Latest news with #Auspicious
New Paper
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
July 13 Hong Kong (Sha Tin) form analysis
Race 1 (1,400m) 4 Sight Dreamer put the writing on the wall with a strong closing third on his Class 5 debut after drawing wide and settling near the tail. With any improvement off that, he looks a major player. 11 Fairy Horse continues to knock on the door despite remaining a maiden, and his honest profile keeps him in contention. 8 Smiling Collector maps for a much kinder run in transit, gets blinkers on for the first time in his second start in Class 5, and shapes as a knockout chance at odds. 7 Young Horizon is consistent at this level and this course and distance. Fast-finishing fifth last time suggests he is nearing another win. Race 2 (1,400m) 5 Apolar Fighter has been edging closer and now looks well placed to strike after back-to-back thirds over this course and trip. On the quick turnaround and from a low draw, he gets his chance. 1 Circuit Mighty was not beaten far on his Class 5 debut and, while drawn wide, has plenty of time to work across under Zac Purton. 3 Draco is suited by the rise in trip for his second try in this grade after making ground over 1,200m. 4 Gluck Racer did nothing from a wide gate last start but is capable of better and could surprise if he finds a more prominent position. Race 3 (1,200m) 9 Noble Fans was well backed last start and ran a close second to Lucky My Way, suggesting a win is not far off. He is improving with racing and can go one better. 8 All's Well is an improving three-year-old who has been finishing his races strongly and, if he can stay in touch early, shapes as a genuine threat at a price. 1 Fun N Fun Together makes his own luck on the pace and has been consistent on the all-weather, though he now needs to replicate that form on turf. 2 Goldentronicmighty closed off well into third last time despite a wide alley. Drawn wide again, but his recent form holds up in this. Race 4 (1,400m) 8 Loveisintheair has shown glimpses of ability and comes off a fast-finishing second over 1,200m. Still a maiden after seven starts, he is an improving three-year-old who looks poised to break through. 3 Devas Twelve returned to Class 4 last start, rolled forward from a wide draw and was only reeled in late for third. He will be hard to peg back under the right race shape. 9 The Auspicious continues to run well with his typical get-back-run-on pattern and can figure again. 10 Pejibaye has been closing off nicely over 1,200m and now rises to 1,400m fourth-up. A recent trial win has him in good order for this. Race 5 (1,600m) 10 Star Brose had no luck on his first try at the mile when held up at a key stage, yet still managed to run third. With even luck this time, he looks hard to beat. 1 Super Unicorn has been okay at the bottom of Class 3 since joining Mark Newnham and now takes a drop in grade that can sharpen his chances. 5 Etalon Or had every opportunity from barrier 4 last start but again found one better. He has been costly but should offer better value and remains a threat. 2 Frantanck is down sharply in the ratings, and will give them something to catch from the front. Race 6 (1,400m) 8 Smart Fat Cat is heading the right way after two eye-catching runs. He closed strongly for fourth last start despite the race shape being against him. Stronger tempo this time should suit. 1 Voyage Boss was a debut winner two back, then had a torrid trip from a wide gate last time. That is a complete forgive and he is worth another chance from a better draw. 9 World Hero is among the speed influences and his win over Sugar Ball two starts back rates well. 3 Do Your Part impressed two runs ago when taking a sit off the leaders and winning smartly, then backed it up with a solid third after setting a strong pace. Race 7 (1,200m) 6 Rainbow Seven is knocking on the door with three straight placings from as many starts and looks the one to beat. 5 Bulb General defied his odds on debut when charging home into third behind Crossborderpegasus, and his recent trial suggests he has come on since. 10 Winning Machine improved second-up despite a wide trip throughout. With a better draw this time, he can take another step. 2 Champion Instinct had a tough trip last start when trapped wide without cover. While he faces a similar draw again, his past form in this grade stands up. Race 8 (1,600m) 5 Patch Of Theta reunites with Hugh Bowman after closing off well for fourth against a slow tempo last start, and the rider change could prove decisive. 