3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Kinfauns Castle Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.60 Standard Time: 57.15 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
Angus Chung continued his strong start to the season, scoring an all-the-way victory aboard the Manfred Man-trained HAPPY HORSE (AUS 5yo g Zoustar – Kiss In The Rain) to get the night underway. The five-year-old wasn't the first into stride but rolled forward under Chung to take up the running along the inside. He extended his lead around the home turn and was doing it all under his own steam up front as the apprentice hoop still had a strong hold turning for home. The son of Zoustar responded well to the urgings of Chung and he was there to be caught if his rivals were good enough. They weren't and Happy Horse went on to score by three-quarters of-a-length. GOODMANSHIP was the first one out of the barriers but eased back under Luke Ferraris to settle just in behind the speed. He moved three-wide turning for home and had plenty of time and space to pick up the leader if he was good enough, but he was forced to settle for second. FIGHTING STAR ran on strongly down the outside after settling at the tail of the field.
Race 2 – Edinburgh Castle Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.18 Standard Time: 56.60 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
Zac Purton and Pierre Ng teamed up once again as HUMBLE STAR (AUS 5yo g Star Witness – Nautical) bought up back-to-back wins. He wasn't the fastest into stride in what was a patchy start, but he settled midfield with the pace quite strong early in the race. He was racing keenly turning off the back, but Purton was able to get away from the inside rail and moved wider on the course to ensure he had every chance to reel in the leaders. He did so with 150m remaining and inched away with every stride, scoring by 1-1/4 length to being up his second win in-a-row. GRATEFUL HEART was racing alongside the eventual winner in running but came under pressure a long way from home. Although it looked as though he was faltering, he dug deep in the straight to run into second position in what was a very tough effort. HEROIC MASTER wasn't the fastest into stride but rallied to be part of the leading division and racing strongly heading off the back. He was wedged between runners turning for home but couldn't hold on with the first couple across the line in a strong effort.
Race 3 – Stirling Castle Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2200m - Track Good
Time: 2:16.17 Standard Time: 2:17.25 Course/Class record: 2:14.42 Bright Kid
The marvel that is WONDER YEARS (IRE 5yo g Elzaam – Love Note) simply out-stayed his rivals in the third event of the night. As usual, Wonder Years was slow out of the barriers and Keagan De Melo was earning his riding fee early to make sure the five-year-old kept in touch with the field. The pace was solid up front as he cruised around at the tail of the field, being 10-3/4 lengths away with 1600m left to run. He became detached from the field with 800m to run as the mid-race moves came down the back straight with De Melo beginning to ask the gelding for an effort a long way from home. He was still a whopping 8-1/4 lengths off them with 400m to run, with De Melo swinging wide on the turn and coming right down the outside. He really hit his straps inside the final 150m as the gelding proved too strong for his rivals, running over the top to win easily in the end by three-quarters of-a-length. JUBILATION had played up prior to the start but there were no issues for him in the run. He settled in a handy position midfield for Alex Badel and made a nice run around the outside of the field turning into the straight. The gelding ran to the front with a furlong to go, but couldn't hold off the steam train coming right down the outside. SUPER HONG KONG had tacked onto the back of Jubilation turning for home and stuck on well to claim third.
Race 4 – Crookston Castle Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:50.09 Standard Time: 1:49.75 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars
TURTLE AGAIN (NZ 4yo g Proisir – Hollywood Angel) wasn't the fastest into stride but he mustered good pace under Derek Leung to rally through and settle on the back of the leader on settling down. The pace was strong through the opening stages with the leader keen to get on with things, but Leung was racing in a handy position with his mount travelling comfortably underneath him. The field packed up as they turned off the back straight before the leader quickened the tempo once more, with Leung and Turtle Again able to tack onto the lead and make his move coming to the turn. He took control shortly after straightening and never looked like being run down, pulling away to score by 2-3/4 lengths in a fine effort. GOLD STERLING slotted in a little worse than midfield in the run and was caught in an awkward position as the field bunched up with 600m left to travel. Badel was forced to scrape the rail as he had nowhere to move, cutting the corner turning for home and sliding up the inside. He only went around 1 runner in the straight, finishing off strongly to claim second. DIAMOND WINNER produced a huge effort from near the tail of the field to finish in third place, getting the nod in a photo finish. He had followed Gold Sterling through a similar gap and definitely out-ran his $77 starting price.
