3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Bridge Of Weir Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:49.02 Standard Time: 1:50.05 Course/Class record: 1:48.33 Success Allstars:
ME TIME (GB 4yo g Cracksman – Belle Rose) secured his maiden victory, capitalising on a strong run of form. The gelding bounced well for Zac Purton and he put himself in a good position just off the speed as they headed into the first turn. There wasn't much change in the order as they worked through the middle stages, with an even tempo being set throughout. The pace began to ramp up from the 600m point with some moves coming as they turned off the back, with Purton looking to weave his way through the traffic with 400m remaining. Purton got off heels and began to work into the clear as they swung into the straight. He hit the front with around 200m and fended off his nearest challenger to inch away over the concluding stages and get the job done by a half-length on the line. GO GO GO pressed on from his wide barrier to land on the speed for Ellis Wong, sitting in third position on the back of the leader throughout the event. He was poised to strike as they came to the turn, getting into the clear down the middle of the track and making his run alongside the eventual winner. He put up a good fight down the stretch, though he couldn't match Me Time late in the race as he began to inch clear. The first two across the line put a good gap back to SUNNY BABY who cut the corner and snuck up the inside to run into third place.
Race 2 – Cramond Island Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.48 Standard Time: 57.35 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
PLENTIFUL (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Labdien) shed the maiden tag, turning his form right around for Andrea Atzeni and Pierre Ng. The gelding was a little slow into stride, though he mustered plenty of speed to land just off the pace under Atzeni. He was in a handy position off the rail as they came to the turn, getting into the clear with ease and letting rip down the middle of the track. He sprinted quickly to hit the front with 200m to run and although he was getting tired late in the race, he had enough left in the tank to keep his rivals at bay and win comfortably on the line, with the official margin three quarters of-a-length. HAPPY HORSE was one of the fastest into stride and positioned himself on the speed for Matthew Chadwick who didn't have to do too much work early doors. The gelding raced on the back of the leader as they swung around the bend, getting a nice trail into the race before ducking back to the inside as they turned the corner. He never really hit the front as Plentiful came storming down the outside, but he kept on well up the fence to finish in second position, just edging out WIND SPEEDER in a photo finish. Keith Yeung ended up a little worse than midfield aboard Wind Speeder, racing between horses coming to the turn. He let down well in the straight though, storming down the middle of the track to finish in third position.
Race 3 – Raeburn Place Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:41.10 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Zac Purton made it an early double on the card with TURIN WARRIOR (AUS 7yo g Not A Single Doubt – Siwa) getting the job done for his first win of the season. The Australian hoop snagged the gelding back toward the tail of the field with the speed pretty good through the early stages of the race. Purton remained along the inside as they swung around the turn, riding for luck up the inside and getting into a bumping duel at the top of the straight. He needed to pick up with 100m to run as he was about a length off the winner, and that he did under Purton's hard riding. He found another gear close to home, surging to the front and getting the win by a half-length on the line. STOMIC BEAUTY was able to slot into the running line in a midfield position for Brenton Avdulla after getting away from barrier six on terms. The gelding travelled well throughout the run and Avdulla began to make his move with 500m to run, improving deep on the course and being pushed very wide as they turned for home. Despite being very wide on the track, he ranged up to hit the front shortly after straightening and got a length in front of his rival's midway down the straight. There was a wall chasing him and while he kept on strongly to the line, he was beaten by one better on the day in a commendable effort. CLASSIC CENTURY plugged away along the inside rail to run into third position.
Race 4 – Ben Nevis Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:16.39 Standard Time: 2:17.25 Course/Class record: 2:14.42 Bright Kid
AFFORDABLE (AUS 5yo g Hardham – Preventable) secured his maiden victory at his first try over 2200m with James McDonald in the saddle for David Hayes. He was a little slow into stride from barrier nine with McDonald swiftly crossing to the inside rail early in the race. It was a little messy early on through the early stages of the race, but the leader got along at an even tempo through the middle stages with no real change to the order. McDonald was held up for a run coming to the turn, having to stick to the inside fence and cut the corner at the top of the straight. He was left a little flat footed as the ones with the momentum up around the outside gained the upper hand, though Affordable was making his charge up the fence. He stuck his nose in front with 50m to run and was able to get the job done by a neck on the line in a strong effort. MANAGEMENT FOLKS also ended up in the second half of the field for Zac Purton, with the Australian hoop able to sneak along the inside rail early doors to improve his position slightly. Purton didn't have a whole lot of room to move through the middle stages, but he was able to pick his way through the traffic around the home turn and get himself into the clear early in the straight. He was there to strike if good enough, but Affordable was just better on the night. CHARITY GAIN made a strong run down the outside to grab third as the $2.70 favourite.
Race 5 – The St Andrews Challenge Quaich (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.00 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Luke Ferraris and Mark Newnham combined to win the feature event of the night with FATAL BLOW (AUS 4yo g Russian Revolution – River Vixen). The gelding got away well and rolled forward around the outside to sit up on the pace. He was racing on the outside of the leader throughout the event and was travelling beautifully as they approached the turn. The gelding was only grinding away on the outside of the leader, and it took a while for the four-year-old to stick his nose in front. He finally stuck his nose in front with 50m remaining and held off a late challenge to get the job done in a photo finish, winning by a short head. THE PERFECT MATCH ended up a little worse than midfield in the run after jumping from barrier two. He didn't have the kindest of runs as they worked into the straight, with McDonald working through the traffic and finally getting out with around 100m left to run. He stormed home late in the race to just miss out on victory in a very eye-catching effort. NORTHERN FIRE BALL had to press on from out wide to take up the running down the back straight and he kept finding under Zac Purton early in the straight. He just felt the pinch late in the race, finishing third but only beaten a half-length.
