3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Mount Butler Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:18.30 Standard Time: 2:17.65 Course/Class record: 2:15.69 Arthur's Kingdom
LEATHER MASTER (NZ 5yo g Iffraaj – Bellazeel) picked up a big win to start the evening as the rain fell at Happy Valley. After jumping from a wide barrier, Alexis Badel eased back to settle near the tail of the field as they worked down the straight on the first lap. He was travelling well back in the run with a nice tempo set up front, which slowed down the side of the course and into the back straight. The field compressed as the leader stacked them up through the middle stages, prompting some rivals to make a move at the 800m mark. This was to the benefit of Badel and Leather Master, as he hopped in the three-wide line and was able to get a nice tow into the race out wider on the track. He was just off the speed as they turned off the back and was still travelling strongly, swinging into the clear at the top of the straight and sprinting well when asked for an effort. He moved up to take the lead with 150m to run and he sprinted away in the concluding stages, scoring by 2-1/4 lengths in great fashion. STORM RUNNER jumped well from an inside barrier and landed in the one-out-one-back position early on under Ellis Wong. He was shuffled back slightly once the field sorted their order out, but he was still within striking distance and travelling well down the side of the course. He began to race keenly as they turned down the back and the speed went right out of the race, being shuffled back in the run and ending up worse than midfield. Around the turn Wong needed some space which came once Leather Master kicked clear, with Storm Runner closing off nicely to take second position in a close photo finish. Wong narrowly edged out $50 chance COLOURFUL BARON who hopped onto the back of Leather Master when the moves came and trailed him into the event. He stuck on well to grab third, just getting his nose down at the right time.
Race 2 – Mount Nicholson Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:51.19 Standard Time: 1:49.85 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
It had been almost two years to the day since S J TOURBILLON (IRE 7yo g Galileo – Shermeen) last won a race, but he ended his winning drought with Karis Teetan in the saddle on a soggy surface. The seven-year-old got away well from a middle barrier and was racing a touch keen in the early stages as Teetan tried to ease him back into the second half of the field. With the speed just even through the opening stages, the Mauritian hoop was able to race with cover three-wide, still sitting in the second half of the field but travelling much better. Teetan moved into a midfield spot with 800m remaining and was poised to strike as they turned off the back. The Mauritian got to work aboard the gelding who worked into the race nicely around the turn and came down the crown of the track to join the leaders with 150m to run. S J Tourbillon got his nose in front a short time after and drew away to score by three-quarters of-a-length in a strong performance. FIREFOOT rolled forward from barrier eight to find the front approaching the 1200m mark. He was still off the rail as they approached the back straight, but Andrea Atzeni was able to press on and get across to lead comfortably down the back straight as he crossed to the rail. He led comfortably down to the turn at just a moderate tempo and kicked strongly off the turn when asked for an effort by Atzeni. He was proving hard to run down in the straight, fending off his nearest rivals, though S J Tourbillon packed too many punches. KASA PAPA loomed large on the home turn and served it up to Firefoot early in the straight but couldn't stick his nose in front at any time. He got tired close to home and ended up in third spot, only 1-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 3 – Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.24 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
MEGA BONUS (AUS 7yo g Shooting To Win – Exceed And Excite) picked up his first win of the season as he scooted away brilliantly, relishing the conditions under Ellis Wong. After getting away well from out wide, Wong put the foot down and rolled across to lead the field as they headed into the first turn. He was able to lead comfortably down the back, keeping about a length margin to the 600m point. He was travelling strongly up to the home turn unlike his rivals and skipped away on straightening to open up a winning break. One came out of the pack to challenge, but it was short lived as Mega Bonus scored an impressive all-the-way victory. VULCANUS held his position off the inside barrier to be on the back of Mega Bonus as they swung around the first turn. He travelled well around the turn and was there to strike if good enough on straightening, looming large at the top of the straight. He made some inroads, but the margin always stayed at a comfortable distance, finishing 2-1/4 lengths off the winner. KING ECCELLENTE landed midfield along the fence and tracked Vulcanus into the race. The first three along the inside fence were the first three across the line, though he was beaten 5-1/4 lengths.
