3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
RACE 1 - SHEK KIP MEI HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.19 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92
Winner: SMILING ON (NZ 7yo g O'Reilly – Savabeel Star) is a such a cool dude, there are few times he appears on a racetrack and does not perform. No change tonight, third from last in a race that looked to be going the way of the leaders but his big swoop again undeniable in a trademark late rush. What a season he is having as a seven-year-old for Francis Lui, six starts, three wins and three placings. Rider Vincent Ho has been on board in each of those six starts and though we know Golden Sixty is his all-time favourite, this nuggetty little guy must be right up the top of the list. Start 34 win four tonight for the Kiwi-bred, this season his best by far.
Runner-up: HAPPY PROFIT tracked the leader all the way and was given a gun run by Purton, angled through to look a winning chance at the 150m and just found the former that little bit too strong. Just his third start and best to date, the Kiwi-bred by Alamosa had debuted on December 16 with a fair seventh, on-pace but unsighted late in another 1200m try in mid-January. A good leap forward tonight and a horse who will win soon enough for Danny Shum.
Run Of The Race: SMILING ON and CHEERFUL LEADER were great from well back in the field, they fired out 23.22 and 23.12 respectively to scoot home, bettered by the roughie MISSION SMART who clocked 23.00 and was a race-best there.
Disappointment: HAPPY TIME was favoured to win, got a good trip in front holding the rail but gave no kick when put under pressure. Vetted, substantial blood in the trachea.
Comparison: No great speed, track looks a little quicker than this one where they ran outside of standard.
Market Mover: A SMILE LIKE YOURS $5.40 to $3.80
RACE 2 - SHEK KIP MEI HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.51 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92
Winner: CLASSIC POSH (AUS 5yo g Testa Rossa – Makaha) performed with great will, though he can thank Zac Purton for a tremendous ride to get him. Midfield on the fence and strung up in traffic it could have gone pear-shaped as at least four runners who had worked hard early in front of him were due to fade. Purton gave it the no-panic treatment, sat quietly until a slender inside gap came and he was through and away before the rest had realised. Top effort with 132lb to get home so strongly through the line, his second win in 18 starts for David Hall who would likely regard the gelding as an unlucky runner on a few occasions in the past. Real consistency in his performances this season and at the back end of last term. Now due a trip up to Class 3 again with this victory. That grade has tested him in the past though a better stronger horse he now is so likely able to handle it.
Runner-up: MUDITA fired home from a long way back at huge odds to go close to winning, a real step up in effort from the son of Holy Roman Emperor who debuted on January 13 without fuss and ran eighth at long odds. Tonight, he was much the sharper version and it seems trainer Paul O'Sullivan has found a key to him. As an inexperienced racehorse he must only keep improving.
Run Of The Race: MUDITA outstanding from a long way back, and with 133lb on his back and having the ears ridden off him for much of the way, the well-favoured BRIGHT KID was exceptional from turn to winning post as he darted into fourth. Unlucky in the straight was RUN THE TABLE looking for clear galloping room.
Disappointment: Favourite FORTUNE HERO got left middle and wide and he kept on trucking well enough without any luck. Could not drop him on this luckless run.
Comparison: Outside of standard and it does look as though we play on that slight dead side of good here.
Market Mover: FORTUNE HERO $3.80 to $2.60
RACE 3 - TAI WO PING HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-35 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:17.51 Standard Time: 2:17.50 Course/Class Record: 2:16.06
Winner: DYNAMIC EAGLE (NZ 7yo g Guillotine – Dosh) has found his niche, the 2200m races are his for the taking now two wins and a third for trainer Danny Shum in his last three starts at the track and distance. He has been around a while, won two of three starts in New Zealand for Tony Pike, both at 1400m before making his way to Hong Kong. It has not been stellar stuff since, but Shum has found that 1800m is about as low as you go nowadays – the further they go the better he goes. Straight to the spot outside leader under Alexis Badel tonight and too swift off the home turn, he was the superior stayer again as he rises back towards a run in Class 3 again and that 60-point threshold, though he has earned that lately.
Runner-up: EXALTATION had his chance, finished off bravely from middle outer to register his third consecutive second placing at Happy Valley in races from 1800m to 2200m. Now 21 runs without a victory in Hong Kong and trying his best, very well rated in the low-40s and due his turn for Tony Cruz.
Run Of The Race: GOOD DAYS (23.61) and PRETTY BAUHINIA (23.57) ran on without threat in the fastest last sectionals of the race.
Disappointment: CROWN AVENUE usually gives a bit more than he did tonight, on the speed and had his chance but battled the concluding stages.
Comparison: Bang on standard and a race run at reasonable tempo, quickening appreciably at the half-mile.
