Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Sliver Grecian Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.83 Standard Time: 57.15 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
OODMANSHIP (AUS 6yo g Al Maher – West Of Katrina) scored his first win since January 2022 in the opening event. The gelding was a little slow into stride and was ridden along aggressively by Karis Teetan in the early part, attempting to hold a position midfield on settling down. The pace was quick and Goodmanship was able to rally through beneath rivals approaching the home turn, ending up in fourth position as thye entered the straight. There was plenty of room for the gelding to come through and while he was still two lengths away at the 100m point, the leader was getting tired. He showed plenty of strength to take the lead with 50m remaining and get away from the chasing rivals late in the race, scoring by a half-length after jumping a $19 chance. HAPPY TANGO was away smartly off the inside and took up a stalking role as they sorted their order out. Ellis Wong was sitting off the breakaway leader, but still had him within striking distance around the turn. He was overtaken by Goodmanship with 100m remaining but clung on well over the concluding stages to be just a half-length away at the line. GALLANT GOODY rounded out the placings at a massive $58 quote. Matthew Chadwick was able to go right under all his rivals in the run to the line, running into third position after settling toward the rear of the field.
Race 2 – Super Oasis Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:49.29 Standard Time: 1:49.75 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars
NINJA DERBY (NZ 4yo g Ocean Park – Pastrana) shed the maiden tag at start number 17 for Matthew Chadwick and Tony Cruz. The local jockey was able to hold a forward position from a favourable alley, sitting on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He was travelling well in the run as they cruised along at an even tempo through the middle stages of the event. As the race began to unfold turning off the back, Chadwick found himself in a sticky situation, needing some luck as his rivals had boxed him in around the home turn. Chadwick went for a narrow gap on straightening and bulldozed his way into the open, catching the leader and taking control with 150m left to run. The gelding shot away from his rivals in the run to the line, scoring comfortably by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. GO GO GO jumped the race favourite for Zac Purton and Chris So and landed in a midfield position in running. Purton was away from the rail in running, which allowed him to work into the race ominously around the home turn, getting a nice cart into the race as the runners in front of him made their move. The Australian jockey swung wide turning for home and made his run down the centre of the course, joining the leaders with a furlong to run. He was given every chance in the run, but Ninja Derby was just better on the day as Go Go Go finished a clear second. TURTLE AGAIN was racing to the inside of Go Go Go in the run and tracked that runner into the race turning for home. He had his chance if he was good enough, but he ended up three lengths off the winner in third.
Race 3 – Turin Redsun Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.97 Standard Time: 1:40.05 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Karis Teetan secured an early double on the card as BRAVE WITNESS (AUS 4yo g Star Witness – Amberio) shed the maiden tag at start 12. Jumping as the race favourite from barrier one, Teetan was able to put the gelding into the box seat right after the jump, settling on the back of the leader. The pace was good throughout the event with no change to the order, with Karis Teetan still on the back of the leader approaching the home turn. He needed some luck on straightening, but the leader got away from the inside rail which allowed the Mauritian to sneak through underneath his opponents. It took the favourite a little while to wind up, but he hit top gear with 150m to run, hitting the front with 100m remaining and going on to win by three-quarters of-a-length. MATSU VICTOR was able to land midfield and with cover in the early stages, with Zac Purton able to get across and slot in within the first 150m to the line. Purton enjoyed a lovely run in the race and with no changes through the middle stages, he began to work into the race with 400m remaining. He was pushed wide on the turn and made his run down the middle of the track, sticking on well over the concluding stages under hard riding, finishing in second. WINNING STEPS ducked back to the inside rail in the straight and sustained a good run to the line. He snuck up the inside to claim third in a photo finish after settling midfield.
Race 4 – Let Me Fight Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.17 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Matthew Chadwick then scored his second win of the night, also giving Doulgas Whyte a training double with LUCKY PLANET (AUS 4yo g Pariah – Watchful Eyes) leading all the way to win impressively. The four-year-old jumped straight to the front under Chadwick, using the inside alley to his advantage around the first turn. He led comfortably down the back straight, getting out by over a length with 600m remaining and extending that lead around the home turn to be three lengths in front with 400m remaining. The son of Pariah was able to sustain the run right to the line, with the margin only being trimmed very late in the race, as Lucky Planet won by 2-1/4 lengths. SIGHT HERO turned in another good performance today, settling in a midfield position along the inside for Ben Thompson. He was racing along the inside rail in the run, and turning for home the Australian remained there, sneaking up the inside on straightening. He had plenty of space to move in the straight and while he didn't give up on the chase, the lead was insurmountable. HAROLD WIN raced just off the speed for Andrea Atzeni and finished a clear third with 3-3/4 lengths back to the fourth placed runner. He lost no admirers in the effort, he just bumped into a couple better on the night.
Race 5 – Fast Most Furious Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.82 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
It was another post-to-post victory in race five, this time GIANT LEAP (AUS 3yo g Capitalist – Malakiya) got the job done for Antoine Hamelin and Ricky Yiu. The gelding jumped on terms and burrowed through beneath his rivals to hold his position around the first turn, eventually taking control shortly after rounding the first turn. The pace wasn't overly strong through the middle stages as Hamelin was able to catch his breath, with the field packing up as they approached the home turn. The Frenchman wasn't challenged on the point of the home turn and quickened impressively on straightening to quickly get a length in front with a furlong remaining. He was wobbling about a bit under pressure, though he had built a strong lead in the run to the line and ended up a comfortable winner on the line, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths. PRIME MORTAR got away well off the inside draw and settled on the back of the leader under Angus Chung. The local hoop stalked the leader throughout the event, always keeping him within striking distance as they travelled down the back straight. Around the turn, Chung was right on the leader's heels and ducked back to the inside at the top of the straight to mount his challenge. The leader kicked too strongly though, and Prime Mortar was unable to peg back the margin, having to settle for second position. CAMINO made a strong run down the outside after racing in a midfield position to claim third position.
