3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Kat O Hoi Handicap, HK $1,570,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.88 Standard Time: 1:39.75 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Winner: MY ECSTATIC (AUS 5yo g All Too Hard – More Radiant) jumped cleanly and went forward under Derek Leung, getting across to settle outside the leader as they made the first turn. He was racing a touch keen down the side of the course and into the back straight, racing with the mouth slightly ajar with Leung on a tight rain as they travelled down the back. Despite this, he travelled much better than most of his rivals around the turn and has taken the lead as they swung into the straight. He kicked well off the turn and led by about a length with 200m to run, and although he was tiring in the concluding stages, his rivals were unable to peg back the margin. The five-year-old held on to win by a neck, Taking the lead in the Trainer’s Premiership.
Runner-Up: WORLD FAMOUS got away well from an outside barrier and was pushed along by Lyle Hewitson in the early going, but he then drifted in behind the leading pair to land in the one-out-one-back position. He travelled comfortably throughout the middle stages, stalking the eventual winner wherever he went, before popping off his back to be three-wide as they turned into the straight. The winner got away from him initially in the early part of the straight, but to the gelding’s credit he stuck in there and narrowed the margin on the line.
Run Of The Race: MY ECSTATIC appeared to be overdoing things for much of the race, but that didn’t stop him from kicking away and proving far too good for his opposition. If anything, if he settles in the run he maybe wins by further as he tired late in the race. I’d be following this gelding and seeing where he pops up.
Disappointment: BEAUTY GLORY was a touch awkward out of the barriers and had to be pushed along by Purton to hold his position along the rails. After being ridden along by Purton in the early going, he raced keenly for most of the event, which cost him the ability to finish off the race. Purton told stewards that he suggested to connections to drop Beauty Glory back in distance for his future outings.
Comparison: Well inside standard.
Market Mover: READY PLAYER ONE had plenty of support late in betting.
Race 2 – Yan Chau Tong Handicap, HK $780,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:50.36 Standard Time: 1:49.75 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars
Winner: GRAND POWER (AUS 5yo g Rubick – Flion Fenena) got away on terms and was revved up out of the gates by Vincent Ho, who was unable to slot into the running line and was left three-deep around the first turn. He was able to get across and sit in the one-out-one-back position down the side of the course, with the gelding travelling comf0ortably through the middle stages. The leader got away on the turn, which prompted Ho to get off heels passing the 400m point, building the momentum as they turned for home. He sprinted brilliantly to take the lead with 150m to run and he continued on his way, extending the margin over the concluding stages to bolt in by 1-1/4 lengths.
Runner-Up: WAH MAY LUCK got away well from a middle draw and showed good pace to cross and be one off the fence as they turned out of home straight with a lap to go. Alex Badel was able to work his way across to take the outright lead passing the 1200m point, and began to gradually slow the tempo as they travelled down the back straight. The Frenchman turned the race into a sit-and-sprint affair, quickening nicely with 450m to run and turning into the straight nearly 2 lengths in front. The winner rounded him up with 150m to run, but he stuck on gamely to hold onto second position, a length clear of third.
Run Of The Race: SMART COUSIN jumped on terms but was immediately snagged back after the jump, with Blake Shinn settling at the rear of the field from the outside barrier. Shinn was a clear last throughout the race, being nearly 4 lengths off the second-last horse down the side of the course. He bridged the gap as the tempo slowed, and despite the tempo probably not suiting him in the middle stages, Shinn got on his bike and began working around the outside of the field as they turned off the back. He was the widest runner on straightening, but the gelding ran on brilliantly into third place in a very eye-catching effort.
Disappointment: FOXHUNTER WAY was left racing wide and without cover for a majority of the 1800m event and had nothing left in the tank over the final stages. He was a spent force at the top of the straight with the gelding finishing in 11th place, beaten 8-1/2 lengths.
Comparison: Outside standard.
Market Mover: Plenty of money came for WAH MAY LUCK just prior to the start.
