3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Preview of Happy Valley races.
Race 1
#5 Red Impact has been extremely honest all season and tonight steps out to the longest trip available at the valley 2200m. With Danehill a prominent figure through the dam line the journey should be well within his range, even of benefit, as he's a one paced high speed conveyance. Zac Purton takes the mount which is his first ride since the nasty fall "International Day" in December and it's great to see him back. Although I'm sure a 2200m slog around the valley shall test the body a little first up.
#8 Go Balistic and Joao Moriera shall be waiting and ready to welcome back Mr Purton with a high pressure contest. Drawn alongside each other makes for a fascinating spectacle and it'll be interesting to see how much, and when, Moriera wants to attack. This gallopers never been in better form and if a dog fight unfolds he's got some strength. However, it's worth remembering from 12 attempts in this class he's never be able to win.
#4 Champion Pal must continue lifting to new levels if he's to trouble the main opposition for the win. He arrived on a rating of 70 and has certainly turned the corner this season with improving form. His effort here 2 back was much better and I'm prepared to overlook the run on the dirt. The gap is closing between defeats and a win and I'll
be following up despite this evening's result.
#9 Sky Gem gains a start in a rare class 4 contest, a 60-35 rating span. The stats over the duration of his career suggest he's not good enough but the feather weight he'll shoulder can make a difference. He'll stay all day, as his record confirms, and all recent efforts have been sound and competitive. If your looking to take him on, understandable, but he'll be lurking when they turn for home.
#3 Victorious Seeker is a course and distance winner and more than capable in an event of this standard. There's been excuses his past couple but at the same time he's been well beaten.
I'm marking him a horse that's dropped off since his win at Shatin but I'll be watching the betting closely as they start to load.
Selections : 5,8,4,9,3
R2 - 5,10,3,1,11
R3 - 2,4,1,9,8
R4 - 7,10,2,6,11
R5 - 5,9,1,6,4
R6 - 11,5,1,9,6
R7 - 6,3,2,4,9
R8 - 8,1,7,3,10
Race 9
#6 Gallant Crown is progressing nicely and ready to start winning more races at a higher level. Ironically, the first race on the card looks a battle between Purton and Moriera and the last could well be the same. With a 10lbs pull in the weights over "Cheerful Days" plus an ideal barrier there shouldn't be many excuses in the run. Pound for pound he needs to lift but the impression he gives says it won't be a problem.
#1 Cheerful Days is a big strong lad who's gone ahead in leaps and bounds this time in. The owner's had an International Group 1 winner called "Glorious Days" a few years back and when this guy arrived so did plenty of wraps. Now he's furnishing it appears likely he'll become competitive in class 2, which is just around the corner, so expect him to be in the finish tonight.
#2 Maldives can't be written off as a winning hope with excellent form again prevalent this campaign. He's a genuine settle back and sprint hard type that appreciates a good standard of speed. The interest and potential defining adjustment could be the return to Happy Valley, where his record is equal if not better than at Shatin.
#11 Red Majesty shall go around at a bigger price with Moriera and Purton aborting and sourcing other options. Nevertheless, his first effort in class 3 was courageous and competitive and he's certainly no roughy. He'll jump and run before settling outside the leader from the awkward drawn and any slow sectionals thereafter shall be to his advantage.
#7 Smoothies has struggled winning regularly but at the same time is consistent regarding endeavour. A heart irregularity 6 weeks ago saw him sidelined and blood in the trachea recently also interrupted proceedings. He's got plenty of residual fitness and a trial at Conghua recently confirmed that so the forced break could potentially end up beneficial.
Selections : 6,1,2,11,7
