3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
RACE – 1 CHESTER HANDICAP, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf – Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:50.01 Standard Time: 1:49.85 Course/Class Record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars
Winner: AI ONE (NZ 6yo g Shocking – Dream Lass) was snagged back to last from the rank outside stall and was allowed to find his feet over the early stages. They dropped anchor up front during the middle section and Ferraris opted to set off around them three and four wide to hit the lead before they had even reached the turn. Sustained that speed and had plenty of his competition off the bit once they flattened out. Kept kicking under heavy riding and just had enough in the tank to hold them all off at the line. Finally breaks through for a well-deserved victory.
Runner-Up: HAPPY JAI JAI jumped cleanly from gate eight and was given a bit of a nudge to roll forward and sit third one off the fence as they left the straight for the first time. Cruised up to sit outside the leader in the back straight before the eventual winner took off around him as they headed for home. Kept grinding to the line but the ride on Ai One stole it. Picks up another cheque for his connections.
Run Of The Race: Renaming this 'Ride Of The Race' with Ferraris making a mid-race move and catching them napping. Special mention to MIGHTY STAR who put in a career best performance to flash home for third at cricket score odds.
Disappointment: LOYAL AMBITION was well found in betting and given every possible by Ho but was one paced when asked for an effort and could only muster fourth.
Comparison: A touch outside standard in a race run in two halves.
Market Mover: LOYAL AMBITION (4th) $4.40 to $3.30.
RACE – 2 HEREFORD HANDICAP, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.70 Standard Time: 1:10.20 Course/Class Record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Winner: JACK WIN (AUS 4yo g Divine Prophet – Igraine) jumped on terms with them from gate six before being able to work across and sit midfield on the fence in clear air after travelling 200m. Came back underneath Bowman nicely in the middle section and didn't spend a penny until being asked to take a split in between runners with 300m to go. Really knuckled down over the final furlong and was too strong on the line in a bunched finish. The Australian hoop couldn't have done much more in the saddle in a perfectly rated steer.
Runner-Up: CHARMING STEED was given a rev up out of the machine from barrier ten and managed to navigate across and sit outside the leader after covering the first 200m. Got into a handy rhythm as they approached the corner and hit the lead 100m from home but just got nutted late. That's by far his best run this preparation.
Run Of The Race: RAGING BLAZE drifted to the tail end of the field but was doing his best work late to finish fourth and may be looking for 1400m now. Was the sole galloper making ground from the back.
Disappointment: SUNSHINE LEGENDARY jumped second favourite at $4.40 but was a bit plain and only battled home to finish ninth.
Comparison: Half a second outside standard with the top three coming from the first half of the field in the run.
Market Movers: DAY DAY RICH (3rd) $7.90 to $6.50 and ENCORE (12th) $32 to $23.
RACE – 3 LANCASHIRE HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.72 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class Record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: VIVA POPCORN (GB 6yo g Farhh – Stoneacre Sarah) utilised the inside gate by jumping cleanly and ambled up on the fence to sit just behind the speed as they left the straight. The leaders absolutely crawled throughout the early going and he had his head on his chest up until 500m from home while sneaking through along the steel. Managed to push into a split 300m out and hit the front with a furlong to go. Kept on going through the line by Chung and gets back to the winner's stall.
Runner-Up: ROYAL PRIDE wasn't asked to do much out of the machine and settled midfield on the fence without using up too many carrots. Tracked the eventual winner the entire trip on the rails but was just outsprinted over the concluding stages. Has started to hit his straps now and it would pay to stick with him.
Run Of The Race: No real standouts with majority of the field running up to their quotes.
Disappointment: ONE HEART ONE jumped favourite at $4.60 but could only manage ninth beaten almost seven lengths.
Comparison: Over half a second outside standard with no one wanting to take up the lead early doors.
Market Movers: DURHAM STAR (6th) $8.10 to $5.50 and KYRUS UNICORN (7th) $16 to $12.