Race 3 – Castle Peak Bay Handicap, HK $2,400,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.49 Standard Time: 1:39.30 Course/Class record: 1:37.97 Tsar
Winner: EVERYONE’S DELIGHT (NZ 5yo g El Roca – Catch Your Idol) got away well and was able to land in third place, sitting one off the rail as they turned down the side of the course. He was caught three-wide for a few strides passing the 1000m point, but Alex Badel as able to slide him back into the running line, settling in behind the leaders as they raced down the back. He travelled comfortably through the middle stages of the race, quickening nicely when Badel began to ramp up the pressure 450m from the finish. He built up plenty of momentum turning for home, but was made to fight for the win right down the home straight. He ground away to take a narrow lead with 100m to run, but had to fight off one final challenger over the final stages. The five-year-old was able to hold his rival at bay, getting the nod in a photo finish, as the official margin came up as a short head.
Runner-Up: SOULMATE jumped fairly and was urged along by Zac Purton in the early stages, but was happy to sit on the leader’s back as they rounded the first turn. As the pace began to slow down the side of the course, Purton shifted out of the trail to go up and sit outside the lead, positioning himself about three-quarters of a length away. He travelled comfortably off the back straight, and Purton didn’t panic as the leader kicked a length in front turning for home, waiting until they began rounding the final bend before placing his mount under pressure. He was right there throughout the final stretch, but could never get his nose in front and despite his best efforts, he went down narrowly in a photo finish.
Run Of The Race: EVERYONE’S DELIGHT showed plenty of strength to sustain his run over the final stages and hold off his rivals in a tight finish.
Disappointment: SAVAQUIN settled toward the rear of the field from barrier 6 and was probably unsuited by the slow tempo set through the middle stages. Joao Moreira told stewards that the gelding laid out right down the back straight, and when he began making a run passing the 600m point. Moreira also said the five-year-old was shifting away from other horses on the turn, and only provided a limited response when placed under pressure. He finished in last place, 5-1/2 lengths off the leader.
Comparison: Just outside standard.
Market Mover: SOULMATE wrestled away favouritism late in the piece, while EVERYONE’S DELIGHT was also specked.
Race 4 – Port Shelter Handicap, HK $1,040,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.94 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: TOYCOON (AUS 6yo g Turffontein – Catskin) jumped on terms and was up running on the pace in the opening stages, being caught three-wide around the first turn, but Harry Bentley was able to slot the six-year-old in behind the leader’s as they sorted their order out. The pace remained quite genuine through the middle stages, with the gelding travelling well under Bentley through the middle stages of the race. Bentley shifted out three-wide passing the 400m point and began getting to work aboard the son of Turffontein, who took a while to wind up as they turned into the straight. He was sticking on well though to take the lead with a furlong to run, and appeared to be pulling away a touch with 150m left to run, but the back markers started to get into their work over the final stages. They took it right up to Toycoon, but they were unable to reel him in, with the six-year-old holding on to win by a neck.
Runner-Up: PALACE PAL jumped well and was able to hold his position along the inside from the jump, but eventually had runners from out wide cross him turning out of the home straight. Jerry Chau found a position midfield along the rail once they’d sorted their order out, with the gelding racing well down the back straight. Chau stuck to the inside around the turn and was building into the race nicely on the turn, but just had his momentum halted as they turned for home as he was caught behind a wall of runners. Chau was able to work his way through a gap at the top of the straight with the gelding coming into the race nicely, but just began to plateau passing the 150m point. Chau was throwing everything he had at the gelding, but he was unable to reel in the leader at the death.
Run Of The Race: PALACE PAL is the one I want to follow out of this race. He probably found himself a little further back than anticipated after jumping well off the inside, but he worked into the race nicely on the turn. He just had his momentum halted as they swung into the straight, but he was able to pick himself back up and run a solid second.
Disappointment: LOTUS FAVOURITES was a touch slow away off the inside barrier and settled in the back half of the field under Joao Moreira. The Brazilian tried to improve his position on the turn, but there was limited response from the gelding, and he was only plain to the finish, ending up in 6th place, beaten 3-1/2 lengths.
Comparison: Just inside the standard time.
Market Mover: OUR CREED jumped a well-supported favourite at $3.
Race 5 – Rambler Channel Handicap, HK $780,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.37 Standard Time: 1:10.20 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Winner: REGENCY POET (NZ 6yo g Poet’s Voice – Amour Cache) bounced well off the inside draw and was able to hold his position without doing much work, landing on the leader’s back as they turned down the back straight. The pace was good down the back, with Harry Bentley following the leader wherever he went, before getting off the rail with 400m to run. He got straight into clear air as they turned for home and the gelding quickened well as he set out for the leader who had broken clear at the top of the straight. He was still a length away with 100m to run, but was finishing the stronger as he wore the leader down, took the lead and won by a head in the final few bounds.
