3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
RACE 1 - O'BRIEN HANDICAP, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Rating 40-0 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:41.03 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class Record: 1:39.11
Winner: VIRTUS STAR (AUS 5yo g Sebring – Princess Natural) again cashes in on this extremely low rating. Into today's race rated on just 26 points after winning in remarkably similar style last start, he rises again in points but still well shy of the 40-point threshold that would carry him into Class 4. Frankie Lor has found his best now, it took 22 starts to win his first, now twice successful in 23 starts. A nice showing of speed off he corner, Alexis Badel saving his petrol back on the fence before easing out to track them up around the corner and too swift late for a game TREASURE CHEST. He is obviously going to win a third time in Class 5 very soon the way things have fallen for him.
Runner-up: TREASURE CHEST was outside leader in a very moderately run event, swept to the lead on the turn and appeared to have a break good enough to hold on. A little wayward late running about and a sitting duck for the sprint of the winner. Still without a win in now 17 starts but now puts back-to-back placings together off a lowly rating of 28 points. Set to break through for Ricky Yiu.
Run Of The Race: VIRTUS STAR gave them a start and a beating, no obvious excuses the rest. Handy finish from NITRO EXPTRESS who sat in the rear foursome and gathered up several runners from the home turn to run a nice handy fourth.
Disappointment: BULB ELITE swept up quickly to look a real danger before the home turn but that run peaked quite quickly and he battled on home into third without threat.
Comparison: A long way outside standard in a walk-fest for the opening 1000m of the race in a race that became a sprint home only.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 2 - LUARD HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:50.10 Standard Time: 1:49.60 Course/Class Record: 1:48.10
Winner: NUNCHUKS (NZ 6yo g O'Reilly – Marna's Choice) has hit the ground running this season, that is two wins and a placing in his last three runs in four off the turn of the season and a horse racing like he will keep winning for the leading trainer Caspar Fownes. Weight is his friend, he carried just 116lb here under Vincent Ho after placing with 115lb in his return to Class 4 on October 21. The pattern is to sit back and wait then swoop with a trademark big bold finish, again to the fore here picking up many lengths from the rear. A very lightly raced horse, just 13 starts so connections are getting paid for playing the patient game. Anything in the 1800m to 2000m range looks ever so suitable for him.
Runner-up: METHANE looked highly likely, given a lovely run fourth the outer by Neil Callan, shot up quickly to take command at the 200m and had a break on the winner that looked enough. But the power of NUNCHUKS just a little too swift late. Nice lift after a dour failure first up for the season on October 18 at Sha Tin over 1600mbut a different result here back to his favourite track and rising in distance.
Run Of The Race: NUNCHUKS undeniable, gave them a real head-start and a big beating in the end, super win. Mark down INDIGENOUS STAR as a horse to follow into his next start. Twice unlucky in the straight, Zac Purton could not find space when it was needed and he coasted down to the line without being able to be tested.
Disappointment: SHADOW BREAKER was given a lovely ride in front under Chad Schofield, jogging coming to the home turn then stopped just as quickly to fade right out. Having won this track and trip in the past this run well below his best.
Comparison: No great pace in this race either, quite some way above standard due to a lack of any tempo.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 3 - JOHNSTON HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.60 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92
Winner: SHINING ON (NZ 7yo g O'Reilly – Savabeel Star) makes it back-to-back wins for the wonderful Kiwi sire O'Reilly who also sired previous race winner Nunchuks. And this horse no less impressive, again coming from off-speed which has been the consistent pattern in three races to date, swept up with a trademark dash to win in a stirring finish. Francis Lui has him flying, scored a dead heat win to start his 2020-2021 campaign, placed again second up and follows those with another huge win today. He was a little inconsistent to start but after finding his feet in Hong Kong the results are flowing, now no further back than third in the past five starts to the races. Vincent Ho grabs himself an early riding double, the young local rider is absolutely flying just now and, on a roll, given he rides arguably the best horse in Hong Kong, Golden Sixty. What a supplier of stock is O'Reilly – 317 wins, 309 seconds, 287 thirds in Hong Kong alone as his stock win in very corner of the globe.
Runner-up: WOOD ON FIRE was fantastic, unlucky not to win it. Was a clear last coming to the corner, took the inside run then switched off the fence to find some trouble before Keith Leung found a gap back to his inner and they darted through to just miss. Wonderful ride, it took some courage to manoeuvre his way through tight quarters. This horse looks a next-up winner. Big sectionals 800m to 400m, and 400m to winning post from him.
