3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Jeju Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.62 Standard Time: 56.60 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
The premiership leading jockey and trainer – Zac Purton and Pierre Ng – combined to win the opening event on the night with BEAUTY WAVES (IRE 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Little Sweetheart). The four-year-old jumped well from a wide barrier and Purton rolled forward aboard the gelding, looking to slot in close to the speed. However, the race favourite was cast three-wide and without cover as they settled down with Purton unable to slot into the running line. Purton attempted to ease back as they turned off the back straight but was still left racing wide around the home turn. The Australian hoop ended up down the centre of the track on straightening as he ground away under the top weight. The leader was drifting wider on the course, pushing Beauty Waves to the outside of the course, but the gelding continued to dig deep and eventually stuck his head in front close to home. He was just too good in the end, getting the job done by a head on the line. YOUTHFUL SPIRITS bounced quickly and was ridden along to take up the running early doors. After holding out his rivals for the lead, Luke Ferraris broke a length clear passing the 600m point, leading comfortably as they worked around the home turn. Turning for home, Ferraris came away from the fence and toward the middle of the track as he pushed the button aboard the gelding. Despite Ferraris' best efforts, the gelding drifted out under pressure, pushing his rivals wide on the course. He hung in there for a very long time, but was eventually overrun in the shadows of the post, crossing the line in second. The first three around the turn were the first three to cross the line as SUPER FORTUNE finished third. He was in the pace battle early and kept the eventual winner wide on the track. He was tiring late in the race, but he managed to hold on for third.
Race 2 – Hallasan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:50.83 Standard Time: 1:49.75 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars:
AMAZING BOY (IRE 7yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Ashtaroute) held on for a narrow victory on the second event of the night for Matthew Chadwick and Michael Chang. The seven-year-old wasn't the fastest into stride and was ridden along in the early stages to hold a
position close to the lead. As they sorted their order out, Chadwick found the back of the leader and put his mount to sleep through the middle stages, stalking the pace setter wherever he went. A number of horses around him were under heavy pressure approaching the turn while Chadwick still had a strong hold of his mount, tracking the leader into the straight before peeling off his back to make a challenge. He kept finding under the urgings of Chadwick and eventually moved up to take the lead with 50m to run. While he hit the front, there was a runner bursting through close to the inside, but the seven-year-old had enough left in the tank to hold on for victory by a nose. GO GO GO was racing wide in the early stages before sliding back and finding a position towards the back of the field under Zac Purton. The gelding remained in that position through the middle stages of the event and was able to improve his position around the home turn as rivals around him swung wide on the turn. The gaps appeared for Purton close to the inside and he didn't have to change course at all turning for home, sliding underneath his rivals to charge after the leader. He was coming strongly over the closing stages and only just missed out on victory by the barest of margins. PRECISION GOAL had led the field throughout the race and stuck on well from out in front, holding on for third place.
Race 3 – Yeongcheon Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.61 Standard Time: 1:10.05 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
SWEET DIAMOND (AUS 6yo g Zoustar – Adorabubble) was just too good in the third, making every post a winner to win comfortably. The grey fellow pinged out of the barriers impressively, being a length clear shortly after the start as he was able to cross and lead with ease prior to the first turn. Once he got to the front, Harry Bentley was able to dictate proceedings, holding the lead around the first turn and eventually getting clear of his rivals as they turned off the back. The six-year-old was a length clear as they turned for home, keeping away from the inside as Bentley got to work. His rivals had plenty of time and space to catch him if they were good enough, but Sweet Diamond was just too good on the night, scoring by a half-length on the line. Race favourite BEAU GOSSE had been forced to race wide and without cover as Hugh Bowman was unable to slot into the running line on settling down. Bowman gradually improved his position through the middle stages to be just off the lead as they worked off the back, continuing to slide forward around the home turn to be second at the top of the straight. While he had a tough run in transit, Bowman still had a strong hold of his mount at the top of the straight and the gelding had his chance to take the win if he was good enough. He may have peaked on the run late in the race, but he never got in front at any stage as he went under by a half-length. MR GOOD VIBES had been close to the speed as well on settling down, trailing the leader along the inside rail. Karis Teetan remained close to the inside as they rounded the home turn, and
the gelding was making some good late ground along the inside. He finished three-quarters of-a-length away in third, with the first three across the line gapping the rest of the field.
Race 4 – Daegu Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.73 Standard Time: 57.00 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
Me Tsui brought up his 10th winner of the season thanks to SERGEANT PEPPER (AUS 6yo g I Am Invincible – Resonates), with apprentice Ellis Wong on board. The six-year-old was one of the first horses out of the barriers, but he did not have the pace of a few of his rivals, ending up in an off-pace position on settling down. The gelding was travelling strongly throughout the event and was beginning to weave his way through the traffic as they turned for home. The gelding quickened well turning for home, darting up the inside to eat into the leader's margin and eventually stick his nose in front with 50m remaining. He pulled away close to the line, winning comfortably by a neck. FORTUNE WARRIOR was ridding along out of the barriers by Karis Teetan as the Mauritian burned across to lead the field passing the 600m point. The gelding was able to catch his breath turning off the back, before kicking strongly at the top of the straight once again to break away from the chasing pack. Fortune Warrior was in front for a very long way, only being caught close to home, with the first two across the line finishing two lengths clear of third. LEAN MASTER had moved up to challenge Teetan and Fortune Warrior as they turned for home but was quickly shaken off by that rival early in the straight. Despite the first two getting away from him, the gelding stuck on gamely to the line, finishing at the head of the chasing pack.