Race 6 – Edinburgh Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.03 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Jamie Richards picked up his fourth win of the season with GALLANT VALOUR (AUS 4yo g Heroic Valour – Lassila) winning again. He was only fairly into stride and ended up about midfield for Hugh Bowman, racing one away from the rail. The speed was good, and the field was strung out through the middle stages, compacting again as they turned off the back straight. Bowman waited until the point of the home turn before making his move, peeling out very wide and making his run down the middle of the course. The gelding sprinted quickly as he moved up and stuck his nose in front with 100m to run. Once he got to the lead, he was very wayward, with Bowman having to straighten up the gelding as he began to lay in on top of his nearest rival. Once the Australian had straightened him up though he stuck to the task well, keeping his head in front and getting the job done. GOLDEN RISE jumped well and landed just off the speed for James McDonald, getting a lovely run in the race. The gelding was positioned just in front of the eventual winner Gallant Valour and McDonald gave that horse a tow into the race around the home corner. Gallant Valour and Golden Rise made their runs together down the middle of the track, with Golden Rise just bumping into one better on the night. VALHALLA had set the tempo up front and kept on well to finish in third position, 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 7 – Edinburgh Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.72 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Andrea Atzeni picked up his second win of the night as BEAUTY DESTINY (AUS 5yo g Star Turn – Cocoexcel) trounced his opponents to bring up back-to-back wins. The five-year-old was one of the slowest into stride and was a long way off the lead as they turned into the back stretch with a quick tempo being set up front. The speed gradually slowed as they worked down the back straight with Atzeni beginning to get off the inside turning off the back stretch. The Sicilian jockey got his mount into the clear down the outside and he let rip, moving up to hit the lead with 150m remaining and he bolted away to score by 2-3/4 lengths in a very, very impressive victory. TELECOM POWER got away on terms and landed in a midfield position for Keagan De Melo. The South African hoop remained off the inside fence in the run despite having plenty of room to move, with De Melo beginning to make his move past the 400m pint. He came with a nice run down the outside, but just as he loomed up to the leaders, Beauty Destiny went whoosh right by him. He sustained the run well to the line, finishing a half-length clear in second, but the winner was just a class above. RACINGRACE settled in the one-out-one-back position for Brenton Avdulla and stuck on well to hold on for third position after sitting close to the hot early speed.
Race 8 – Loch Lomond Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.76 Standard Time: 56.70 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
HEALTHY HEALTHY (NZ 5yo g Per Incanto – Spritz) returned to the winner's stall for the first time in almost a year. He wasn't the fastest into stride and was roused along in the early stages to keep in touch with the main pack as the pace was frenetic early doors. He was building into the race nicely around the turn and was pushed wide on straightening as Vincent Ho asked for an effort. The leader was miles in front with 200m remaining, but the gelding showed plenty of strength late in the race to mow him down with 50m left to run, getting over the top to score by a neck. ETERNAL FORTUNE jumped well from a wide barrier and was racing on the speed throughout the race, though he was caught wide and without cover early on. As the leader got away down the back. He did get some cover in the running line through the middle stages, before James McDonald commenced his move around the home turn. He came right down the outside of the track, making his run alongside Healthy Healthy as they got to the leader with 50m remaining. He couldn't keep his nose in front tough with the winner proving too strong right down the outside. TOUFUL SPIRITS set a strong tempo out in front and led comfortably at the top of the straight. he only felt the pinch late in proceedings and ended up in third, beaten 1-1/4 lengths with a further length back to the rest of the field.
Race 9 – Inverness Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:49.38 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
Hugh Bowman and Caspar Fownes combined to win the final event of the night with ROCKET SPADE (AUS 7yo g Fastnet Rock – Affairoftheheart) picking up the second win of his career in Hong Kong. Despite getting away on terms, Bowman was pretty happy to snag the gelding shortly after the start and land in a position a little worse than midfield. The tempo was even through the early and middle stages with Bowman remaining one off the fence heading down the back stretch with no change to the order. As the approached the 400m point, the Australian hoop began to make his move, improving wider on the course and beginning to build up the revs around the home turn. He was one of the widest runners on straightening, coming down the outside to join the leaders with 50m to run. There was a runner getting through along the inside and it was hard to tell if Rocket Spade was in front close to home as they were far apart, but he got his nose down where it mattered most, and Rocket Spade got the job done in a photo finish. SAMARKAND bounced well from barrier three and was able to slot into a lovely position on the back of the leader shortly after the start. He remained in that position throughout the run, keeping the leader within striking distance as they worked around the home turn. Samarkand looked to be travelling beautifully and Jerry Chau ducked back to the inside to make his run. He came through beneath his rivals to hit the front close to home, before being swamped out wide by Rocket Spade right on the wire. TOY SOLTERO was a $40 chance in the race and clung on to run third after sitting on the speed for Ben Thompson. He kept finding under the urgings of the Australian hoop and ran his best race in Hong Kong since stepping out in trip. He's worth keeping an eye on.
