3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Tung Wan Shan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2200m - Track Good
Time: 2:17.87 Standard Time: 2:17.50 Course/Class record: 2:15.87 Sky Gem
Things didn't begin well for most punters as the longest-priced runner of the field GREEN LASER (SAF 7yo g Gimmethegreenlight – Dance Domain) shed the maiden tag at start 24. The Chris So-trained galloper was away on terms but was taken straight to the back of the field under Keith Yeung as they settled into stride. The pace as even through the early stages with the local hoop finding himself last and covered up along the rail with a lap to run. The pace quickened down the back as some runners began to make a move, with Yeung becoming detached from the rest of the field and trying to urge his mount along approaching the 600m point. He got onto the back of the field turning for home and swung wide in the straight to keep his momentum going. He stormed right down the outside of the field to hit the front with 50m to run and was too strong late in the piece, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. NICE BIRDIE was caught wide and without cover through the opening stages and did look to be racing a touch keen as they headed down the straight for the first time. When the pace slackened down the side of the course, Jerry Chau made his move, improving his position down the back straight to challenge the leaders. The local hoop was again left stranded and appeared to be going backwards as they swung into the straight. To the horse's credit, he never gave in, digging deep in the straight and showing great staying ability to run into second position in the shadows of the post. BOOM ALLIANCE was racing keenly on the speed for Zac Purton throughout the opening and middle stages and began to relax much better when the pace increased down the back. Approaching the 600m point, Purton went on to take the lead and was still in front with a furlong left to run. The gelding was tiring late in the race which saw the two others swamp him late, but he stuck in there to claim third.
Race 2 – Nam Long Shan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.48 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Hugh Bowman scored his first winner back since returning form injury, guiding home VALHALLA (NZ 6yo g Ocean Park – Eudora) for the Caspar Fownes yard. It was an even line
away, with the six-year-old showing good speed to land just off the pace as they settled into stride. He was drifting back in the run, ending up three pairs back and on the rail as they turned off the back stretch. Bowman needed an out coming to the home turn. Luckily for the Australian hoop, the rail remained clear, and Bowman urged Valhalla up the inside to take the lead with 150m left to run. He fought off his rivals in the closing stages to win by a half-length, seeing off WIND SPEEDER who made a strong run right down the outside. Despite jumping well from a middle gate, Matthew Chadwick eased back to settle near the tail of the field in the run. Chadwick got moving approaching the 400m point and was pushed right off the track as they turned into the straight, almost high fiving the crowd as he made his run down the outside. He kept coming under the urgings of Chadwick but ran out of time to reel in the leader. HERCULES was back in the second half of the field early on, but did have the back of the eventual winner as they worked around the final turn. After initially looking to come wide early in the straight, Alex Badel was forced to change course midway down the straight and dart back to the inside. He kept on well over the closing stages but just found two better on the night.
Race 3 – Middle Gap Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.78 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
It didn't get any easier for punters in race 3 as SUPER BABY (AUS 5yo g Cable Bay – Crown Of Caitlin) led all the way to score at after jumping at $25. The gelding was quickly into stride and ran straight to the front under Luke Ferraris, with no rivals taking him on at all up front. Once he got to the lead, Ferraris slowed the tempo on the Mark Newnham-trained galloper, running them along at a moderate tempo and stacking them up approaching the 600m point. He was still travelling strongly approaching the home turn as he began to creep away, but it was at the top of the straight where he really put the race to bed. When Ferraris asked for an effort, the gelding responded immediately, shooting clear of his rivals, and building an insurmountable gap, going on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a fantastic ride. TURIN WARRIOR went around favourite once again, and again ran second under Zac Purton. The gelding did have every chance if he was good enough, racing on the back of the leader and eventual winner throughout the event. He stuck on well to finish a clear second but couldn't match it with the winner's turn of foot when the sprint went on. AFFIRM had been running second throughout and stuck on well to claim the final placing, with the first four in running the first four across the line.
Race 4 – Middle Gap Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.71 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
The lean trot continued into the fourth race as ATOMIC BEAUTY (FR 4yo g Wootton Bassett – Loyale) turned his form right around to bring up his maiden victory at a big price. Alfred Chan looked got the gelding out well from a wide barrier and slotted him into a beautiful position on settling down, racing midfield one off the rail. Chan eased back a touch further as they headed down the back straight, but he travelled well in the run despite spotting the leader a decent start. Turning off the back, Chan began to make a move three-wide, circling the field and building up the revs as he travelled very strongly into the straight. He ran on strongly down the outside, hitting the front with 100m to run and going on to score by a length on the line after jumping at $48. SATIRICAL GLORY was another who burned across from out wide to sit on the outside of the leader on settling down. James McDonald dropped down to the rail as they sorted their order out with the leader over a length in front heading down the back. He tracked the leader down the back before peeling off heels and beginning to make his run with about 500m let to run. He was under heavy pressure as they turned for home, but the bog gelding was chipping away at the margin. Just as he ranged up to the leader, Atomic Beauty came right over the top and drew away to win, while Satirical Glory stuck his neck out to claim second. FOREVER GLORIOUS led the field throughout but had run them along in the early stages. He was still in front turning for home and proved tough to get past in the straight, but just began to tire close to the line.