Race 4 – Shouson Hill Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:41.50 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Harry Bentley and Danny Shum combined to win race four as WROTE A NEW PAGE (NZ 3yo c Wrote – My Amazing Cool) picked up his maiden victory. After getting away on terms, Bentley darted straight across to land in a midfield position with cover in a good piece of riding early in the race. It was the colt's first time to Happy Valley, but he was travelling well in the run with an even tempo being set up front. He improved his position slightly heading to the 600m point which coincided with the speed coming right out of the race off the back straight. He was pushed wide on the home turn, but that didn't affect the three-year-old as he built into the race nicely around the home turn. He was still being pushed around on straightening, but he dug deep in the straight to have his nose in front with 100m to run. He showed experience beyond his years to hold on for the victory, scoring by a short head in a photo finish. CAPITAL LEGEND jumped on terms and slid across early doors but ended up at the tail of the field once the field sorted their order out. Ellis Wong remained there through the middle stages and turning off the back, the apprentice hoop was able to pinch some ground off the inside. He snuck through underneath his rivals on straightening and sliced his way through a gap as he set out after the leader in the straight. He just missed at the finish, but the run was very good and he's worth keeping an eye on with a better gate next time around. TO INFINITY came up underneath Wrote A New Page and tried to push him out of the way on straightening. He was there to strike if good enough but couldn't match it with the colt late in the race. He faded to finish in third position, 1-1/4 lengths off the leader.
Race 5 – The Cricket Club Valley Stakes (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:11.29 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
GOLDEN DARCI (NZ 5yo g Darci Brahma – Strictly Maternal) bounced back following a disappointing run last start, winning comfortably in the wet conditions. He was one of the first out for the barriers for Keagan De Melo but settled in a midfield position once they sorted their order out. He was shuffled back through the run and ended up near the tail of the field around the home turn and needing some luck, with the South African jockey remaining close to the inside. De Melo was able to weave a passage through the field in the straight and sprinted quickly on the rain affected surface to hit the front inside the final 100m. It was an impressive victory back to the Happy Valley 1200m, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths. TACTICAL COMMAND was snagged back after the start and settled near the back of the field under Alexis Badel, following the eventual winner Golden Darci in the run. After coming off his heels on the turn and looking to weave his way through, the Frenchman ended up following the eventual winner through the same gaps late in the race. He finished off well back to the inside but never looked a threat to Golden Darci late in the race. DENFIELD was left racing three-wide and without cover in the run as he positioned himself close to the speed from barrier seven. He was there to strike around the turn as Wong swung to the middle of the track, and he stuck on well late in the race. He was beaten by the two back to the inside, but he finished a clear third as a $21 chance.
Race 6 – Stanley Gap Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.00 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
STORM RIDER (AUS 5yo g Dracarys – Zeffiretta) finally capitalised on his recent string of form, scoring a dominant win for Zac Purton and David Hayes. After jumping well from an inside barrier, Purton let the speed go heading into the first turn and settled just off the speed as they worked down the back straight. The speed was good throughout, and Purton was able to weave his way off the fence and into the clear turning for home in a good piece of riding. He let rip in the straight, taking the lead with 200m to run and sprinting away for an emphatic victory, winning by 3-1/2 lengths in a very strong performance. STORMING DRAGON was taken back from barrier eight to settle near the tail of the field under Lyke Ferraris. He had cover three-wide as he moved into the running line and was able to improve his position turning off the back straight. he was a long way off the leaders with 400m to run and already under the whip, with Ferraris swinging him wide in the straight and the gelding storming home down the outside. He never looked like a winning chance, but he sustained a long effort to finish in second position, and he wasn't stopping at the line. GIANT LEAP was there to strike on turning as he settled on the back of the leader and snuck up the inside fence to make his move. He just plugged away back to the inside, finishing in third position as a $6.8 chance.