Run Of The Race: WOOD ON FIRE amazingly good. Plenty of smart efforts here, GOOD SHOT very unlucky and just could not find space off the home turn in having all momentum stopped. COURAGEOUS FRAGON flew wide and was also great.
Disappointment: Debutant MY ECSTATIC was all the rage to win based on a smart trial in the lead in. He got over-racing early under Zac and just never seemed to travel kindly enough. Loomed on the turn but soon a beaten horse. Plenty to learn but there's obvious ability there. Vetted and blood found in the trachea.
Comparison: This track may be rating well on the dead side of good given they ran seven-tenths above standard here over 1200m. The opening two races seemed to lack tempo but this looks the line in the sand race.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 4 - JAFFE HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 0:57.40 Standard Time: 0:57.15 Course/Class Record: 0:56.39
Winner: VIVA CHEF (NZ 4yo g Sacred Falls – Savabeel Star) incredibly makes it two wins on the card for Savabeel mare Savabeel Star and in consecutive races after his elder half-brother Shining On won again. You would not see that happen too often in races halfway across the world from where they were born. This fellow had some catching up to do on his brother, four starts in Hong Kong and three of those this season had been moderate to say to say the least so trainer Peter Ho went for the blinkers to find some spice in his effort and they obviously worked. Taking advantage of opportunity is key, and they needed to today after two morning scratchings weakened the field - then the ultimate boost – the favourite was scratched at the barriers. The stars aligned in more ways than one for this horse today. Good solid sprint from sixth the outer and wide turn to get the job done in the depleted field.
Runner-up: WINNER'S HEART was fantastic, should have won the race. Trapped three-wide on the speed for the entire race and pushed four-wide around the turn he had the audacity t kick back and give himself a winning chance at the 100m. Yet to win in now 14 starts but a nice step forward third up for the season and ready to win for Frankie Lor's strong stable.
Run Of The Race: WINNER'S HEART without a shadow of a doubt. Huge performance. A son of Ambidexter he looks to be settling into his best work, a nice strong cut of a horse who has a future. He is a half-brother to recent Class 5 winner Fox Cheunger.
Disappointment: WILD WEST WING had to work maybe 100 yards more than he wanted to find the front and that told late in the piece. The default favourite after the scratching of HARMONY N BLESSED at the barriers, he was sent forward by Teetan to take command and had his chance.
Comparison: A bit over the standard to keep this pattern going. Slower than good this track.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
Suspended: K H Chan (GARLIC HERO) two days for careless riding near the 150m mark.
RACE 5 - LOCKHART HANDICAP, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Rating 60-40 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:41.38 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class Record: 1:38.83
Winner: FEARLESS FIRE (IRE 6yo g Acclamation -Pediment) was super impressive, very tough win coming from three-wide the journey when luckless from a wide gate, Blake Shinn then intent on settling him as best he could in order to stake his claim late. The move came prior to the turn when he darted up outside the leaders and quickly took control. Under siege from a host of runners in the straight he was ever so brave in holding on to win. A fair record, just two wins in 39 previous starts in Hong Kong and new trainer David Hayes had already had a good look at him, four starts already this season under his guidance before today in finding his peak fifth time around. The 121lb a good, comfortable weight to carry here.
Runner-up: VILLA FIONN was so good out wide making up nice ground again, continues to hint that the next win is close at hand. He has done some nice work in his last two starts now and on the verge of success despite being at the top of the handicap in Class 4. Twice successful last season at 1600m at Sha Tin and 1650m at Happy Valley.
Run Of The Race: Winner FEARLESS FIRE was exceptional, hard to look past him as the pick of the bunch. A tidy bid cutting corners from GLORIOUS LOVER in snaring third money after being well back on the fence, a smart ride from Alexis Badel to take the inside channel and get close late. INCANTO PREPARED took a while to clear heels after turning for home and was solid late, just took a while to really get wound up.
Disappointment: KING DRAGON up on speed and third outer before the corner was one of the first beaten as favourite. Quite plain but may have raced a tad keenly early. Vetted, no findings.
