Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Lau Fau Shan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:40.50 Standard Time: 1:40.40 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
CERVIN (FR 4yo g Holy Roman Emperor – Justice Angel) scored his maiden win at start nine. The gelding jumped well and rolled forward from barrier three to sit in a handy position just off the speed for Keagan De Melo. As the race continued to unfold, De Melo was able to wedge himself between horses to hold the one-out-one-back position, remaining within striking distance as they turned off the back straight. The flashy grey loomed ominously as they got to the home turn, moving into a clear third place and beginning to swing to the outside to make his run. Cervin let rip down the middle of the track on straightening to take the lead midway down the stretch. He was a clear leader with 100m to run, and though there was a runner closing on him late, he'd built a big enough gap to hold on and score by a neck on the line. INVINCIBLE MISSILE was slowly away from barrier seven and was a clear last on jumping. The gelding settled at the tail of the field and never appeared comfortably under Antoine Hamelin, with the Frenchman always niggling at his mount in the wet conditions. He was under heavy pressure with 500m to run, but Hamelin got his mount to the very outside and he was sticking on well right out wide. The leader looked home for all money before Invincible Missile stormed home down the outside, getting to within a neck in the dying stages. IVICTORIAM weaved through traffic to run into third position after being a clear last on straightening.
Race 2 – Yuen Long Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:39.67 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
TAKE ACTION (NZ 4yo g Sacred Falls – Pleased) held on to win by the barest of margins for Karis Teetan and John Size, scoring his maiden victory. The four-year-old ended up in a midfield position from barrier one with a solid tempo being set through the early stages of the race. The field was strung out passing the 1000m point, but Take Action was travelling comfortably and Teetan began to narrow the margin passing the 800m point. Teetan got off the inside as they approached the home turn and burrowed through a narrow gap early in the straight to hit the front. It was a two-horse war right down the straight, with the Mauritian's mount getting his nose down where it mattered most for a very tight victory. NINJA DERBY rolled forward from barrier five to be in the first half of the field around the first turn, eventually landing in a more midfield position through the middle stages. Zac Purton raced alongside the eventual winner through the middle stages of the race, before giving the winner an advantage turning off the back. Purton ended up in the second half of the field around the home turn but got moving out wider on the course and made a strong run down the middle of the track. He and Take Action did battle over the final 200m, but it was Take Action who got the nod in a photo finish. STURDY RUBY was closing off strongly as the widest runner in the straight to grab third, finishing 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 3 – Kai Tak Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.27 Standard Time: 1:10.15 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Luke Ferraris and Mark Newnham continued to build on their successful partnership with SUPER CHARIZZARD (NZ 4yo g U S Navy Flag – Ala Rasi) shedding his maiden tag. The gelding showed good pace off the inside barrier to land on the back of the leader as they approached the first turn with the pace being solid through the opening stages of the race. Ferraris didn't let the leader get out of his sights, being right within striking distance around the turn and remaining to the inside as they entered the home straight. It took a little while for the grey to wind up, but he was looming large with 100m to run and eventually took over close to home, inching away to win by a half-length on the line. WINNING HEART didn't get a clean getaway from barrier two and ended up in a midfield position in the running, racing on the back of the eventual winner. After travelling well in the run, a gap appeared for Harry Bentley at the top of the straight with the gelding getting through his gears down the straight. He pushed his way into the clear with 50m to run and made a late charge at the leaders, getting his nose down on the line to steal second position in a photo finish. ALLOY KING jumped quickly and rolled forward to lead the field in the run. He proved very hard to get past in the straight and was only collared in the final 50m, missing out on second in a photo finish.
Race 4 – Kwu Tung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:40.41 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
VIVA GRACIOUSNESS (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Divine City) secured the first win of his career, leading throughout to score by a neck on the line. The gelding was only fairly into stride but mustered well to take up the running as they worked around the first turn. Matthew Chadwick was left alone out in front, though he did set a solid tempo throughout as he led by about a length through the middle stages. The gap increased as they came to the home turn with plenty of his rivals under heavy pressure turning for home, with Viva Graciousness three or 4 lengths in front with 200m remaining. He was getting tired close to home, but the margin was big enough for the gelding to hold on by a neck on the line. COURIER MAGIC was flashing home late in the race to grab second. The gelding landed in the second half of the field from barrier two and raced along the inside rail. Ben Thompson was able to slide along the inside and improve his position coming to the home turn, with the Australian hoop cutting the corner and sliding up the fence in the straight. He didn't go around a runner and made a late charge for the victory, just missing by a neck on the line. SMART CITY plugged away to finish third after sitting close to the speed throughout the event.
