Brett Davis provides an exclusive review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Ngau Chi Wan Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.72 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
Jerry Chau and David Eustace combined in the opener with APOLAR FLYER (AUS 5yo g Not A Single Doubt – Courtesan), who thundered home to snap an 815-day winless streak in emphatic fashion. Breaking evenly from a middle gate, Chau was content to let the speed cross from wider out, settling three pairs back on the rail behind a solid tempo. With the race run at a genuine clip, the pair bided their time, waiting for a gap to appear as they swung for home. That opening came at the 200m, and APOLAR FLYER didn't need a second invitation - he burst through with purpose, putting lengths on his rivals in a matter of strides. It was a dramatic form reversal, and once he hit the front, there was no catching him. The further they went, the stronger he looked, powering away to score by a commanding 3-3/4 lengths. Race favourite COURIER MAGIC, under Purton, chased gamely but was always playing catch-up. Settled off-midfield and wide, he was forced to make a looping run. He closed off well but was simply outgunned. NINJA DERBY, meanwhile, endured a torrid trip - trapped wide without cover after jumping from the outside alley - but stuck on admirably to grab third, beaten 5-3/4 lengths.
Race 2 – Hung Luen Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.89 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
It was a demolition job in the second event as Karis Teetan teamed up with Manfred Man to guide CELTIC TIMES (IRE 6yo g Dawn Approach – Teoirim) to a thumping win, marking a sharp third-up return to form. Breaking cleanly from an outside-middle draw, Teetan slotted the gelding one off the fence, settling off-midfield and travelling sweetly throughout. While others fanned wide in search of momentum, Teetan kept his cool and closer to the inside. That decision proved golden. As the field swung for home, a seam opened. Still spotting the leaders six lengths at the top of the straight, CELTIC TIMES took a few strides to hit top gear, but once he did, he was electric. Charging home with a powerful late burst, he swept past his rivals and put 1-1/2 lengths on them in a matter of strides, clocking a dominant win. CHAIN OF GOLD also caught the eye with a rattling finish. After settling last and spotting the leaders nearly eight lengths turning in, he launched down the outside with a sustained run, flashing home and nabbing the photo for second. SAMARKAND, who had led them up under top weight, looked the winner at the 200m but was collared late, narrowly denied second in a brave effort.
Race 3 – Fung Mo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.47 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Favourite backers struck in the third, as Ellis Wong teamed up with the Casper Fownes-trained DANCING CLASSICS (AUS 5yo g Press Statement – Touchy Greeley) to deliver a gritty victory. Breaking sharply from the inside draw, Wong positioned the gelding perfectly, stalking the leader throughout a genuinely run affair. The pair travelled sweetly, conserving energy while keeping the front-runner within striking distance. As they turned for home, Wong peeled off the leader's back and quickly loomed large. He hit the front approaching the 200m, but the job was far from done. REWARDING BUDDY, under a clever ride from Keith Yeung, had tracked the favourite every step of the way and surged through tiring runners to lay down a fierce challenge. The two locked horns in a thrilling duel to the line, but DANCING CLASSICS dug deep to hold on by a short head. REWARDING BUDDY lost no admirers in defeat, finishing with a flourish and nearly stealing it on the post. JOLLY COMPANION closed off strongly to grab third, but his wide run from midfield left him with too much to do. Once balanced, he made solid ground, but the bird had flown - he was 1-1/2 lengths adrift at the finish.
Race 4 – Fung Mo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:10.34 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
The fourth produced a heart-stopping finish, with Luke Ferraris lifting the Douglas Whyte-trained KING GLORIOSO (NZ 6yo g Satono Aladdin – Fairfield Flame) to a gutsy victory. Breaking smartly from a low draw, Ferraris punched up early, forcing those drawn wider to work overtime to cross. Once the dust settled, he was happy to take a trail behind the speed. As they turned for home, Ferraris peeled four-wide and asked the gelding to go through his gears. KING GLORIOSO responded with purpose, taking over at the 150m and then showing real heart when challenged late, getting his nose down in a nail-biting head-bobber. Race favourite THUNDER PRINCE, under Hugh Bowman, was brave in defeat. Settled midfield, he was building momentum but found himself held up approaching the 200m - an untimely squeeze that likely cost him the win. Once clear, he surged, but the line came a fraction too soon. THE PERFECT MATCH, who had tracked KING GLORIOSO throughout, looked poised to pounce turning in and was involved in a protest post-race, alleging interference when THUNDER PRINCE was searching for a run. The stewards let the result stand, but the margin between the top three was razor-thin - a short head separating them in a pulsating finish.
