3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
The "City Circuit" played fairly for this meeting with the rail back in the 'A' position. Zac Purton rode another treble, while Tony Cruz bookended the card.
Race 1 – Tai Yau Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:50.36 Standard Time: 1:49.85 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars
CIRCUIT ELITE (Mastercraftsman – Bridge Note) looked to get away on terms from barrier 7 and was ridden along in the early stages by Vincent Ho to settle in a prominent position. The grey gelding would land just off the pace, sitting one off the fence with a lap to run as the field sorted themselves out approaching the halfway point of the race. The gelding was able to get a nice run down the back and rolled forward to stick his nose in front turning off the back. He was travelling superbly approaching the home turn and quickly took the lead on straightening. He never looked like getting run down and won comfortably by 1-1/4 lengths at the post. CLASSIC ARCHI and BARON ZEE were running on strongly from the rear to round out the placings.
Race 2 – Ng Fong Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.76 Standard Time: 1:10.20 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
It was another 'circuit' winning the second event, this time CIRCUIT SPLENDOR (Lonhro – Exceedingly Royal) for Mick Dee and Benno Yung. After jumping well off the inside, the gelding held a brilliant position on the back of the leader as they worked down the back stretch. After enjoying a cosy run, a huge gap appeared turning for home and the gelding was able to get a beautiful run and take the lead with 150m to run. He went on to score easily by a length on the line with HAPPY GATHERING sticking on well over the closing stages to finish second while THETA HEDGE boxed on well for third after leading the field into the straight.
Race 3 – Sheung Hei Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.43 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Race three belonged to GALLANT CROWN (Hallowed Crown – Justagem) who was one of the first into stride from the barriers and landed in a trailing position on the back of the leader. The pace gradually steadied once they had sorted their order out, before being injected once again as a mid-race move came at about the 800m point. Derek Leung was in a perfect position to capitalise as he remained right on the back of the leading pair with plenty of galloping room around him. Leung moved three-wide turning for home and hit the front with 200m to run. It looked as though he would run away with the race, but BEAU GOSSE and Lyle Hewitson were storming home over the concluding stages. They went to the line locked together, with Gallant Crown coming out on top by the barest of margins. The first two gapped back to third, who was JOYFUL GENIUS, finishing 1-3/4 lengths back. Race favourite M UNICORN was the horse to make the mid-race move but failed to hang on in the closing stages as he fell out of contention to finish 8th, beaten 5-1/4 lengths.
Race 4 – The Hong Kong institute of Certified Public Accountants 50th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.48 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
THE RUNNER (Snitzel – Femina Fashion) bought up Zac Purton's first winner of the night. After jumping well from the inside draw, the champion jockey had to push his mount along to ensure he held his position around the first turn with plenty of pace on offer early on. Purton held his spot on the back of the leader and enjoyed the run of the race in behind a solid tempo. He was again under pressure before the home turn, but Purton got him into the clear and the gelding was sticking on strongly. He took the lead with 100m to run and saw off a late challenge to win by a half-length on the line. SPEEDY CHARIOT almost spoiled the party, with Mick Dee sticking to the inside and going under his rivals to make things interesting. He was unable to reel in the winner, but he was a very good run from near the tail.
Race 5 – Sheung Hei Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:41.06 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
It was two Australian's combining in race 5 with David Hayes and Hugh Bowman teaming up to win with LEAN HERO (Maurice – Frontalis). The gelding was only fairly away from the barrier and landed in a midfield position along the inside early on. Heading around the first turn though, Bowman was able to get away from the inside and sat one off the rail once fully into stride. The pace slowed passing the 800m point with the field stacking up turning off the back stretch, with Bowman slightly held up with 400m left to run. Bowman stayed close to the inside on straightening and weaved his way through traffic in the straight, driving to the line inside the final 50m and scoring in a photo finish. UNITED ENDEAVOURS was on the wrong side of the photo finish, ending up a short head away from victory. He stuck on boldly at the end while MASTER TORNADO ended up in third after dictating the race from the front.
Race 6 – Sze Mei Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.30 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Manfred Man gave Zac Purton his second win on the night, with the trainer and jockey of Lucky Sweynesse teaming up to win with GOLDEN LUCK (Per Incanto – Creil). The gelding was fast into stride and was running up front heading into the first turn, with Purton easing out of the speed battle to sit on the back of the leader early on. The pace was solid down the back stretch with the field stringing out past the halfway point of the race. Purton continued his cosy run in the race before moving three-wide and into the clear turning for home. He didn't quicken as expected at the top of the straight and looked as though he'd be headed by SIGHT HERO at the finish. But, to the gelding's credit, he dug in and held off the challengers, fighting back to win by a half-length at the finish. Sight Hero sat much closer in the run today and was there to win if good enough, but he couldn't outlast the winner in the dying stages. KING INVICINBLE held on for third placing after sitting up on the hot tempo throughout.
Race 7 – Sam Chuk Handicap, HK $1,900,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m - Track Good
Time: 1:49.30 Standard Time: 1:49.40 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
S J TOURBILLON (Galileo – Shermeen) was finally able to capitalise on his solid recent form and did so in grand style as well. The gelding settled near the tail of the field after being
snagged back from the outside barrier. Lyle Hewitson remained one off the rail on settling down with the pace fair heading down the side of the course. The field was strung out down the back straight, with Hewitson finding himself 8-3/4 lengths off the leader with 800m remaining. The South African hoop got a lovely run into the race as they turned off the back, with a rival in front of him moving three-wide and allowing the five-year-old to improve with cover into the straight. He was the widest runner on straightening, but he sprinted powerfully to take the lead with 150m to run and it was all over from that point onward. He went on to score by 1-3/4 lengths, defeating ROCKET SPADE who has finished second in 5 of his nine runs this season. He's still a maiden in Hong Kong but his time will come.
Race 8 – Shung Ling Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.75 Standard Time: 56.70 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
The Jamie Richards-trained SEASONS WIT (Capitalist – Grand Gesture) continued his rise through the ranks, scoring comfortably and bringing up a third win for Zac Purton on the night. Purton urged the gelding out of the barriers to hold a spot from the inside draw, finding the back of the leader and enjoying a lovely run in transit. It was ominous signs for his rivals at the 400m point when he was building into the race nicely with Purton remaining motionless atop the three-year-old. He ambled up to the leader in the straight and ran right by him with 100m to go, scoring by a length eased down close to the line. HARMONY N BLESSED was unable to hold off the up-and-coming sprinter but was solid back in second position.
Race 9 – Tseuk Luk Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.08 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Tony Cruz bought up his second win of the night with SUPERB CAPITALIST (Capitalist – Shamana) leading all the way to score for stable apprentice Angus Chung. He wasn't the fastest into stride from the draw but gradually worked to the front around the first turn and down the back. The pace was solid through the middle stages, with Chung not slowing the pack through the middle stages. The apprentice held the three-year-old together turning for home and still led by over a length with 100m to run. He was vulnerable late, but held on to win by a neck, defeating race favourite REWARD SMILE who had his chance to catch the leader if he was good enough. He ran on from midfield to claim second and clearing out from third place.