Market Mover: GOOD DAYS $16.70 to $8.00, PRETTY BAUHINIA $16.90 to $9.20
RACE 4 - SHEK KIP MEI HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.33 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92
Winner: HERCULES (AUS 5yo g Medaglia d'Oro – Soul Mama) finally pays the believers. It had been a frustrating wait for the gelding who promised and never delivered last season, the got his new term off on the best possible foot with a win at Happy Valley in September at this distance. Since then, well in the market in five subsequent runs and there seemed to be opportunities he could have taken but did not, racing greenly at times no help. Joao Moreira slotted him into midfield and comfortable behind a solid pace tonight, wound him into it well before the turn and had that momentum up when it was time to strike, grabbing a slender margin victory for trainer Dennis Yip. He had won two for the Maher-Eustace stable in Victoria before making his way to Hong Kong and has not been the easiest horse to follow, though good due reward for turning up here.
Runner-up: SUPER DADDY was a bit unlucky not to win this, dived through from that nice trip three-back the fence and looked to have their measure at the 100m and missed in the photo. A winner over 1400m at Sha Tin last season he has failed to deliver a lot this term though now more recently back into Class 4 it seems the form is on the rise again. A good ride from Neil Callan who is finding it tougher to get the multiple winners just now but all he needs is that little touch of Irish luck.
Run Of The Race: UNIVERSAL GO GO was last out and always a long way from them, still a mile back at the turn but scooting home strongly as he invariably does into fourth. He has shown good form at 1200m of late after a lengthy diet of 1650m racing. He was quickest from 400m to winning post in 22.62.
Disappointment: Favourite FORTUNE CARRIER was given a lovely run in transit and took command at the top of the straight like he would take some running down. But that quickly ended and he faded in the straight. Vetted, no findings.
Comparison: Another one outside of standard, each of the Class 4 1200m races tonight have been over the standard indicating a dead track given it sits in the 'A' position.
Market Mover: SUPERB DADDY $13.40 to $9.30, VIVA CHEF $9.00 to $6.50
RACE 5 - STONECUTTERS ISLAND HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:41.28 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class Record: 1:38.83
Winner: KING DRAGON (NZ 4yo g Savabeel – Miss Montjeu) capped a run of solid placed form with a win this time, the often-well-backed commodity paying the loyal supporters here as he overcomes a bad early check to recover and win well. Back and wide he was hit hard on the turn out of the straight the first time as several runners had to take evasive action, his chances diminished somewhat it seemed. A lovely patient ride from Joao who quietly brought him into the race at the business end and the gelding produced a strong sprint to get up, perhaps fortuitously as MALDIVES looked home before baulking in the straight when in front and lost his compass. He breaks his duck in Hong Kong at start 17 off a rating of 48-points and should win again now he has found a way.
Runner-up: KIRAM sat on speed and looked likely, fought on gamely as the sprint went on to register his first top three in seven tries this season after a real flat patch. The veteran with 72 starts under the belt won twice last season over 1650m at Happy Valley and the most recent 12 months ago off a rating of 62. In with 46 points tonight he was supremely well placed on paper.
Run Of The Race: KING DRAGON did a fine job to pick himself up after that bad check and win the race. SUPERBELLA made up strong ground late from the rear as well and the despised outsider may be ready to show something, now nine starts without a placing and falling rapidly in the rating points after arriving with 74 points off two wins from three starts in Great Britain.
Disappointment: The well supported THUNDER STOMP jumped to the rail and led a=but failed to give a kick of any description and faded right out. FORTUNE HAPPINESS returned lame after dropping out.
Comparison: Over a second outside of standard and that skirmish early did take all the pace out of it, awfully slow overall.
Market Mover: THUNDER STOMP $7.80 to $6.10
Fined & Suspended: Neil Callan (CHATER PINS) for interference at the 1300m mark - $20,000 and three riding days.
RACE 6 - CHEUNG SHA WAN HANDICAP, HK $2,200,000
Class 2 – Rating 105-80 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 0:56.55 Standard Time: 0:56.65 Course/Class Record: 0:56.25
Winner: GRATEFUL HEART (AUS 4yo g Written Tycoon – Show Affection) makes it win four from just his 10th start in Hong Kong and incredibly his fourth success in his last five starts and trainer Danny Shum finds his range with the Aussie-bred. Having wo two from three for Peter and Paul Snowden in Sydney he arrived in Hong Kong with a reputation and his first four starts were all well below average. A break and a new campaign have changed that around, the gelding in remarkable form, continuing to here as he sat outside the leader and dictated all the terms in running away to win under a hold. An easy ride for Zac Purton who has been on board in each of his last three successes.
Runner-up: MULTIMILLION has not won since September 2019 and after three placings now in six starts this season he is a little closer to that mark again. A very handy horse, he won four times in the 2018-2019 season and has paid the price for that in the ratings, though having been without a win in 13 starts since his last victory he has only lost a total of three points. Leading and fighting back hard when headed here.
Run Of The Race: In a sprint from the home turn there were a number doing nice work but just given mission impossible. MASSIVE POCKET and HONG KONG BET did some strong work over those concluding stages without threat.
Disappointment: EXPLOSIVE WITNESS lost an edge he had with a slow start from gate three and was a long way back, rear and wide and impossible for him to make up the leeway in a very slick last split as the leader kicked right away. WINNER SURPEME returned with blood in the trachea.
