3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Briar Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.67 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:39.11 Glory Star
Winner: SURE WIN WIN (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Sravana) jumped well from barrier one and was able to use it to his advantage, sitting three pairs back and along the rail. He relaxed nicely under Jerry Chau as the pace was only moderate at the beginning of the race. Chau looked stuck behind a wall of horses as they turned into the straight, but he muscled his way into the clear and let down beautifully, picking up and passing the leaders to win by a neck.
Runner-Up: GO BALLISTIC was also away well and was positioned to the outside of the eventual winner in the early stages of the race. He continued to keep in contact with the leaders, sitting right behind them as they turned into the straight. He let down well in the straight and took the lead with 100m to go, but it didn't last long as the leader swept past him over the final stages.
Run Of The Race: SURE WIN WIN utilised barrier one to his advantage, and although he lost his positioning mid race, Chau was able to pick him back up and sprint well down the straight. It was a great run, making it back-to-back wins.
Disappointment: LUCKY MISSILE sat up on the speed but was placed under pressure a long way from home. He quickly dropped back in the straight with Zac Purton not testing the gelding over the final 250m. He pulled up with genuine excuses though, as a veterinary examination after the race discovered an irregular heartbeat.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: APOLAR WARRIOR $5.50 into $3.50.
Race 2 – Briar Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.37 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:39.11 Glory Star
Winner: KA FORTUNE (IRE 5yo g Farhh – Catchline) broke awkwardly from barrier two and bumped the horse to his inside upon jumping. Neil Callan was able to pick him up though and settle in midfield, one off the rail. Callan got to work on the gelding as they passed the 500m and began to shorten the margin to the leaders. He worked through his gears down the straight, taking the lead with 50m to go and pulled away to win by a length.
Runner-Up: SEIZE THE SPIRIT broke well from the outside barrier and was able to get to the running rail as they passed the finishing post the first time. He would settle on the back of the leaders. He copped a bump early in the straight as he looked to take a gap that had opened, and he exploded as Moreira pulled the whip, getting out of the traffic to take the lead passing the 100m. He was just unable to hold off the fast-finishing winner.
Run Of The Race: KA FORTUNE worked through his gears beautifully in the straight and was simply too strong to the line, winning comfortably in the end.
Disappointment: CALIFORNIA LEGEND led the way during the race and seemed to be doing it comfortably out front. He was checked with around 125m remaining, but he was already weakening by that stage. He finished sixth, 4.5 lengths away from the winner.
Comparison: Just outside the standard time, but faster than the other Class 5, 1650m event in race one.
Market Mover: SEIZE THE SPIRIT $6.50 into $5.20.
Race 3 – Broom Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.75 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.92 Amazing Star
Winner: FIRE BALL (NZ 4yo g Burgundy – Lady Winifred) was away fast from barrier five and Zac Purton allowed the gelding to find his position. He relaxed well in the run, sitting third on the outside. Purton allowed the gelding to move up into outright second as they turned off the back straight and began to make ground on the leader. He levelled up to the leader as they turned into the home straight, and he shot away when Purton pushed the button. It was smooth sailing over the final 150m, cruising to a 1.75 length win.
Runner-Up: AURORA PEGASUS wasn't the fastest into stride, but he raced keenly in the early stages of the race as Joao Moreira tried to find a position. He settled near the rear of the field, but he quickly narrowed that gap as they entered the straight. He let down well in the straight, sliding through the pack to get his nose in front and take second position in a photo finish.
Run Of The Race: AURORA PEGASUS sprinted well in the straight after settling toward the back of the pack. Moreira worked his magic down the straight and he was a very eye-catching run for second position.
Disappointment: NOIR RIDER was pushed along by Jerry Chau shortly after the start to take up a forward position. He settled just off the speed and darted to the rail for an inside run in the straight. He tired over the final stages of the race and fell back to finish in sixth.
Comparison: Just inside the standard time.
Market Mover: There was some late money for both NOIR RIDER and HARDLY SWEARS.
Race 4 – Green Lane Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.47 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: RAINBOW LIGHT (IRE 4yo g Outstrip – Mrs Micawber) was a way well from barrier seven and he was able to settle behind the leading pair. He travelled well in the race and was still under a strong hold by Jerry Chau as they turned into the straight. Chau finally let him go with 150m remaining, with the gelding going on to win by half a length.
Runner-Up: NOTHING NEW wasn't the fastest into stride and settled back in the field. He raced three wide and without cover for the entirety of the race, with Tony Piccone inching his way closer to the leaders down the back straight. Despite being wide for the whole race, he was strong through the line to take second position.
Run Of The Race: NOTHING NEW turned in a great performance after being wide and without cover for the whole 1650m journey. He was still strong to the line, over running some of his rivals to grab second position in a fantastic performance.
Disappointment: PLAY WISE was sent out I the market at $8.80 and was slow away from the gates, settling well back in the field. He didn't respond to Karis Teetan's urgings in the straight, and finished in ninth position, beaten 4.75 lengths.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: SAVVY KINGMAN $4 into $2.40.
Race 5 – The Sauternes Cup (Handicap), HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.99 Standard Time: 57.15 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
Winner: FARIBAULT (AUS 3yo g Zoustar – Reilly O') jumped from barrier one and Karis Teetan used it to his advantage, keeping his rivals wide as he sat on the leaders back. He came off their heels as he entered the straight, but took a while to pick up, only taking the lead with 100m to go. He was challenged to his outside, but he put his nose down on the finish line to get the nod in a photo finish, with the official margin being a nose.
