3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Australia Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.81 Standard Time: 1:40.40 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
Zac Purton got the job done in the opener for Frankie Lor as THE AZURE (NZ 4yo g Wrote – Trissie) secured his maiden victory. After getting away on terms from barrier 10, Purton was able to slide the gelding into a position just worse than midfield, getting into the running line approaching the first turn. The speed was only even, but the gelding travelled well through the middle stages with no change to the order as they approached the home turn. Purton then swung out wide on the course, getting towards the middle of the track as he let rip with a strong sprint. He moved up to hit the front with 150m to run but had a fight on his hands over the concluding stages. Purton and The Azure were able to fend off the challenge in the dying stages with the four-year-old coming out on top by a neck on the line. INVINCIBLE MISSILE was a little slow into stride and drifted back to near last from the outside barrier under Luke Ferraris. He settled one off the rail as they got to the first turn and as the race unfolded, he would end up a clear last down the back straight. He came under pressure approaching the 500m point and began to make a move out wide, ending up as the widest runner in the straight as others made their moves. He loomed up to The Azure midway down the straight and it looked as though he might run straight past the $3.80 favourite. Instead, he peaked on the run close to home and The Azure proved too strong late in the race. The first two across the line gapped KASA PAPA in third, who turned in a good effort after missing the start.
Race 2 – France Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.65 Standard Time: 1:10.15 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
GOOD VIEW GLORY (AUS 5yo g American Pharoah – Summer's Day) returned to winning ways for Mickael Barzalona and Dennis Yip. The gelding got away on terms and was able to work across from barrier nine and land in a midfield position for the Frenchman. The pace was solid through the middle stages with the field strung out turning off the back, though Good view Glory was relishing the pace as he worked into the race nicely into the straight. he swung to the middle of the track on straightening and began to make his charge down the outside, getting into the margin with every stride. He loomed up to the leader with 100m to run and eventually stuck his nose in front close to the post, running over the top to score by a head on the line as a $14 chance. WINNING HEART also settled midfield from barrier seven, landing on the inside of the eventual winner early in the run before Zac Purton improved his position early in the back straight. The Australian hoop got off the inside rail and switched into the running line, settling just ahead of Good View Glory through the middle stages. He was within striking distance as the leader took off around the bend, with Purton rousing his mount along as they turned into the straight. Winning Heart was making good ground and hit the front momentarily approaching the 50m point, but he couldn't keep his nose in front as Barzalona and Good View Glory nabbed him late. EVER SMART stuck on gamely from up on the speed for James McDonald, running a clear third.
Race 3 – Great Britain Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.83 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
David Hayes and Keith Yeung combined to win the third event on the card as YOUTH POWER (ITY 4yo g Blu Constellation – Hidden Agenda) bounced back to winning form. After getting away on terms from an inside barrier, Yeung found his position and put the gelding to sleep right away. Settling just off the speed and along the fence, he was racing comfortably with just an even tempo being set, before the pace came right out of the event down the back straight. It didn't bother Youth Power who was able to sneak up the inside turning off the back as the pace ramped back up, breaking the field apart and allowing Yeung to slice his way through. Yeung got into clear running as they turned for home and the gelding was coming home strongly down the outside. The leader put in a strong kick on straightening and proved tough to run down, but the local hoop was able to snatch the lead away inside the final 50m and inch clear to score by a neck on the line, sealed with a kiss as Keith Yeung blew on to the crowd. CORLEONE was well backed late in betting and rolled to the lead for Hugh Bowman. The Australian hoop led comfortably through the middle stages, slowing the tempo down the back straight before quickening again turning off the back and getting away from his rivals. He was a clear leader turning for home as he sprinted away from his rivals and there wasn't many making ground on him early in the straight. Youth Power looked the only danger with 150m to run and Corleone just couldn't fend him off close to home, being forced to settle for second with third placing a further 1-3/4 lengths back. That was CALIFORNIA MOXIE who rounded out the placings as a $19 chance, sticking on gamely from sitting up on the speed.
