3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Sunday’s (08/11/20) race meeting at Happy Valley.

Race 1: #4 Wonderful Tiger, #1 Humble Steed, #5 Smiling Success, #10 Virtus Star
Race 2: #4 Shadow Breaker, #12 Nunchuks, #7 Indigenous Star, #2 Magnetism
Race 3: #6 My Ecstatic, #5 Good Shot, #10 Courageous Dragon, #8 Shining On
Race 4: #8 Winner's Heart, #2 Momentum Galaxy, #10 Travel Datuk, #4 Wild West Wing
Race 5: #7 King Dragon, #9 Daily Beauty, #2 Villa Fionn, #8 Universal Go Go
Race 6: #8 Wins All, #1 Kinda Cool, #2 Simply Fluke, #4 Lucky Quality
Race 7: #9 Wealthy Delight, #3 Holy Heart, #2 Uncle Steve, #6 Jolly Honour
Race 8: #10 We The South, #9 Fabulous Eight, #8 Heart Conquered, #3 Harmony And Rich
Race 9: #4 Chicken Dance, #8 Ares, #11 Takingufurther, #1 Californiadeepshot
Race 10: #3 Gunnison, #4 Good Luck Friend, #6 All In Mind, #1 Shining Ace 

Race 1: O'Brien Handicap

#4 Wonderful Tiger won third-up last campaign and he gets an excellent chance to repeat that here. He should get a lovely run from gate one for Chad Schofield. #1 Humble Steed returns to Class 5 where he is a two-time winner. He's a leading player if he can offset the awkward draw. #5 Smiling Success gets a favourable draw which should allow him to find the front with ease. He can string them along here for the in-form Matthew Poon who is fresh off a midweek double. #10 Virtus Star is next best off the back of a tidy last-start win.

Race 2: Luard Handicap

#4 Shadow Breaker has led and won over this course and distance previously and there's a likelihood that he tries the same again here off a good draw. #12 Nunchuks has held his form up in class and he rates strongly with a good gate and light weight. #7 Indigenous Star draws awkwardly this time. He does get Zac Purton up which suits and he shouldn't be discounted. #2 Magnetism is next best.

Race 3: Johnston Handicap (1st section)

#6 My Ecstatic steps out on debut. He's trialled well leading up to this and with even luck he looks a leading player first-up. #5 Good Shot won second-up last term. He mixes his form but does have plenty of ability on his day. #10 Courageous Dragon is looking to go one better after finishing second last start. He's in-form and breaks from a favourable draw with French ace Alexis Badel up. #8 Shining On is racing well and he shouldn't be too far away.

Race 4: Jaffe Handicap

#8 Winner's Heart is racing well and is unlucky not to already be a winner. He's third-up now, so he should be fit and ready to fire in what appears to be, a suitable race. #2 Momentum Galaxy struggled to make ground last start but his win prior was excellent. With a forward ride he can figure. #10 Travel Datuk is winless from 44 attempts in Hong Kong. Whilst a solid earner for connections he's been a nuisance for his supporters and it's hard to see how this record will change now, if ever. #4 Wild West Wing won with plenty in hand last start and rates strongly here off the good gate.

Race 5: Lockhart Handicap

#7 King Dragon has ability and is nearing a win with two top-three efforts to his name this term. It's only a matter of time before he breaks through and he could well do it this Sunday with Zac Purton engaged again. #9 Daily Beauty gets a good gate and he deserves respect in his spot. #2 Villa Fionn is racing well and he should be able to shape up again off his current figure. #8 Universal Go Go has drawn poorly but is in solid enough form to warrant respect.

Race 6: Johnston Handicap (2nd Section)

#8 Wins All closed off nicely last start to suggest that he could measure up in this grade. The draw is a touch awkward but with a positive ride he can test these. #1 Kinda Cool is a talent who does appear to have plenty of ratings points in hand. Although he gets the services of Zac Purton, his task isn't made easy from widest draw. #2 Simply Fluke is consistent and should get his chance. #4 Lucky Quality rarely runs a bad race. He can finish around the mark. 

Race 7: Harbour Handicap

#9 Wealthy Delight has shown steady improvement and once again, looks primed to take another step forward here. #3 Holy Heart is a lightly raced talent. Admittedly he is better on the dirt but still, he can figure with the right run from gate one for Zac Purton. #2 Uncle Steve mixes his form but on his day he can be ultra-impressive when he chooses. He's worth including. #6 Jolly Honour is a two-time course and distance winner. He deserves respect. 

Race 8: Fleming Handicap

#10 We The South can find the front and take plenty of catching here from the inside draw. He can measure up in Class 3 as his forward-style of racing ensures that he gets every possible chance each time, no matter the strength of the race. #9 Fabulous Eight proved last start that he can mix it at both circuits. He missed narrowly last time out and off that run he must be respected. #8 Heart Conquered is racing well and isn't too far away from a first Hong Kong win. The wide draw is awkward but he commands respect. #3 Harmony And Rich is lightly raced and on the up. He bears close watching.

Race 9: Gloucester Handicap

#4 Chicken Dance has returned well from a tendon injury with two competitive efforts to his name. He's slowly rebuilding back to his best and if the Valley suits, then he's capable of taking this contest out. #8 Ares has ability and is looking for back-to-back wins. He can find the front here and play catch me if you can from there. #11 Takingufurther mixes his form but is capable on his day. The light weight suits and it wouldn't shock to see him finish in the top three. #1 Californiadeepshot is next best, he just needs to shoulder the big weight.

Race 10: Fenwick Handicap

#3 Gunnison ran a blinder last time out and if he's come on from that, then he shapes as a leading player in this. #4 Good Luck Friend is a supreme talent who is looking for his fifth Hong Kong win at his ninth start. The draw suits and he can run a bold race in his spot. #6 All In Mind is looking to snap a streak of two runner-up efforts. He caught the eye in a recent Conghua trial and off that, does appear forward enough to make his presence felt first-up from a break.