3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Kokura Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.44 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Favourite backers got their night off to a winning start as VALHALLA (NZ 6yo g Ocean Park – Eudora) saluted at an odds-on quote. He was away well from an inside draw and settled down in behind the leader as they rounded the first turn. He travelled comfortably through the middle stages before Ho urged the gelding along to hold his position on the leaders back passing the 600m point. He railed through around the home turn and barged his way into the clear at the top of the straight. It took a little while for the gelding to wind up, but he hit the front with 150m remaining and proved far too good at the finish, winning by a length. NOIR RIDER had settled in the second half of the field for Angus Chung having not showed a lot of pace in the opening stages. He was in a tricky position turning for home, but Chung picked his way through the traffic, following the leader through a gap and running a very eye-catching second. HZ TOURBILLON was the last one to leave the barriers and raced at the rear of the field throughout. Zac Purton rode for luck around the turn and stuck to the inside on straightening, shooting underneath his rivals to claim third.
Race 2 – Nakayama Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.63 Standard Time: 56.60 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
Pierre Ng continued his hot form with another victor ridden by Zac Purton, as HUMBLE STAR (AUS 5yo g Star Witness – Nautical) got the job done. The gelding was away on terms but snicked back from the awkward alley, settling about midfield with the pace hot through the opening stages. He found himself 5-1/2 lengths off the leader with 400m remaining as they charged along up front, but the gelding had plenty of gas left in the tank as he trucked around the home turn. He was the widest runner on straightening but let rip with a powerful run down the outside, taking the lead inside the final 150m and winning very comfortably, with the margin officially 1-1/2 lengths. ATOMIC ENERGY had settled just in front of the winner in running, taking a sit off the fast tempo set through the first half of the race. Alex Badel was hard at work on the gelding a long way from the finish but the four-year-old showed plenty of heart, sticking on gamely to run second. He held off a fast-finishing EXPLOSIVE WITNESS, who may have just found himself too far back in the run to challenge for the victory.
Race 3 – Deep Water Bay Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:39.97 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
It didn't take long for Hong Kong's hottest trainer to bring up a double as DRAGON STAR led all the way to score for Karis Teetan. He showed good speed to hold out his rivals heading into the first turn, leading comfortably through the first half of the event. He continued to be left alone in front around the home turn, but Teetan was already hard at work aboard the gelding turning for home as he looked to break the hearts of his rivals. He wouldn't be caught in the run to the line, leading all of the way to win by a neck. SNOWALOT settled midfield in the run and peeled wider as they swung into the straight. Purton threw everything he had at the gelding in the straight and although he got close, it wasn't close enough as he finished second. It was a close go for the final placing with PROSECCO prevailing right down the outside, making a sustained run from last place.
Race 4 – Kyoto Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.97 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Zac Purton then made it a double on the night with TALENTS SUPREMO (GB 4yo g Bated Breath – Tested) got the win for Cody Mo. He jumped on terms and landed midfield for Hong Kong's champion hoop with the pace solid through the middle stages. Purton waited patiently as he looked to have plenty of horse underneath him, only asking for an effort once pulling into the clear at the top of the straight. He ranged up to the leaders with 100m to run but struggled to get past one rival as it was a ding-dong battle to the line. He dug in close to the line, sticking the nose in front in the shadows of the post and scoring by a short head. TRAVEL GOLF made Talents Supremo work for it, with Avdulla giving the gelding a superb steer in the race. He wouldn't lie down close to the line and was only edged out in the final couple of strides. JOY COMING had enjoyed a cosy run in behind the leaders and peeled out at the top of the straight to mount his challenge. He was no match for the first two but stuck on well to finish in third.
Race 5 – The Japan Racing Association Trophy (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.06 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Vincent Ho was next to chime in with a double of his own, launching HAPPY DAY (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Siciliani) over the top tow in narrowly and bring up back-to-back victories. The five-year-old was only fairly out of the barriers and settled a little worse than midfield in the run. He was in a tricky position approaching the home turn, but Ho was able to slice through the middle of them as his rivals fanned on the turn. The local hoop worked through the traffic to set out after the leader, joining him with 100m left to run. It was a close go to the line as Vincent Ho lifted the favourite over the line first, scoring in a photo finish. YOUNG LIFE FOREVER couldn't have done much more to secure victory for Alfie Chan, only going down narrowly on the line. Everything had unfolded well for Chan as the gelding began to let down strongly out in the middle of the course, running to the lead with 100m to run. He was joined by Happy Day at the 100m point and although it was a good battle to the line, Chan and Young Life Forever came out second best. DIAMOND DIAMOND charged home over the closing stages to grab third.
