3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Tseung Kwan O Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.80 Standard Time: 57.15 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
It was handlebars down from DIAMOND SOARS (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Contrite Heart) as Angus Chung surged across to lead from the outside stall. He travelled comfortably once he got to the front and kicked away as they turned for home. He was well clear inside the final 100m, but began to tire close to the line as the field began to catch him. The gelding had enough left in the tank to hold off his rivals, winning by a neck. MULTIMORE was charging very hard at the finish and maybe would've caught the leader in a couple more strides, but he was forced to settle for second with DASHING TRIUMPH crossing in third.
Race 2 – Yau Tong Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.02 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
It took him 13 runners, but Mark Newnham finally got his first winner in Hong Kong with HAPPY HERO (AUS 5yo g Pierro – Forty Winks) storming over the top to win impressively. Harry Bentley took the gelding back to last on settling down, cruising around at the tail of the field with an even tempo being set. He was still last passing the halfway point and was being revved up a long way from home with 6-1/2 lengths to make up in the final 400m. He got a good tow into the race as he ended up out near the centre of the course and began making plenty of ground down the outside. He eventually took the lead inside the final 100m and drew clear close to home, winning by -1/2 lengths in a very strong effort. HAPPY JAI JAI continued his good run of form, finishing second and holding off FORTUNE TRIPLE who had also made plenty of ground from the back.
Race 3 – Hang Hau Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.59 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Keagan De Melo notched up his second victory this term with IVY LEAGUE (IRE 4yo g Galileo – Timbuktu) getting the job done. The four-year-old was only fairly into stride and settled back in the pack for De Melo, with the leader breaking clear heading down the back. De Melo moved three-wide down the back and made a mid-race move around the field, getting across to sit on the outside of the leader with 600m remaining. The South African was already into his mount as they turned for home and began wearing down the leader in the straight. He eventually edged his way in front with 100m remaining and inched away to score by a neck on the line. TOURBILLON PRINCE put in a brave effort to finish second after leading the field throughout. He set up the good time they ran and was only just edged out on the line. ALL BEAUTY was storming home at the finish to run into a clear third in a very eye-catching display.
Race 4 – Po Lam Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.11 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Angus Chung brought up a winning double with HAPPY FAT CAT (AUS 5yo g Shalaa – Bound To Bush) again leading all the way. He got away sharply from barrier 3 and went straight to the front under Chung, running along at only a fair tempo. He led comfortably though and was able to do as he pleased with no pressure being applied in the run. The apprentice hoop started to ramp things up approaching the 400m point, getting his rivals off the bit and under plenty of pressure as they turned for home, still leading by over a length early in the straight. It looked as though he was passed with 100m to run and would finish a handy second, but Chung was able to lift the gelding off the canvas, retake the lead and win by a neck on the line. WOOD ON FIRE had sat outside, or just off the leader throughout the race and showed plenty of speed in the straight to range up to Happy Fat Cat close to home. He looked as though he would run straight past the leader, but just peaked on his run late and was unable to hold off Happy Fat Cat. GOLDEN LUCK finished in third place after jumping the $1.80 favourite, unable to reel in the leaders after settling in a handy position throughout.
Race 5 – Lei Yue Mun Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.58 Standard Time: 57.00 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
Vincent Ho and Jamie Richards combined to win the fifth event as HAPPY DAY (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Siciliani) ran over the top. Happy Day didn't have the pace to keep up early in proceedings as Vincent Ho found himself a long way off the lead on settling down. He continued to drift back in the run, being a whopping 8-1/4 lengths off the lead with 400m to run as the leaders rolled along at a quick gallop. Ho didn't get to the outside on straightening, rather weaving his way through traffic as he picked off his rivals one-by-one in the straight. He eventually burst through a gap inside the final 100m and proved far too strong in the run to the line, winning by a neck. SEGEANT PEPPER had settled in behind the speed throughout and ducked back to the rail as Angus Chung scraped the paint. He took the lead inside the closing stages as he railed through, but couldn't hold off the fast-finishing winner. SAVVY DELIGHT was another who made a stack of ground from the rear to feature in the finish. Hugh Bowman had the gelding under plenty of pressure turning for home as he too weaved his way through traffic and eventually into the clear in the straight. He looked the winner with 50m to run, but it wasn't to be. Race favoruite Kowloon East Star finished in 8th position after sitting on the hot tempo throughout.
Race 6 – Po Lam Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.19 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
EXUBERANT (AUS 6yo g Free Eagle – Coablo) drifted back shortly after the start as Jerry Chau was unable to slot in from his awkward alley. After drifting back heading toward the first turn, Chau was still racing in a three-wide position but did have cover down the back straight with a strong tempo being set through the middle stages. Chau began to make his move a long way from home and was shoved very wide on the turn for home, being the widest runner on straightening but having plenty of momentum at the top of the straight. The gelding was running in under pressure but took the lead under the urgings of Chau inside the final 50m and proved too good at the finish, winning by a neck. He ran over the top of KILINDINI who had enjoyed a perfect run in transit throughout, sitting just off the lead. He surged to the front with 100m to run but was unable to hold off the winner in the dying stages. JUNEAU FLASH crossed the line in third position while race favourite AWESOME TREASURE was disappointing in the finish, ending up in sixth.
Race 7 – Tiu Keng Leng Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.21 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Hugh Bowman brought up his first winner of the night as LEAN HERO (AUS 4yo c Maurice – Frontalis) saluted for the David Hayes barn. The colt was only fairly into stride and Hugh Bowman crossed down to the rail and kicked up along the inside as they turned out of the straight. He settled midfield in the run with a solid tempo set through the opening stages and the gaps began to open for him as they worked around the turn. Bowman continued to slide along the rail as they turned for home and knuckled down along the inside to take the lead with 100m to run. He was strong to the line, scoring by a half-length and holding off TURIN WARRIOR who was steaming home close to the line. He made a big run right down the centre of the track for Zac Purton but couldn't reel in the winner who never went around a horse. DRAGON STAR led the field throughout the race but was no match for the first two across the line.
Race 8 – Cha Kwo Ling Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.81 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Zac Purton's night had been relatively quiet until the last, winning aboard LIGHTNING BOLT (IRE 5yo g Acclamation – Pearl Sea). He jumped well from the inside barrier and Purton used it to his advantage to settle just off the speed which was only moderate through the middle stages. The champion jockey was able to get off the inside down the back and eventually moved into a three-wide position around the home turn, getting a lovely cart into the race approaching the 400m point. He was improving under his own steam and the gelding quickened well when Purton asked for an effort. He ranged up to take the lead with 100m to run and was too strong to the line, winning by a neck. SUGAR SUGAR made Purton fight for it though. Hugh Bowman's mount had been the horse giving Lightning Bolt the tow into the race and tried hard to keep the winner at bay in the straight. Those two paired off with GALLANT WAKING crossing in third position, 2-1/4 lengths off the winner.