Runner-Up: ARES was quickly into stride and showed plenty of pace in the early stages to hold the lead early on, before a rival kicked up underneath him to hold out Blake Shinn as the rounded the first turn. Shinn would slide over to sit on the leader’s hindquarters as they headed down the back, but was travelling strongly as they began making the turn and took the lead passing the 400m point. He quickened beautifully when Shinn asked for an effort, kicking clear at the top of the straight to still hold a clear advantage with a furlong to run. He didn’t go down without a fight, with the weight difference just getting the better of him in the shadows of the post.
Run Of The Race: ARES sat on the pace right from the get-go and kicked clear at the top of the straight, almost looking the winner with 150m to run. He didn’t go down without a fight, and he’s a gelding to continue to follow. Class 4, down in the weights, he’ll be a real threat.
Disappointment: DASSIT jumped well but was taken back by Joao Moreira, settling toward the rear of the field throughout the race. The gelding came under plenty of pressure as they turned for home, but failed to respond to the urgings of Moreira. He was very plain in the straight and finished in 9th place, beaten 3-3/4 lengths.
Comparison: Just outside standard.
Market Mover: REGENCY POET was the one punters came for.
Race 6 – Port Shelter Handicap, HK $1,040,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.23 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: RED BRICK FIGHTER (AUS 6yo g Artie Schiller – Tarlaquena) got away well and used barrier 2 to his advantage, settling midfield and one off the rail under Luke Currie. He travelled comfortably behind a good tempo, which just began to slow passing the 700m point, prompting Currie to move out three-wide turning off the back straight. The Australian hoop went around the outside of the field to take the lead as they turned into the straight, before quickening once again when Currie pulled the whip. He pulled away inside the final 100m to win in impressive fashion by 1-1/2 lengths.
Runner-Up: FEARLESS FIRE was quickly into stride and was revved up by Blake Shinn from an outside draw, who got across to sit outside the leader after being caught wide around the first bend. He pressed on to take the lead down the side of the course, getting to the front with 1000m to run and slowing the pace down the back straight. He kicked well at as they straightened to take it up to the eventual winner, sticking on well after being headed with a furlong to run to finish a clear second position. The winner was too good, but the eight-year-old’s effort was just as good.
Run Of The Race: It was a big win from RED BRICK FIGHTER who looks as though he can go on with the job next time out, but FEARLESS FIRE was just as good. He had to do plenty of work to find the front under the big weight, but was still there at the finish. If he goes up to Class 3 next start, he’s worth plenty of thought.
Disappointment: AI ONE settled in the back half of the field after jumping as the favourite for the event. He came under the whip a long way from home and failed to respond at any point, with Purton easing up on the gelding down the straight, finishing in last place and beaten 11-3/4 lengths. Purton told stewards that the gelding raced keenly in the early and middle stages, and came off the bridle when the pace quickened turning off the back straight. A veterinary examination failed to find any abnormality.
Comparison: Outside the standard time.
Market Mover: AI ONE jumped a rock-solid favourite at $3.30.
Race 7 – Mirs Bay Handicap, HK $1,040,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.10 Standard Time: 1:09.80 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Winner: EXCELLENT PEERS (NZ 4yo g Jimmy Choux – Luna Eclipse) got away cleanly off the inside barrier and had enough pace to hold his position in the opening stages, settling on the leader’s back as they made the first turn. He was travelling well under Joao Moreira, with the Brazilian sitting right on the leader’s tail as they turned off the back. Moreira cut the corner on straightening, sticking to the inside rail, but the leader wasn’t going down without a fight. He finally wrestled the lead away with 150m left to run and began pulling away over the final stages, inching clear with every stride to win by three-quarters of a length.
Runner-Up: EXUBERANT jumped fairly and was shoved along right out of the barriers, eventually getting his way to the lead as they made the first turn with 1000m to run. He kept the field running down the back straight and around the turn, quickening nicely with 350m to run to hold a clear advantage as they turned into the straight. He raced greenly around when Purton pulled the whip, laying in badly with 250m to run. The winner was just too strong in the end, but he stuck on well to finish a clear second place in a tough effort.
