3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Tai Wo Ping Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.21 Standard Time: 1:40.40 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
SMILING EMPEROR (AUS 3yo g Capitalist – Meri Rani) scored his maiden win at start 11 in a close finish to the opening event of the night. The gelding got away on terms under Harry Bentley and was ridden along in the early stages to sit in a handy position, eventually slotting into the running line just off the speed. The pace was solid through the opening stages before the leaders put on the brakes down the back straight. Bentley didn’t make a move however, with the three-year-old travelling comfortably off the back straight and was still within striking distance. Coming to the 400m point, the English hoop made his move, getting to the outside and swinging around the turn down the middle of the track to make his run. He loomed up to the leaders with 150m to run and put his nose in front with 100m to run. He looked to peak on his effort close to home, but he had enough left in the tank to hold on for the victory in a three-way photo finish. WINDICATOR FAMILY settled in a midfield position along the fence for Andrea Atzeni and was to the inside of Smiling Emperor in the run. The Sicilian hoop was able to get off the fence and improve between runners coming to the home turn, a move that proved vital to his chances as Atzeni weaved through the traffic early in the straight. He had to squeeze through a narrow gap with 100m to run which cost him some momentum, but he rallied back to get his nose down on the line and take second position. BEAU GOSSE had enjoyed a lovely run on the back of the leader for Karis Teetan and was there to pounce around the home turn. He was there to strike if good enough and he almost was, just missing out on the win and second position by the barest of margins.
Race 2 – Sheung Wan Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.87 Standard Time: 57.20 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
CANDLELIGHT DINNER (AUS 4yo g Russian Revolution – I Am Gypsy) picked up his maiden victory in Hong Kong as James Orman collected his eighth winner in the city. From barrier eight, the gelding showed good speed to lead the field rather easily on settling down. He travelled well in the run as he wasn’t pressure out in front and he had a few rivals already under pressure as they got to the home turn. On straightening, Candlelight Dinner was in a league of his own, kicking away from his rivals and opening up a big gap on the rest of the field. A couple were taking ground off him late, but the four-year-old scored by 1-1/4 lengths at the post. DAY DAY VICTORY was a little slow into stride and ended up near the tail of the field early on for Alexis Badel. The Frenchman was able to improve his position turning off the back as he improved up the rail, building into the race nicely and ducking up the inside again as they entered the straight. He was the eye catcher late in the race, flying home to finish a clear second, but he was no match for the winner. HAPPY BOYS flew home down the outside to finish in third position, adding plenty of value into exotics after jumping a $75 chance.
Race 3 – Tai Kok Tsui Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.69 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
SMART CITY (AUS 5yo g Lonhro – Words Are Weapons) scored his maiden victory in impressive fashion at start 16. The five-year-old jumped well from an inside barrier and landed just off the speed for Karis Teetan early on, before swiftly moving into the one-out-one-back position around the first turn. The race continued to change through the middle stages, but Teetan was getting a dream run down the back straight and he was poised to strike as they came to the home turn. The Mauritian got to the middle of the track on straightening and took the lead shortly after. The gelding took control of the race and sprinted clear from his rivals, going on to win in impressive fashion by 2-1/2 lengths. FORERUNNER was snicked back after the start and settled near the tail of the field as they sorted their order out. He remained near the tail throughout and was locked away back to the inside, with Lyle Hewitson remaining against the inside rail as they swung into the straight. He ducked underneath his rivals and while he never looked like a winning chance, he snuck into second position. OUR LUCKY GLORY was able to slide through the traffic from midfield to finish in third position as an $11 chance.
Race 4 – Tai Hang Tung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.36 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
AUTUMN DELIGHT (AUS 4yo g The Autumn Sun – I Am Queen) was too good for his rivals under Andrea Atzeni, scoring his maiden victory. The four-year-old rolled forward from barrier four after getting away on terms and ended up in the one-out-one-back position as the race unfolded. He enjoyed a lovely run down the back straight at just a fair tempo, with the speed coming right out of the race as they turned off the back straight. Atzeni made his move on the home turn, getting into the clear and making his run down the middle of the track. He took control with a furlong to run and won easily on the line, despite the official margin being a half-length. VICTOR THE RAPID bounced back to form as he slotted into a position in the second half of the field. He was travelling well throughout, and the gap appeared for him to shoot through on straightening with Ellis Wong getting the best out of the gelding. He ran on well to finish in second position, doing his best work late in the race. REWARDING TWINKLE was to the inside of Victor The Rapid in the run and couldn’t improve into the race around the home turn as he was boxed in along the inside. Derek Leung had to weave his way through the traffic in the straight but snuck through a gap late to finish in third position, just three-quarters of-a-length off the winner.
Race 5 – Tai Kok Tsui Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.27 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
CAPITAL LEGEND (AUS 6yo g Capitalist – Sweet Melody) stormed home over the top to return to winning ways in fine style under the apprentice Ellis Wong. The apprentice hoop drifted back in the early stages to slot into the running line, ending up in the back half of the field around the first turn. The speed was good throughout which suited the son of Capitalist, however he did find himself 7 lengths off the leader at the halfway point of the race. Wong wasn’t panicking, allowing the gelding to creep closer under his own steam as they passed the 600m point and was able to work his way through a clump of runners on the home turn. He got right to the outside on straightening and let rip down the middle of the track, mowing down his rivals to take the lead with 50m to run and inch away for a 1-1/4 length victory in a strong performance. STERLING WONGCHOY jumped well and rolled forward from barrier six, eventually crossing to the lead down the side of the course. He kept the field running through the middle stages as Keith Yeung set a solid tempo out in front, with rivals beginning to close the gaps turning off the back. He looked like the one to beat on the turn however, travelling strongly and putting in a good kick at the top of the stretch to shake off his nearest rival. He led right up to the 50m point where he was overtaken, but he lost no admirers in the losing performance. SATIRICAL FAN eased back to allow Sterling Wongchoy to lead around the first turn before applying the pressure to the leader off the back straight. He was there to strike if good enough but peaked on the run late in the race and finished a clear third, beaten 3 lengths.
