3 minute read

Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.

Race 1 - Paterson Handicap, HK $875,000,

Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good

Time: 1:42.34 Standard Time: 1:40.40 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful

Derek Leung kicked off the card with the narrowest of wins aboard PEGASUS GENERAL (BRZ 7yo Vettori – Burooj) for the W K Mo stable. The gelding jumped fairly from barrier nine before being niggled along shortly after by Leung to hold a midfield position when settling. Travelling sweetly throughout three pairs back one off the fence, Leung got busy on his mount passing the 500m to have him rolling as the swung for home. In what proved a competitive sprint home as three runners pushed clear from the rest passing the 100m, ALL JOYFUL stole just enough of a break late and stuck his head down at the right time to get the verdict, breaking a 672-day drought. PODIUM for Matthew Poon and David Eustace was finishing fastest of the trio down the outside. He tracked the winner throughout, perhaps not getting popped the question soon enough. GALLANT CROWN battled on gamely after leading them up, only beaten a head back towards the inside. Race favourite CERVIN didn't have much luck in the lane when hampered for clear running at a vital stage of the race. He stuck on stoutly after ducking back to the fence and was a complete forgive.

Race 2 - Great George Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:09.79 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends

Matthew Poon and David Eustace would go one better in the second event when getting the job done with lightweight FORTUNE WHISKEY (NZ 4yo Embellish – Champagne Katie). Having settled right back from wide draws in his first two runs of the campaign, Poon was able to get the gelding to take much closer after jumping well from his low draw. Settling just off the pace of what was a solid early tempo, Poon learnt his lesson from the first race and got going on his mount shortly after the 500m marker. Slightly awkward around the corner, the gelding worked through his gears nicely in the lane, heading off the breakaway leader inside the final 50m to score by 3/4 lengths. Zac Purton aboard race favourite GOLDEN RISE from the John Size camp looked to have stolen it when showing them a clean pair of heels when straightening, only to be captured late. $32 shot EXCELLENT PEERS was the obvious eye-catcher, rattling home to fill the frame after making the turn last the fence.

Race 3 - Kingston Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good

Time: 1:40.53 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite

Hugh Bowman and Casper Fownes combined to take out the third event with MIGHTY COMMANDER (Aus 4yo Artie Schiller – Figlmuller). Stepping out in trip off a 31-day break, the gelding was away evenly from a middle draw before Bowman took a grip on his mount to secure cover off-midfield when settling. Without too much changing in transit, Bowman got the gelding going prior to straightening, getting on the back of the pair in front who were hooking out to make their runs. Asked for his full effort at the 200m, the gelding lengthened stylishly down the outside to pick up his rivals to score by 3/4 lengths and break a 390-day drought. Shooting for a hat-trick of wins THE AZURE for Derek Leung and Frankie Lor couldn't achieve the success but never stopped trying in the lane after turning the pair in front of the eventual winner. GOOD LUCK WIN couldn't make the most of an ideal run in transit behind the leading pair but did chase stoutly up the inside to finish third. Race favourite NINJA DERBY raced wide throughout under Zac Purton and was subsequently left without a finishing effort, dropping out to finish last with no significant findings at immediate veterinary inspection.

Race 4 - Great George Handicap

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:10.65 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends

It was another tight finish in the fourth when Dylan Mo teamed up with Danny Shum to get the verdict on longshot JUDY'S GREAT (NZ 4yo War Decree – Word Savvy). In a positive change of tactics, the gelding raced much more prominently after being one of the best away and pushing forward to settle just off the leading pair. The gelding raced keenly in the middle stages and subsequently tugged up to a three wide position passing the 800m alongside the leaders, briskly taking over shortly after. Leading them up into the lane, punters would be forgiven for assuming the $65 shot would run out of steam and drop out of the contest but to his credit the four-year-old kept finding to fend of a handful of challengers and score by a neck. Race favourite BEAUTY LIGHT for Zac Purton and John Size offered the most serious of threats, laying down his challenge up the fence after a sweet run in transit behind the leaders. SIGHT HAPPY tried to replicate his last start barnstorming success but ultimately left it too late, flashing home into third only just missing BEAUTY LIGHT for second.

