3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Fan Ling Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.68 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Favourite backers got off to a good start as COLONEL (NZ 7yo g Ferlax – Outrageous Fortune) clung on for victory. The Ricky Yiu-trained galloper pinged out of the barriers and went straight to the front from barrier 2, leading the field at a good tempo. Luke Ferraris was a clear leader approaching the halfway stage, having a length on his nearest rival who came under heavy pressure with 400m remaining. The South African hoop had a strong hold of his mount turning for home, kicking well and still being a clear leader with 100m left to run. He was getting tired late in the race with a few rivals coming at him strongly inside the final stages. The seven-year-old had enough left in the tank though, keeping his rivals at bay and surviving the late challenge to score by a short head. YOUNG HORIZON was away on terms and slotted into an off-pace position down the back stretch. Derek Leung was able to creep a little closer to the leader in running, before getting off the rail and into clear air as they swung around the home turn. He was still a couple of lengths off the leader at the 100m point but found another gear to make a late challenge at Colonel. He drove hard at the leader, sticking his nose out right on the wire, though it wasn't enough to get ahead of Colonel who clung on. VIVA A LA did all the chasing in the race, stalking Colonel in the run in second position. Although he was under pressure well before the home turn, the gelding stuck on strongly in the straight to hold on for third, only beaten a half-length.
Race 2 – Kwoon Chung Cross Country Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.91 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
While favourite backers rejoiced in the opener, it was a blowout in the second event as COURIER MAGIC (NZ 4yo g Savabeel – Karla Bruni) handed Ben Thompson his first winner in Hong Kong. After being away only fairly, the Australian was able to shimmy his way into a spot just forward of midfield. They were running along through the middle stages with the leader breaking away by a couple lengths and stretching the field right out. Thompson continued to creep closer though aboard Courier Magic and was poised to strike
approaching the 400m point. Thompson shifted off heels and into the clear as they rounded the bend, coming after the leader quickly and levelling up to his opponents with 150m to run. He showed superior strength in the closing stages, taking the lead with 100m to run and pulling away for a comfortably 1-1/2 length victory, outperforming his $41 starting price. MASTER OF LUCK was taken back from the wide draw by Brenton Avdulla and settled at the tail of the field. He could barely fit in the camera shot down the back stretch, finding himself a whopping 13 lengths off the leader at the halfway stage of the race. The gap did narrow around the home turn as Avdulla got on his bike and began to make a move, but he was still spotting the leader 9-3/4 lengths as they turned for home. The gelding finished off strongly under the urgings of the Australian jockey, sticking on well to run into second place, only 1-1/2 lengths off the winner. BIG TWO had been right behind the leader for much of the way for Harry Bentley and kept on gamely in the closing stages to finish in third.
Race 3 – Trans-Island Chinalink Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:51.02 Standard Time: 1:49.55 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
John Size and Alex Badel combined to win the third event as AMAZING TEENS (NZ 6yo g Darci Brahma – I'm Chunkys) scored his first win since April 2023. The six-year-old jumped well and rolled forward form barrier seven to be outside the leader when the past the post on the first occasion. Once the field had sorted their order out, the field remained the same through the first half of the race, before Badel took up the running approaching the 600m point. He was travelling comfortably around the home turn while many of his rivals were under heavy pressure turning for home. The gelding sprinted well when badel pushed the button, getting two or three lengths in front of his rivals midway down the straight. He had a couple rivals coming at him late in the race, but he never really looked like going under, winning by three-quarters of-a-length. SERANGOON was racing at the tail of the field under Harry Bentley throughout the race and was still one off the last runners as they swung the bend for home. The Englishman was able to get his mount into clear air down the centre of the course though and Serangoon never gave up. The pair ran on well to finish in second position, narrowly ahead of PEGASUS GENERAL who had been racing three-wide with cover throughout. Serangoon came off the back of Pegasus General in the straight, only nailing him on the line to steal second.
Race 4 – Kwoon Chung Intercontinental Limousine Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.12 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
COLOURFUL EMPEROR (IRE 4yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Elaysa) scored his first win since arriving in Hong Kong, with Angus Chung riding for his boss Tony Cruz. The four-year-old jumped quickly from barrier seven and rolled forward for Chung, sitting on the outside of the leader around the first turn. He travelled comfortably faced the breeze, and responded well when Chung asked him to pick up around the home turn. He moved up to take the lead with 200m remaining but didn't have it all his own way with a rival coming through with him. He fought hard late in the race, seeing off his nearest challenger and going on to win by a half-length in a solid effort. ACT OF FAITH made the race interesting in the straight after enjoying a lovely run on the back of the leader throughout the run. He and Colourful Emperor made contact at the top of the straight as Avdulla looked for clear air, with the pair hitting the front together at the furlong marker. He hung in there for a while did Act Of Faith, but he was beginning to tire in the closing stages with the winner just inching away over the concluding stages. The first two across the line gapped the rest, with HARMONY N BLESSED finishing a clear third after leading the field into the straight.
