3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Lark 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
BEAUTY INFINITY (AUS 4yo g Toronado – No Push Over) was backed into favouritism and saluted punters in the first, shedding the maiden tag under Andrea Atzeni. Atzeni got the gelding out on terms and landed midfield after a bit of commotion around the first bend. Atzeni was already niggling the gelding along passing the 600m point but was making ground on the leaders as they worked around the home turn. Atzeni drifted the John Size-trained galloper into the clear at the top of the straight with the gelding letting down well to take the lead with 100m left to run. He was running around a bit under pressure late in the race, but he did enough to take the victory by three quarters of-a-length. KING ECCELLENTE was quickly into stride and avoided the mishap on the first turn, sitting off the leader as they worked down the back. Karis Teetan carted the field up to the leader around the home turn, getting into the clear at the top of the straight to make his challenge. He quickened well to take the lead 200m from home but couldn't hold off Beauty Infinity who ranged up shortly after. He couldn't fight back late in the race as King Eccellente was forced to settle for second. HAPPY FEELING ran into third position but was a whopping 4 lengths off the winner.
Race 2 – Lark Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.16 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Karis Teetan was the next to strike, getting SHINKANSEN (AUS 4yo g Rubick – Irish Teardrop) across the line for his maiden victory. The four-year-old jumped on terms for Teetan, but the Mauritian dragged him back shortly after the start to settle about midfield in the run. The field split in two as they turned off the back and Teetan found himself in the middle of both packs, beginning to urge his mount along as he crept closer turning for home. The gelding just kept coming down the outside, eventually sticking his nose in front with 100m to run. He was far too strong late, pulling away over the concluding stages to win by 1-1/4 length in a strong effort. TRAVEL GOLF jumped well from barrier 2 and was up running on the pace for Brenton Avdulla. He ended up in the one-out-one-back position,
getting some cover through the middle stages as they went along at an even tempo. Avdulla peeled three-wide as they worked around the home turn and into the straight, with the gelding moving up to take the lead under his own steam. He couldn't put his rivals away once he got to the front though, as Shinkansen took over with 100m remaining. He tried to fight back, but couldn't hold on late in proceedings, settling for second. COLONEL was able to get across from barrier 10 to lead the field throughout the event. Travel Golf got the better of him on straightening but hung in there gamely right to wire, finishing just 1-3/4 lengths away.
Race 3 – Mesia Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:41.54 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
It'd been a long time between drinks with plenty of frustration thrown in as well, but today was finally the day for CORDYCEPS ONE (AUS 6yo g Hinchinbrook – Sharmadal Gold). He got away quickly from an outside barrier and Vincent Ho rolled across from out wide to be up on the pace. It took a little while for the local hoop to be able to slot in, but he eventually got in one off the fence approaching the 1000m point. Plenty of pace was injected into the race as they turned down the back, spreading the field with Ho still just off the pace despite the increase of tempo. A few of his rivals around him were under the pump a long way from home, but the son of Hinchinbrook was still under a good hold and began moving into the race ominously at the top of the straight. The gelding moved up to take the lead with around 250m left to run and got away from his rivals midway down the straight. The six-year-old was getting tired close to home, but he had built a big enough gap to claim victory, with the official margin being a neck. MEDIC ELITE drifted back from a middle alley to settle at the tail of the field with a lap to run. He remained at the tail of the field for much of the race before moving into the three-wide trail with around 700m left to run. Alex Badel began to make a move around the home turn but was still 6-1/2 lengths off the pace with 400m remaining and ended up being the widest runner in the straight. He was running in down the straight, bumping a runner with around 150m left to run and couldn't catch the leader, running him to a neck. BIG TWO was racing midfield throughout the event, squished between runners through the running and only getting clear galloper room once they turned for home. Lyle Hewitson was out near the middle of the track on straightening and copped a bump with around 250m to run by Medic Elite. He stuck on well after the interference to hold on for third, beaten three-quarters of-a-length on the line.
Race 4 – The Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:41.50 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Matthew Poon ended his own winning drought in the feature event of the night, booting home SURE JOYFUL (NZ 5yo g Tarzino – Kaylen) for Ricky Yiu. The gelding jumped well from barrier 8 and the local hoop rolled forward from the draw, getting across to settle outside the leader as they worked down the side of the course. As they turned into the back with around 900m remaining, Poon found himself in the one-out-one-back position, getting a beautiful run in transit as the pace slowed approaching the 600m point. Poon began to niggle his mount along from the 500m point and was getting out into the clear as they rounded the home turn. The five-year-old went up to hit the front with a furlong to run and showed plenty of strength close to the line, striding away late to win by three-quarters of-a-length. WIN WIN FIGHTER jumped well from the inside gate and positioned himself midfield spot under Vincent Ho. There was no change to the order through the middle stages with the gelding travelling comfortably under the local hoop as they turned off the back. Passing the 500m point, Ho began to ask his gelding to improve along the fence as Win Win Fighter began to improve approaching the turn for home. Ho was able to get off the inside and followed the winner through a gap with 150m left to run. He was coming at the leader late in the race but ran out of time to stick his nose in front. AMAZING BOY raced on the leader's back in the run for Derek Leung and ducked back to the inside at the top of the straight. He made his run up along the inside and although he was no match for the first two across the line, he stuck on gamely to hold out a wall of runners for third.