Race 5 - Great George Handicap

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good

Time: 1:10.39 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends

Danny Shum would bring up a race-to-race double with Vincent Ho piloting HAPPY SOUL (AUS 6yo Shooting To Win – Raitza) to a barnstorming win. Catching the eye last month when flashing home from last to earn a minor cheque, connections opted for similar tactics when happy to be ridden ice-cold after stepping slightly slow. Travelling rearward throughout, Ho hooked widest on his mount upon straightening to let down with his assault. With 7-1/2 lengths to make up, the gelding really got going passing the 200m to climb over the backs of his rivals and eventually score comfortably by 1-1/4 lengths. Matthew Poon continued his good form on the night, battling on gamely on topweight CIRCUIT DUFFY for Frankie Lor to grab second. Given the perfect steer in behind the leader, Poon hit the front on his mount for a few strides approaching the 100m but would quickly be captured. KA YING POWER closed off strongly from the back at long odds to fill the hole.

Race 6 - Kingston Handicap, HK $1,170,000,

Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m - Track Good

Time: 1:41.03 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite

Zac Purton finally hit the winner's board when combining with the Chris So-trained FIREFOOT (AUS 4yo Shooting To Win – High Class). Stepping away fairly from his middle draw, Purton pushed forward on the favourite to find the fence and lead in the early stages, before settling leaders back. Striding up and taking over upon straightening, Purton and his mount got to work and had built a healthy gap to the chasers as they approached the final 100m and kept going to score by a length. A David Eustace trained galloper was once again filling the frame, this time it was AMAZING AWARD ridden by Andrea Atzeni. The four-year-old was the eye-catcher of the race, rattling home into second after travelling off-midfield throughout. Matthew Poon aboard SMART CITY was next best home, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.

Race 7 - The January Cup (Handicap), HK $4,200,000,

Group Three – Turf – Distance 1800m – Track Good

Time: 1:49.19 Standard Time: 1:48.95 Course/Class record: 1:47.94 Money Catcher

Danny Shum celebrated his third success of the night when Harry Bentley piloted HELENE FEELING (IRE 5yo Sioux Nation – Cynthia Calhoun) to victory in the Group 3 feature. Away evenly from barrier nine, Bentley was conservative on his mount in the early stages, eventually cruising across to settle off-midfield in a two-wide running line. With pace being injected into the race at the 800m, Bentley got on the back of runners moving into the race before being flushed widest upon straightening. Working through his gears, the gelding made a solid sustained chase down the outside, hitting the front inside the final 100m and pushing out to score by a 1/2 length. HAPPY TOGETHER for Alexis Badel and Frankie Lor made his run with the winner and tried hard to match motors but was ultimately brought unstuck under the big weight. LA CITY BLANCHE also produced a strong run home but had left himself with too much to do with just under 5 lengths to make up at the turn.

Race 8 – Causeway Handicap, HK $1,860,000,

Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good

Time: 1:09.56 Standard Time: 1:09.75 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision

It was a night out for Danny Shum, who brought up his fourth success of the evening when Hugh Bowman added a second success of his own to the tally in the penultimate event aboard ETERNAL FORTUNE (GB 4yo Oasis Dream – Clematis). Proactive early from a middle draw, Bowman would ease off a hot early tempo to land off-pace with plenty of running room. Stalking in behind a strong tempo, Bowman would stick to the inside upon straightening and push through a gap to stride up and take over passing the 200m. Showing plenty of heart, the four-year-old kept finding under Bowman to survive a late challenge and score by a short head. SPICY GOLD for Alexis Badel and Mark Newnham was the late challenger. He sat just behind the winner in running and hooked wide on the turn while Bowman saved ground towards the inside. Proved costly for the favourite. YOUNG ARROW was left with too much to do when straightening but knuckled down strongly to fill the placings.

Race 9 – Cleveland Handicap, HK $2,050,000,

Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1800m – Track Good

Time: 1:49.56 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith

Bookmakers rejoiced in the last when Vincent Ho notched up his double aboard the Francis Liu-trained SPEED DRAGON (NZ 5yo Darci Brahma – Keenly). Identical to his first winner of the night, Ho's mount was ridden ice-cold after stepping awkwardly from the widest draw. With just under 5 lengths to make up upon straightening, the gelding took some convincing from Ho to let down with his challenge. By the 200m the five-year-old was committed and started to lengthen nicely, really letting loose inside the final stages to arrive just in time to score by a 1/2 length. CALIFORNIATOTALITY fought on valiantly under Brenton Avdulla to get second after hitting the front early in the straight. QUANTUM PATCH looked the one that was going straight on by halfway down the straight when letting go with a strong run home but ultimately peaked on his run to finish third.