Race 5 – Balmoral Castle Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.28 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Brenton Avdulla kept his recent form going, booting home ACT OF FAITH (AUS 5yo g Press Statement – Encrypted) for the John Size stable. The five-year-old was the first one into stride, bursting out of the barriers to be a length in front early doors, but Avdulla allowed his rivals to cross him as they worked down the back straight. He made his competitors work a little to get to the front, sitting on the back of the leader through the middle stages before cutting the corner at the top of the straight. There were plenty of chances with 200m to run, but the gelding dug deep along the inside to take the lead inside the final 100m and held off his rivals to score by a half-length on the line. KOKUSHI MUSOU had been left racing wide and without cover throughout the event but loomed up like the winner midway down the straight. He was given a great ride by Alex Badel who got the gelding moving prior to the turn, eventually going up to take the lead momentarily with 150m to run. He couldn't see off the winner but held on for second place in a close photo finish. EASY SNIP had settled in the second half of the field and peeled out to be one of the widest in the straight. He made a good run down the outside to just miss out on second in a close finish.
Race 6 – The St Andrew's Challenge Quach (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.15 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
After running second in the three races prior, Alex Badel finally hit the board with WATCH BUDDY (AUS 4yo g Rothesay – Rhodopis). The gelding got away on terms but eased out of the battle for the lead early and settled in behind the leading division. The pace was solid and as they sorted their order out down the back, the Frenchman was then three back the fence. He got a lovely run up the inside passing the 400m point and stuck close to the inside as they turned for home. He got off heels and into the clear with 250m remaining as the four-year-old wore down his rivals to score by a half-length on the line. SUPER EAGLE had settled midfield in the run for Matthew Chadwick and was travelling comfortably turning off the back. He was able to get into the three-wide trail around the turn and built good momentum heading into the straight as he made his run down the centre of the course. He was no match for the winner, but he closed off strongly inside the final 100m to finish just a half-length away. GALLANT VALOUR had been close to Super Eagle in the run and was actually the horse who gave the second placegetter the tow into the race. He couldn't peg back the margin once Super Eagle got past, but didn't let him get away over the closing stages. REGENT GLORY jumped the $4.50 second favourite but weakened out of the race after appearing to be in a handy position turning for home in a disappointing effort.
Race 7 – Dunnottar Castle Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.20 Standard Time: 1:49.05 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
CHILL CHIBI (NZ 4yo g Wrote – My Amazing Cool) took another step toward the 4YO Classic Series with an impressive victory in race 7. The gelding flopped out the back to settle near the tail of the field on jumping with the pace quite strong heading around the first turn. He ended up being second last with 1200m to run, but Chau had plenty of galloping room as he got off the fence. He found himself 7-3/4 lengths off the pace with 800m to run with Chau still sitting as cool as a cucumber on the $2.10 favourite. He trucked into the race strongly passing the 400m point and Chau swung him extremely wide at the top of the straight, being out beyond the centre of the track on straightening. Chau was riding with plenty of confidence, and it was easy to see why, with the gelding just trucking up to his rivals before letting down powerfully when asked for an effort, scooting by his rivals to score by a length in a very impressive victory. ROMANTIC LAOS had enjoyed a cosy run in transit for James McDonald and looked to have plenty left in the tank as they worked around the home turn. McDonald sliced his way through to move up and take the lead with 200m to run, but it was short lived as Chill Chibi gave him windburn on the way through. He finished a clear second though as there was a further 1-3/4 lengths back to FRANTANCK in third who stuck on gamely after setting a strong tempo in front.
Race 8 – Eilean Castle Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.22 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.26 Rewarding Together
Jerry Chau made it a race-to-race double to end the night as he guided SON PAK FU (AUS 5yo g Fighting Sun – Lady Zhao Jun) to an impressive victory in the last. After jumping on terms, Chau eased the gelding back to settle in the second half of the field with the pace red hot in the early stages. He was a whopping 7 lengths off the lead at the 800m point and hadn't made any ground turning off the back, being a massive 9-1/2 lengths off the leader as they turned into the straight. The local hoop had ended up on the rail and all alone with only two horse behind him turning for home, with Chau ducking back to the inside and sprinting along the inside rail. He looked very impressive in the least 100m as he stormed right over the top of his rivals with Chau celebrating 20m from the finish with the gelding scoring by 1-1/4 lengths. MAJESTIC KNIGHT had set up the quick tempo in front and although he'd done it tough, he was still a big leader with 150m to run. He was getting tired inside the final 100m though, but had built a big enough gap that it took something special from Son Pak Fu to beat him. HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE produced a good effort first-up to finish in third. He could've challenged for second but Majestic Knight rolled out on him as he was getting tired close to the post.