Race 5 – The Korea Racing Authority Trophy (Handicap), HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.81 Standard Time: 56.40 Course/Class record: 55.89 Whizz Kid
After finishing second earlier in the card, Hugh Bowman and Douglas Whyte went one better in the feature event of the evening, scoring with MAJESTIC KNIGHT (AUS 5yo g Redoute's Choice – Negotiate). The gelding got away well from a sticky alley and Hugh Bowman positioned himself in behind a strong tempo early doors. After stalking the pace throughout the middle stages, Bowman had a strong grip on the gelding turning for home as he peeled towards the middle of the course on straightening. He was strong in the straight, getting past the leader with 100m to run and never looking back, going on to score by 1-1/4 lengths in impressive fashion. HARMONY N BLESSED had settled on the back
of the leader from an inside draw and was right up on the pace through the middle stages. Andrea Atzeni was right there to strike on straightening as he remained to the inside of the course, sprinting along the inside. He quickened well in the straight, but he just bumped into one better on the night as he finished a clear second. NERVOUS WITNESS was able to get across and lead from barrier nine but he felt the pinch late, tiring to finish three lengths off the winner in third.
Race 6 – Incheon Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.77 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
It was a maiden victory in Hong Kong for I CAN (NZ 4yo g Iffraaj – Khaseeb), and he did it in good style. The gelding got away on terms under Andrea Atzeni and the Sicilian put the gelding on the pace from the draw, settling on the leader's back. The pace was just fair through the opening and middle stages with I Can relaxing well in the leader's trail. The pace began to ramp up turning off the back and Atzeni was able to stick with the leader when the tempo quickened. He was right on the leader's tail turning for home and Atzeni darted back to the inside rail, sprinting quickly at the top of the straight. He came through to take the lead with 100m left to run and he was too strong late in the race, holding his rivals at bay and scoring by a half-length. CAN'T GO WONG jumped the favourite of the race and looked to be in a good spot early, settling just off the pace. Alex Badel was tracking the eventual winner I Can throughout the event, with the Frenchman making his move at the 500m point when a gap appeared. Badel took off around the outside, moving into the race and getting to the crown of the track on straightening. It looked like he would take the lead and run away with the race, though he may have peaked on the run with about 100m to run. He tried hard but I Can always had his measure in the closing stages. VIVA HUNTER was able to do as he pleased out in front, leading with way with little pressure through the opening and middle stages. He kept on well close to home, only beaten two lengths in a clear third.
Race 7 – Busan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.31 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Harry Bentley made it a winning double on the night as he partnered the Chris So-trained OUR LUCKY GLORY (BRZ 5yo Crafty C T – Corveta) to victory. The gelding got away well and
showed enough speed to hold a forward position, getting onto the back of the leader on settling down. Passing the 500m point, Bentley niggled the gelding along to try and stay within striking distance. The leader kicked strongly at the top of the straight, which allowed Bentley to follow him early in the straight before switching off heels and getting to the outside of runners. He showed plenty of strength to improve between runners and took the lead with 50m to run, inching away over the closing stages to win by three-quarters of-a-length. GLORY CLOUD was unable to slot into the running line from a wide draw but did race three-wide with cover throughout. The field split into two approaching the home turn and Hugh Bowman dived back to the inside and cut the corner turning for home. Bowman got into the clear early in the straight and set out after the leaders, looming up with 100m to run. He may have peaked on the run late as the winner came through underneath him but had enough in the tank to finish second. DIAMOND FLARE led the field up and put in a good kick on straightening. He was in front for a long way and didn't go down without a fight, ending up in third, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 8 – Busan 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
Race favourite HIGH PERCENTAGE (AUS 4yo g Maurice – Gypsy Rose Lee) got the job done in race eight for Zac Purton and Benno Yung. After getting away on terms, Purton urged the gelding along to get across and settle in behind the leaders. Purton was racing off the fence in third in the one-out-one-back, remaining within striking distance around the home turn. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, Purton moved up to the leaders down the middle of the track and hit the front with around 150m left to go. The race was all over from that point onwards as the gelding careered away to win by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. RIGHTEOUS ARION was caught racing wide and without cover under Hugh Bowman, settling a little worse than midfield. The Australian hoop moved his mount out beyond the middle of the track on straightening and the gelding closed off strongly down the outside. He stormed home to hit the line locked together with SO AWESOME, with the judge unable to split the pair. He improved into the race nicely around the home turn after settling in a midfield position on the back of the race favourite and eventual winner. He had his chance in the straight, but only ground away in the stretch to hit the line locked together in a dead heat for second.
Race 9 – Seoul Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:50.24 Standard Time: 1:49.30 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
FLAMINGO TRILLION (AUS 4yo g Wandjina – Double Dee) sat up on the speed and proved far too good for his rivals in the last. After jumping well from barrier seven, Derek Leung rolled forward to lead the field early on before being crossed heading into the first turn. Leung was happy to sit off a clear leader through the middle stages, with the leader feeling the pinch and Leung taking control of the race again as they approached the home turn. The four-year-old was able to skip a length clear at the top of the straight and he had a wall of rivals chasing him. He always had the upper hand though and while there was one closing in on him strongly at the line, he had enough of a lead to score by a half-length. BERLIN TANGO had settled out the back of the pack under Brenton Avdulla and was still a clear last as they turned off the back. As they moves came at the 400m point, Avdulla had a back to follow out wide on the course as he too began to make his move, ending up the widest runner in the straight. The Australian was almost high-fiving patrons in the beer garden as he sprinted down the outside, continuing to eat into the margin with every stride. While he was making ground late, it wasn't enough as he would go under by a half-length. Race favourite NOBLE PURSUIT ran third after settling just off the speed. He came under pressure on the home turn and looked as though he was going backwards on straightening, but Andrea Atzeni was able to sneak up the inside and make his run. He had his chance to win if he was good enough, but the gelding just found a couple better on the day.
