Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Tai Lam Chung Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.90 Standard Time: 1:10.15 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
It was a tight finish to the first event of the card, with SPEEDSTAR (NZ 6yo g Sweynesse – That Jamaican Girl) getting the win for Karis Teetan and David Hall. He wasn't the fastest out of the barriers and was in the second half of the field around the first turn with the pace solid up front. Midway down the back, Karis Teetan was able to slide into a more midfield position sitting one off the fence, tracking into the race nicely turning off the back. The Mauritian jockey was able to improve with cover around the home turn, getting to the middle of the track where he began to surge with 200m remaining. He ran home strongly to hit the front over the concluding stages to win by a short head on the line in a three-way photo finish, running over the top at $7.10. VULCANUS was left racing wide and without cover through the middle stages with Vincent Ho unable to slot into the running line from barrier eight. He improved into the race nicely around the home turn, giving Speedstar a cart into the race around the bend. Despite being wide throughout, the gelding wouldn't go down without a fight, hitting the front with around 50m remaining and only being caught in the shadows of the post. COSMO NAVIGATOR was in the prime position around the home turn and loomed up to the leaders early in the straight. He hit the front with 100m to run but couldn't fend off the first two across the line.
Race 2 – Tai Lam Chung Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.80 Standard Time: 1:10.15 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
PODIUM (AUS 6yo g Medaglia d'Oro – Apamurra) scored his maiden victory at start 18 in the second event of the night. The newcomer to the David Eustace stable was taken back from a sticky barrier to end up nearly the tail of the field on settling down. Matthew Poon was happy to just let the race unfold in front of him, with the duo being 6-1/2 lengths off the leader with 800m remaining. Ge was able to move three-wide with cover and track into the race nicely around the home turn with Poon getting to the extreme outside early in the straight with five lengths to make up. He stormed home down the middle of the track to hit the front with 50m remaining and stormed clear for an easy victory. He won comfortably in the end, with the official margin being 1-1/4 lengths. GORGEOUS VITALITY jumped quickly and was put on the speed by Lyle Hewitson, sitting on the outside of the leader in running. They set a solid tempo through the middle stages which helped set up the fastest overall time of the three Class 5, 1200m races to begin the card. Around the home turn, Hewitson began to apply pressure to the race leader, and he took the lead shortly after turning for home. He was getting tired late in the race and was left a sitting duck out in front, but to his credit he was only beaten by Podium to the finish. He held on for second after jumping a $23 chance, the third-longest priced runner of the field. WINNING HEART stormed home late to grab third, weaving his way through the congestion to pick up a minor placing.
Race 3 – Tai Lam Chung Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.22 Standard Time: 1:10.15 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
Matthew Poon quickly made it a race-to-race double as ISLAND GOLDEN (NZ 5yo g Time Test – The Beckett) kicked strongly to hold off his rivals. The local hoop pressed on from barrier six to get across and sit on the outside of the leader in the run with an even tempo being set. After travelling well through the middle stages, Poon was already beginning to niggle at his mount with 500m remaining, with the five-year-old making up some ground approaching the home turn. He cornered well and hit the front with 200m remaining and continued to find under the urgings of the local hoop. Every time a horse came to him, he seemed to find that little bit extra, holding on right to the line to score by a short head on the wire. SUPER EAGLE bounced well and landed in the one-out-one-back position for Karis Teetan. The Mauritian had the run of the race throughout the middle stages and peeled off the eventual winner's back to mount his challenge early in the straight. The race was there to be won if he was good enough, but he just couldn't stick his nose in front of Island Golden, going under in a photo finish. JOYFUL FRIENDSHIP closed off strongly from well back in the run. He was held up momentarily at the top of the straight, but once he found clear air he rocketed home to grab third.
Race 4 – Shek Pik Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.21 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
PRINCE ALEX (AUS 6yo g Animal Kingdom – Alexandra Rose) finally broke his maiden status at start 25 tonight. The six-year-old was urged along out of the barriers to try and hold a spot under Harry Bentley, with the Englishman able to slot into a midfield position in the running line. The tempo was good through the early stages as the leaders broke away down the back straight and the field became strung out. It was at the 800m point that Bentley began to get on his bike, rolling forward under the gelding's own steam to be within striking distance at the 400m point with the margin continuing to narrow coming into the straight. Bentley hit the front at the top of the straight and the gelding quickened well when asked for an effort. He was challenged inside the final 100m, but the six-year-old pulled out everything he's got to hold on for his first victory. SURE JOYFUL jumped well from wider out and rolled across to land in the one-out-one-back position for Matthew Chadwick, sitting just in front of the eventual winner in the run. The local hoop didn't tack on to the leaders as they broke away and lost his spot in running around the home turn which probably cost him the race. After being on Prince Alex's tail around the turn, Sure Joyful was unable to peg back the margin and finished a neck away. NORTHERN BEAST kept on well to snag third position after weaving his way through traffic early in the stretch.
