3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday's race meeting at Happy Valley (29/01/20).

Race 1: #11 Speedy Missile, #1 Fairy Twins, #3 Shouson, #8 Super Winner
Race 2: #1 Blooming Spirit, #7 Hidden Spirit, #8 Money Winner, #2 Break Record
Race 3: #12 Simply Fluke, #11 The One, #10 The Show, #9 Master Albert
Race 4: #6 Golden Glory, #5 Super Alliances, #2 Gunnar, #12 All Best Friends
Race 5: #5 Tangmere, #7 Cheerful Star, #3 Acclaimed Light, #1 King's Man
Race 6: #5 Cinquante Cinq, #4 Surrealism, #2 Winning Delight, #7 Picken
Race 7: #6 Hardly Swears, #7 Aurora Pegasus, #4 Victoriam, #2 Prance Dragon
Race 8: #9 Amazing Star, #7 Cue The Music, #2 Gentle Breeze, #6 Joyful Union
Race 9: #11 Red Desert, #8 Reliable Team, #10 High Rev, #5 Dances With Dragon
 

Race 1: Kennedy Handicap 

#11 Speedy Missile is winless across five runs in Hong Kong but he has shown steady improvement. He gets the blinkers here first time to sharpen him up and with only 119lb on his back, he's going to get his chance. #1 Fairy Twins steps back to Class 4. He's a two-time winner over this course and distance and another win here wouldn't surprise. #3 Shouson broke through last start. Zac Purton retains the ride here and he's drawn to get the right run. #8 Super Winner has mixed his form since setting the track alight in a trial earlier this season. Still, he appears to have ability and the seven day back-up may spark him up. 

Race 2: Morrison Hill Handicap 

#1 Blooming Spirit narrowly missed two starts ago by a nose and followed that run up with a competitive fourth. He's racing well and retains the services of Joao Moreira which warrants respect. #7 Hidden Spirit will need a race run to suit if he is to rattle home from the tail of the field. Still, although his best runs have come on the dirt he has shown ability on the turf and with even luck he can find himself in the finish. #8 Money Winner has been consistent all season and he's drawn to be in the thick of things here. Me Tsui and Grant van Niekerk had a winner here earlier this year and another here wouldn't surprise. #2 Break Record is next best if he can overcome the wide gate. 

Race 3: Kennedy Handicap 

#12 Simply Fluke is winless across seven attempts in Hong Kong. He hasn't been too far away in each, including his latest effort where he rattled home from last to snatch third. He'll need a race run to suit but with only 116lb to carry he rates as the leading player. #11 The One is another who is winless. He's down to a competitive mark and his last few runs have displayed significant improvement. #10 The Show has narrowly missed in his last two, placing in each. He's in excellent form and the veteran of 70 starts is a seven-time winner, three of which have come over this course and distance. #9 Master Albert has been consistent all season and it won't be too long until he is rewarded. 

Race 4: Kennedy Handicap 

#6 Golden Glory came agonisingly close last start, finishing second under the urgings of Silvestre de Sousa. The three-time British champion jockey retains the ride here and from the good gate he rates as the one to beat. #5 Super Alliances is looking to snap a run of seconds. He's shown steady improvement across his short career and although he went under as a short-priced favourite last time, he is capable of atoning for that run here. #2 Gunnar got off the mark three starts ago. He's drawn to get the right run under Vincent Ho and he's capable of working his way into Class 3. #12 All Best Friends hasn't been too far away this term and he's a place chance if he can overcome the awkward draw. 

Race 5: Oi Kwan Handicap 

#5 Tangmere has struggled of late but early on this season he did show some ability when placing third-up under Zac Purton. Interesting addition of gear with the tongue-tie going on and if his breathing does improve, he's a chance to recapture that form and he could be a big price to do so. #7 Cheerful Star got off the mark last start at his 21st attempt. He remains in Class 4 which suits and the retention of Zac Purton from that win warrants respect. #3 Acclaimed Light has been consistent all season. He's drawn well for Neil Callan and his consistency could well be rewarded here. #1 King's Man steps out for leading trainer Ricky Yiu. He's on the cusp of Class 3 and he appears to still have a number of ratings points in hand.  

Race 6: The Volunteers' Challenge Cup (Handicap) 

#5 Cinquante Cinq rarely runs a bad race and has only finished outside of the placings on two occasions from seven attempts which includes one win. He arguably should have won more races, having finished runner-up three times and although he's drawn a touch awkward, he does appear to have a number of ratings points left in hand and this is more than winnable. #4 Surrealism is consistent and although he hasn't won, he's shown that it's only a matter of time and with even luck he'll find himself in the finish. #2 Winning Delight has struggled to recapture his heroics of last season when he won on debut but a recent trial at Conghua has indicated that he might be ready to bounce back. He's drawn well and the booking of Zac Purton once more commands respect. #7 Picken is next best. 

Race 7: Queen's Road East Handicap 

#6 Hardly Swear is looking for his fourth consecutive win at just his fifth start. He's hit the ground since arriving to Hong Kong and as a Class 3 winner already, he rates as the one to beat. #7 Aurora Pegasus notched up the hat-trick two starts ago before finishing fourth at his latest. He can return to form here as he is a proven Class 3 winner previously. #4 Victoriam mixes his form but his brilliant best is easily up to this. He's better ridden cold so if they do get a race run to suit then he's going to be flashing home from the rear under Joao Moreira. #2 Prance Dragon is a course and distance winner. He won't be too far away. 

Race 8: Stubbs Handicap 

#9 Amazing Star is looking for his third consecutive win. He was handed an astonishing 14 ratings points for his last win and although this means he faces Class 2 for the first time, he does appear to be up to this level. The wide gate makes things tricky but with Zac Purton sticking aboard it's a solid push around his chances. #7 Cue The Music got off the mark two starts ago over this course and distance. He's an impressive South African import who from the gate should be able to get the right run throughout for Karis Teetan. #2 Gentle Breeze has turned into a revelation this season, winning three of his five appearances this term. He's in-form and although he faces Class 2 for the first time, he's another who appears to be up to this level. #6 Joyful Union is a talent and the inside draw will afford him every opportunity to record back-to-back wins. 

Race 9: Tin Lok Handicap 

#11 Red Desert narrowly missed two starts ago over this course and distance and if he reproduces that run here he's going to prove hard to beat. He ran fairly on the dirt last time out but his recent form over 1200m at Happy Valley is imposing. #8 Reliable Team is a course and distance winner already this season and he steps into this off a last-start runner-up effort to Chefano. He's racing well and as a proven performer at the Valley he warrants respect. #10 High Rev mixes his form but his blistering best is brilliant. He's a two-time winner over this course and distance in Class 3 before stepping up to Class 2 which has relinquished two competitive defeats. He can bounce back with the right run. #5 Dances With Dragon can mix it here with the right run.