Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Fai Hui Park Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.16 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
Peter Ho got the night off to a winning start with JUBILATION (Gibellines – Cherry Creek) with Keith Yeung in the saddle. He wasn't the fastest into stride and was ridden along in the early stages by Yeung to settle in the second half of the field. The pace was good, and Yeung was able to slide along the inside to improve his position down the back straight, moving closer as they approached the 600m point. The moves began as they turned off the back and Jubilation lost some ground heading around the home turn, but continued to race along the inside as they swung into the straight. Yeung shifted him into the clear at the top of the straight and the gelding let rip powerfully, storming right over the top of his rivals to score by three-quarters of-a-length on the line. He got over the top of DAILY BEAUTY who has made a move turning off the back and had raced to the lead early in the straight. It was a dead-heat for third with CHIRON and FIERY FLYING storming home late and hitting the line locked together.
Race 2 – Hong Kong Park Handicap, HK $2,640,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 55.93 Standard Time: 56.55 Course/Class record: 55.89 Whizz Kid
Fans were treated to a Class 2 speed-fest as the second event on the night with Zac Purton saluting for favourite backers aboard STOLTZ (More Than Ready – Decelerator). The champion jockey settled just off the leader in the run, stalking his main danger in the market through the middle stages. Purton was just biding his time as he worked off heels and into the straight, ambling up to the leader at the top of the straight and sprinting away inside the final 100m to record an easy 1-3/4 length victory. WHIZZ KID jumped the second favourite and rolled to the front under Hugh Bowman. It was an improved effort from the gelding getting back to the Happy Valle course, but he was no match for the winner who was just far too good. KURPANY ran into third appreciating the drop back in distance.
Race 3 – Kowloon Park Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.36 Standard Time: 1:10.20 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Alex Badel was the next jockey to hit the board, leading al the way with VIVA A LA (Showcasing – Zafrenzy). After getting away cleanrly from the inside barrier, the gelding burrowed through the lead the field into the first turn. Badel was left alone out in front but was still running along at a strong tempo, continuing to lead the field off the back straight with his rivals strung out turning for home. He quickened well at the top of the straight and broke a length clear of his nearest rival, running his opponents into the ground and winning well by a length on the line. YOUNG SPARKLE was doing his best work over the closing stages, running on well into second position with a very eye-catching effort. THETA HEDGE raced up on the speed throughout and only faded inside the final 100m to finish in third.
Race 4 – Kowloon Tsai Park Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2200m - Track Good
Time: 2:16.93 Standard Time: 2:17.30 Course/Class record: 2:14.42 Bright Kid
SUPER HONG KONG (Kermadec – Indiscretions) capitalised on his recent string of good form with a very impressive victory for Tony Millard and Karis Teetan. The gelding jumped well and slotted into the one-out-one-back position with ease shortly after the start and was put to sleep by Teetan. There was no real change to the order as the pace was moderate through the first half of the race and the field packed up even more approaching the 800m point. The speed quickened from that point as some moves from the rear came and Teetan started to nudge his mount along around the home turn, getting the gelding into top gear as they turned for home. It didn't take long for the son of Kermadec to hit the front, taking control at the 200m and striding clear to win by 3-3/4 lengths in a huge win. BORN THE SAME DAY sustained his mid-race move to be in the finish, running a clear second with MANAGEMENT FOLKS running into third position.
Race 5 – Morse Park Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good
Time: 1:40.16 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Hugh Bowman overcame a fall earlier in the night to score aboard D STAR (Darci Brahma – Florella) for Tony Cruz. Bowman urged the gelding along shortly after the start but could only manage to settle in the second half of the field with a good go for the lead early on. As the field travelled down the back, the tempo slowed and the field bunched, forcing Bowman to press on and make a move approaching the 600m point. The Australian hoop shot around his rivals and went straight to the front near the 400m point, leading the field for home. The gelding just kept on trucking under the urgings of Bowman, running away from his rivals to win by 2-1/4 lengths under a very smart ride. STRONGEST BOY ran on from near the rear to finish in second, along with PALACE PAL who also made a strong run from the back. Race favourite Beau Gosse settled midfield but couldn't run on at the finish ending up in 11th place and beaten 10 lengths. Jockey Lyle Hewitson told stewards' that the gelding was reluctant to race amongst other horses and raced ungenerously throughout the event.
