3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
RACE 1 - SHEUNG WAN HANDICAP, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 0:57.76 Standard Time: 0:57.30 Course/Class Record: 0:56.87
Winner: CHUNGWA JINGSHEN (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Holy Duck) ends a losing streak of 12 in making start 13 the lucky one, producing a very brave effort after being wide on a hot early speed. Karis Teetan found a spot one-off the fence later and that breather to the home turn proved the difference, a solid bid wearing them all down to win by the barest of noses, though as we know that is always good enough. Three handy runs already this season without placing so he was a fit horse heading into tonight's Class 5, and the booking of Teetan, a man who lifts his mounts as well as any jockey in Hong Kong, was in the end crucial. A $A30,000 yearling he was later on-sold for $A175,000 as a two-year-old and prepared by Kim Waugh in New South Wales before his export.
Runner-up: READY CONQUEROR nearly caused a big upset in going down by a nose in the final stride, a much-improved run from the Better Than Ready gelding who had been quite disappointing in nine previous starts in Hong Kong. He improves a lot off a run on the all-weather track last week when well beaten into tenth position after racing handy. The perfect trail behind a strong speed suited him here, and he was far more resolute in his endeavours.
Run Of The Race: PRAWN YEAH YEAH was the one to come through the race with flying colours, back second-and-third-last in the run up to the home turn he scooted home impressively to run fourth and only short margins from the winner. He's a two-time winner, both at 1000m, tonight he returned to Class 5 after two misses in Class 4 to begin his season. The next win looms large in this grade on this run. EVERBRAVE was also good wide out after being well back early.
Disappointment: THE ABRAXAS was unable to get over with his early pace and that told on him late, outside leader on the turn but soon beaten. Favourite SPEEDY OPTIMIST was solid, met a little trouble mid-stages and found the line so he gets a pass mark in third, never stopped trying. GREEN ENVY again very raw early but good late, but that is him.
Comparison: Outside standard and they looked to be scooting along. Watching the clock the next race or two.
Market Mover: THE ABRAXAS $5.80 to $3.90
RACE 2 - VICTORIA HANDICAP, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:17.88 Standard Time: 2:17.85 Course/Class Record: 2:16.06
Winner: HAY RUN (AUS 8yo g Delightful Choice – Missun) thrived on the step to 2200m in securing back-to-back wins to start the night for trainer Peter Ho, his third-and-fourth training wins of the season after securing a big upset win with Viva Chef at long odds last Sunday. A stable in form and this horse had not been racing too badly in three previous starts this term, the extra distance up his alley tonight as he is a one-paced type. Last time he was successful was in July and that was also at 2200m so punters were a little off point here allowing him to run around at 16/1. Off a rating of 35 tonight he will go close to a step back into Class 4 next time but should be seen again soon in this grade, which is really his level.
Runner-up: SOCKET ELITE nearly caused a major upset at 100/1, trailed the speed, popped off the fence to make his run around the turn and looked the winner 50m out before surrendering extremely late. Before tonight he was a seven-start maiden and had not finished closer than 10 th in that time. A big step forward for him here, and obviously the distance was the key factor. Incredibly, he stepped up from 1200m first up for the season on the all- weather track to the 2200m a week later and almost got the job done, that's quite amazing. Dennis Yip can get these out-of-form horses to perform.
Run Of The Race: No stars here but THE JOY OF GIVING did a nice job to come from a position where he was sharing last to swoop around wide and keep finding the line, finishing fourth.
Disappointment: Favourite SKY GEM was plain, jumped slowly and looked disinterested, gained the gaps when needed on the corner but did not show any real dash in running past a few to finish sixth. Betting plunges on JOLLY FOREVER and ART OF RAW were well off the mark.
Comparison: Bang on the standard in a race where they did seem to mix thespeed.