Race 6 – Cheung Sha Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:38.44 Standard Time: 1:39.30 Course/Class record: 1:37.90 Woodfire Bro
Progressive galloper HONG LOK GOLF (AUS 4yo g Grunt – Sky Island) continued the impressive start to his career, picking up his fourth win in-a-row for Chris So and Harry Bentley. Despite jumping from a handy barrier, the gelding ended up in a midfield position on settling down with a solid tempo being set early on in the race. The four-year-old was travelling well through the middle stages with the good tempo remaining up front. A mid-race move came down the back and it left Bentley in a pocket as they came to the turn, but the Englishman had enough horse underneath him to push his way into the clear on the home turn. Hong Lok Golf made his run down the middle of the track and was locked in a battle for the victory over the last 100m. He was just too classy on the day, however, getting his nose in front close to home and scoring by a short head at the post in a very good performance. STEPS AHEAD held his position early in the race as he jumped well from an inside barrier, settling in the one-out-one-back position and just in front of the race favourite Hong Lok Golf. Andrea Atzeni was tracking the speed comfortably through the middle stages and the gelding was there for him when the Sicilian asked for an effort around the home turn. He got to the outside at the top of the straight and took the lead, holding off his rivals as the race favourite moved up. He couldn’t fend off Hong Lok Golf close to home, but only narrowly. SOLEIL FIGHTER jumped the second favourite and had his chance back to the inside under Zac Purton after settling on the back of the leader, the other two were just better on the day.
Race 7 – Tai Hang Tung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.12 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
GLORY B (AUS 5yo g Sir Prancealot – Silent Stash) continued his good run of form, getting back to winning ways for Lyle Hewitson. Despite jumping from a wide stall, the gelding was away quickly and rolled across heading to the first turn to land on the outside of the leader. The speed was solid throughout the race, but the gelding was travelling well throughout, and he was right there ready to pounce around the home turn. Hewitson ended up near the middle of the track, but he took the lead with 150m to run and had too much gas in the tank, winning by a half-length on the line. FORTUNE WHISKEY was away only fairly and ended up in a midfield position as they sorted their order out despite jumping from an inside barrier. The gelding travelled well through the middle stages but just needed some luck coming to the turn. With rivals on his outside weakening, it allowed Ellis Wong to switch off heels and into the clear down the middle of the track as he came with his run. He finished off well to claim second position, but he never really looked like a threat to the winner. NEW POWER rolled forward to lead the field and rolled along at a good gallop throughout. He didn’t lay down in the straight, sticking on boldly right to the line as he finished just three-quarters of-a-length off the winner.
Race 8 – Sheung Shui Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.98 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
DEFINITIIVE (NZ 4yo g War Decree – Fascinate Me) turned his form right around as he returned to winning ways, bringing up a winning double for jockey Karis Teetan. From the wide barrier, Karis Teetan rolled forward and landed in a brilliant position one-out and one-back as they entered the first turn. The speed slowed down the side of the course and the four-year-old was travelling strongly under Teetan, but he settled better passing the halfway stage of the race. The pace picked up from then on and with a mid-race move zooming around the outside, it gave Teetan plenty of options around the turn. The Mauritian swung wide, getting to the outside at the top of the straight with Definitive already under the whip. He was responding however, making his run down the middle of the track to take the lead inside the final 50m. His late strength was on display as he got away to win by a neck on the line in a very strong performance. PRESTIGE ALWAYS led the field from barrier 10 and was able to dictate the speed through the middle stages of the race. He picked up the tempo from the 600m point and was travelling well around the turn, proving hard to run down early in the straight. He kept fighting when rivals loomed up, but Definitive had the last crack at them. He got his nose down to hold on for second position, but the winner was just too strong late. SAMARKAND was on the back of the leader throughout the run and snuck up the inside to make his challenge. He was there to win if good enough, but he couldn’t get in front of Prestige Always and remained in third position to the line.
Race 9 – Cheung Sheung Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.39 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
It had been almost two years to the day since NORDIC DRAGON (IRE 6yo g Starspangledbanner – Rely On Me) had last won a race, but the drought was broken in the final event of the night under Antoine Hamelin. The six-year-old showed good speed out of the barriers but was left racing three-wide around the first turn, eventually getting cover out wide early down the back straight. As they turned off the back, Hamelin began to make his move, ending up near the middle of the track around the turn and making his run. He loomed ominously out wide on straightening and quickly took over, hitting the front with 150m to run and looking like the Nordic Dragon of old. He got away from his rivals to score by a half-length on the line in relatively easy fashion. SOVEREIGN FUND was positioned to the inside of Nordic Dragon in the run under Karis Teetan and the Mauritian needed some luck around the home turn. Just as he began to make his move, he was pocketed with nowhere to go and lost plenty of momentum as he had to switch to the outside. This allowed Nordic Dragon to open a margin on him and while he closed off well late, it wasn’t enough in what was an unlucky defeat. EVERSTAR landed just off the speed and stuck on well under Harry Bentley to finish in third position, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
