3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 - Whitfield Handicap, HK $750,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.78 Standard Time: 1:10.35 Course/Class Record: 1:09.62 Great Harvest
Winner: VIVA MAMA (AUS 4yo g Dream Ahead – Uproot) jumped well from a wide barrier and was forced forward under the urgings of Dylan Mo. He was able to cross relatively easily before the first turn and began to control the race from the front. He was a length in front upon straightening. Viva Mama tired late and managed to fall in for the victory, with the finish line getting there in the nick of time to record a short-head win.
Runner-Up: FOR FUN'S SAKE jumped with the pack but was pulled back after jumping from a wide barrier, settling in the back half of the field. He started to work his way into the race at about the 400m point and made a charge for the lead down the middle of the track. Keith Leung and For Fun's Sake dived at the leader but missed on the line.
Run Of The Race: FOR FUN'S SAKE was a great run from back in the field.
Disappointment: E HONEY was sent around as the $3.40 favourite and didn't fire a shot. He sat midfield and looked to have every possible chance to stake his claims but finished in sixth spot and 2.5 lengths off the win.
Comparison: Just outside the course/class record.
Market Mover: FOR FUN'S SAKE $31 into $16.
Race 2 – Whitfield Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.62 Standard Time: 1:10.35 Course/Class Record: 1:09.62 Great Harvest
Winner: GREAT HARVEST (AUS 5yo g Harbour Watch – Grojsman) was sent straight to the lead by Alexis Badel and kept the field running, clocking fast sectionals throughout the event. It was a dominant win, with Great Harvest having his rivals under pressure from the 400m point. Great Harvest kicked away and won comfortably in the end by 1.25 lengths in class/course record time.
Runner-Up: SHANGHAI POWER was in a great position during the race, camped just off the leaders and was able to build momentum into the straight. Ran on strongly from his position but was no match for the winner. He finished 0.75 lengths ahead of the third-place runner.
Run Of The Race: GREAT HARVEST won in course/class record time, leading from start to finish. A great performance.
Disappointment: JOY AVENUE was sent out as the third elect at $5.60 and was never sighted in the run, finishing in eighth position and over six lengths off the leader.
Comparison: New course/class record.
Market Mover: SHANGHAI POWER $16 into $8.90.
Race 3 – Merlin Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:38.55 Standard Time: 1:39.80 Course/Class Record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Winner: TELECOM FIGHTERS (AUS 4yo g The Brothers War – Moorings Capital) was impressive in another on-pace dominated event on the card. Joao Moreira got away well from barrier seven and drove Telecom Fighters forward to take up the lead. He was under the whip as the rounded the home turn and was challenged early in the straight. He was even headed by Ka Ying Excellent close to the finish line, but the gelding dug deep and dived on the line to score by a head.
Runner-Up: KA YING EXCELLENT was stalking the leader and favourite wherever he went, sitting third along the rails during the run. He was able to cut back toward the inside as they turned for home and challenged Telecom Fighters for the win. He appeared to get to the lead in the concluding stages, but he couldn't hold on, holding on for second position in a photo-finish.
Run Of The Race: It's hard to go past the run of TELECOM FIGHTERS after he put in a great performance to win in course/class record time.
Disappointment: RIGHT CHOICE appeared to be in a great position in the running but was under pressure from Blake Shinn a long way from home. He would end up finishing eighth and beaten nearly six lengths, not justifying his $4.90 quote as second favourite.
Comparison: A new course/class record.
Market Mover: RIGHT CHOICE $16 into $4.90.
Race 4 – Tong Shui Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.69 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92 Amazing Star
Winner: A LA KING (AUS 3yo g Denman – Red Magnum) jumped cleanly from the gates but was eased back over the opening stages of the race to obtain some over. Vincent Ho was able to find some cover midfield as the pace was hot early. It was an enormous run down the outside, as A La King was over five lengths off the lead at the 400m mark, he stormed home down the centre of the track to win by a neck on the line.
Runner-Up: ICE LEGEND had a great run sitting just off the pace but was being pushed along a fair way out from the finish. He was forced wide as they straightened but picked up speed well to hit the front momentarily, before being overrun by the eventual winner. He was able to keep a hold of second position though, getting the nod in a photo-finish.
Run Of The Race: There were talks through the first part of the card that there was an on pace bias to the track, but A LA KING proved them wrong. It was a great victory, especially after being so far back on the turn.
Disappointment: MOONLUCK wasn't horrible in finishing fourth, but he was a tad disappointing. He had a great run in the race and presented as they straightened as though he would be in the finish. He just never seemed to sprint though, having every chance to win but was unable to do so.
Comparison: Just inside the standard time as the fast early pace took its toll.
Market Mover: SEA ELITE $8 into $3.90.
Race 5 – Westlands Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.23 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class Record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Winner: MANNA FROM HEAVEN (IRE 6yo g Dragon Pulse – Salydora) jumped from the outside barrier and was urged along early by Matthew Chadwick to cross and take up a front running position. He was able to grind his way to the lead and keep on chugging to find the finish line in the nick of time, winning by a short head in a clustered photo finish.