Race 5 – Robin Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.21 Standard Time: 57.00 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
After eye-catching efforts his past couple of starts, SUPER FAST DRAGON (AUS 4yo g Deep Field – Red Hot Chillies) was able to knock over his maiden tonight. Lyle Hewitson drifted back from the wide draw to settle in the back half of the field but did have cover when racing three-wide. The pace was hot up front, suiting the gelding's racing pattern as Hewitson began to make his move turning for home. He was the widest runner in the straight, but he rounded up his rivals with ease, running over the top of them out wide on the course and winning by a length on the line. BEAUTY DESTINY jumped well and slotted in behind the leading division early on with Matthew Chadwick giving his mount a cosy run in transit. After initially trying to go wide at the top of the straight, Chadwick was forced back to the inside rail where he made his run scraping the paint. He took the lead momentarily with around 100m to run, but the winner was just finishing off much better down the outside. OVERSUBSCRIBED had been the horse settling in front of the winner three-wide in the run and handed Super Fast Dragon a lovely run into the race. The gelding stuck on well under Alexis Badel but couldn't claim back-to-back wins.
Race 6 – Nightjar Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.36 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Team Golden Sixty combined to win thee sixth race with GALLANT WAKING (AUS 5yo g Pride Of Dubai – Cassandara Shadow) storming over the top of his rivals. The gelding was away on terms from a wide alley but was snicked back shortly after the start to sit near the tail of the field. The pace was only moderate down the back, with Ho still sitting in second last position passing the 600m point. The local hoop shoved his way out into the open as they turned into the straight, with the five-year-old ending up near the middle of the track in the straight. He just kept coming down the outside, running right over the top of his rivals in the straight to win by a neck on the line in what was a very impressive victory. MOMENTS IN TIME jumped quickly off the inside and rolled forward for Angus Chung. After vying for the lead early on, the pace was too strong and Chung was forced to take a sit just off the leader, stalking him wherever he went through the middle stages. Chung wound his mount up turning for home and quickly gained the upper hand early in the straight. He was holding his rivals at bay in the straight until Gallant Waking came storming right down the outside to take the lead close to home. THESIS also got away well close to the inside and settled on the back of Moments In Time early doors. As the race played out, Alexis Badel was able to sneak along the inside and be within striking distance of the lead with 500m to run. He looked to have plenty to offer heading for home, with Badel sticking to the inside in the straight. He couldn't quicken with his rivals, but he stuck on well to finish a clear third with race favourite M Unicorn in fourth.
Race 7 – Sea Eagle Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.80 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
After being set on a Derby path in her first season in Hong Kong, it would be 1200m around the tight Happy Valley circuit where BON'S A PEARLA (AUS 5yo m Bon Hoffa – Treasure Island) would notch up her first win in the Asian City. The mare raced out the back shortly after the jump, settling near the tail of the field. The pace was quick up front, suiting the mare who was known for her strength when racing in Australia. She looked to be in a sticky position 500m from home, though Alex Badel was able to pop off the inside and the seas parted at the top of the straight. The Fenchman got the mare to the outside and she rocketed home. She did her best work inside the final 50m to storm over the top of her opponents and score by a neck on the line, capitalizing on her good run of recent form. BEAUTY WAVES jumped quickly off the inside for Karis Teetan and was running up on the pace early doors. He looked to be racing a touch keenly under the Mauritian but did settle much better as they turned off the back. The leader had skipped away around the home turn with Teetan able to use him as a bunny as he asked for an effort at the top of the straight. The gelding would grind down the leader, but just as he hit the front in the shadows of the post, Bon's A Pearla went woosh right past him to steal the victory. SUPERB CAPITALIST showed great speed to burn to the front and set up a strong tempo through the middle stages. He broke away from the rest of the pack with around 600m to run and Angus Chung was waiting patiently to ask the gelding for an effort. Despite setting up the pace, the gelding proved very hard to run down, still leading with 50m remaining and only being run down in the final couple of strides, finishing a half-length off the winner.
Race 8 – Albatross Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.83 Standard Time: 1:09.35 Course/Class record: 1:08.26 Rewarding Together
Karis Teetan and Douglas Whyte rounded out the evening by bringing up a winning double with MAJESTIC KNIGHT (AUS 5yo g Redoute's Choice – Negotiate). The five-year-old showed good pace to roll to the front early doors, with he and the leader clearing out from the rest of the field. With about 750m remaining, Teetan eased and allowed his rival to take up the running, slotting in behind the leader in a stalking role. Coming around the home turn, the Mauritian crept closer once again, beginning to ride the gelding along as he ranged up and hit the front early in the straight. He drifted out toward the centre of the track under the urgings of Teetan, but he had a big enough gap on his rivals to hold on for victory, seeing off a late dive to win by a head on the line. WONDER KIT settled just off the speed for Lyle Hewitson and has tracked the eventual winner throughout the event. The gelding didn't have to do much work in the run and travelled up to the leaders comfortably turning for home. The gap appeared at the top of the straight and he had every chance to take the win if he was good enough, but he just missed as he made a late dive on the line. HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE followed Wonder Kit in the run before Brenton Avdulla got off the inside and attempted to get to the outside rounding the bend. He was held up momentarily on straightening, but much like Wonder Kit, the win was there for the taking if he was good enough. He was doing his best work late in the race but couldn't reel in the first couple across the line, with Son Pak Fu screaming home to finish fourth, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