Runner-Up: PARTY WARRIOR was the slowest of the field away from barrier four as Vincent Ho crossed to the rail and began to improve his position. The gelding ran out slightly as Ho used the whip early in the straight, but he balanced up well and rocketed to the line to just get beaten.
Run Of The Race: PARTY WARRIOR exploded over the final 150m to be narrowly beaten in a photo finish. He is still learning the racing caper, but a win looks close for this three-year-old.
Disappointment: SEA ELITE was well in the market at $6.40 and was able to box seat in fourth position. He was under heavy riding a long way from the finish line and didn't come on in the straight, falling out to be beaten 6.5 lengths and finishing ninth.
Comparison: Inside the standard time.
Market Mover: SEA ELITE was as much as $16 when markets opened and was backed into $6.40 on jumping.
Race 6 – Broome Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.75 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.92 Amazing Star
Winner: WIN WIN STAR (NZ 4yo g Ferlax – Zaire) broke well and was up front early in the race, before Ruan Maia eased him back to sit in the one out and one back position. He settled well in the run but had lost touch with the leaders down the back straight, being nearly four lengths away as they entered the home straight. He picked up well and really got moving over the final 150m, taking the lead and pulling away to win impressively by 1.25 lengths.
Runner-Up: TELECOM ROCKET was a bit slow away, so Dylan Mo went straight to the running rail and settled in a midfield position. It took a while for him to pick up under Mo's hard riding, but he made up a tremendous amount of ground over the final 100m to burst through the pack and finish in second position.
Run Of The Race: WIN WIN STAR was aided with a very good ride by Ruan Maia. He quickly got out of the early speed battle and got his mount into a lovely rhythm which proved the winning factor at the end of the race.
Disappointment: WOOD ON FIRE was able to settle on the leaders back and looked primed to be in the finish down the back straight. He didn't quicken like his rivals though and tired late in the race, finishing back in ninth position.
Comparison: Inside the standard time and exactly the same time as the other Class 4, 1200m even earlier in the card.
Market Mover: MANAGEMENT SUPREME $4.50 into $2.70.
Race 7 – Hawthorn Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.52 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: SIMPLY FLUKE (NZ 6yo g Keeper – Heartache) was restrained after the start and settled a clear last shortly after the start. He was miles off the lead down the back straight and was still six lengths behind with 400m to travel. Jerry Chau was able to get him into clear air at the top of the straight and he ran on beautifully, taking the lead with 50m to go and pulling away to win by a length.
Runner-Up: THE RUNNER jumped from the widest barrier and was fast into stride to sit behind the leading runners. He was three wide but had cover throughout the race. He sprinted well down the straight, but he couldn't hold off the fast-finishing winner.
Run Of The Race: SIMPLY FLUKE was an outstanding run, after settling a long last he rounded the field and won easily in the end. He relished the good tempo set by the leaders to over run the field and get the win.
Disappointment: EQUALETTA BLITZA worked hard early in race to take up a leading position in the run. The wide barrier forced him to use up his energy, which cost him towards the finish line as he fell back to finish last, beaten 7.5 lengths.
Comparison: Inside the standard time.
Market Mover: COMPASSION SPIRIT $9 into $4.40.
Race 8 – Hawthorn Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.47 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: FAMILY FOLKS (AUS 4yo g Snitzel – Miss Sharapova) jumped well but wasn't tested through the early stages by Antoine Hamelin, instead letting the gelding settle just worse than midfield. He moved out to sit in a three wide position but had cover as they turned off the back straight. He took a little while to pick up in the straight, but he ran home strongly once he hit top gear, getting the job done in the shadows of the post to win by a short head.
Runner-Up: RHAPSODY jumped with the field and settled well under Joao Moreira but was caught three wide and without cover throughout the event. Moreira let the gelding stride into the race with 450m left to run, and he sprinted well once balanced in the straight. He was in front with 50m remaining, but he couldn't hold off the winner who flashed home late.
Run Of The Race: RHAPSODY was out three wide for the entire 1200m journey and actually gave the winner a tow into the race. A great run albeit for second position.
Disappointment: STANLEY PARK was up running second early in the race but began to give ground on the home turn, and eventually drifted out to finish a long last, being eased down by Jerry Chau. Chau told stewards he felt the gelding may have gone amiss, but a veterinary examination after the race failed to find anything significant.
Comparison: Inside the standard time and faster than the Class 3, 1200m event the race prior.
Market Mover: STANLEY PARK $8.50 into $6.
Race 9 – Holly Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.92 Standard Time: 1:39.80 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Winner: EVERYONE'S DELIGHT (NZ 4yo g El Roca – Catch Your Idol) jumped well from barrier one and was able to position himself on the leaders back throughout the event. He sliced his way between runners at the top of the straight and took the lead with 200m to go, running away to win by 2.5 lengths.
Runner-Up: HARMONY SPIRIT was fairly away from barrier four and settled just worse than midfield in running. Vincent Ho took off with 450m remaining, being pushed wide on the turn and copping a bump with 250m left to run. He chased hard the whole way home and was able to get the nod in a close photo finish for second.
Run Of The Race: It was an impressive win by EVERYONE'S DELIGHT, pulling away to win by a very comfortable margin.
Disappointment: WEALTHY DELIGHT was only fairly into stride and settled near the rear of the field after jumping from a wide gate. He settled well in the run but found himself under hard riding from Karis Teetan a long way from home. It took a while for him to respond to Teetan's riding, and he finished off the race fairly, but a disappointing performance, nonetheless.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: EVERYONE'S DELIGHT $7.50 into $3.40.
