Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Ngau Chi Wan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:16.78 Standard Time: 2:17.65 Course/Class record: 2:15.69 Arthur's Kingdom
KINGLY DEMEANOR (GB 4yo g Oasis Dream – Brom Felinity) scored back-to-back wins to start the night, leading throughout to hold on by a head on the line. Keith Yeung urged the gelding out of the barriers to find the front, finding the top heading into the first turn and setting an even tempo throughout the event. Turning down the back straight, Yeung broke away from the chasing pack, leading by 4-1/4 lengths at the 800m point with the gelding still travelling comfortably. The field packed up again approaching the home turn, with the lead now just 1-1/4 lengths as they swung into the straight. The four-year-old kicked strongly on straightening and he had a wall of horses chasing him right down the straight. They loomed large close to the post, but Kingly Demeanor was able to find that extra gear, holding on to win by a head on the line in a gutsy performance. FURY AND GOLD settled last in the run and was a long way off the leader through the middle stages, spotting Kingly Demeanor 11 lengths with 800m to run. He tracked into the race beautifully coming up to the home turn though with Andrea Atzeni seemingly having plenty to offer as they swung into the straight. He had his chance if he was good enough and he looked the winner with 50m to run, but he just couldn't land the knockout blow. PALACE PAL burst through the pack late in the race to loom as a danger, but the first two across the line were too strong.
Race 2 – Lung Cheung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.73 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
Zac Purton and Jamie Richards combined with LUCKY TOUCH (NZ 4yo g Sweynesse – Petite Midas) with the four-year-old scoring his maiden victory. The Australian jockey rolled forward from the wide alley to be up on the speed heading into the first turn, before ending up on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. Purton remained in that position through the middle stages and was right on the leader's tail as they swung into the straight. As they turned for home, Purton remained to the inside rail, ducking beneath his rivals to make his run up the fence. He quickened well to hit the front with a furlong remaining and the four-year-old pulled away to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a good effort. FIREFOOT had been there alongside Lucky Touch throughout the run after jumping well and holding his position from barrier two. After being on the outside of the leader turning into the back straight, he would end up in the one-out-one-back position for Keith Yeung with the pace being ramped up approaching the 600m point. Yeung peeled three-wide coming to the turn and had his chance as he made his run down the outside, but the winner was just too good on the night. A further two lengths behind was VIVA CHALEUR who snuck up the inside to grab third position.
Race 3 – Lung Cheung Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.90 Standard Time: 1:40.20 Course/Class record: 1:38.83 Flying Elite
HAPPY DAILY (NZ 7yo g Pins – Genius) got back to winning ways in race three, scoring for Dennis Yip and Vincent Ho. After a nice getaway from barrier six, the gelding landed a little worse than midfield in the run, getting into the running line from barrier six. The pace was good throughout the middle stages and the gelding was travelling comfortably turning off the back straight. It was there that Ho took off, shooting around the field quickly to move up and be within striking distance at the home turn. He sprinted quickly on straightening, burning around the outside to hit the front with 200m to run and he never looked like getting beaten, going on to score by 1-3/4 lengths. LUCKY BANNER rolled forward to take up the running from barrier four, pressing on around the first turn to find the front down the side of the course. The gelding was chugging along in front, racing a touch keenly under Ellis Wong who has a solid lead passing the 100m point. The apprentice hoop would get the gelding to relax better down the back straight, but he kept a clear advantage passing the 600m point and off the back stretch. He kicked well turning for home and although Happy Daily was too good for him on the night, he stuck on gamely right to the wire to finish in second position. SUPER BABY stuck on well after being on the speed throughout the run, holding on for third in a photo finish and only beaten 2-1/4 lengths.
Race 4 – Hung Luen Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.23 Standard Time: 57.20 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
CHAMPION METHOD (AUS 4yo I Am Invincible – Hijack Hussey) picked up his first win in over a year as he returned to the winners stall for Andrea Atzeni and Danny Shum. The gelding wasn't the fastest into stride from barrier five and was ridden along in the opening stages of the race to keep in touch with the field. While he wasn't last in the run, he was being run off his feet with a quick tempo being set through the middle stages of the race, prompting Atzeni to go down to the inside rail and cut the corner on straightening. As the Sicilian went to make his run up the inside, he was chopped off midway up the straight, being forced to change direction and find a gap elsewhere. He finally got off heels and into the clear with 100m to run where he let rip, storming over the top to win by a neck on the line. LEAN MASTER jumped quickly off the inside and landed in a midfield position under a neutral ride by Ellis Wong early in the race. He was three pairs back and along the fence as they swung the bend, with Wong also ducking back to the inside at the top of the straight where he chopped off Champion Method with a furlong to run. He was making ground along the inside and hit the front close to home, only to be beaten close to home by Champion Method. MA COMET landed on the speed for Purton and he looked to have plenty of horse underneath him as he only pressed the button with 200m remaining. After pushing the button, he hit the front momentarily but couldn't sustain the effort as he ended up a neck away in third place.
Race 5 – Lei Yue Mun Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.08 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Luke Ferraris and Mark Newnham continued to build their partnership, with STREET CONQUEROR (AUS 5yo g Street Boss – Spirit Of Carbine) getting the job done. The five-year-old was the first one out of the barrier, but Ferraris was very neutral on the gelding as he cruised around the first turn in a midfield position. The speed was even throughout the event and with the aid of the inside draw, Ferraris was getting a lovely run in transit. Around the turn, the South African hoop initially ducked back to the inside, before having to switch off heels early in the straight to obtain clear running. He shot through between runners midway down the straight, taking the lead with 100m to run and holding off a late challenge to score by a head on the line. MASTEROFMYUNIVERSE was slowly out of the gates and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down. Purton was able to cross down to the inside rail early on and was on the back of the eventual winner in the run with the field bunched down the back straight. The champion hoop tracked Street Conqueror into the straight before coming off heels and making his run from the 150m point. He had his chance and although he was finishing quickly, it was fast enough as he went down narrowly. BOWSER stuck on well from up on the speed to hold on for third, just a half length off the winner, with the chasing pack a further two lengths behind Bowser.
Race 6 – Lei Yue Mun Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.06 Standard Time: 1:10.00 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Zac Purton made it a winning double on the card, guiding home the Frankie Lor-trained CIRCUIT DUFFY (NZ 4yo g El Roca – Daly River) to his maiden victory. The gelding wasn't the quickest out of the barriers, prompting Purton to urge the gelding along and hold his position along the inside as they worked around the first turn. Circuit Duffy was on the speed as they travelled down the back straight, keeping his rivals wider through the middle stages before eventually taking a sit on the leader's back with 600m remaining. The four-year-old travelled beautifully turning for home, with Purton again slicing back to the inside at the top of the straight. The gelding quickened well to hit the front with 200m remaining, but there were a few horses charging at him late in the race. Purton was able to throw him over the line for a narrow victory, getting the nod in a photo finish to win by a short head on the wire. TOP TIME jumped on terms but was snagged back to the tail of the field by Keagan De Melo, sitting in second last position throughout the event. As they came to the home turn, De Melo began to peel wide and work into the race, ending up as the widest horse in the straight. He charged down the outside to loom as a winning hope, but he only just missed as a $49 chance. YOUNG HORIZON was there to strike as well as under Keith Yeung, finishing wedged between Circuit Duffy and Top Time to finish a neck away in third.
Races 7-9 were abandoned with a Tropical Cyclone Warning issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.