Race 7 – Tai Tam Gap Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:51.77 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
JOY OF SPRING (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Certitude) bounced back to winning form in race seven on the card. Andrea Atzeni put the gelding to sleep early in the race as he crossed to the rail and allowed the race to unfold around him, sitting in a midfield position. The pace was even early on before slowing substantially down the side of the course. The gelding got his head up and was racing keenly down the back, which prompted the winning move from Atzeni, getting off the fence and into the three-wide line as the mid-race moves were being made. This allowed Joy Of Spring to work into the race ominously around the outside, tracking beautifully to the turn and being poised to strike at the top of the straight. Atzeni came down the middle of the track to hit the front with 100m to run and the race was all over from that point. He ran away to score by a length on the line. CAMBRIDGE rolled forward under Jerry Chau and settled on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He travelled well through the middle stages despite the muddling tempo and was right there as they turned off the back. Chau snuck up the fence around the turn and the gelding looked to have plenty to offer as he joined the leader at the furlong pole. He was no match for the winner, but he stuck on well close to home to finish in second position. FLAMINGO TRILLION dictated the speed up front and kicked well on straightening to hold the lead early in the straight. It was short lived however, with Cambridge and Joy Of Spring getting to him, though he kept on well enough to finish in third position as a $16 chance.
Race 8 – Violet Hill Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:39.52 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
When the rain comes, that's when we see the best of KEEFY (AUS 6yo g All Too Hard – Urban Rocker) who made it back-to-back victories. From barrier one, Matthew Poon held his position to settle on the back of the leader around the first turn. The speed was good early, and Poon was right thee enjoying a very economical run, keeping in touch with the leader past the halfway stage of the race. The six-year-old travelled sweetly to the 400m point where Poon commenced his move, getting into the clear and letting down to go after the leader. The first two paired off to fight it out, with Keefy gaining the upper hand in the final 100m and inching away to score by three-quarters of-a-length. HIGHLAND RAHY showed good speed early on and led the field into the first turn. He raced a touch keen through the middle stages as Lyle Hewitson tried to dictate the speed, instead setting an even tempo through the middle of the race. As they approached the turn, the gelding was still travelling strongly under Hewitson, with he and Keefy kicking away on straightening. Those two went toe-to-toe down the straight, with Keefy getting over the top close to home. Highland Rahy finished well clear of SKY TRUST who ended up 5-1/2 lengths off the winner in third.
Race 9 – Wan Chai Gap Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:09.66 Standard Time: 1:09.55 Course/Class record: 1:08.26 Rewarding Together
KAHOLO ANGEL (GB 5yo g Havana Grey – Starboard Watch) made it back-to-back victories in the last race of the night, also brining up a winning double for Caspar Fownes and Ellis Wong. The flashy grey got away on terms and landed in a midfield position early on, being shoved to the inside around the first turn. The speed was solid through the middle stages of the race, though Kaholo Angel was able to keep up under his own steam. As rivals began to make their moves, it allowed Wong to slide up the fence and be right on the back of the leader around the home turn, travelling strongly and looking poised to strike. The gap appeared early in the straight and while it took the gelding a little while to wind up, it was inside the final 150m where he did his best work. He showed plenty of strength to fight through and take the lead with 50m remaining, scoring by a half-length on the line. COLOURFUL KING got away well but dropped in behind the speed around the first turn under Andrea Atzeni. He was racing in a handy position through the middle stages but was pushed off the track coming to the home turn as he looked to be under plenty of pressure. The Sicilian got to the outside and made his run, coming home strongly after looking a beaten commodity at the turn. He closed off strongly to finish in second position, beating home TOMODACHI KOKOROE and HARMONY N BLESSED who dead-heated for third. Tomodachi Kokoroe looked to have the race shot to pieces at the top of the straight as he sprinted quickly, but he faded late in the race to hit the line locked together with Harmony N Blessed who had been up on the speed throughout the race.