Race 4 – Longines International Jockeys' Championship (Handicap) – 1st Leg, HK $1,404,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.28 Standard Time: 57.20 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
It was a tight finish to the first leg of the International Jockeys' Championship, but it was Mickael Barzalona who got the job done, bringing up a winning double on the night aboard the outsider of the field SERGEANT PEPPER (AUS 7yo g I Am Invincible – Resonates). The seven-year-old was quickly out of the gates and with plenty of speed rolling forward, it allowed Barzalona to lob into a comfortably position just off the speed. He tracked into the race nicely in the running line and pulled out to mount his challenge on straightening. He was there and there abouts in the straight, but he looked to be just whacking away until the final 50m. It was then the old boy let rip, storming over the top of his two nearest rivals to put his nose down on the wire and score a narrow victory, picking up the first leg of the IJC. LEAN MASTER had all the favours in the run, settling in a beautiful position one-out-one-back for William Buick with the English hoop giving his mount every possible chance in the run. He looked the winner with 100m to run and while he got to the leader close to home, Sergeant Pepper landed the knockout blow right over the top, grabbing him on the line after settling on Lean Master's back in the run. PARENTS' LOVE turned in a brilliant effort up front, crossing from out wide, setting a strong tempo and still kicking clear early in the straight. He was still clear with 150m to run but just felt the pinch late in the race, finishing only a neck away in third.
Race 5 – Longines International Jockeys' Championship (Handicap) – 2nd Leg, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.86 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
The second leg of the IJC when to James McDonald as he guided home the Douglas Whyte-trained PRINCE ALEX (AUS 6yo g Animal Kingdom – Alexandra Rose). From barrier five, the New Zealander was able to get across and slot into the running line, landing just off the speed. The tempo was good early in the race as the first four broke clear turning down the back straight, breaking the field in two through the middle stages. The field combined again with a round 600m remaining before the leaders attempted to take off once more, but McDonald was up to the task as he fired up Prince Alex around his rivals. He quickened impressively around the turn and moved up to hit the front with 250m remaining and it looked as though he was going to sprint away for an impressive win. However, he wasn't able to shake his nearest rival who kept fighting to his inside, making it a tough grind to the line. While it wasn't flashy, Prince Alex did enough to secure the win for McDonald, winning by a head on the line. FOREVER GLORIOUS was able to get across from out wide and land in the one-out-one-back position for Mickael Barzalona. The gelding had a dream run in transit, keeping the leaders within striking distance throughout as he got the run of the race. Barzalona made his move approaching the home turn, sliding around the outside and hitting the front at the top of the straight. He didn't lead for long though as Prince Alex moved up to hit the front, but Forever Glorious wasn't going down without a fight. The pair fought out the victory in a ding-dong battle to the line, but Forever Glorious was unable to rally back on the inside. SURE JOYFUL was closing off strongly from well back in the run, storming home down the outside to finish just a half-length away in third position.
Race 6 – Ireland Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.29 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
SMART FIGHTER (NZ 5yo g Sacred Falls – Do Ra Mi) made it back-to-back victories tonight with James McDonald picking up a race-to-race double. The gelding got off to a good start along the inside rail and held his position along the inside, though not keen to lead around the first turn. McDonald restrained the five-year-old who looked to be racing keenly in the early stages, but he settled much better once obtaining cover down the back straight. He was in prime position as they rounded the home turn and the seas parted for McDonald at the top of the straight, being able to get into the clear and let rip down the outside. He sprinted quickly to take the lead with 200m to run and he never looked like he was going to get beaten, winning comfortably on the line by three quarters of-a-length. MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE was forced to play second fiddle to Smart Fighter once again as he closed off well, but not well enough. After sitting midfield in the run from barrier 11, Purton was able to get off the inside and begin to make his way through the traffic around the home turn. He was there to strike if good enough at the top of the straight, following Smart Fighter down the straight, but he showed he's still learning the caper when Purton was asking for maximum effort. He was hanging in at a crucial point midway down the straight, but once he balanced up, he closed off strongly to grab second. CRYSTAL POWERHOUSE continued the strong night for Mickael Barzalona, with the gelding sticking on gamely from up on the speed to snatch third place in a photo finish.