Run Of The Race: The race panned out perfectly for EXCELLENT PEERS, who made the most of his opportunities and got the job done. He looks a horse who can continue to win.
Disappointment: JIANGXI STAMINA jumped on terms but showed no pace out of the barriers, with Chadwick resorting to the whip to keep the gelding in touch with the field in the early stages. He didn’t have the best of luck on the turn, being held up and unable to build into the race, but he was very plain once in the home stretch, finishing in 10th place, beaten 6-3/4 lengths.
Comparison: Outside standard.
Market Mover: All the money came for EXCELLENT PEERS who started a $2.40 favourite.
Race 8 – Mirs Bay Handicap, HK $1,040,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.11 Standard Time: 1:09.80 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Winner: ABOVE ALL (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Blueridge Cat) got away well from gate 6 and showed superior speed under Ruan Maia to break the line, crossing to sit outside the lead as they made the first turn. As they entered the back straight, he was able to obtain a trailing position behind the leading pair, with the gelding racing comfortably with cover as they travelled down the back. He appeared to be tracking nicely around the turn, but Maia had to reach for the whip with 350m to run, as he came wide into the straight. He had about a length to make up on straightening, but quickened well to get to the lead with 50m to run, going home the strongest to bring up back-to-back wins, this time by just a head.
Runner-Up: SIX BEST FRIENDS jumped on terms and was caught wide through the early stages, but Jerry Chau sent him forward rounding the first turn, eventually crossing to the lead as they travelled down the back straight. The pace was genuine throughout, with the gelding responding well when Chau quickened on the home turn, leading by a length as they swung into the straight. He didn’t go down without a fight, leading for much of the straight, but the winner was just simply too good in the end.
Run Of The Race: ABOVE ALL didn’t get the win in dominant fashion as he had done the start prior, but it was still a strong effort to bring up back-to-back wins.
Disappointment: HEAVENLY THOUGHT jumped well off the inside but just couldn’t hold out the rest of the field as they made the first turn, settling midfield down the back stretch. He appeared to travel comfortably throughout, but when Alex Badel pushed the button, the gelding had nothing to offer. He was very plain in the straight and finished back in 9th position, beaten 4-3/4 lengths.
Comparison: Outside standard, but about the same time as the Mirs Handicap in Race 7.
Market Mover: JAZZ STEED was well-backed late in betting.
Race 9 – Deep Bay Handicap, HK $1,570,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.62 Standard Time: 56.80 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
Winner: EQUALETTA BLITZ (AUS 5yo g Equiano - Galleta) got away on terms and had the luxury of an inside draw, holding out many of his rivals under Lyle Hewitson. He eventually landed in the box seat as the field sorted their order out, settling one-out-one-back as they began making the turn. The pace was quick, but he was travelling much better than his rivals, with Hewitson peeling off heels as they swung into the straight. The gelding let down brilliantly under Hewitson to take the lead with 150m to go and he never looked back. He pulled away over the final stages for an impressive win, getting the job done by 2 lengths.
Runner-Up: ADIOS wasn't the cleanest out of the barriers and settled in the back half of the field. He was left racing wide and without cover down the back, and appeared to be a touch keen under Karis Teetan as they began making the turn with 550m to run. Teetan was improving around the field as he was pushed out wider on the course as they straightened, but the three-year-old stuck on gamely to finish in second place.
Run Of The Race: ADIOS is the one to follow out of this race. At just three-years-old, he has plenty of improvement and racing ahead of him. He stuck on gamely to finish second after being wide without cover down the back, and he even copped a small bump down the home straight. He is still learning what racing is all about, wandering about in the straight, but there’s no doubt he’ll win plenty of races in Hong Kong.
Disappointment: HONG KONG WIN was a touch slow away from the barriers and settled near last under Joao Moreira. He didn’t appear to be travelling all that comfortably at any point in the race and failed respond when Moreira asked for an effort. He finished back in 8th place, beaten 4-1/2 lengths.
Comparison: Inside standard time.
Market Mover: PARTY WARRIOR and EQUALETTA BLITZ were both specked late in betting.
