3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
It was another on-pace dominated night at the "City Circuit" with every winner settling fifth of better in the run. The first good-to-firm track we have seen in some time, but the race was competitive, and winners weren't hard to find.
Race 1 – Tsun Yuen Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.66 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
The first race went the way of Karis Teetan aboard CHARIZARD (Onemorenomore – Whatsaname). Teetan had ridden just two winners in his last 75 rides, but put Charizard in a nice position from the start, sitting three pairs back and along the inside. The pace was only fair through the middle stages with the gelding travelling comfortably just off the pace. The Mauritian hoop was able to follow his rivals through along the inside, before getting off the rail and pushing into the clear as they turned for home. He copped a bump shortly after straightening but that didn't deter him too much, ranging up to the leaders with 150m to run. He overpowered the leader with 100m to run and powered away to score by 1-1/4 lengths in fine style. HAPPY JAI JAI stuck on well to hold on for second place while MEDIC ELITE was good running on from the back to round out the placings. Race favourite ANGELS HUNTER got going before the turn under Zac Purton but failed to finish off the race, ending up in sixth position.
Race 2 – Min Fat Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:15.28 Standard Time: 2:17.30 Course/Class record: 2:14.42 Bright Kid
The staying event of the night saw Zac Purton land his first winner of the evening, with GALLANT HERO (Fast Company – Bett's Gift) clinging on for a tight victory. Purton pressed on from barrier 4 to sit on the outside of the leader in running, settling well down the home straight after racing keenly through the early stages. The pace was relatively good through the first 1000m of the race before slowing down the side of the course and into the back straight. A mid-race move saw the pace ramp up a touch with Purton looming up to the outside of the leader around the home turn. The gelding was under the whip turning into the straight but took control of the race with 250m left to run. Purton was throwing
everything he had at the gelding, and he managed to cling on in a photo finish to win by a short head. SUPER HONG KONG stormed home at the finish to just miss out in the photo finish, coming with a strong run right down the outside. They put a gap on the rest of the field with the favourite REACH GOAL finishing in 7th place, beaten 6 lengths.
Race 3 – Kwai Sing Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.51 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
SPLENDID LIVING (Starspangledbanner – Laurelita) capitalised on his good form to win the third race. He was caught four-wide heading into the first turn but was able to work across to sit outside the leader on settling down. He looked to be travelling a touch keen in the run with a good pace being set up front, but did eventually relax coming to the end of the back stretch. Purton began to pour on the pressure around the home turn and took the lead on straightening, kicking away from his rivals and proving too good, winning by 1-3/4 lengths. In an even bigger push for the winner, the leader of the race fell out of contention to end up in 8th place. It was a good go for second place with GET THE MONIES holding on under Brenton Avdulla. The Australian hoop is still yet to ride a winner in Hong Kong, but efforts like that will hold him in good stead.
Race 4 – Kwai Fong Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.31 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Race four was taken out by GOODLUCK GOODLUCK (Magic Albert – Luminous Harmony) and bought up a double for Karis Teetan on the night. He wasn't the fastest into stride but was ridden along by Teetan to burrow through and find the front heading into the first turn. The pace was strong down the back with the gelding racing keenly under the Mauritian who was trying hard to restrain the gelding. He just kept chugging away and opened a 1-1/4 length margin heading for home. He just kept on running under Teetan and was unable to be caught in the stretch, holding his advantage to score by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. CHARMING STEED was the only danger in the straight as he finished in second place, with the run of SUMMIT CHEERS over the final 150m was very eye catching.
Race 5 – Hawthorn Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.51 Standard Time: 57.10 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
Race 5 saw another all-the-way victor with SUPER AXIOM (Exceed And Excel – Stella Senza Cielo) putting himself back into the winners stall for the first time this season. He'd been 13 starts since his last win, but was aided by an inside barrier this evening which saw him find the front with relative ease. The field was stretched out with 500m to run and the gelding was creeping away from his rivals heading into the straight, opening a 1-1/2 length advantage around the home turn. Angus Chung came to the middle of the track on straightening and for a moment he did look vulnerable out in front. To the five-year-old's credit though he stuck on gamely and scored by three-quarters of-a-length in a very strong victory, well inside the standard time. ACE TALENT had the sit on the winner and had every possible chance to run him down. The quinella gapped the rest of the field.
Race 6 – Kwai Fong Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.85 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
It was Hugh Bowman's turn to put his name on the winner's list this evening as SOLAR PARTNER (Zoustar – Gilded Grace) proved far too good. The five-year-old got away on terms and rolled forward form his wide draw. Hugh Bowman was initially caught very wide around the first turn, but was able to slot in on the back of the leading pair who were hiking along up front. He enjoyed a perfect run in the race and moved into the clear at the top of the straight. He took the lead with 150m to run and it was all over as the gelding ran clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths in fine style. HIGH PERCENTAGE ran on strongly from a midfield position to take second place, but all honours go to the winner.
Race 7 – The Sauterne's Cup (Handicap), HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.36 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
POWER KOEPP (Equiano – Terse) proved far too strong late in the race. He jumped well from the inside draw and enjoyed a cosy run in behind the speed for Matthew Chadwick.
The pace was solid through the middle stages and Chadwick stalked the leader wherever he went, only getting off heels at the top of the straight. The local hoop moved into the clear and the gelding ran on strongly to take the lead with 100m to go, scoring a comfortable victory by three-quarters of-a-length. VICTORY SCHOLARS and LUCKY EIGHT stuck on well but they were no match for the winner.
Race 8 – Broom Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.28 Standard Time: 1:39.85 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
It was another favourite getting the job done in race 8 with SIXTH GENERATION (Per Incanto – Xanadu) bringing up back-to-back wins for Vincent Ho and Jamie Richards. The gelding got away well form his inside draw and immediately got into a handy position on the back of the leader. Vincent Ho was able to follow the leader through along the inside as the leader kicked away heading into the back straight. After enjoying a lovely run in transit, Ho pushed his way into the clear passing the 400m point, coming off heels to launch a challenge at the leader. It took him a while to reel in the leader, but he finally go on top inside the final 50m and scored by a short head on the line, beating a very gallant LOYAL BABY who had led all of the way. MALDIVES made plenty of late ground in the middle of the track to run into third.
Race 9 – Briar Handicap, HK $2,900,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:48.12 Standard Time: 1:49.15 Course/Class record: 1:47.61 Time Warp
MEANINGFUL STAR (Pivotal – Adore) rounded out the night with his second win in-a-row. He stepped well from a handy draw but was left racing three-wide and without cover heading into the first turn. Mathew Poon was able to work across with a rival to sit outside the leader as they sorted their order out, with the pace quite good throughout the middle stages. The gelding was racing comfortably though as he sat a half-length off the leader, before moving up to apply the pressure approaching the 400m point. Poon went through to take the lead heading into the straight, with the gelding getting away from his rivals midway down the stretch. He just kept on running under Poon's hard riding, going on to win very well by 1-1/2 lengths. BUTTERFIELD stormed home from the rear, making plenty
of ground right down the outside to finish in second place. He was entitled to do so as the overall time was over a second inside standard, with NIMBLE NIMBUS holding on bravely for third after leading throughout.
