3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
It was a tough night for punters and participants with rain seeing the track downgraded just prior to the commencement of the card, and also midway through the evening. It didn't phase Harry Bentley though as he rode a winning double, including the feature event, and David Hall trained a double of his own.
Race 1 – Success Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.02 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
ALLOY KING (AUS 7yo g Zoffany – Terhaab) was a very impressive winner of the first event. He jumped well from barrier four and elected to ease out of the speed battle heading to the first turn to settle in behind the leading division. Harry Bentley stayed off the rail through the middle stages but was shuffled back through the field as the field finally started to sort their order out. Bentley remained with cover around the home turn before peeling out into the clear as they swung for home. He came with a strong burst of speed despite laying in under the urgings of Bentley, taking the lead with 50m to run and putting his rivals away with ease, scoring by 2 lengths. HAPPILY FRIENDS led the field throughout the event and had kicked away with 400m to run. Matthew Chadwick gave him a beautiful steer and he was still over a length in front with 200m left to run. He was tiring late in the race though and was gobbled up by one stronger on the night. MODEST GENTLEMAN cut the corner heading into the straight and remained close to the inside right down to the wire, clinging onto third position and holding off the fast-finishing Valhalla.
Race 2 – Swifty Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 57.49 Standard Time: 57.00 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
Matthew Poon rated DIAMOND SOARS (AUS 5yo g Deep Field- Contrite Heart) perfectly out in front, leading all the way to bring up back-to-back wins for the gelding. He was the quickest out of the barriers and rolled across from barrier 9 to take up the running with ease. He was able to lead comfortably with no real pressure from Poon's outside with the fielding packing up turning into the straight. He kicked over a length clear as they swung into the straight but he did have plenty of company as rivals began to challenge with 150m
remaining. The five-year-old wouldn't give up as he held his challengers at bay to score by a half-length in a gutsy effort. HAPPY UNITED tried to get across from his wide draw by tailing Diamond Soars from the jump, but the gelding was unable to slot in and was cast three-wide and without cover. Despite the wide run in transit, Hugh Bowman had the gelding improving nicely into the straight as he ranged up to the leader with 150m to run. He just lacked the knockout punch after sitting deep throughout, but it was a brave effort for second. AMAZING ACE was wedged between those two right up the straight and had his chance if good enough but settled for third on the line. Race favourite GORGEOUS VITALITY finished back in 7th place but did pull up with blood in his throat.
Race 3 – Flying Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.39 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Antoine Hamelin joined the part in race 4 as TATTNEHAM (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – Sprout) broke his maiden at massive odds. The gelding got away well from the inside barrier and held his position along the rail heading into the first turn, landing on the leader's back as they headed down the back straight. He came under heavy pressure a long way from home as the leader kicked clear heading into the straight, but the gelding was grinding away along the inside and had improved slightly turning for home. Hamelin was throwing everything he had at the gelding as he took a narrow lead inside the final 100m and held off his main rival, surviving a photo finish to win by a nose. HAPPY TRIO was right there alongside Tattenham right down the straight but just could not stick his nose in front over the dying stages. SIGHT HERO made a strong run from near the tail of the field to finish 1-3/4 lengths back in third position, but he just gave the winner too much of a head start.
Race 4 – Victory Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:41.54 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
Hugh Bowman extended his lead in the Jockeys title as race favourite YEE CHEONG WARRIOR (AUS 7yo g Animal Kingdom – Defender) got the job done with ease. He was away fairly from the inside stall but didn't show as much pace as his rivals, settling a touch worse than midfield. Hugh Bowman was happy to land on the rail with the pace only moderate through the middle stages. There was no change to the order down the back, but Bowman had moved off the rail to give himself every chance, and proceeded to move
wider again as they began turning into the straight. The gelding was one of the widest on straightening, but he let down powerfully to take the lead 150m from the finish. He never looked like being beaten as he won eased down on the line, with the final margin being 1-1/4 lengths. There was a line up for the minors with MIGHTY STAR coming out for second. He'd settled in a handy position in the run and had been given every chance by Jerry Chau, he just found one better on the day. DOUBLE SHOW held on for third in the tight finish. Harry Bentley scraped the inside rail with the galloper, cutting the corner turning for home and going underneath all his rivals.