Race 5 – Pat Sin Leng Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.87 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
It'd been over 1100 days since LYRICAL MOTION (AUS 6yo g Not A Single Doubt – Touched In Flight) notched up his maiden win at Gosford, known as Falcon at the time. But, today was the day the drought ended as Alex Badel guided him to an easy victory. The six-year-old was the first one out of the barriers, but opted to settle in a trailing position behind the speed which was quick through the opening and middle stages. Badel always kept the leaders within striking distance though, sticking to the inside around the home turn before angling toward the middle of the track on straightening. He had a clear run and strode up to take the lead 200m from the finish. He extended away as Badel asked for an effort, never looking like getting beaten as he went on to win easily by 2 lengths. HAPPY TRIO was able to get across from the sticky draw and race alongside the eventual winner throughout the event. He began to creep closer to the leaders around the home turn and was alongside the eventual winner at the 200m point. Lyrical Motion shot away though and Happy Trio was unable to match it over the closing stages, finishing a clear second. HIGH RISE SOLDIER was a very eye-catching run in the race. He was a long way back as they turned for home and appeared to be doing his best work over the closing stages under Zac Purton. He snuck into third position, with his run sure to draw plenty of attention for the next time he faces the starter.
Race 6 – Pat Sin Leng Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.60 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
ERNEST FEELING (AUS 6yo g Epaulette – Melancolia) continued his good season so far with his second victory for James Richards. The gelding jumped away on terms and Antoine Hamelin used the inside draw to his advantage, holding the lead as they worked down the back straight. Hamelin tried to dictate from the front, slowing the pace from the 800m point, but was taken on up front as they turned off the back. The Frenchman was lucky to hold his position along the inside as they went around the home turn and put in a good kick as they turned for the finish. He went to the front at the top of the straight and despite being challenged over the closing stages, he held on to win by a half-length on the line. SUPER EAGLE was the on doing the chasing and was probably run of the race after being forced to race wide and without cover throughout the event. Turning off the back, Alex Badel creeped closer to make it a line of four up front, with the gelding right alongside the favourite turning for home. He dug deep and challenged the winner right to the wire, but he just lacked the knockout blow. PO ON WAY was racing in behind the leading division and tried to make his run up along the inside which maybe wasn't the place to be on the night. He closed off well though to grab third place.
Race 7 – High West Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.24 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
It'd been nearly a year between drinks for ARMOUR EAGLE (AUS 6yo g Epaulette – Search For Fame), but he returned to the winners' stall today to bring up a double for Jamie Richards. It was an even line away as James McDonald slid back to settle midfield in the run. The pace was okay and the six-year-old enjoyed a cosy run in transit throughout, with McDonald getting plenty of space to work into the race as he swung wide on the turn. The gelding let down well to hit the front with 100m to run and was too strong at the finish, scoring by a half-length on the line. BO'S A PEARLA ran a brilliant race and has returned to form her last couple of races. The mare was taken back from the draw by Andrea Atzeni and was racing at the tail of the field after copping some interference around the first turn. She tacked onto the back of the field passing the 800m point and was already being niggled along with 500m to run. The mare couldn't quicken with her rivals but showed her strength as she stormed home over the concluding stages to run into second position. STREET CONQUEROR settled midfield after jumping well from an inside barrier. He was full of running as they turned for home as Keith Yeung stuck to the inside at the top of the straight. He too was strong to the line, only edged out for second by the flying Bon's A Pearla right on the line.
Race 8 – Pak Tam Au Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.26 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Lyle Hewitson continued his solid run of form with STAR CONTACT (AUS 5yo g Star Turn – Vittoria) bringing up his first win of the season. Lyle Hewitson pushed the gelding along out of the barriers, pressing forward from the middle alley to sit in second position. The leader was bowling along out in front and Hewitson was happy to take a sit just off him, using him as a bunny with the pace being okay down the back straight. There wasn't much change through the middle stages as Star Contact continued to stalk the leader, waiting until the top of the straight to pop off heels and begin to mount his challenge. The five-year-old went up to take the lead with 200m to run and proved too good over the closing stages, winning by a length on the line. The first two around the turn were the first two across the line with TOURBILLON PRINCE holding on to second place. After burning across to lead the field, he kept them running through the middle stages despite having no pressure out in front. He was still 1-3/4 lengths in front with 400m remaining but was a sitting duck as they turned for home. He couldn't fend off the eventual winner who had stalked him throughout the event, but he'd built a big enough gap on the rest of his rivals to claim second position. EIGHTEEN PALMS had raced on the back of the eventual winner throughout the event for Alex Badel but was under heavy pressure a long way from home to keep up with the leaders. Badel stuck to the inside turning for home and although it may have been inferior going, he kept on well to finish in third position, getting the nod in a photo finish.
