3 minute read
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Sand Martin Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:17.26 Standard Time: 2:17.65 Course/Class record: 2:15.69 Arthur's Kingdom
Andrea Atzeni kicked off the night in style as he guided home the $2.90 favourite FURY AND GOLD (NZ 5yo g Not A Single Doubt – Valpolicella) to his maiden win. The Dennis Yip-trained galloper didn't show much early speed and was a clear last shortly after the start, bringing up the rear from barrier six. The pace was good early as the leader stayed away from the inside fence for most of the home straight, before crossing down to the rail approaching the winning post with a lap to run. Fury And Gold was still sitting in last position with the speed coming out of the race through the middle stages, before being ramped up again from the 800m point. Atzeni was sitting there patiently along the inside rail as he began to try and find a path through turning off the back, trying to push his way into the clear around the turn and obtain clear running to the outside. He was unable to find clear running as they hit the turn, which forced Atzeni back to the inside where there was plenty of space. A gap appeared between horses' midway down the straight and the favourite was picking up nicely with 200m to run, splitting the gap and began driving at the breakaway leader. He was coming home with a wet sail, and he managed to grab the leader on the line, getting his nose down and securing the win in a photo finish. GOLDEN FAIRY had led the field from the outset with Alex Badel taking up the running from the get-go. The Frenchman was able to dictate from out in front, stacking them up through the middle stages before quickening sharply around the turn. He broke away from his rivals on straightening and looked the winner with 100m to run. He was only gunned down late by an impressive performance by Fury And Gold, with the third horse 1-3/4 lengths behind him. NICE BIRDIE plugged away well from midfield to finish in third.
Race 2 – Lark Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.60 Standard Time: 57.35 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
COUNTRY DANCER (AUS 4yo g Nicconi – Alana's Party) stormed home over the top to win narrowly for Karis Teetan and John Size. The Mauritian snagged the gelding back to last position in the run. The pace wasn't overly strong, but Teetan remained at the back of the pack through the middle stages and tried to come underneath his rivals as they swung the bend. He eventually found some clear air early in the straight and he was able to squeeze between horses with 100m to run to make his challenge. He never looked like winning, but he pulled himself out of the fire to storm over the top in the final strides and get the job done by a head in a very impressive performance. SAME TO YOU had set the tempo for Brenton Avdulla, taking up the running from barrier four. He was able to lead quite comfortably for a 1000m dash, though he was kept away from the rail for most of the event. Avdulla took off from the 400m point as he broke away from the chasing pack and he didn't look like being run down midway down the straight. He began to get tired inside the final 150m with plenty of horses coming at him late, though it was only Country Dancer who was able to get his measure right on the line. He held on for second ahead of WIND SPEEDER who ducked up the inside after settling in a midfield position for Alex Pouchin.
Race 3 – Albatross Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.07 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
John Size picked up a race-to-race double as BEAUTY LIGHT (IRE 3yo g Churchill – Mistime) turned his form right around to shed the maiden tag. Zac Purton was keen to hold a forward position from a good draw and settled in the one-out-one-back position around the first turn. The leaders got away from him down the back straight which prompted Purton to cross down to the rail through the middle stages as he was racing all alone in third position. As the race continued to unfold, Purton would be right on the back of the leader around the turn, with a big gap appearing shortly after straightening. The gelding let rip when asked for an effort, coming through between horses and showing plenty of fight. He was able to see off the challenge of a rival down the straight, booting away inside the final 100m to win by 1L in a fantastic win. TELECOM DRAGON was flashing late under Jamed McDonald but it was too little, too late for the $1.70 favourite. After trailing Beauty Light in the run, McDonald looked to get away from the inside and swing wide into the straight. He got into clear air out near the middle of the track with plenty of time to reel in the leaders if he was good enough. He didn't let down as anticipated, rather just running on soundly to the line where he took second place in a photo finish. THRIVING BROTHERS was all over the shop in the straight, being green as grass under Alex Pouchin. He was laying in badly as he loomed up to Beauty Light and then peaked on the run late in the race. He is only three years old though and will have plenty of improvement to come.
Race 4 – Albatross Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.12 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Zac Purton quickly made it a race-to-race double as he partnered the David Hayes-trained SIGHT HAPPY (AUS 4yo g Starspangledbanner – Granada Star) to his maiden win. The gelding eased back from barrier five to settle in the second half of the field for Purton with an even tempo being set up front. He was racing a tad ungenerously through the middle stages and got the head up with around 600m left to travel as the speed came right out of the race. Purton was able to slice him through the traffic before getting into the clear at the top of the straight, making his run down the middle of the track. He and the leader were wide apart as they came to the wire, but it was Sight Happy who was too strong close to home, getting the job done by a short head. AFFIRM jumped cleanly and went straight to the front for Andrea Atzeni. He was able to slow the tempo once he got to the front, stacking the field up through the middle stages before ramping up the tempo from the 500m point. He travelled beautifully to the turn, and he kicked clear when asked for an effort at the top of the straight. He was just trying to hold on inside the final 50m as he looked to be getting tired, with Sight Happy grabbing him in the final couple of strides. HAPPY SOUL stormed home from the back for Vincent Ho to take third place in a photo finish.
