. Richard Hannon, father in law of jockey Hughes, trains the Major. Hannon, Jr is supervising the Major and has expressed satisfaction about his charge’s readiness.

There is an extraordinary filly in the HK Mile. She is Natagora, winner of the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. To be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Natagora was second to Paco Boy in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp over the Arc weekend.

  Good Ba Ba is the horse for the course. I will take him to win and I believe the main danger is Natagora.

The eighth race to be run at 4 30 P M is the 2000-metre Hong Kong Cup. Fourteen will answer the starter’s call. The winner’s share is 11,400,000 HK dollars.

The overwhelming choice is Eagle Mountain. Second to Conduit in the BC Turf, Eagle Mountain, has blossomed in the care of Mike de Kock. Kevin Shea is the jockey.

Viva Pataca, second to Ramonti as a short-priced favorite last year, returns. Don Beadman, the Australian star, is in the irons. Viva Pataca is familiar with Sha Tin and is a five-time Grade I winner. Running the last 400 in 21.42 Viva Pataca was an impressive winner in the Trial in November.

Artiste Royal, trained by Neil Drysdale, represents the US. Olivier Peslier rides. Lush Lashes, the Jim Bolger-trained filly, is in the lineup. Winner of three Grade I races this year, Lush Lashes was second to Lady Marian in the Prix Opera at Longchamp on Arc day in her most recent outing. Kevin Manning gets the call.

I am taking Viva Pataca. He was a striking winner in the Trial. His best races have come at Sha Tin.

The ten-race card ends at 5: 50 P M. Check local listings to see if you can watch the races in India. It is a spectacle.