Race 7 – Longines International Jockeys' Championship (Handicap) – 3rd Leg, HK $2,4600,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.51 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
The third leg of the IJC went the way of Great Britain and Hollie Doyle, with the David Hayes-trained SOLEIL FIGHTER (GB 4yo g Sea The Moon – Force One) scoring his maiden victory. Doyle was able to hold a prominent position after getting away from a good gate, landing on the back of the leader on settling down. There was no change to the order through the middle stages with an even tempo being set up front, as the four-year-old travelled sweetly in behind the leaders. Coming to the turn, Doyle was able to force her way off the inside rail and through a gap between horses to take the lead approaching the 100m point. He was too strong late in the race, holding his advantage to the line and winning by a neck on the post. SILO was right there to strike alongside Soleil Fighter throughout the race. Karis Teetan speared across from barrier seven to land in the one-out-one-back position in the run, sitting on the outside of the eventual winner throughout the race. Teetan made his move coming to the turn, but just left enough space for Doyle and Soliel Fighter to get through underneath him. He didn't go away late in the race, but he also wasn't making any ground back on the leader close to home, finishing a neck away on the line. AESTHETICISM was the eye-catcher late in the race, storming home from well back to grab third for Zac Purton and Pierre Ng.
Race 8 – Longines International Jockeys' Championship (Handicap) – 4th Leg, HK $2,232,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.50 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Mickael Barzalona secured a dominant win in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship for 2024 with an impressive win aboard AURORA LADY (AUS 4yo g Star Witness – Cool Snitzel) for the Pierre Ng stable. From the widest barrier, Barzalona sent his mount forward, being caught four-wide around the first turn before looking to slot into the running line down the back straight. Rivals kicked up underneath him, forcing the Frenchman to sit three-wide and without cover in the run, just talking the speed through the middle stages. It may have been a blessing in disguise though as the four-year-old hacked up around the home turn to join the leading pair, before rolling to the front still under a hold. When Barzalona shook the reigns, he took off, sprinting well clear of the chasing pack and not only bringing up a winning treble on the night, but securing the HK$600,000 cheque that comes with winning the International Jockeys' Championship. KYRUS DRAGON was a little slow out of the barriers and found himself at the tail of the field for Coline Keane. He was along the inside early on, though the pace was right on in the opening stages of the race. He switched to the outside as they turned of the back and the $13 chance worked into the race nicely out wide. He was the widest runner in the straight and closed off nicely down the outside to grab second, a length clear of third. SUPER JOY N FUN led home a bunched finish behind him, whacking away from his midfield position to cross the line in third place.
Race 9 – Japan Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:49.05 Standard Time: 1:49.25 Course/Class record: 1:47.61 Time Warp
CHILL CHIBI (NZ 5yo g Wrote – My Amazing Cool) notched up back-to-back wins with James McDonald bringing up a winning treble on the night. The five-year-old was a little slow into stride along the inside but he mustered well to hold a position about midfield. The field were still bunched as they rounded the first turn and Chill Chibi had been shuffled back slightly to be in the second half of the field for McDonald, racing between horses in the run. As they turned off the back, the Kiwi began to urge his mount along, getting into the three-wide trail and working around the outside. McDonald got into clear air at the top of the straight and the gelding kept finding, moving up to the leaders with 150m to run and taking control shortly after. He looked as though he was getting tired close to home, but he had enough gas in the tank to score by a neck on the line. MOMENTS IN TIME stormed home from a mile back to finish in second position and give Danny Shum the quinella. He was always last in the run Moments In Time and made a long, sustained run around the outside of the field turning for home. He kept coming out wider on the course to finish in second position, only a neck off the winner. RED HARE KING kept on strongly from closer to the speed, finishing in third position as he got the nod in a photo finish.