Runner-Up: FA FA was a great run from the rear of the field. He was sent out as $2.50 favourite and was was the widest runner down the straight. He ran the fastest last 400m sectional of the race by far but fell short on the line.
Run Of The Race: FA FA was a huge run from toward the rear of the field. As little as 5 extra metres and he wins the race.
Disappointment: SUPERB DADDY settled last in the running, but did not run on well, finishing tenth and beaten nearly six lengths.
Comparison: Inside the standard time in a well-run race.
Market Mover: OFF THE REEL $21 into $9.70.
Race 6 – Tong Shui Handicap, HK $1,000,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.56 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class Record: 1:08.92 Amazing Star
Winner: JOLLY GOOD HEART (AUS 5yo g Danerich – Destiny Lady) was sent to the front from barrier 11. The gelding was a bit keen under Zac Purton down the back straight but was able to put in a huge kick at the top of the straight to lead comfortably with 150 metres to go. He began to tire over the last 100m but hit the line just in time to win in a photo finish, with the official margin being a short head.
Runner-Up: TELECOM SMART wasn't the fastest away and was positioned toward the rear of the field on the fence. He was being pushed along from the 600m point and looked gone as they straightened. Karis Teetan took Telecom Smart to the rails as they straightened and it took him a while to wind up, but he exploded over the final 200m to only go down by a short head.
Run Of The Race: FALCON TURBO was a great run from the rear of the field under Matthew Poon.
Disappointment: TEAM GOODLUCK appeared to be running comfortably in a great spot, but didn't come on in the straight, finishing seventh.
Comparison: Inside the standard time and faster than the other Class 4, 1200m race on the card.
Market Mover: TEAM GOODLUCK $11 into $5.80.
Race 7 – Java Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.09 Standard Time: 56.85 Course/Class Record: 56.09 Dancing Fighter
Winner: DANCING FIGHTER (AUS 5yo g Zoustar – Permaiscuous) jumped fast from barrier five and went straight to the lead. He set a breakneck pace up front. Joao Moreira stretched the field out as they turned and had pinched a break on the rest of the field who were all off the bit and chasing. He won easily in the end, with the official margin 2.25 lengths.
Runner-Up: HARMONY N BLESSED was in the battle for the lead early and was able to sit outside the leader. He was under pressure a fair way out from home, but he was able to keep on right to the line and finish second.
Run Of The Race: DANCING FIGHTER was huge in winning, it was great performance racing on the pace and kicking away to win easily.
Disappointment: CANTSTOPTHEFEELING was disappointing in the straight, being only fair to the line and being beaten by four lengths.
Comparison: A new course and class record.
Market Mover: HARMONY N BLESSED $8.50 into $3.90.
Race 8 – Fort Handicap, HK $2,200,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:37.97 Standard Time: 1:39.60 Course/Class Record: 1:37.97 Tsar
Winner: TSAR (GB 4yo g Kingman – Kilo Alpha) jumped well and was able to position up on the outside of the leader. He was under the pump with 500m left to run, but he stuck on well, blowing past the leader with 200 metres to go and ran away to record a 0.75 length win.
Runner-Up: There was a dead heat for second between GREEN LUCK and SAVAQUIN. GREEN LUCK positioned up in third spot on the back of the leading pair and ran on strongly down the straight. SAVAQUIN was a different story, settling towards the rear, a gap appeared at the top of the straight and he let down well, running on down the straight to hit the line locked together with Gren Luck.
Run Of The Race: TSAR put in a very strong performance on the speed to run away and win in course and class record time.
Disappointment: MAGNIFICENT got the lead in running, but weakened badly in the straight to finish sixth, beaten 4.25 lengths.
Comparison: A new course/class record.
Market Mover: MAGNIFCENT $8 into $4.30.
Race 9 – Marble Handicap, HK $1,500,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.21 Standard Time: 1:09.65 Course/Class Record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Winner: SPAKRLING DRAGON (NZ 6yo g O'Reilly – Shining Light) was fast away from barrier eight and Antoine Hamelin took him straight to the rail, settling third behind the leaders. He was able to cut the corner and stay to the inside and ran on strong to take the lead with 100m left to run and went on to win by a neck on the line.
Runner-Up: LOVING A BOOM jumped from the inside barrier and stayed out of the battle for the early speed. He was forced to go wide as they entered the straight and he let down well. He kept coming down the straight but missed out on the win.
Run Of The Race: LOVING A BOOM was a great run from the back of the pack.
Disappointment: MAJESTIC STAR was caught wide for the majority of the event but weakened considerably in the straight. Joao Moreira couldn't offer any explanation and the vets found no abnormalities in their post-race examination.
Comparison: Inside the standard time in a quickly run race.
Market Mover: SKY SHOW $11 into $4.50.