Race 5 – The Longines Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.50 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Englishman Harry Bentley made it a winning double as HEALTHY HEALTHY (NZ 4yo g Per Incanto – Spritz) scored in the feature event of the night. After getting away well from barrier five, the gelding rushed forward under Bentley, going around his rivals three-wide to sit outside the leader heading down the back. The pace as strong as the rain continued to fall, with Bentley rolling on to take the lead approaching the 600m point. The field was still very strung out turning for home as the four-year-old still led by over a length. He looked a sitting duck midway down the straight as a rival came up to challenge him, but he was too strong in the finish, holding his main dangers at bay and scoring by a neck on the line. ACT OF FAITH had sat off the hot speed and was in prime position to catch the leader. It looked as though midway down the straight he would just blow right past him and go on to win, but he was unable to stick his nose in front at any stage. TOGEPI came from a long way back to finish in third.
Race 6 – Horsepower Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Yielding
Time: 1:42.59 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
It has been a slow start to the season for Matthew Chadwick, but he was able to boot home BEAUTY MISSION (AUS 6yo g Pluck – Mollycat) in the sixth event. He was away well from an inside barrier to settle midfield in the run with a genuine tempo being set early doors. The pace slowed down the back and Chadwick found himself in a sticky position along the rail, but he was able to get off the inside with about 700m remaining. The gelding was absolutely trucking coming to the 400m point, weaving his way through traffic
under his own steam before Chadwick got him into the clear turning for home. He surged to the lead with a furlong remaining but did have some challengers coming out of the woodwork to chase him down. He held on strongly close to the line and scored by a half-length. AMAZING BOY came from nowhere to mount his challenge at the finish. He got close, but didn't have the strength to get over the top of Beauty Mission. PALACE PAL was another who made a late charge from the rear, storming down the outside to grab third place.
Race 7 – Racing Spirit Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Yielding
Time: 1:41.24 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Angus Chung has been in great form so far this season and continued his strong run of form as OUTGATE (GB 4yo g Outstrip – Penny Drops) led all the way. He jumped quickly from the inside and immediately took up the running. He was travelling strongly through the middle stages, but wasn't pressured up front as Chung was able to roll along as he pleased. The flashy grey was challenged shortly after turning off the back and was looking his rival in the eye as they turned for home, with the apprentice looking for the best part of the track. There was a wall of horses chasing him, but he had fought off the first challenger and extended his lead with 100m to run. He kept on strongly to the line, winning by a length, beating THESIS who cut up the inside and went underneath his rivals to steal third in a photo finish. ROMANTIC LAOS jumped favourite for Zac Purton and Cody Mo, but was unable to reel in the winner over the dying stages, finishing in third.
Race 8 – Speedy Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Yielding
Time: 1:10.06 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
NEVER TOO SOON (AUS 6yo g Written Tycoon – Best Yet To Come) was only fairly away for Keagan De Melo, but with the aid of an inside barrier he was able to position himself midfield along the rail. The pace was strong through the middle stages with no change to the order as they turned off the back, with the six-year-old travelling strongly and just need a way clear turning for home. De Melo stuck to the inside on straightening and went under his rivals to take the lead with 150m to run. He pulled away close to home, scoring by a length on the line and beating the race favourite WONDER KIT. Zac Purton had settled in front of Never Too Soon in the run, but went wide in the straight while De Melo stuck to
the inside. The favourite looked to have the race shot to bits, but he was wobbling about out in front and was ultimately claimed by the winner. GRATEFUL HEART was another who snuck up the inside from well back in the run and finished in third position.
Race 9 – Speedy Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Yielding
Time: 1:10.57 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
COPARTNER AMBITION (AUS 6yo g Starspangledbanner – Porcellanus) made it back-to-back wins in heavy rain. He jumped brilliantly from an inside draw and landed on the back of the leader in running with the pace looking pretty solid with the field strung out. He came off the bit a long way from home and was under heavy pressure, but Andrea Artzeni stuck right up along the inside rail. It looked as though he would have to settle for second, but he dug deep along the inside to hold on to win by a short head, holding out SON PAK FU who looked the winner with 100m to run. He finished with a withering burst under the top weight but was unable to capture the winner in the shadows of the post. TORONADO PHANTOM looked as though he raced his way back into form, relishing the tough conditions to finish in third position as he ran on strongly from the back.