Market Mover: JOLLY FOREVER $21.00 to $11.00, ART OF RAW $17.60 to $7.50
RACE 3 - SAI YING PUN HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.21 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92
Winner: COLONEL (NZ 4yo g Ferlax – Outrageous Fortune) had been offered a few opportunities he had not taken in Hong Kong and was starting to look a Class 5 horse. But the money came for him tonight, he was well into double figures in three previous runs this term, backed into $6.00 and keenly sought here. Perfect low draw for him, jumped well and trailed the obvious leader Very Sweet Orange. Around is heels in a flash and away and gone on the home turn it was race over soon after. Lovely ride from South American jockey Vagner Borges who just continues to impress. Dam Outrageous Fortune won eight races, all sprinting contests up to 1200m. This fellow won a trial in New Zealand in April 2019 before making his way to Hong Kong.
Runner-up: WINNING WAYS used gate one to hold his position mid-way the fence and then carved his way through on the corner to make his run, finishing off very strongly to run second. He is an interesting character, 31 starts one win only before tonight and a horse who has never really reached his potential after winning a couple of times in the UK before he arrived in Hong Kong. He was a winner over 1000m on this track last term and ratings wise close to a Class 5 drop for the first time, into tonight's race with 43 points and just above that threshold. Vetted after and blood found in the trachea, so a game run given that.
Run Of The Race: YEE CHEONG WARRIOR caught the eye doing nice work from well back in the field and is a horse to follow for David Hayes. He was having just his second race start tonight after debuting and failing at long odds in late October. He won a trial for the Hayes-Dabernig stable in Australia so the master trainer already knew him well and we should see further improvement as he goes. Favourite HERE COMES TED did all is best work late from some midfield, loses no friends on this.
Disappointment: SUPER KIN was well supported, particularly late and his performance did not match the confidence. Got back from a wide barrier and never emerged from the pack. Worth following him in next start if he draws a friendly gate.
Comparison: Three-tenths above the standard suggests we are playing on a very similar track to that of Sunday – a shade on that dead side of good.
Market Mover: HERE COMES TED $2.90 to $2.40
RACE 4 - SJEK TONG TSUI HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.47 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class Record: 1:38.83
Winner: BEST FOR YOU (AUS 5yo g Not A Single Doubt – Frenchs Forest) bounces back to winning form and not overly surprising given some luckless runs in four starts this season. Good enough to win a double over 1400m at Sha Tin last season his from stacked up if good enough tonight. Settling three- fence and chasing a keen leader he was in the prime position at the turn albeit with a few lengths to make up to catch the strongly supported LADY FIRST who had skipped clear. Me Tsui has kept him quite busy, this his 13 th start in 2020, back to a rating of 48 and well weighted with 123lb he always going to be hard to beat with Karis Teetan the man on board. He comes from a royal family, dam Frenchs Forest a half-sister to former champion filly, Miss Finland.
Runner-up: ZHAN JIANG ROCKS took the shortcuts turning for home and gained a saloon passage along the rail to pick up many lengths, a very clever Zac Purton ride, just failing to win and grab his second career victory in Hong Kong. His maiden success here was at the 1650m on this track so clearly his pet trip. An Irish-bred, he won two from six in the UK up to 1575m. He has been third, fifth, and now second in three runs this season for Chris So and very-much on the verge of winning form.
Run Of The Race: ROYAL RACER was eye-catching from the rear in fourth, drew out, got back and charged home, continuing a strong run of form. You could put this one down to a lack of racing luck and a horse to be on next time around. Previously a win and two placings in his opening three runs of the season for the powerful Caspar Fownes stable. His 23.05 last 400m clearly race-best.
Disappointment: MALDIVES was expected to run well, gained a nice run in transit fourth and fifth the outer and made his move in time but only battled the final 200m.
Comparison: Outside standard, they did walk early but really clicked into gear from the half-mile.
Market Mover: LADY FIRST $4.20 to $2.90, HAPPY ICHIBAN $33.00 to $23.00.