RACE – 4 RENFREW HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.42 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class Record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Winner: HAPPY UNITED (NZ 3yo g – Sweynesse – Light Mozart) was urged out of the gates from barrier seven and got across to the fence to sit second after doing a bit of work early. Got a slight breather in the middle going as he let the tearaway leader Super Commander get upwards of four lengths in front. Was only really popped the question with 300m to go and swept to front under Purton to just hold them all off at the post. They were coming at him late and he was happy to see the line.
Runner-Up: YOUNG LIFE FOREVER jumped with them from barrier six with Bentley trying to slot in one off the fence, to no avail. Travelled three wide no cover the entire trip but still had the audacity to keep coming all the way down the lane. Just missed at the business end but certainly wouldn't have lost any admirers. That was a tough effort and a win looks right around the corner.
Run Of The Race: For all of the above mentioned reasons YOUNG LIFE FOREVER was desperately unlucky to not break his local maiden.
Disappointent: DREAM PURSUER was well supported but didn't fire a shot into eighth place.
Comparison: Half a second outside standard despite Super Commander going hard early on.
Market Movers: Plenty with mixed results. HAPPY UNITED (1st) $5.60 to $3.20, LORIZ (3rd) $13 to $8, SAVVY CHIC (10th) $26 to $20 and HAR HAR AT HEART (12th) $48 to $31.
RACE – 5 LANCASHIRE HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.48 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class Record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: FORTUNE PRESIDENT (AUS 4yo g More Than Ready – I'm Your Venus) copped a bit of a check out of gate five but still managed to muster up to settle sixth one off the fence upon leaving the home straight. They basically held their positions for the next 1000m of the race before De Sousa clicked him up between runners when cornering and set out after the leading pair. It was a ding-dong battle over the final furlong with a bob of the head being the difference at the finish. A blow out result for punters saluting at $47.
Runner-Up: SPLENDID LIVING pushed forward from barrier seven as expected but Millennium Falcon opted to take him on and headed up the running. Stayed in second position for the majority of the contest before hitting the front late only to just lose out in a tight photo. Truck loaded late in the betting and was in front before and after the post in a tough watch for supporters.
Run Of The Race: MILLENNIUM FALCON jumped at $127 and went hard to lead them up but just faded late to finish fourth. His best run for a while and he might appreciate being up on speed.
Disappointment: HELENE WIDSOM STAR started at $5.80 but was beaten more than nine lengths into tenth.
Comparison: Just under half a second outside standard with the first four across the line all settling in the first six in transit.
Market Movers: SPLENDID LIVING (2nd) $5.80 to $3.50 and RIGHT AS RAIN (7th) $6.90 to $5.20
RACE – 6 RENFREW HANDICAP, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.53 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class Record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Winner: A AMERIC TE SPECSO (NZ 4yo g Per Incanto – Island Time) was awkwardly away from his low draw but managed to punch through to settle midfield one off the fence after travelling 200m. Came up for air during the middle section and travelled sweetly for Hamelin before having to get going around the turn and switching to the middle of track upon straightening. Kept coming all the way down the lane and only hit the front in the shadows of the post. You could throw a handkerchief over them at the finish in a race that changed complexion over the final 50m.
Runner-Up: FLAMING EAGLE dropped back to the second half of the field from gate seven and stalked the eventual winner for the majority of the six-furlong journey. Let down late to the outside of A Americ Te Specso but just ran out of time and certainly wasn't disgraced. Ran an honest race at odds.
Run Of The Race: No real eye catchers with just over three lengths covering the first eight across the line.
Disappointment: Well backed WOOD ON FIRE ($3.30) was given all the favours by Teetan but only plodded to the line into seventh.
Comparison: Half a second outside standard which was par for the course on the night.
Market Mover: HAPPY TRIO (3rd) $5.70 to $4.60.