Race 6 – Sun Jewellery Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:37.90 Standard Time: 1:39.20 Course/Class record: 1:37.97 Tsar
WOODFIRE BRO (NZ 5yo g Echoes Of Heaven - Pico Turquino) turned his form right around and notched up his first victory in over a year. The five-year-old got away swiftly from the inside barrier and Kieth Yeung was keen to hold his position around the first turn. As they travelled down the side, Woodfire Bro obtained cover and settled on the back of the leader who was running along at a strong galloper in the middle stages. The field were strung out past the halfway point, but Yeung remained within striking distance of the leader off the back, with the local hoop having to get off the heels of the tiring leader at the top of the straight. That halted the momentum of the five-year-old somewhat, but Yeung was able to pick him up again and get him going, letting down strongly to hit the front inside the final 100m. Once he took the lead he shot away from his nearest rival, displaying a stack of late strength to win by 1-1/2 lengths, with the win capped off by a big salute from Yeung across the line and a new course/class record time. YELLOWFIN was sent forward from a wide alley to get across and settle on the outside of the leader on settling down. He travelled sweetly under Andrea Atzeni through the middle stages and the gelding took the lead shortly after straightening. Jhe was a length in front with 200m remaining, though Woodfire Bro was looming large back to the inside. Yellowfin began to feel the pinch late in the race, finishing 1-1/2 lengths off the winner. CHILL CHIBI ran on well from midfield finish in third, 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
Race 7 – Star Shine Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.80 Standard Time: 1:09.85 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
PRINCE OF PORTY (AUS 5yo g Wandjina – Starry Light) capped off a return to form with his third career victory in the seventh event on the night. Hugh Bowman got the gelding out of the barriers on terms, and he landed in a handy position close to the speed, which was strong through the opening stages. The field was stretched out with 600m remaining, but the pace slowed around the home turn and the runners were bunching up front. Bowman was down along the inside rail needing a way clear turning for home and was still held up early in the straight as he tried to guide the five-year-old off heels. The gap appeared and the Australian burst through to hit the front with 100m remaining, fending off his closest rival in a ding-dong battle to the line to win by a neck. STRIVE FOR GLORY took the race right up to the favourite, swooping around the outside to take the lead early in the straight. Strive For Glory was sitting on the back of the eventual winner in running as Alex Badel moved wider on the turn, getting into the clear at the top of the straight. The gelding let down strongly to hit the front with 150m remaining, but he couldn't fend off the race favourite who was too strong in the run to the line. A mile back in third position was CHARITY FOR ALL who was near last as they rounded the home turn. Brenton Avdulla was able to pick his way through the traffic in the straight, with his mount closing off nicely for third position, 3-1/4 lengths behind the winner.
Race 8 – Lucky Patch Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.47 Standard Time: 56.60 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
ATOMIC FORCE (IRE 5yo g Cotai Glory – Atlas Silk) caused an upset in the penultimate event of the night, giving Cody Mo his 20th win in his first training season. The five-yearold jumped well from an outside stall and was restrained early by Harry Bentley with the Englishman looking to slot in midfield. The pace was hot early and that allowed Bentley to land midfield with cover on settling, with his mount travelling well around the home turn. The English jockey swung wide turning for home, coming down the middle of the track on straightening and picking off his rivals one-by-one. It was until the final 100m where his strength shone through, picking up the leader and going on to win by a half-length on the line after jumping a $24 chance. RED ELEGANCE was poised to strike on the turn after settling in the one-out-one-back position in running. Matthew Chadwick was in a perfect position around the home turn and was the one who forced Atomic Force wide on the track on straightening. The grey gelding was there if goof enough, but he just didn't have the gas to sustain the run. He hit the line locked together for second place, just getting his nose down on the line to get the nod in a photo finish. YOUTHFUL SPIRITS jumped the race favourite and burned along out in front, setting up a strong tempo. He was still in front with 50m remaining but was tiring close to the line and just missed out on third in a photo finish.
Race 9 – Sweet Orange Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:48.88 Standard Time: 1:49.30 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
The Happy Valley season finale was taken out by FLAMINGO TRILLION (AUS 4yo g Wandjina – Double Dee), who held on to score in a close photo finish. The four-year-old jumped well from barrier nine and worked across to take the lead under Derek Leung in the early stages of the race. The son of Wandjina was running along comfortably out in front, setting just an even tempo as he wasn't taken on for the lead through the opening and middle stages. Approaching the 800m point is where the move came, with Leung able to rally back along the inside and hold his position off the back straight, regaining the lead as they swung into the straight. The gelding quickened impressively to get away from his nearest rival, with Leung throwing everything he had at his mount. He was getting tired close to home, with a couple of rivals making inroads to his inside with the judge having to separate the first two across the line in a photo finish. It was awfully close, but Flamingo Trillion got the nod, with the official margin being a nose. ROMANTIC LAOS was caught three-wide in the early going as Hugh Bowman was unable to slot into the running line from barrier seven. Despite racing three-wide, the gelding did have cover though in the second half od the field and with 800m remaining, the Australian was able to get in one off the fence to improve his position. Bowman was given a nice cart into the race and as the runners fanned wide at the top of the lane, the Australian ducked back to the inside to continue his run. He was charging at the leader inside the final 50m with Bowman making a big lunge at the post, but with the naked eye and shuttercam unable to separate the two, the judge was called in, giving the race to Flamingo Trillion. Bowman and trainer Cody Mo watched the Stewards' footage to see if there was ground for protest but did not lodge an objection. HAMERON also made a late rally up the fence, running into third position after racing in a midfield position.
