3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday’s race meeting at Happy Valley (18/12/19).

Race 1: #6 Sky Gem, #8 Kwaichung Brothers, #4 Happy Hour, #1 Calling The Shots
Race 2: #10 Happy Good Guys, #4 Ares, #2 Melbourne Hall, #1 Flying Genius
Race 3: #3 Best Alliance, #1 All You Know, #9 Kanbeki Molly, #5 Oriental Elite  
Race 4: #4 Ballistic King, #2 Prance Dragon, #3 Fearless Fire, #1 Red Desert
Race 5: #5 Highly Proactive, #1 Silver Fig, #6 Jade Theatre, #2 My Ally
Race 6: #6 Regency Poet, #1 Split Of A Second, #7 Super Winner, #10 Focus
Race 7: #7 Gift Of Lifeline, #2 Jolly Honour, #8 Looking Good, #4 Party Together
Race 8: #6 Amazing Star, #5 Namjong Sings, #2 Super Wise, #8 Very Rich Man
Race 9: #4 Big Party, #7 Multimillion, #3 Tornado Twist, #2 Speedy King

Race 1: Neptune Handicap

#6 Sky Gem rattled home from the tail of the field last start. Blake Shinn retains the ride here which suits and he appears ready to finally go on with it. #8 Kwaichung Brothers is another who flew home from the back last start. The "C+3" Course doesn't make things easy for him but another bold performance is expected. #4 Happy Hour arrived on a mark of 71 and he's now sitting at 37. He's down to his mark and the booking of Zac Purton warrants respect. #1 Calling The Shots is next best, if he can overcome the wide gate.

Race 2: Jupiter Handicap

#10 Happy Good Guys has turned his form around his last two outings, placing in each. He's shown he's ready to break through for his first Hong Kong win at his eighth start. #4 Ares has shown plenty of early talent in his trials. He gets Zac Purton on for his debut which signals intent although the draw isn't helpful, especially on debut. #2 Melbourne Hall is another who has shown plenty of early toe in his trials. #1 Flying Genius is a last-start winner. He'll need to shoulder 133lb and overcome the awkward gate, but he's up to this.

Race 3: Uranus Handicap

#3 Best Alliance has been racing well and although he has the wide draw to overcome, he rates as the one to beat with the right run. #1 All You Know steps back into Class 4 where is a two-time winner. He's drawn well and this race is well within his grasp. #9 Kanbeki Molly led and won well last start for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. He steps up in class but the same front running tactics can be expected. #5 Oriental Elite will be much improved second-up from a break. He can figure with the right run. 

Race 4: Venus Handicap

#4 Ballistic King is racing in career-best form and his good fortune can continue on Wednesday. His last two runs have been impressive including his breakthrough win two starts ago over this course and distance. #2 Prance Dragon is capable although his last three outings this term have been less than impressive. Still, he's done it over this course and distance before which rates highly. #3 Fearless Fire gets the blinkers applied for the first time from gate one. Chances are he runs them along here and tries to pinch this. #1 Red Desert has the class. He shouldn't be too far away.

Race 5: Venus Handicap

#5 Highly Proactive has hit the ground since his arrival to Hong Kong, placing in both of his two outings, the latest, finishing a narrow half-length behind the winner. He can progress further here for the in-form Francis Lui yard. #1 Silver Fig makes his Happy Valley debut. He has the class and if he can handle the city course, he's going to be in the finish. #6 Jade Theatre is an interesting commodity, as Zac Purton has ridden him to both of his last wins. He returns to the plate here and this galloper commands respect. #2 My Ally has the wide draw to contend with but if he can, he rates highly with Grant van Niekerk in the plate.

Race 6: Saturn Handicap

#6 Regency Poet was more than impressive on debut at Happy Valley last start when grabbing third behind Mehboob and King's Trooper. Zac Purton takes the reins here and this galloper appears the one to beat. #1 Split Of A Second is racing well. He has the wide gate to contend with but his recent form shows that he is nearing his first seasonal win. #7 Super Winner has found his feet based on his last two outings. He's drawn well and should be in the finish. #10 Focus has drawn ideally and is a place chance from there.

Race 7: Mars Handicap

#7 Gift Of Lifeline won well last start at Sha Tin. He steps up to 1650m for the first time off the back of that win and his performance that day, highlighted is capability of stepping up in distance and being competitive again. #2 Jolly Honour grabbed his first win two starts ago before being narrowly defeated in his latest. #8 Looking Good is consistent although his latest effort doesn't highlight this. He's drawn well and his best is up to this.#4 Party Together is next best.

Race 8: Venus Handicap

#6 Amazing Star demolished his rival's last start and if he manages to replicate that effort here, he's going to take a power of beating. He steps up to Class 3 off that performance but it appears well within his reach. #5 Namjong Sings is racing better than his unplaced record suggests. He can offset the wide gate by rolling forward and with even luck, figure in the finish. #2 Super Wise gets 10 pounds off his back thanks to Alfred Chan's claim. He can roll forward and take up the running here. #8 Very Rich Man is another who can roll forward and find himself not too far away.

Race 9: Mercury Handicap

#4 Big Party returned in excellent order first-up, grabbing a competitive fifth. He can progress further from that run and if he can positon himself somewhere close to the speed, he's going to be in the finish. #7 Multimillion is the likely leader here. He's been super consistent across his career and his forward style of racing should suit the Valley, especially on the "C+3" Course. #3 Tornado Twist has won third-up previously. The wide draw makes things difficult but this is well within his reach. The ever-consistent #2 Speedy King is not without a chance. He's drawn well and he's shown that he can win from anywhere.