Race 5 – The Hong Kong Gold Club Centenary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good
Time: 1:48.85 Standard Time: 1:49.85 Course/Class record: 1:48.10 Acclaimed Light
It had been a long time coming for CAN'T GO WONG (NZ 6yo g Per Incanto – O Really Baheeya) who finally scored his maiden win tonight. He wasn't the fastest into stride from barrier three and ended up in the second half of the field on settling down. There wasn't any change to the order through the middle stages with the pace solid throughout the event as Vincent Ho had the gelding travelling comfortably. The local hoop began to make his move from the 500m point as he began to move around the outside of the field, being one of the widest on straightening. He was sticking on gamely out wide as he moved up to hit the front with 100m to run, scooting away over the closing stages to win by three quarters of-a-length. DRAGON DELIGHT stuck on gamely after sitting up on the speed throughout. Ellis Wong pressed on from the outside draw to land in the one-out-one-back position. He travelled nicely around the turn as Wong peeled three-wide and into the clear at the top of the straight. He hit the front with 150m to run but the lead was short lived as Can't Go Wong stormed down the outside to win. NORTHERN BEAST snuck up the inside late in the race to grab third after cutting the corner on straightening.
Race 6 – Mesia Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.77 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
GOOD LUCK WIN (AUS 5yo g Ilovethiscity – Cyndiana Star) was ridden along early by Angus Chung to spear across from barrier seven to take up the running. The pace was good throughout as Chung was taken on with 600m left to run, with the local hoops keen to hold his position along the inside. It looked as though his rivals had Good Luck Win's measure as they turned for home, but he didn't go down without a fight as Chung wrestled back the lead close to home. It was a gutsy victory as he got the job done by a half-length on the line. SNOWALOT was the one to take it up to the winner around the turn as Ben Thompson wasn't happy with the moderate tempo through the middle stages. He went up to hit the front around the turn and led by about a half-length as they entered the straight. He was fighting hard, but Good Luck Win was just too strong late in the race, fighting back to steal the win away from Snowalot. HAPPY DAILY closed off well to finish in third position just three quarters of-a-length off the winner.
Race 7 – Nightjar Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.11 Standard Time: 56.70 Course/Class record: 55.85 Stoltz
Harry Bentley notched up his 100th winner in Hong Kong aboard the Cody Mo-trained ATOMIC FORCE (IRE 5yo g Cotai Glory – Atlas Silk). The gelding got away on terms and landed in a midfield position for Bentley with a strong tempo through the opening stages. The field bunched up a touch coming to the home turn, but Bentley was able to slice his way through the traffic early in the straight. He was interfered with on a couple of occasions midway down the stretch, but once he saw clear air he let rip. He stormed over the top inside the final 50m of the race to win by a half-length on the line in a very strong effort. YOUTHFUL SPIRITS led the field from barrier seven and set up a strong tempo out in front under Luke Ferraris. He led comfortably turning for home and was still two lengths in front with 150m remaining. The chasing pack was creeping closer inside the final 100m, but it was only Atomic Force who reeled him in late in the race, still finishing a length ahead of his other rivals. HEROIC MASTER ran over the top to finish in third, getting right out toward the grandstand fence to make his charge.
Race 8 – Albatross Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.11 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Brenton Avdulla picked up his first win of the night aboard CALIFORNIA DEEPLY (AUS 5yo g Deep Field – Murtle Turtle) for Tony Cruz. Unlike his usual racing pattern, the five-year-old landed in the one-out-one-back position for Avdulla as he travelled sweetly in fourth position. The pace was good throughout and the gelding was poised to strike around the turn as Avdulla swing into the clear on straightening. The gelding came down the middle of the track with his effort, winding up strongly to hit the front with 100m to run. He would power away from his rivals once he took control, scoring by a length on the line to end his winning drought after scoring his most recent victory nearly two years to the day earlier. SHINKANSEN raced in third position on the back of the leader throughout the run after jumping nicely from barrier two. He ducked up the inside under Alex Pouchin on straightening and while the winner was too good, he did show plenty of strength to hold on for second place. HAPPY TANGO led the field turning for home and while the first two beat him comfortably, he was solid to the line, finishing in third.
Race 9 – Sea Eagle Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:40.48 Standard Time: 1:40.00 Course/Class record: 1:38.55 Telecom Fighters
Andrea Atzeni bookended the card on Wednesday Night with I CAN (NZ 5yo g Iffraaj – Khaseeb) for the Trainers' Championship leading Pierre Ng. I Can worked across from barrier seven to sit up on the speed, landing on the outside of the leader as they sorted their order out. The pace was only even through the opening stages, though there was no change to the order through the middle stages of the race as the two front runners did as they pleased. The pace began to ramp up from the 600m point with Atzeni remaining right there alongside the leader around the home turn, travelling sweetly into the straight before heading to the middle of the track. The field fanned right across the track in the straight, but the race was only between the two leaders right down the stretch. I Can eventually wore down the leader to stick his nose in front with 50m to run and inch clear over the closing stages, winning by a head on the line. IVY LEAGUE held the front from barrier four and tried to make every post a winner under Lyle Hewitson. He quickened nicely approaching the home turn and was still in front for a long way down the home straight. He was only collared late in the race, but it was a commendable effort to run second, only beaten by a head. SETANTA performed well fresh, getting up the inside late in the race to run third.
