3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday’s race meeting at Happy Valley (16/10/19).

Race 1: #8 Money Marshal, #4 Megatron, #2 Sky Gem, #3 Golden Kid
Race 2: #6 Winning Ways, #1 Best Smile, #10 Demons Rock, #12 Prawn Yeah Yeah
Race 3: #4 Faithful Trinity, #10 Curling Luxury, #9 Diamond Legend, #6 Royal Racer
Race 4: #5 King's Man, #2 Dream Warriors, #3 Family Leader, #8 Bullish Glory
Race 5: #2 Tashidelek, #11 Heavenly Thought, #4 Xiang Bai Qi, #3 Huangshan
Race 6: #10 Lightning Steed, #4 Generous Heart, #1 Lady First, #2 Confucius Day
Race 7: #1 Joyful Union, #2 My Ally, #9 Momentum Galaxy, #8 Bouyant Boy
Race 8: #8 All You Know, #9 Universal Go Go, #7 High Rev, #2 Win Win

Race 1: Kam Shan Handicap

Following a luckless first-up run, #8 Money Marshal went close last start over 1800m at Sha Tin. Although he's winless, he's had two runs this campaign which hold him in good stead for this. #4 Megatron is the likely leader of the race. He led and won well last start and he's not without a chance of repeating that effort here. #2 Sky Gem is down to a competitive mark. He's shown his last two starts that it's only a matter of time before he breaks through. #3 Golden Kid made ground from the tail of the field last start. He'll get his chance stepping up in distance.    

Race 2: Plover Cove Handicap

#6 Winning Ways hasn't exactly lived up to his namesake being 0/17, however, his last-start effort over this course and distance was full of merit, missing by only half a length over this course and distance. He can finally piece it all together. #1 Best Smile has finished runner-up in both of his two starts. He should be able to find the front under Zac Purton and with even luck, find himself in the finish. #10 Demons Rock has largely struggled across his career, although, he does hold one runner-up effort over this course and distance. #12 Prawn Yeah Yeah makes the class rise. He can run well again here. 

Race 3: Shek Lei Pui Handicap

#4 Faithful Trinity can deliver Neil Callan a much-deserved first win this season. The pair combined last term over this course and distance and another win here wouldn't surprise. #10 Curling Luxury was tough when he made all last start, scoring at Sha Tin under Dylan Mo. He'll find the front from the inside draw and prove tough to reel in. #9 Diamond Legend has the awkward gate to overcome but if he can, he's racing well enough to find himself in the finish. #6 Royal Racer was too far back with too much work to do last start at Sha Tin. He can figure with a forward ride.

Race 4: Shek Pik Handicap

#5 King's Man did well to grab third last start after settling back in the field over this course and distance. He gets the services of leading jockey Joao Moreira this time and if he can offset the awkward gate, he's the one to beat. #2 Dream Warriors got the job done nicely last start. He'll get a nice trail just in behind the speed and he might be ready to continue his climb up the ratings ladder. #3 Family Leader is consistent. He's drawn a touch awkward but he should still roll forward nevertheless and take running down. #8 Bullish Glory is next best.

Race 5: The American Club Challenge Cup (Handicap)

#2 Tashidelek put a couple of nice runs together at the end of last season. He returned first-up over an unsuitable distance this season, managing to rattle home and finish just four lengths off the winner. He gets a welcome step up to 1800m and with even luck, he is the one to beat. #11 Heavenly Thought turned his form around last start. He comes into this third-up with two fitness boosting runs prior, and now stepping up further in distance should see him in the finish. Patience is running thin with the winless #4 Xiang Bai Qi, who has drawn blank across his 18-start career. Still, two starts ago he was only beaten a neck and his latest he finished an encouraging fourth. #3 Huangshan has shown steady improvement, enough to suggest he has more to come.

Race 6: Tai Lam Chung Handicap

#10 Lightning Steed did well first-up, closing for fifth over this course and distance. He's racing well and from the inside draw, he should be afforded every opportunity. #4 Generous Heart turned a corner last start, finishing fast to grab fourth. He hasn't won in over a year which is a concern but his recent form suggests he will be in the mix. #1 Lady First resumed impressively last start. Zac Purton sticks aboard which is a good push and against this field, he's capable of getting the job done. #2 Confucius Day is in career-best form. It's only a matter of time before he breaks through.

Race 7: Tai Tam Handicap

#1 Joyful Union needed the first-up run and if he performs as he did second-up last campaign, he's the one to beat. He rates highly as a previous course and distance winner. #2 My Ally went close at his first attempt this season for trainer John Moore. The strong booking of Zac Purton signals intent and this race is well within his grasp. #9 Momentum Galaxy has shown steady improvement. He'll need to translate that form to the turf but if he can, he's not without claims. #8 Bouyant Boy is next best.  

Race 8: High Island Handicap

#8 All You Know performed admirably first-up and with that performance under his belt, he's the one to beat. He's a two-time course and distance winner who looks likely to add to that tally here. #9 Universal Go Go is looking to end a run of two second place efforts. He trialled quietly in preparation for this but if he's held his condition, he's going to fighting out the finish. #7 High Rev scored a dominant course and distance win at his final run of last season and in the process was handed 13 ratings points. Strong booking of Zac Purton signals intent and he can't be overlooked. #2 Win Win mixes his form but he's capable of a strong finish.