4 Happy Together returned to form with a narrow second to Copartner Prance over 1,400m. Will relish the step back up to the mile. 6 Massive Sovereign resumes off an eight-month break and runs first race for the David Eustace stable. Last season's Derby winner has trialled well. The mile is not his trip, but he can go well on class. 2 Chancheng Glory had excuses when caught wide last start over 1,800m, and the drop back in trip is a key positive. Race 9 (1,600m) 9 Pope Cody is edging closer to a win and, despite drawing poorly again, his recent runs have been full of merit. He finds the line well and gets another crack. 11 Mister Dapper has thrived since transferring to Eustace, chasing a hat-trick now as he steps into Class 3 from a handy draw. 6 Huge Wave returns to the mile, which suits better than the 1,400m last start where he closed off well for fourth. 2 Mickley is hard to catch but his last-start head second to Light Years Charm showed what he is capable of when things go right. Race 10 (1,200m) 6 Little Paradise had excuses last start after missing the jump, racing keenly, and being steadied mid-race. He has since won a trial impressively and can bounce back. 5 Super Infinity has been building towards another win and was unlucky last time when held up late, finishing third once clear. 2 Bundle Of Charm is winless for over a year but has run second in his past two and maps to get a favourable run again. 3 Celestial Hero, now third-up in Hong Kong, took a good step forward last time with a close fourth and can progress further. Race 11 (1,400m) 5 Beauty Bolt shapes as a strong second-up contender after a promising local debut, charging home late into second. 12 Spirit Of Peace made full use of a good draw last start to settle closer and win with something in hand. He faces a class rise but maps well again. 7 Flash Current plugged away over the mile last time. Drops back to 1,400m which suits better. 10 Riding Together was an easy winner in Class 4 last start and, while his previous efforts in Class 3 have not stood out, he is clearly improving with more racing. Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Guardian
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mythili Prakash: She's Auspicious review – a paean to girl power
As a child, Mythili Prakash was always puzzled by the myth around the goddess Durga, who was created by a panel of male gods to slay the demon Mahisha. Why should a woman be given her power by a man, she wondered. And it's something she's still wondering about. She's Auspicious is a dismantling of the idea of woman being put on a pedestal, bestowed with value through someone else's eyes. Being shaped by an outside view of womanhood – even a supposedly flattering one – is a suffocation of sorts. Prakash is an Indian-American dancer, best known in the UK for performing with Akram Khan, who has mentored her. Her brand of bharatanatyam (the traditional dance form comes from southern India) blends classical technique with a questioning sensibility and the freeform structure of contemporary theatre. Prakash is an accomplished dancer who, at first at least, doesn't give too much away. A contained presence, her movement is economical, undemonstrative, and not clouded by the strain of visible effort (there's great skill in that, and power over her instrument). She can balance in absolute stillness, rooted to the earth. As the piece progresses she gradually scrolls through emotional states: anxiety, relief, delight, enforced restraint, with her usually freely expressive hands suddenly clamped stiff over her mouth. She begins as a woman, plainly dressed in black and white, but is elevated to goddess status, reappearing in vivid red, in a kind of shrine made of scaffolding, with a coterie of followers. Seven women in shades of indigo bow and pray and sing and make music for her. She is deified and decorated with jewellery. But for Prakash, that's not the aspiration. You get the sense that this goddess is also a woman, a mother, a person of flaws and conflict (and strength and compassion). When Prakash throws off all expectations, her hair swings loose, her movements become bigger and freer, feet planted wide, mouth agape with something akin to both hunger and glee. She's Auspicious turns into a paean to girl power, an uprising. Percussionist Aswini Srinivasan especially drives the energy forward with racing rhythms, the women banging sticks against the scaffold, the shrine tumbling. It's a piece about agency; an undoing of the myth. At Sadler's Wells East, London, until 2 March