Race 5 – Hung Luen Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.44 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Hugh Bowman wasted no time making amends in the fifth, bouncing straight back aboard the Danny Shum-trained FANTASTIC FUN (AUS 5yo g Justify – Tails Wins) to land a well-judged victory. Breaking cleanly from the inside barrier, Bowman had the gelding humming early, slotting in perfectly just behind the leading pair. The tempo was muddling but Bowman never panicked, allowing his mount to travel comfortably before easing off the fence approaching the home turn. Once in the clear, Bowman asked for an effort and FANTASTIC FUN responded. He gradually reeled in the leaders, grinding away with determination and forging to the front inside the final 100m. Despite a late surge from the chasing pack, he held firm to score by 3/4 of a length. ACE WAR produced a flashing finish up the inside. After settling near the rear, he saved every inch of ground, slicing through tiring runners and launching late. His closing burst was full of merit, just failing to reel in the winner. GLORIOUS RYDER, sent out at big odds, ran a brave race. Positioned just ahead of ACE WAR in transit, he stuck to the rail and boxed on gamely, beaten 1-1/2 lengths in the end.
Race 6 – Fung Mo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.38 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Vincent Ho and Casper Fownes combined to land the sixth with race favourite MR DESIRA (AUS 4yo g All Too Hard – Piazza del Campo), delivering a bold, pillar-to-post performance. Breaking swiftly from a low draw, Ho wasted no time asserting control, pushing straight to the front and dictating terms. The tempo was honest but measured, and MR DESIRA travelled sweetly throughout, conserving just enough for the business end. At the 200m, Ho asked for more, and the gelding responded with a sharp kick, opening up a margin. But the job wasn't done - inside the final 50m, FIND MY LOVE surged late, and the favourite was suddenly under siege. Ho dug deep, urging his mount to the line, and MR DESIRA clung on by a head. Hugh Bowman, aboard FIND MY LOVE, gave another polished ride. Settled midfield on the fence from barrier nine, he enjoyed a smooth run but was momentarily held up at the 250m. Once clear, he launched powerfully, giving the winner a real fright. TOURBILLON GOLFER, who had tracked MR DESIRA throughout, boxed on gamely to grab third, beaten 2-1/4 lengths.
Race 7 – Lei Yue Mun Handicap, HK $ 3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:47.96 Standard Time: 1.49.15 Course/Class record: 1:47.61 Time Warp
Vincent Ho made it a race-to-race double, timing his run to perfection aboard the Francis Lui-trained SPEED DRAGON (NZ 6yo g Darci Brahma – Keenly), who returned from a 241-day layoff with a bang. Drawn wide, Ho showed no urgency early, electing to drop straight to the rear and settle last on the fence. It was a patient ride, conserving every ounce of energy while hugging the rail throughout. As the field turned for home, Ho began to edge closer, still waiting for a split. That moment came passing the 200m, and SPEED DRAGON didn't hesitate. He burst through the gap and motored home inside the final 100m, arriving right on cue to snatch victory by a short head in a thrilling photo finish. CLAIFORNIATOTALITY had every chance, given a textbook ride in transit. Positioned one out, one back, he peeled off the fence at the turn and ground away to reel in the leader, only to be nabbed late by the fast-finishing winner. ENCOUNTERED was the eye-catcher of the race. Under pressure a long way out and spotting the leaders over 5 lengths at the turn, he unleashed a sharp turn of foot down the outside to grab third, beaten just a neck.
Race 8 – Hok Yuen Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.44 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
It was a night to remember for Vincent Ho, who capped off a hat-trick of wins with another close finish aboard the Francis Lui-trained KING MILES (AUS 5yo g Exceed And Excel – Epitomise). Sent out as the race favourite on return, KING MILES wasn't the sharpest into stride from the inside draw, but Ho made full use of the gate, punching up to land the box seat just behind the leader. The gelding travelled sweetly throughout, and when the field turned for home, Ho had him poised to pounce. At the 200m, KING MILES surged to the front, but the race was far from over. STORMRIDER, under Luke Ferraris, was launching from the clouds. Having settled last and spotting the leader 7 lengths at the turn, he unleashed a blistering finish, but the line came just in time for Ho, who lifted his mount to score by a head. LUCKY PLANET showed plenty of early intent, jumping swiftly from a low draw and rolling to the lead under Matthew Poon. He maintained a healthy margin into the straight and was only headed at the 200m, but refused to yield, sticking on bravely to hold third, beaten just 1 length.
Race 9 – Lung Cheung Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:48.31 Standard Time: 1.49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
The night wrapped up with yet another thrilling finish, this time falling the way of Zac Purton, who guided EXCELLENCE VALUE (AUS 5yo g Fastnet Rock – Wedding Veil) from the Mark Newnham stable to a hard-fought victory. Breaking evenly from a middle draw, Purton opted for a midfield sit, one off the fence, allowing the gelding to find his rhythm in a race that saw little change in transit. As the field approached the home turn, Purton got to work, easing his mount into clear air down the centre of the track. Once balanced, EXCELLENCE VALUE began to build momentum, working through his gears with purpose. He hit the front inside the final 100m and, despite a late challenge from his outside, found enough to cling on and score by a short head. WROTE A NEW PAGE, under Harry Bentley, tracked the winner throughout and made his move in tandem at the top of the straight. He looked to have peaked at the 200m but rallied again late, surging to just miss in a gallant effort. CHARITY GAIN, who raced alongside WROTE A NEW PAGE in transit, took a different route home. Sticking to the rail, he snuck through a narrow passage and finished strongly, beaten just 1 length in third.