Comparison: Under standard, just, and this means they ran time on a track not yielding any real standout times on the night.
Market Mover: LARSON $14.30 to $8.10
RACE 7 - SHAM SHUI PO HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:41.63 Standard Time: 1:39.80 Course/Class Record: 1:38.61
Winner: INCANTO PREPARED (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Prepared) comes from a lowly-rated 46-point Class 4 horse at the start of the season to having won four of his lasts seven and well beyond the 70-point mark. Just a wonderful few months for the son of Per Incanto as John Size finds the best of him and consistently. Sitting fifth and sixth the outer they really took off at the turn and had him chasing hard centre-track but his determination to reach that finishing line ahead of the pack again in vogue. Each of the four wins have come at 1650m at Happy Valley, the key stepping up in class will be whether we can see him try further, or maybe Sha Tin in the weeks ahead.
Runner-up: EXCEPTIONAL NICE shows form for the first time in Hong Kong after six starts, the former Hayes-Dabernig runner was a debut winner at Seymour in Victoria in 2019 and immediately headed to Hong Kong. Having gone through the transitional period and he is starting to put it together, a brave kick back from hm under pressure tonight after sharing the lead. And it seems some expected the improved showing, $43 into $23 on the tote.
Run Of The Race: GIFT F LIFELINE was darting home without all the luck in the straight and should have nearly won this. A horse to keep close tabs on.
Disappointment: A wide gate of no help to KYRUS UNICORN, getting back from gate 11 and in the end too much to do in a race that dominated by those on the front end. A forgive run.
Comparison: A long way outside of standard and in fact awfully slow. It seemed they only got going at the home turn.
Market Mover: EXCEPTIONAL NICE $43.00 to $23.00
RACE 8 - LAI CHI KOK HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.34 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68
Winner: TRIPLE TRIPLE (NZ 6yo g Per Incanto – Waiana Gold) brings home the bacon after four consecutive placings in the lead up and few as deserving as he in the winning stakes tonight. The well-performed galloper was given a lovely run in transit by Matthew Poon who used gate one for all its advantages and was straight onto the tail of leader INNER FLAME from the get-go. One horse to run past and he did that comfortably as the son of Per Incanto chalks up win two from start 16 out of the Frankie Lor stable. He was a barrier trial winner in New Zealand under the guidance of Robert Patterson before making his way to Hong Kong unraced.
Runner-up: INNER FLAME set them a merry chase and kicked very strongly, unable to withstand the fresh hooves of the winner but clearly superior to the remainder. Interesting to see Douglas Whyte put stable apprentice Jerry Chau back on board tonight and ride the horse a lot further forward, he had been some way back in his previous outings at Sha Tin when running last. A wee hint the form is about to return, after winning four of his first five in Hong Kong the ratings were going to take their toll and did, now we see that fresh resurgence.
Run Of The Race: Given this was so dominated by on-pace the runs of AURORA PEGASUS, ALCARI, and WINSTON'S LAD to run into third, fourth, and fifth respectively were outstanding given they came from the last three positions in the field.
Disappointment: JOYFUL UNION was unable to finish off in usual fashion and Zac Purton stated he was disappointed in his efforts.
Comparison: Three-tenths under standard is like record pace tonight based on the other races. They did look like they flew along.
Market Mover: WINSTON'S LAD $34.00 to $15.50
RACE 9 - LAI CHI KOK HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 – Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.18 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68
Winner: CAPITAL STAR (AUS 4yo g Danerich – Capital Growth) shows extreme speed to firstly get over from gate 10 and lead, then maintain that tempo to kick away and win like a good horse. Second up in Hong Kong after a slick debut dead-heat second behind Happy Alumni on January 13, the son of Danerich quickly improves off that to show his best Australian form, a three-time winner in South Australia as 'Classy Jaybee' when trained by John Hickmott with wins at 1100m and 1200m (twice). It became a drag race between the best two horses and the top two jockeys, and Joao Moreira caps another great night at the office with his fourth winner on the nine-race programme, outgunning Zac Purton (two wins) on the commanding favourite IGNITING.
Runner-up: IGNITING had the drop on the winner and off his heels in plenty of time to make his challenge, but the $1.60 favourite was this time unable to get the job done as the former Aussie galloper booted right away from him at the furlong. Doubtful a five-pound differential really proved the difference, CAPITAL STAR just too good on the night.
Run Of The Race: From a wider draw and dropping back to sharing last spot it was grand work from NORDIC WARRIOR to hustle his way into fourth money late and he clocked a slick 22.68 versus CAPITAL STAR 23.13 who was on the rail and low-flying. Could not ask for this horse to do any better, a super run.
Disappointment: THE RUNNER showed nothing tonight, slow away and never in the hunt. Vetted, no findings.
Comparison: Very quick, the last two sprints have been electric against the times they were running all night. This showed the quality of the first two horses.
Market Mover: SHOUSON $41.00 to $22.00