Race 6 – Kyoto Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.90 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Race 6 saw MULTIDARLING (AUS 4yo g Shalaa – Stellar Vinia) get the better of his more-fancied competitors close to the line. He jumped on terms and settled about misfield on settling down with a strong pace being set through the first half of the race. Dylan Mo landed in a handy position as the field sorted their order out and wasn't far off the leader turning off the back. Mo was already niggling at his mount, but the gelding was responding as they turned into the straight, peeling out toward the middle of the track and letting down strongly. He stormed over the top to win comfortably in the end, saluting by 1-1/4 lengths. ACT OF FAITH flew out of the barriers to lead by a length shortly after the jump but Zac Purton handed up the lead heading into the back straight. He was there to win if good enough but was no match for the winner who had the softer run and a big pull in the weights. GOLDEN LUCK had the back of Act Of Faith in the run and ducked back up the inside at the top of the straight. He stuck on well but was unable to reel in the first couple, with race favourite HEALTHY HEALTHY in fourth.
Race 7 – Tokyo Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.17 Standard Time: 1:39.20 Course/Class record: 1:37.97 Tsar
Angus Chung is beginning to make a name for himself riding front runners, leading all the way aboard TELECOM FIGHTERS (AUS 7yo g The Brothers War – Moorings Capital). He was quickly into stride from barrier 4 and showed superior speed to cross and lead with a lap to run. He was left alone out in front and was able to dictate the pace through the first half of proceedings. Despite the moderate tempo being set, he still led by about a length throughout. He ramped up the tempo turning off the back and had plenty of his rivals under the whip and chasing turning for home. He was there to be caught if anyone was good enough, but the seven-year-old was just too strong in the run to the line, scoring by a length in a terrific front-running ride. MEANINGFUL STAR had tracked the leader throughout the event and also stuck on well to run second, holding off the fast finishers from the rear. GALAXY WITNESS slid up the inside to grab third from a midfield position, holding off HELENE FEELING who probably wasn't suited by just a moderate tempo, and race favourite TAJ DRAGON who was caught wide for much of the race.
Race 8 – Chukyo Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.72 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Lyle Hewitson brought up his first win of the evening as WONDER KIT (AUS 5yo g Sooboog – Ginali) proved too strong in the run to the line. He was quickly away and wanted the lead did Hewitson but was forced to take his medicine and sit outside the leader in the run. The pace was solid through the middle stages with the field stringing right out around the home turn. The leaders angled toward the centre of the track as they set down to fight it out. It was a ding-dong battle up the straight, but the five-year-old got in front with around 50m to run and scored a big win at the top of the weights. TOMODACHI KOKOROE proved that last start was no fluke, leading the field again but only being gunned down in the final stages. Zac Purton gave him a great ride but he just found one better on the day as he made the jump to Class 3. CAPITAL DELIGHT stayed close to the inside and made a long sustained run up the inside fence to grab third.
Race 9 – Hanshin Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.49 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Danny Shum looks to have another handy type on his hands as CHILL CHIBI (NZ 4yo g Wrote – My Amazing Cool) made it three wins from four starts. He was away on terms under Jerry Chau but settled in the back half of the field. The pace was good and as they turned off the back, Chau found himself nearly last and along the inside. His rivals had left the inside rail wide open, and the local hoop obliged, scraping the paint to take the lead with 150m remaining. He was too good in the end, scoring by three-quarters of a length and continuing his winning streak. KARMA did plenty wrong in the run, wobbling around the home turn after Vincent Ho began to make a move with 600m remaining. The big fellow really got motoring once wound up, but his agility cost him at the turn as the winner went right up the inside. ROMANTIC LAOS was midfield in the run and looked to be travelling sweetly as they rounded the home turn but failed to quicken like the first two across the line. He plugged away to finish in third, but lost no admirers.
