3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Cochrane Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.22 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
NEW POWER (NZ 4yo g Swiss Ace – River Shannon) picked up his first win almost a year to the date after his latest win, scoring with Keith Yeung back in the saddle. After getting away well from barrier six, Yeung was caught racing three-wide and facing the breeze as they worked down the back straight. Yeung had to take his medicine through the middle stages, sitting just off the speed down the back straight and began to creep closer as they passed the 600m point. He was travelling well despite the unlucky run in transit and was poised to strike at the top of the straight. He and the leader paired off to fight out the finish, with Yeung and New Power grinding away on the outside. He dug deep in the shadows of the post to get his nose down on the line and score by a short head. JUMBO TREASURE showed more speed than New Power despite drawing to the winner's outside, rolling across to take up the running as they entered the back straight. He was able to dictate the speed up front, slowing them off the back before ramping up the speed again passing the 400m point and skipping away from the majority of his rivals. New Power wouldn't go away however and while he still led by about half a length on with 100m to run, New Power was getting closer. Jumbo Treasure couldn't hold on, finishing a short head away in second as he was grabbed on the post. ENDUED was a length off the winner in third after being given every possible chance by Hugh Bowman in the run.
Race 2 – D'Aguilar Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.08 Standard Time: 1:40.40 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
Hugh Bowman hopped aboard STERLING WONGCHOY (AUS 5yo g Demerit – Native Silver) for the first time and guided the ghostly grey to a maiden victory at start 15. The Douglas Whyte-trained gelding jumped well from gate four and showed good early speed to be sitting on the speed heading into the first turn. Bowman allowed the leader to cross him down the side of the course, getting off heels and off the fence to be a clear second with a good tempo set through the early stages of the race. He was a clear second as they travelled down the back straight and was ready to strike with 400m remaining. He was still 1-1/4 lengths off the leader turning for home, but Bowman hadn't flinched yet and when he did, the grey gelding flew by the race leader. He extended his lead inside the final 100m of the race, scoring by two lengths on the line in a strong maiden in. WINDICATOR FAMILY jumped well and was able to slot into a good position, sitting midfield and one off the fence. The speed would've suited him and the gelding travelled well under Matthew Poon who allowed the gelding to improve as they turned off the back straight. He cruised around the field three-wide and made his run down the middle of the course. He was looming large approaching the 100m point, but Sterling Wongchoy kicked away to win comfortably. COOL BLUE was on the inside of Windicator Family in the run and Andrea Atzeni had some traffic to navigate in the straight. He finished off well to hold on for third place in a photo finish.
Race 3 – Glenealy Handicap, $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.05 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
It took CALIFORNIA MOXIE (IRE 4yo g Mehmas – Obama Rule) 16 starts to notch up his first victory, but he made a statement tonight with a dominant win to make it two in-a-row. Angus Chung was neutral coming out from a wide barrier and ended up near the gelding ending up near the tail of the field as they made the first turn. The speed was hot early and the field was strung out as they entered the back straight. The field packed up as the passed the halfway stage of the race and this prompted Chung to make a mid-race move, keeping his speed up and shooting around the field to be on the outside of the leader turning off the back. By the time they'd got to the 400m point, he was in the lead, and he extended his lead on the turn. He never looked like being beaten as he went on to win impressively, scoring by 2-3/4 lengths in very impressive fashion. SOARING BRONCO jumped well from barrier three and rolled forward under Derek Leung, sitting on the speed heading into the first turn and punching through to hold the lead down the side of the course. He was racing keenly with 1000m remaining, but Leung was able to get the gelding to relax better as they travelled down the back. Soaring Bronco moved up to be on the outside of the leader as they turned off the back and tried to hold on to California Moxie's tail as he swept to the lead. He was inclined to fall away and finish near the tail of the field, but to his credit, Soaring Bronco finished a clear second in a strong effort. CELESTIAL PATCH flew home from the back of the field to finish in third position as a $31 chance.
Race 4 – Glenealy Handicap, $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.00 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Lyle Hewitson teamed up with Jamie Richards to give TO INFINITY (NZ 6yo g Darci Brahma – Italic) his second win of the season. He was a little slow into stride from barrier two and ended up in the second half of the field on settling down. He was in a tricky position as they turned off the back straight, with plenty of runners in front of Hewitson and some not travelling all that well to the 400m point. Luck was on the side of the South African though as the field began to fan on the home turn, allowing Hewitson to slide up the fence and come underneath his rivals at the top of the stretch. He shot through to hit the front with 200m to run but there were plenty of chances trying to knock off To Infinity. He showed plenty of strength late in the race as he shot away inside the final 100m to win comfortably in the end, scoring by three-quarters of-a-length. SUPREME AGILITY jumped on terms from his wide stall but ended up near the back of the pack under James Orman. He was left racing three-wide throughout the event. Orman was able to slide forward down the back straight and was in a midfield position as they turned off the back, travelling well around his rivals and building up the revs into the home straight. He sustained the long run into the straight and was a winning hope at the top of the straight. He couldn't reel in To Infinity, but he stuck on gamely and outlasted a number of his rivals to finish in second position. ATOMIC BEAUTY stuck on well sitting close to the speed and ended up in third position.