RACE 5 - SAI YING PUN HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.17 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92
Winner: ORIENTAL ELITE (AUS 7yo g Star Witness – Bail Out) was quite outstanding to pick up a lot of ground from the 600m to get up and win. Fortuitous to gain a start with a scratching, the son of Star Witness was off the bit and ridden along as they really scooted along in front, he was brave in his chase, never flinching as Neil Callan asked him for the ultimate effort. Into his fourth season in Hong Kong he had picked up earlier wins at 1000m in June 2018, and 1200m in March 2019, both at Happy Valley so this track is happy hunting ground. Trainer Paul O'Sullivan has never started him at Sha Tin, each of his 23 career starts all at the Valley.
Runner-up: GOODLUCK GOODLUCK was gallant in defeat, he shared a three- way battle for the lead but held the rail, kicked strong when he shrugged off the other pair after turning form home then had to withstand a likely challenge from MELBOURNE HALL who had trailed and made his claim in the home straight. Excellent effort third up for the season, two failures at Sha Tin on the turf and all-weather tracks led to a much stronger effort this time. An interesting horse, he won way back in June 2018 and was not sighted again until February 2020 so his 14-start career has been well spaced since debuting in March 2018.
Run Of The Race: ORIENTAL ELITE was clearly the best, though a few horses copped bad checks when THE ELITES stumbled and fell at the 600m ending their chances. Off the clock NOBLE DESIRE did well after being one of those checked at the midway point.
Disappointment: Off his run in the trail and basically having to go around only one horse in the race MELBOURNE HALL lost a winning opportunity tonight. He was a bit bland the final 200m after looking the winner. HIN YUEN BOS started favourite in the end, shared the pace and gave in quickly. Vetted, irregular heart rhythm.
Comparison: Just outside standard but a fairly good time based on the results
on this track to date.
Market Mover: MELBOURNE HALL $4.80 to $4.10,
RACE 6 - KENNEDY TOWN HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.34 Standard Time: 1:39.80 Course/Class Record: 1:38.61
Winner: NAMJONG PLUS (NZ 7yo g Zacinto – Volkara) secured a beautiful run in the trail from barrier one and with an in-form Karis Teetan in the saddle there was always going to be one winner of this race. The Kiwi-bred has been racing well, left from wide gates in his two previous starts and did nice work late after getting well back. The draw was everything tonight and it paid full dividends. Well into his fourth season of racing in Hong Kong the son of Zacinto has been quite sparingly raced by trainer Me Tsui, particularly last term when he was sent around just five times without success. He debuted in the 2017- 2018 season with three wins from nine starts, into the 2018-2019 season in securing two wins from seven starts. Against that pattern of racing him lightly, the gelding has already had five starts this season since resuming on September 9. Win six of 26 starts here, a good record in Hong Kong racing.
Runner-up: REEL BIZZY was used early from a wider gate to find a handy spot on the outer, swept up to challenge the winner 150m out and did his best, just unable to get past the one he needed to. Such a consistent horse this bloke, four starts this season and never out of the top three, all over 1650m at Happy Valley. Reward for effort must come sooner rather than later for the Irish-bred who won his career debut in France.
Run Of The Race: GIFT OF LIFELINE was rather tidy, middle and handy enough, a shuffle up before the home turn quite costly and he rallied again strongly to run into fourth, just too far from the leading few to catch them. DELIGHTFUL LAOS is not an easy horse to catch on his best day and again out of the money here but very worthy work from him late, scorching past a few from last in the fastest final 400m split of the race.
Disappointment: Both favourites disappointing, SMILING CITY heavily backed and trapped three-deep, found cover but never ran on, and LEAP OF FAITH got well back again tonight, still back there when it became urgent and never flattered. Vetted, no findings.
Comparison: A half-second above the standard is par for the course right now.
