3 minute read

Selections and Analysis for Wednesday.

RACE 1: #6 Travel Ambassador, #4 Money Winner, #10 Wonderful Tiger, #9 Showing Character

RACE 2: #3 Royal Chocolate, #4 Hurricane Hunter, #2 Never Better, #11 Trendiful

RACE 3: #1 Mr Right, #4 Gentle Breeze, #7 Special Stars, #9 Lucky Lucky

RACE 4: #2 Victory Power, #1 Noble Delight, #7 Champion Supreme, #10 Open House

RACE 5: #8 Chaparral Star, #3 General Dino, #5 All You Know, #9 Godspeed

RACE 6: #3 Country Star, #4 Green Luck, #12 Ambitious Heart, #11 Super Leader

RACE 7: #1 Helene Charisma, #2 Bigwood, #10 Sangria, #5 Namjong Plus

RACE 8: #8 Red Warrior, #6 Super Chic, #4 Litterateur, #1 Packing Dragon

RACE 1: KOKURA HANDICAP

#6 Travel Ambassador ran a nice race at his first start for Richard Gibson three weeks ago. He should take improvement for that effort and it wouldn’t surprise to see him score here. #4 Money Winner has had plenty of opportunities but hasn’t broken through in 20 Hong Kong starts. He should enjoy a nice run in transit, so he can’t be dismissed here. #10 Wonderful Tiger has been mixing his form. If he can jump on terms with Zac Purton aboard, he might be able to get into the finish, especially from his good draw. #9 Showing Character is very interesting at 1650m for the first time. He could easily run last, but he’s one worth including in all exotics.

RACE 2: FUKUSHIMA HANDICAP

#3 Royal Chocolate ran well over this course and distance at his second start in October last year. He should appreciate further, as a son of one Cox Plate winner in So You Think out of a daughter of another in Octagonal. However, fresh, this might be a good starting point and he may be worth a bet first-up, especially with the drop in grade. #4 Hurricane Hunter is sure to have many supporters with plenty of flashing lights – the booking of Zac Purton, the addition of blinkers, the drop in grade and the change of trainer. He’s a leading player, although he’s one to avoid if he’s too short. #2 Never Better has to overcome the outside gate but he’s consistent enough to get into the placings. #11 Trendiful has run well in two starts for Jimmy Ting. He still looks to have points in hand on his current mark.

RACE 3: NAKAYAMA HANDICAP

#1 Mr Right disappointed last time out, suggesting his days of dominating in this grade over the course and distance may be over. However, he might be worth one final chance here with Dylan Mo taking five pounds off his back. #4 Gentle Breeze is progressing the right way. He won’t get as kind a run here, but he’s still a leading player. #7 Special Stars has a very tough ask ahead of him, as not many horses can win over the Happy Valley 1000m on debut – it takes a horse of the calibre of Mr Stunning to achieve the feat. Still, he’s trialled well enough, so a good run can be expected. #9 Lucky Lucky deserves respect.

RACE 4: CHUKYO HANDICAP

#2 Victory Power’s time is coming and, after four second placings, perhaps the time is now. Victor Wong replacing Zac Purton would normally not be seen as a positive, but getting the seven pounds off his back might just prove the decisive factor here. He’s a player. #1 Noble Delight looked far from his peak physically fresh and ran a good enough race. Expect major improvement here. #7 Champion Supreme should be suited stepping up to 1200m at his second start. Zac Purton sticks solid and he has a far better draw. He’s a danger. #10 Open House is not far away from getting the drop to Class 5 but he’s not without place claims in this spot.

RACE 5: HANSHIN HANDICAP

#8 Chaparral Star never looked like winning last time out but somehow got within a half-length of the winner Flying Quest. That was after another second at the course and distance the start before. This field is arguably easier than last time out and he should be hard to beat in here. #3 General Dino has disappointed to date this season but he’s a horse capable of turning it around at any time. #5 All You Know has run well in three starts this season. Drawn well again, the grey can find his way into the finish. #9 Godspeed is a fascinating runner. First-up since January, he’s on a nice mark if he can demonstrate the potential he showed this time last year.

RACE 6: THE JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY

#3 Country Star has been very impressive in his last two starts and looks a horse bound for Class 2, if not higher. The form has been franked too with Little Bird winning so handsomely last week, so he will be very short. However, expect him to justify the short quote with a third straight win. #4 Green Luck ran well for fifth on debut. The son of Street Cry, a two-time winner at Ipswich in Australia earlier this year, should progress off that effort and expect a gallant performance. #12 Ambitious Heart is a place chance back to Happy Valley, while #11 Super Leader isn’t without claims if he can find a position from the outside gate.

RACE 7: KYOTO HANDICAP

#1 Helene Charisma has fallen a long way since his arrival in Hong Kong, failing to live up to his G1 Grand Prix de Paris win pre-import. He does appear to be at a mark though where he can break through, especially with the kinder conditions underfoot at Happy Valley. He has to overcome barrier 11, but this looks as good a race as any for him to pick up a first Hong Kong win. #2 Bigwood sprinted nicely down the outside to score a first Hong Kong win last start at Sha Tin. He heads to Happy Valley for the first time, but he should enjoy every favour in the run and he will be hard to beat if luck falls his way. #10 Sangria should appreciate getting back to 1800m, while #5 Namjong Plus is capable of winning again if the race sets up properly.

RACE 8: TOKYO HANDICAP

#8 Red Warrior couldn’t have been much more impressive in two course and distance wins in Class 3. He steps up to Class 2 now, getting into a good barrier and dropping in weight, and there’s no reason why he can’t continue his progression here. #6 Super Chic really should find this trip short of his best, but he has run well at both course and distance attempts and he’s just been so consistent in recent months. He’s a logical threat. #4 Litterateur still has his quirks but he’s much more tractable than he once was. He has to contend with a wide gate but he’s not without a hope. #1 Packing Dragon can run a placing from on the speed.