Comparison: A mile outside standard in one of the slowest of the day.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 6 - JOHNSTON 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: LUCKY QUALITY (AUS 4yo g Medaglia d'Oro – Watchful Eyes) sits behind a frantic dash in front of him, a number of runners wanting to be on speed here and Chad Schofield happy to sit off that early panic and wait his turn. After a solid run of placings the maiden victory was a shade overdue but always coming for leading horseman Caspar Fownes, the son of former American star Medaglia d'Oro too swift once drawn out to make his run. Five starts in 2020-2021 for four placings and win to bank some good money for connections and a horse fitting the mould of a galloper so much better for his first campaign in Hong Kong. A learning curve ahead as he sits on the cusp of Class 3 now, but as mentioned a better horse now with racing under the belt.
Runner-up: WINS ALL swift from being locked up on the fence, one-off but soon in traffic off the turn and a fast finisher without being fully clear until extremely late. A big strong horse, he has grown a leg this season under the guidance of new trainer Chris So, a big Class 5 win to start off in September and now looking a guaranteed winner in Class 4 in the very short term. He is a son of former champion sprinter Testa Rossa and out of an unraced Exceed And Excel mare.
Run Of The Race: WINS ALL impressive on a track that you wonder how it suits him. Looking to see him perform at Sha Tin in the wider spaces soon. GREAT SON was tough in defeat, a brave third after being caught in the battle to hold the front.
Disappointment: Favourite KINDA COOL got a long way back and was not disappointing making up some ground but as the warm elect never close enough to strike. He had previously raced a lot closer to the pace but dictated to by barrier 12 today and Purton opted to go back on him. He will bounce back quickly.
Comparison: Slow on the clock, looked a lot quicker in view.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 7 - HARBOUR HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.16 Standard Time: 1:39.80 Course/Class Record: 1:38.61
Winner: HOLY HEART (IRE 5yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Heart Of Ice) breaks through first up for the season off the back off a nice trip third line on the inner under champion hoop Zac Purton. A quiet period for the gun jockey as he looks to add another premiership. But as he knows it is all about ticking these wins off one by one, week by week. Francis Lui had started the Irish gelding 10 times last season and seven of those were on the all-weather track at Sha Tin following two polytrack victories at Kempton in the UK before his import. He hit the turf running here, showed a handy enough sprint when not the clear but does appear to be a little one-paced so he may thrive in a return to the dirt in the weeks to come.
Runner-up: FLYING QUEST ended up a mile off them and had to sweep up wide on his own from the 600m to make up some leeway. Never peaking on that run, he was game through the wire in second, conceding late to one with a better run. An excellent lift off a poor one in mid-October from the six-time winner in Hong Kong who won two in New Zealand before export. He is a gun at 1650m round Happy Valley and another win is clearly coming, most likely at this track and trip.
Run Of The Race: FLYING QUEST worked hard against the grain inside that final half-mile and his effort was superior to the field today. Coming with him from the back UNCLE STEVE also did a nice job to run third. He had only been tried twice previously at Happy Valley for a pair of ninths so a nice change in fortune at this track for him.
Disappointment: SACRED IBIS failed to flatter today, got well back on the fence and failed to make an impression in the straight which is unlike him, usually finding the line better than most. Vetted and substantial blood found in the trachea.
Comparison: More of a genuinely run race though above standard as per the norm.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 8 - FLEMING HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 0:57.14 Standard Time: 0:56.85 Course/Class Record: 0:56.11
Winner: WE THE SOUTH (AUS 4yo g Your Song – Tonkatsu) was just too fast for these, utilised gate one to full advantage in jumping to the front as he invariably does from most draws, dictated the terms and booted away to bolt in. That is two in a row for new trainer Franke Lor who took over from the retiring John Moore at the end of last season, and Lor will be thrilled to have acquired such a talented sprinter. Not the easiest horse, often seen as overly exuberant pre-race, the son of Your Song has put together a good record, four wins from 11 starts after arriving unraced out of Australia. More to come in Class 3, still a few points below the next step to Class 2 and it should not take long for him to make it win five the way he is going, a flying machine in front.
Runner-up: HARMONY AND RICH had to come from barrier 11 to get over outside WE THE SOUTH so his effort to do that work and still run second was super good. He is banging the door down to win his first race in Hong Kong, now placed in four of six starts following two wins in Australia as 'Enforcement' for Peter and Paul Snowden, including a $125,000 handicap victory at Rosehill in mid-2019. This son of I Am Invincible is in for a good season in the sprint races, an outstanding run today from the draw.