Race 5 – The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors 40th Anniversary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:09.81 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
James McDonald and Jamie Richards combined with STORMING DRAGON (AUS 4yo g Star Turn – Sessantesimo) finally capitalising on his form with a victory at start number eight, the first of his career. The gelding jumped well, and McDonald put him into a handy position early on, before ending up in a more midfield position as they turned into the back straight. McDonald remained one off the fence throughout the run and commenced his move at the 400m point as the leaders skipped away on straightening. McDonald looked the only danger to the leading pair in the straight with the four-year-old mowing them down inside the final 100m. He was very good late in the race to win comfortably in the end by a half-length. AFFIRM has raced on the speed throughout for Luke Ferraris and turned for home locked together with the leader, but well in advance of the chasing pack. The galloper took control midway down the straight and was showing plenty of strength, only to be caught inside the final 50m by the race favourite. SPICY SPANGLE had led the field in the race and felt the pinch close to home. He finished a clear third, with about three lengths back to fourth.
Race 6 – San Tin Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:09.87 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
James McDonald quickly made it a race-to-race double as YEE CHEONG WARRIOR (AUS 5yo g War – Elly's Spirit) saluted for the first win of his career. McDonald came out neutrally aboard the five-year-old before looking to roll forward and improve his position around the home turn. He was left racing wide in the early stages but did slot into the running line with around 800m remaining. The gelding never seemed to be travelling well at all with McDonald always urging him along and even using the whip to get him moving around the home turn. It sparked the gelding into action as he whipped around the outside of the field around the turn and into the straight and stuck on strongly down the outside. He stormed home down the outside in fine style to take the win by a length on the line in comfortable fashion. TELECOM DRAGON jumped well from an inside barrier but didn't show much early speed with Hugh Bowman settling a little worse than midfield. Bowman was able to improve his position as they approached the turn, staying to the inside of horses around the bend and ducking back to the inside at the top of the straight. Bowman weaved his way through traffic along the inside, but the race was over once he got out. SPICY SO SMART stuck on gamely after sitting on the speed to finish in third place.
Race 7 – Hung Shui Kiu Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:39.60 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
LOVERO (JPN 5yo g Lord Kanaloa – Sacred Sight) crossed the line in second place, but was promoted to the top spot following a successful protest post-race. Lovero jumped well and landed on the back of the leader in the run for Angus Chung, cruising along comfortably in the middle stages before ducking back to the inside turning for home. Chung threw everything he had at Lovero to lift him over the line, though it appeared he came up short on the post when beaten in a photo finish. That was until Angus Chung lodged a protest due to interference at the 50m point. The Stewards were satisfied that Lovero would have beaten Super Unicorn had the contact not occurred, and the result was overturned. SUPER UNICORN raced alongside Lovero in the run, racing in the one-out-one-back position. Zac Purton was right on the leaders back as they got to the home turn, swinging three-wiide and going up to take the lead early in the straight. He looked the winner 100m from home, but ducked in under pressure and lost momentum as Purton had to straighten him up. He still held on to win as he got his head down on the line, only for the result to be overturned in the Stewards' room. ROMANTIC LAOS ran on well from beyond midfield to take third place in the middle of the track.
Race 8 – Chek Lap Kok Handicap, HK $2,840,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:09.43 Standard Time: 1:09.55 Course/Class record: 1:08.26 Rewarding Together
BEAUTY CHARGE (GB 5yo g Havana Gold – Poppets Sweetlove) handed Tony Cruz a training double on the card as he returned to winning ways. The gelding ended up near the back of the pack on settled down with Brenton Avdulla sliding across from out wide. The field bunched up passing the 600m point, but the Australian hoop was able to work his way through the traffic and improv his position slightly coming to the home turn. He needed some luck on straightening, and it came early in the stretch, getting into the clear down the outside and storming home over the concluding stages to get the job done as a $26 chance. WONDER KIT jumped a $20 pop and settled in a handy position off the inside barrier. The gelding enjoyed a lovely run in transit right on the back of the leader and was bolting for a run as they approached the home turn. He sprinted quickly to take the lead early in the straight as Lyle Hewitson cut the corner and ducked underneath his rivals. He was in front for a long way and was only caught inside the final 50m with Beauty Charge storming over the top wide out on the track. Race favourite RAGING BLIZZARD ran home well into third, slicing through traffic in the straight to finish in the placings.
Race 9 – Fanling Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Yielding
Time: 1:10.17 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Tony Cruz trained the last three winners on the night as GUSTOSISIMO (AUS 4yo g Exceed And Excel – Kaniana) held on for his first win in Hong Kong. It was a good go for the lead early on with Angus Chung spending plenty of energy from a wide draw to go around the field and take control down the back straight. Chung wasn't able to cross to the rail until the 600m point with the field strung right out as he turned off the back. Despite the strong tempo, the four-year-old travelled well and kicked strongly at the top of the straight to lead by two lengths with 150m to run. He was getting tired as expected close to home, but he was too strong out in front, holding on to win by a head on the line. EASON was charging home late in the race. After settling in a midfield position for Matthew Poon, the local jockey got right to the outside and began to make his run down the middle of the track. He looked the only danger with 100m remaining, but he couldn't reel in Gustosisimo over the closing stages. DENFIELD raced to the inside of Eason in the run and remained close to the inside for James McDonald on straightening. The gaps appeared and the race was there for him if he was good enough to win. Despite finishing 1L off the winner, he closed off nicely to finish third.