Race 6 – Shan Kwong Road Park Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 57.27 Standard Time: 57.10 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
Zac Purton bought up his second win of the night aboard the Me Tsui-conditioned SERGEANT PEPPER (I Am Invincible – Resonates) who overcame the outside barrier to win. The gelding was quickly into stride from barrier 12 and was ridden along by Puton to go and find the front, getting across to sit on the outside of the leader. The speed was fast and the field strung out turning off the back, with Purton's mount being pushed three-wide turning into the straight. He was hanging tough in the straight with a number of winning chances appearing at the 150m point. The five-year-old dug in to take the lead with 100m to run and held his rivals at bay to win by a short head on the line, getting a nod in the photo finish. There were horses coming from everywhere, with OVERSUBSCRIBED making a lunge on the line but just missing. He had his chance if he was good enough, but just couldn't stick his nose in front. SAVVY DELIGHT was also flashing in the closing stages, running into third position down the centre of the course.
Race 7 – Victoria Park Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.47 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Alex Badel bought up a double on the night with WATCH BUDDY (Rothesay – Rhodopis) leading all the way to score for Ricky Yiu. The gelding got away well from the inside draw and worked along the inside to hold the lead as they travelled down the back stretch. The pace was solid without doing too much work up front and Badel wasn't taken on as they worked their way around the home turn. He travelled into the straight strongly and quickly put up 2 length son his rivals when the Frenchman pressed the button. He was tiring late in the race, but had built a big enough gap to score by a neck. JUNEAU FLASH was running on strongly once again down the centre of the course but couldn't reel in the winner, finishing in second while MELBOURNE HALL continued his consistent season crossing the line in third. LUCKY GOR jumped favourite and was racing on the speed before fading to finish 3-3/4 lengths back in 8th place, but a post-race veterinary examination did find the gelding to have blood in his trachea.
Race 8 – Victoria Park Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:10.14 Standard Time: 1:09.95 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
JOYFUL HUNTER (Darci Brahma – Giant Hunter) made it two wins from as many starts as Vincent Ho steered the gelding to victory. He was only fairly away, but landed in a midfield position for the local hoop as they worked around the first turn. The pace was solid down the back stretch, but the three-year-old was travelling well through the middle stages. Ho began to creep forward approaching the 400m point and swung out wide turning for home with the gelding in the clear on straightening. He was still very green in running and took an eternity to wind up, but he rattled home over the closing stages to get his nose down on the line to snatch victory right on the post. He edged out COLONEL right on the line who was ridden perfectly out in front by Brenton Avdulla. He led almost every centimetre of the race but was grabbed right on the line. Savvy Chic was right there at the finish as well, finishing just a head away in third.
Race 9 – Waterfall Bay Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.62 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Zac Purton rounded out the night with another winner, bringing up a treble on the night aboard the John Size-trained REWARD SMILE (Havana Grey – Chandresh). The gelding got away well from the inside draw and landed in a beautiful spot just off the pace as they worked around the first turn. The pace was solid and Purton had the sit just off the leaders as they turned off the back, moving into the one-out-one-back position approaching the home turn. He had plenty of horse underneath him as they swung into the straight and quickened well, eventually taking the lead with 100m to run. He was strong right to the line, getting clear close to home and winning by 1-1/4 lengths on the line. ARMOUR EAGLE crossed in a clear second, running on well from midfield for Harry Bentley. MAJESTIC KNIGHT stuck on gamely after leading the field in running. He carried equal-top weight tonight and is not to be discounted if he steps up in grade next time out.