Race 5 – New Lantao Bus Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:41.13 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Tony Cruz made it a race-to-race double as he trained the quinella of race 5, with the more-fancied RED HARE KING (AUS 4yo g So You Think – Fragrance) getting the job done. The gelding was one of the first into stride for Matthew Chadwick, but he wasn't keen to take up the running as he drifted back heading into the first turn. Chadwick was unable to slot in from the draw and was left racing three-wide and without cover throughout the race, sitting in a midfield position. Approaching the 600m point, the local hoop began to roll forward, working into the race ominously as they swung for home. He was left a little flat footed when the leaders sprinted, but he picked himself up to rally back after the leaders. He took the lead with 50m left to run and justified his $2.90 quote, winning by a neck on the line. WINNING DRAGON was next across the line, also hailing from the Tony Cruz barn. He'd settled at the tail of the field in running for Brenton Avdulla, who tried to make a run up the inside early in the straight. He was forced to change course at the 250m point, but the gaps appeared in front of him, and the gelding finished off strongly close to the inside, running into second position. GALLANT WAKING was back there with Winning Dragon in the run and made a sustained effort right around the outside of the field to cross the line in third.
Race 6 – Kwoon Chung Inclusive & Accessible Service Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.48 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Ricky Yiu also brought up a winning double on the card as Hugh Bowman steered SOLAR PARTNER (AUS 6yo g Zoustar – Gilded Grace) to a very comfortable victory. The gelding jumped on terms and slotted into a midfield position with ease around the first turn. The pace had been quick throughout the event and Bowman was looking to improve between horses as they approached the home turn. The Australian hoop was finally able to find some clear air approaching the 200m point and the gelding let rip, moving up strongly to take the lead inside the final 150m. He shot away from his rivals to win very easily, scoring by 2 lengths on the line. CHEER FOR SOUTH moved into the race nicely coming up to the home turn and had his chance to win the race if he was good enough. Angus Chung gave him a beautiful steer, and while he was strong late in the race, he couldn't match the sprint that Solar Partner possessed. He finished just ahead of SUPER EAGLE who continued his recent run of form, now finishing in the placings his past 8 starts.
Race 7 – The Kwoon Chung Busy Cup (Handicap), HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.89 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Hugh Bowman scored a race-to-race double and Jamie Richards also scored his second win of the night as CELESTIAL COLOURS (AUS 4yo g Zoustar – Blazing Snitzel) won comfortably in the feature event of the night. From the wide draw, Bowman pressed on to be running up front. He was kept off the rail by a rival throughout the event, but the gelding travelled well, and Bowman wasn't keen to force it. The field was strung out around the home turn as the leaders travelled comfortably turning for home. After a bit of a battle in the straight, the son of Zoustar gained the upper hand and drew away in the last 100m, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. KAHOLO ANGEL hung in there for as long as he could but didn't have the strength to match Celestial Colours. After being away well, Ellis Wong remained along the inside barrier and kept out Celestial Colours in the run, before burrowing through to take the lead turning off the back straight. He led turning for home and stuck on well when challenged by the eventual winner in the straight. He was tiring late in the race but had built a big enough gap in the process, holding on for second. GOLDEN EMPIRE stuck on well in the straight to run third in a photo finish, but he was no match for the winner.
Race 8 – KC Smart Mobility Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:41.87 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
After being unsighted for most of the night, Zac Purton finally got on the board in the penultimate event, getting the job done aboard STRONGEST BOY (AUS 5yo g Spirit Of Boom – Darook Park). The five-year-old wasn't away all that well but mustered good speed to land in a beautiful position heading into the first turn, one out and one back. There was no real change to the order, with Purton still sitting just off the speed through the middle stages of the event. The moves came as they turned off the back, though the Australian was in no hurry to get a move on, peeling wide in the straight and giving his mount every chance. He set out after the leader in the straight and was mowing him down with every stride, eventually levelling up to him with 50m to run. He took the lead and won by only a neck on the line, but it was relatively comfortable in the end. CORDYCEPS ONE couldn't back up his 2.5L victory last time out but was only beaten in the last few strides. Harry Bentley took up the running and led the field throughout the event, doing as he pleased and kicking clear as they turned off the back straight. The gelding sprinted well when Bentley pressed the button turning for home, leading right to the 50m point before Strongest Boy nabbed him close to the line. CAN'T GO WONG had whipped up around the fireld to be four or five wide heading into the straight but sustained that effort right to the line. He ended up 2 lengths off the winner, though there is plenty of merit in his run.
Race 9 – Tai Fung Coach Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.77 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
HAPPY SOUL (AUS 5yo g Shooting To Win – Raitza) took out the last race of the night in dominant fashion. After being a touch slow into stride from barrier 2, the gelding was able to muster into a midfield position around the first turn, settling along the rail. Approaching the 400m point, Keagan De Melo shifted away from the rail and improved into a gap between runners, but was still needing some luck as they entered the straight. The seas parted and a huge gap appeared back to the inside, in which De Melo guided the five-year-old through to hit the front 100m from the finish. He shot away from the rest of his opponents and won comfortably on the line, with the official margin being 2 lengths. LUCKY PLANET was able to get across from barrier 9 and settle in the box seat, one-out-one-back for Harry Bentley. After a lovely run in transit, Bentley worked wider on the course to keep out of trouble. The wine was there if he was good enough, but he lacked the sprint that Happy Soul showed. He did grind away however, sticking on well to take
second position. HAPPY GOLF had followed Lucky Planet throughout the race, before coming off his back and challenging in the straight. Under the top weight, the gelding couldn't get past Lucky Planet, but he ran into third position in the process with only 2-1/2 lengths separating second and 8th position.