RACE – 7 THE ST GEORGE'S CHALLENGE CUP (HANDICAP) HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.93 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: HOSS (AUS 4yo g Fiorente – Bona Fides) jumped evenly from gate two but there were plenty wanting to go forward outside him so he opted to ease back and settle midfield one off the fence. Caught a couple of cheap sectionals during the middle stages but found himself in front of only three runners as they turned for home. Managed to shoulder into the clear with 250m to go and really let down with authority down the centre of the track. The runner-up put up a good fight at the finish but he was too good under the strong urgings of Purton. Has now won three of his past four outings and is a galloper on the way up.
Runner-Up: PARTY WARRIOR was forced to snag back to last from the carpark draw and was upwards of three lengths off the second last horse after travelling 400m. Tacked on to them as they approached the turn and weaved his way in and out of runners down the straight to just miss out. There was plenty of money for him late but he just ran into one better. Was ridden as quiet as a church mouse and that might be his go.
Runs Of The Race: A few. HOSS was very impressive but hard to miss the run of PARTY WARRIOR who made up a stack of ground and looks to be returning to form. WINGS OF WAR also ran on in a much improved performance.
Disappointment: HUMBLE STAR was on the equal second line of betting but laboured home into eighth.
Comparison: A smidgen outside standard which adds plenty of merit to the efforts of Party Warrior and Wings Of War from the back.
Market Movers: Punters got it right. HOSS (1st) $2.10 to $1.60 and PARTY WARRIOR (2nd) $30 to $19.
RACE – 8 SELKIRK HANDICAP HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.17 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class Record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Winner: WINNING DRAGON (CHI 5yo g Ivan Denisovich – Perdoname) was given a squeeze from the outside stall and worked his way to the shoulder of the leader as they turned into the back straight. Let Loyal Baby work around him in the middle going and got a bit of cover for a furlong as they neared the turn. Peeled out three wide to set out after them when they balanced up in the lane and kept grinding under pressure over the final 300m to win in a workmanlike performance. Is a bit of a hit or miss type campaigner but has plenty of ability on his night.
Runner-Up: HELENE FEELING was placed into a beautiful one out one back position from gate eight before Loyal Baby worked around them and put some speed back into the contest. Got into his work with 400m to go but just couldn't out grind the winner in a stirring go. Was given every hope by Purton and had no excuses.
Runs Of The Race: WINNING DRAGON was simply too strong over the final stages and kept on lifting for Chung. ZONE D was the only one to make ground from the back and rarely puts in a poor effort.
Disappointment: Given the market expectation, HELENE FEELING was a touch flat not getting the job done after having every opportunity, but hard to find a blatant disappointment with only six lengths covering the 12-horse field.
Comparison: Only just outside standard which further stamps the run of Zone D.
Market Mover: VILLA FIONN (10th) $32 to $24.
RACE – 9 WILTSHIRE HANDICAP, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.91 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: NORDIC DRAGON (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Rely On Me) exited on terms with them from gate six but Bowman chose to let him find his stride while there were five and six across the track up front in the early going. Found himself fourth last in clear air with 800m to go but was travelling comfortably while the others were doing a bit of work in the leading division. Was the widest runner as they turned for home but built up plenty of momentum to run them down and bring up a double on the card for the man most known for his association with champion mare Winx. That's four wins from seven starts now as he works his way through the grades.
Runner-Up: CALIFORNIA CIBLE got into a bit of speed battle early on from gate five but eventually settled one off the fence just behind the tempo. Travelled in the one out one back position before switching off heels and setting out after the leading division. Looked the winner for a fleeting moment but couldn't hold off Nordic Dragon to his outside. A solid effort and might be ready to salute again.
Run Of The Race: PHOENIX LIGHT couldn't pick up his feet in the first half of the race but absolutely savaged the line and may be looking for an extra furlong now.
Disappointment: GOLD GOLD BABY jumped third favourite at $7.50 but never got warm and only beat one runner home.
Comparison: Not far off standard with PHOENIX LIGHT doing his best work late.
Market Movers: A bit of action in the 'Get Out Stakes'. NORDIC DRAGON (1st) $5.60 to $4.30, LUCKY EIGHT (5th) $7 to $4.80 and COBHFIELD (12th) $14 to $10.