Race 5 – The American Club Challenge Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.66 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
BEAUTY DESTINY (AUS 5yo g Star Turn – Cocoexcel) got there right on the post to steal victory away from the odds-on favourite in race five. After being snagged to the ail of the field early in the race, Andrea Atzeni was able to improve along the inside rail coming to the 600m point, pinching some runs along the inside. There was a logjam as they swung into the straight and Beauty Destiny was left flat footed with Atzeni having to check off heels at a crucial moment. He was able to get into the clear midway down the straight and stormed home over the top to win narrowly on the post, scoring by a short head in a photo finish. STORMING DRAGON settled just off the speed from barrier two with Zac Purton remaining away from the rail in the running. The Australian hoop was able to get into the clear at the top of the straight with Purton storming down the outside as he chased after the leader. He hit the front with around 50m to run but couldn't fend off Beauty Destiny who got his nose in front in the final couple of strides. LEAN MASTER stayed on well after leading the field throughout, finishing third down along the inside rail just 1-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 6 – Tai Tam Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.82 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Andrea Atzeni quickly made it a winning double on the night as he partnered GIANT LEAP (AUS 4yo g Capitalist – Malakiya) to victory in race six. The son of Capitalist rocketed out of the machine, but with a rival kicking up on his inside, Atzeni was happy to sit on the outside of the leader on settling down. The pace was good throughout and the four-year-old had plenty to offer coming to the straight as he stuck his nose in front with 400m remaining. He kicked strongly when asked for an effort and although he wobbled back to the inside under pressure, it didn't affect his finishing burst. He went on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in great fashion and he looks to have more in store. YEE CHEONG SPIRIT settled on the back of the leader from barrier one and enjoyed a lovely run under Vincent Ho. The4 local hoop tried to push his way to the outside as they approached the straight but was forced to duck back to the inside on straightening. He got through a gap with a furlong to run and was there to win if good enough, but Giant Leap was just too good on the night. PRIME MORTAR kept on well after landing in the one-out-one-back position for Angus Chung closing off well to finish in third.
Race 7 – Shek Lei Pui Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:48.84 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
WINNING STEPS (AUS 6yo g Pierro – Crystal Fairy) continued his strong start to the season with his second victory of the term. Karis Teetan took the gelding back immediately after the start and settled toward the tail of the field, racing one off the fence with a lap to run. The pace was solid early with a good go for the lead up front, stringing the field out down the side of the course. The field bunched up down the back straight and turning off the back, Teetan began to make his move, getting into the three-wide trail and swinging widest turning for home. The six-year-old stormed down the middle of the track to hit the front with 50m to run and he was too strong to the line, scoring by a neck on the post in a nice victory. CHAIN OF GOLD settled midfield along the rail for Zac Purton after getting away on terms from barrier two. Purton was able to sneak up the inside of his rivals turning off the back, before working his way through traffic to get to the outside at the top of the straight. The gelding let down nicely when asked for an effort, hitting the front with 150m to run and only being collared late in the race. The first two put a nice gap back to ROCKET SPADE who closed off well from last on the turn to grab third.
Race 8 – Plover Cove Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.51 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
BRAVE STAR (AUS 6yo g Myboycharlie – Isador Amore) made it three wins from three starts this season, scoring again at good odds under Vincent Ho. After getting away on terms, Ho had to press on and try to slot into the running line in which he found the perfect spot one-out-one-back. With plenty of the hard work done, the local hoop tracked the leaders off the back, before peeling three-wide approaching the home turn and beginning to improve. The leader got a couple of lengths in front at the top of the straight, but Brave Star knuckled down to get past him with 100m remaining. He didn't exactly run away with the race, but it all looked relatively comfortably as he held off some late challengers to win yb a neck on the line. GOKO WIN had settled in the second half of the field under Matthew Chadwick with the local jockey remaining close to the inside on straightening. He quickened well and made a late charge inside the final 100m to run into second position, beaten a neck on the line. FULL CREDIT kicked away at the top of the straight but couldn't sustain the effort down to the wire, peaking on the run late in the race, but holding on for third in a commendable effort.
Race 9 – High Island Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.47 Standard Time: 1:39.30 Course/Class record: 1:37.90 Woodfire Bro
CHILL CHIBI (NZ 5yo g Wrote – My Amazing Cool) got back into the winners stall today after going almost a year between drinks. As per his racing style, Zac Purton eased the gelding back after the start and landed in the second half of the field. The Australian hoop eventually worked down to the rail where he raced comfortably through the middle stages of the race, improving to be midfield with 1000m to run. He continued to creep closer down the back straight, still racing along the inside fence as he began to nudge the gelding along turning off the back. The runner to his outside began to tire, which allowed Purton to get to the outside relatively easily aboard Chill Chibi, allowing for an unimpeded run early in the straight. He let rip down the outside once Purton got to work, running on strongly to hit the front with 50m to run and winning comfortably on the line by a half length under hands and heels. FLAMINGO TRILLION jumped quickly from gate six and rolled forward under Derek Leung to sit on the outside of the leader throughout the event. He was left a little flat footed around the turn as the leader kicked strongly when the pace ramped up, but he got through his gears nicely to be within a length at the top of the straight. He stuck to his task well as he ranged up to the leader, but he never quite took the front as Chill Chibi stormed home out wider. He ran into second position close to home but the winner was just a cut above. TELECOM FIGHTERS held the lead throughout and quickened nicely around the home turn as Keagan De Melo tried to break away from the chasing pack. He was unable to sustain that effort down to the line, tiring late in the race, but he was still good enough to cling on for third.