Market Mover: SMILING CITY $4.80 to $3.50, GIFT OF LIFELINE $9.80 to $8.00
RACE 7 - BELCHER BAY HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.81 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68
Winner: LOBO'S LEGEND (SAF 6yo g Trippi – Gone Wild) ran a terrific race first up at Sha Tin down the flying 1000m chute and was always going to be hard to beat here in the rise to 1200m. Barrier two and instant ability to be able to race a lot handier, his task looked a good one tonight and he was able to get the job done off a clever ride from Neil Callan who sat him fifth the fence and never went around a horse to win hard up against the rail. Amazing to think the South African-bred had never won in Hong Kong, he had placed in six of 20 starts before this success. He paid greatly for success in the $SA 2 million South African Classic in April 2018 at Group 1 level and the penalty of course was rating points, marked at 90 points on arrival and since then a slow decline to just under the 80 mark. Even tonight he was still paying for it with 133lb on his back. Irony in the fact his best form has been at sprint trips in Hong Kong after taking that group 1 contest over 1800m.
Runner-up: HARMONY N HOME also used a plum draw to advantage, speed on and he tracked the two leaders every step in a race that became a no-hope for the back runners. Brave in his attempt to wear down the winner the Irish-bred shows his first real sign of form in Class 3 after two a couple of misses. He began the season with victory in a Class 4 sprint on this track and has taken a couple of runs to establish himself in the tougher, higher grade.
Run Of The Race: SAVAQUIN made his Hong Kong debut and was not favoured on the tote, but punters will be a little keener next time around. He was a two- time winner in Australia from just four starts in quite the short but strange little career. Debuted in Victoria, raced twice in Western Australia with success in one, and returned to Victoria to win at Warnambool in May this year before his export. A well travelled horse this one with five race starts under the belt. Mark him down as one to follow. His 22.74 was comfortably the fastest final 400m split of the race.
Disappointment: GREEN REIGN too far back and backers of the Moreira- Fownes combination left it all in here. The good money came for SUPER DOBBIN and he folded after sharing a fast pace up-front.
Comparison: Only a tick ahead of standard here in a genuinely run race.
Market Mover: SUPER DOBBIN $21.20 to $10.00
RACE 8 - BELCHER BAY HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf 'B' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.69 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68
Winner: SKY DARCI (NZ 4yo g Darci Brahma – Strictly Maternal) registers win four from just start seven to get the favourite backers on better terms with themselves at the end of the night. Quality galloper this boy, Caspar Fownes picks his races carefully and he seems confident in his ability to leap through the grades and reach the top in a hurry. Quite meteoric his rise from a 52-point maiden exactly a year ago to a near 90-point rating after this victory. Straight to Class 2 he goes. Three back the fence and jogging he eased off the paint coming to the turn, switched back towards the inside once in the straight and from then on a procession, nearly three lengths the margin and it could have been more. Joao Moreira bags a late win as both he and Zac Purton were again quiet and had to bow to the great Mauritian jockey Karis Teetan who rode a treble. Neil Callan chimed in with an impressive double.
Runner-up: HARRIER JET tracked the winner for much of the way until they split paths on the turn, SKY DARCI heading back towards the rail, this fellow drawing wide to make his run, and in the end an impressive one. He darted home strongly out wide to claims second money and extend a smart record this season, four starts for a win and three placings now for a resurgent Paul O'Sullivan stable. He has won over $HK 6 million this horse, impressive stuff for a horse who mixes it in Classes 3 and 4.
Run Of The Race: Must note IGNITING, a newbie with Francis Lui who came from Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Melbourne with, in fairness, a moderate 11 start-two-win record. That aside he had been tested in good company and was never far away, including a fifth in the $500,000 Inglis Dash at Caulfield beaten 2.5 lengths behind Excess Funds in March. He wobbled around that sharp final turn from fourth the outer in the run but his last 150m was great, never stopped giving. A quick winner he will be for the new connections. Smart late runs from LOVING THE BOOM and CELESTIAL POWER go down in the black book.
Disappointment: FLYING BONUS close enough if good enough but his night was over on the turn when the runs started coming. Gate 12 put paid to him in the wash up, he'd done too much in a hot race. Vetted, no findings.
Comparison: We went so close! Almost a race under standard, we have not had one in quite some time!
Market Mover: SKY DARCI $2.00 to $1.50