Run Of The Race: TELECOM PUMA did what no other could do and that was make up a lot of ground from the tail of the field. In a race so slanted towards the front runners he was able to scoot through his final 400m in 22.70 to run fifth in a slick sprint against the grain. Next-best was well beyond 23 seconds to prove how well he ran. He has only won the one race in Hong Kong from 23 starts after winning four in New Zealand, including the 2017 G2 Waikato Guineas for Gary Vile.
Disappointment: No standout disappointment in a race that was dominated front end and they all basically ran up the straight as they had formed their positions during the run.
Comparison: On a day where the track was slow they were not that far outside standard, as you would expect with the fleet-footed winner scooting along making the rules.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 9 - GLOUCESTER HANDICAP, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Rating 80-60 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.98 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68
Winner: COMPASSION SPIRIT (AUS 4yo g Supreme Class – Your Grace) sat off a keen leading trio after jumping well but soon found himself third line inner. Derek Leung had him off the paint and into the clear around the turn and wound up the powerful son of Supreme Class to make the best bid centre-track in a stirring finish. He loves a Happy Valley 1200m dash this boy, that is three wins at the track and distance in his last six starts and three from nine total in his Hong Kong career for trainer Manfred Man. Not an expensive buy as a $40,000 two-year-old in Australia and prepared after by Glenn Old in New Zealand to trial well before his export. He has the good record at 1200m, but Man must be toying with the idea of a look at 1400m the way he finishes his races off so strongly.
Runner-up: PERFECT GLORY tracked them fifth the fence and in the trailing position, took the rails run half-way down and looked likely until the winner scorched through the centre of the pack. He was first up for the season today so giving away fitness to most. A nice return on that basis alone and Caspar Fownes should find a nice race for him to win soon. Fownes mixed his distances last season trying the short 1000m all the way out to 1650m.
Run Of The Race: COMPASSION SPIRIT gave them an opportunity but they could not beat him. SUNSET WATCH was strong to the line after getting off-speed from gate one and his final 400m was as strong as any horse in the race. Also running on well late was STARZ HERO at a whopping 292/1. He was a two-time winner in country Dubbo, NSW, though placed at Randwick before export.
Disappointment: CHICKEN DANCE got back, seemed to be off the bit in chasing and not that happy on the tighter turning circuit. He was slowly winding up late but ran second-to-last without threat. An odd sort of a run from a horse capable of a lot more than this. Back to Sha Tin more than likely. Rider Karis Teetan said he felt awkward in his action.
Comparison: Nice genuinely run race again well outside of standard.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.
RACE 10 - FENWICK HANDICAP, HK $2,200,000
Class 2 – Rating 100-80 - Turf 'A' Course – Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.88 Standard Time: 1:09.40 Course/Class Record: 1:08.52
Winner: GOLDEN DASH (AUS 6yo g Snitzel – Aussie Christmas) was landed three-deep from a middle draw but luckily had some cover with one also stranded out there in front of him. That became his saviour as they did bowl along in front so he got his opportunity to clear his head mid-way through the race and await his call. Alexis Badel presented him at the perfect time just off the corner and it was his race from that point despite an ever-so-gallant SHINING GEM pushing him all the way to the wire. An impressive record for a horse that is not raced often. Danny Shum has shown him the racetrack just 17 times over four seasons, an exemplary record though, five wins and five placings in reward. Perhaps he will get a little busier this term, just five starts in each of his last two seasons, already with three runs this term. More to come, he is a very genuine galloper.
Runner-up: SHINING GEM is another you speak of when talking genuine. The Makfi gelding won four times last season in a stellar year under the guidance of Ricky Yiu, twice at Sha Tin and twice at Happy Valley which proves the versatility of the horse. Few copes as well on both tracks and tend to find their favourite, this guy runs well on both. This, his first outing since July, was a cracking return scything through a gap off the rail in a likely winning bid, coming up just short.
Run Of The Race: Top two were excellent and so was HIGHLAND FORTUNE, Zac opting to go back from gate 10 in a race with plenty of pace and the response later in the race was impressive, a bold finish wide against the grain. Finding his feet in Class 2 after a winning double in Class 3 in June, he looks to be at that stage of his campaign where winning should come naturally.
Disappointment: ALL IN MIND found this awkward after getting well back and wide just unable to make an impression today. He is a better horse than that and this a simple forgive run. Vetted, no findings.
Comparison: Solidly run as expected in Class 2. Not one race run under standard today.
Market Mover: Due to Tabcorp's ongoing issues no market information available today.