Race 5 – The Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 57.23 Standard Time: 57.20 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
LEAN MASTER (GB 5yo g Havana Grey – Fair Maiden) scored his first win of the season, almost 12 months to the day since his last victory as he proved too strong back to 1000m. The five-year-old jumped well and was racing just off the speed as they sorted their order out. They weren't flying along up front, and Bentley was right there to strike at the top of the straight. The Englishman got his mount to the outside as they entered the straight and it didn't take long for the flashy type to hit the front, gaining the upper hand inside the final 200m of the race. He was far too good late in the race, shooting away to score by 1-1/4 lengths in very impressive style. HAPPY UNITED raced just in behind the speed on settling down for Angus Chung, crossing down closer to the fence as they passed the 600m mark. Angus Chung remained closer to the inside around the turn and sliced his way through the traffic, going between horses in the straight and he had his chance if he was good enough. He stuck on well to finish in second position, but he was no match for the winner. SPICY SPANGLE finished off nicely from well back on the turn to claim third, finishing 1-3/4 off the winner in a strong effort.
Race 6 – Cochrane Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.93 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
THRIVING BROTHERS (IRE 4yo g U S Navy Flag – Blossom Deary) scored his maiden win at start 10, with Matthew Chadwick in the saddle for the first time. The gelding jumped well, and he rolled forward to settle just off the speed, landing in the one-out-one-back position. The speed was solid throughout and Chadwick was poised to strike at the top of the straight, getting into the clear and allowing the gelding to go through his gears under his own steam. He let down strongly when finally asked for an effort with 200m to run and he hit the line full of running, taking the lead close to home and scoring by a short head on the line. CANDLELIGHT DINNER was the first horse out of the barriers and went straight to the lead under a strong James Orman hold. He would run the field along at an even tempo through the middle stages, leading by over a length throughout the run and he still looked to have plenty to offer on straightening. Hesprinted well when challenged early in the straight and fought off his first challenger with 100m to run. Thriving Brothers had the last shot at him and grabbed Candlelight Dinner on the post, but Me Tsui's mount lost no admirers. LOVING VIBES just got tired late in the race and finished three-quarters of-a-length away in third.
Race 7 – Wyndham Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.62 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
HARMONY N BLESSED (AUS 8yo g Magnus – Flying To Win) was simply too strong in race seven, fending off his more fancied rival to bring up his second win for the season. Luke Ferraris pressed on with Harmony N Blessed after the start, going up to sit on the outside of the leader as they worked around the first turn. The speed was solid through the middle stages and the eight-year-old was travelling comfortably. He was just niggled at as they turned off the back to keep in touch with the leader, but he sprinted quickly at the top of the straight o take the lead with 200m remaining. It looked as though he'd run a gallant second place, but the old boy wouldn't go down without a fight. He was clearly headed in the straight but fought back nearer the inside to get his head down right on the line, scoring an upset victory by a nose. KING MILES jumped well and landed in a perfect position on the back of the eventual winner in the one-out-one-back position. Zac Purton gave the gelding every chance after being backed off the map into a $1.6 favourite and moved into the clear at the top of the straight. He ran to the front inside the final 150m, and the race looked to be all over, but Harmony N Blessed had other ideas. Whether he had a big think about it or felt the pinch late, he couldn't hold on to the lead and was beaten at the post, leaving backers on the floor. VICTORY SKY was doing his best work late in the race under Derek Leung to get into third position, beaten just half a length.
Race 8 – On Lan Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.69 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Jerry Chau and Cody Mo combined with EMBRACES (NZ 4yo g Reliable Man – Abbey Tralae) in the penultimate event, scoring his third win of the season in impressive style. Embraces was taken back from the wide alley after being only fairly into stride, settling third-to-last with a solid tempo being set early in the race. He found himself a long way off the leader as they travelled down the side of the course and was 7-1/2 lengths away at the halfway stage of the race. As they turned off the back, Chau was able to get a nice tow into the race around the outside and he was building into the race nicely as he ended up as the widest runner in the straight. He stormed home down the outside of the field to mow down the leaders inside the final 50m of the race, getting the job done by a half-length on the line, sealed with a big salute across the line. STAR CONTACT jumped a $37 chance and put himself in the picture early on, jumping well and sitting close to the speed under Ben Thompson. After being wide around the first turn, the Australian hoop was able to slot into the running line down the side of the course, landing in the one-out-one-back position. Approaching the home turn, Thompson moved into the clear and began to make his run after the leader, hitting the front with 100m left to run. He was beaten close to home, but it was a big run from an outside chance. PRESTIGE ALWAYS turned in a nice effort also as a $27 chance, finishing 1-1/2 lengths off the winner,
Race 9 – Wyndham Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.14 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
DRAGON FOUR SEAS (AUS 4yo g Shooting To Win – My Thousand) continued his impressive season, winning the final event of the night and bringing up Zac Purton's first win of the evening. After getting away well, Zac Purton rolled forward from gate fice to sit on the outside of the leader around the first turn. The leading pair was taken on down the back straight, with Purton allowing that runner to cross to the front as he moved into a clear second position. He stalked the leader off the back and loomed large at the top of the straight as he moved into the race under a strong hold. He reached the lead shortly after straightening but had plenty of rivals coming at him late in the race. Purton pulled out all the stops to ensure he kept his head in front, winning by a head on the line and keeping his rivals at bay. POWER KOEPP settled in the second half of the field under Alex Badel and was well back off the leader through the middle stages of the race. Turning off the back., the Frenchman put his mount into the race, improving nicely around the field and having plenty of momentum entering the straight. He appeared the main danger right down the outside but just couldn't stick his nose in front at any stage. SOVEREIGN FUND closed off well between horses to finish just a neck away in third position.
