Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Chukyo Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 2200m – Track Good
Time: 2:15.12 Standard Time: 2:17.35 Course/Class record: 2:15.69 Arthur's Kingdom
SUPER HONG KONG (AUS 8yo g Kermadec – Indiscretions) smashed the Course/Class record in the opening event of the night, bolting in under Karis Teetan for Dennis Yip. From the outside barrier, Teetan drifted back to land in last position as they sorted their order out, racing along at an even speed through the early stages of the race. The Mauritian hoop remained a clear last as they passed the 1200m point and travelled down the side of the course, but things began to heat up as they swung down the back straight. Teetan took off aboard the $8.3 chance and whisked around the outside of the field with the leader slamming the brakes on through the middle stages of the race. Super Hong Kong went from last to first and broke the field apart as they turned off the back, stretching them right out and having them all chasing as they turned into the straight. His staying prowess was the highlight in the run to the line, shaking off his nearest challenger and pulling away for a tremendous victory, bolting in by 3-1/2 lengths and breaking the Course/Class record by over half a second. STORM RUNNER was the odds-on favourite under Zac Purton and rolled straight to the front from the inside stall. Purton was able to dictate the speed, and he slowed them right down coming to the 1000m point. With the field bunching, that prompted the mid-race move from Teetan, with Storm Runner and Purton sticking with him as he took off out in front. Purton was still there to strike as they turned for home, but he couldn't match motors with Super Hong Kong late in the race. PERPETUAL POWER finished in third position, but he was a mile off the impressive winner.
Race 2 – Niigata Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 57.16 Standard Time: 57.35 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
SPEEDY SMARTIE (NZ 6yo g Satono Aladdin – Lemonade) continued his impressive run of form, notching up his third win from his past five starts. From a tricky barrier, Jerry Chau had some work to do, though the race panned out nicely for him by the 600m point as he was able to slot into the running line midfield with cover. He tracked into the race strongly form the 500m point, slicing between horses and getting into the clear at the top of the straight. He stormed down the middle of the track to hit the front with 50m to run and get the job done by a neck on the line. ORIENTAL SURPRISE landed just off the speed from barrier six, lobbing one-out-one-back on the back of a solid tempo. Lyle Hewitson built into the race well around the turn, getting off heels and being given every possible chance by the South African hoop. He loomed up to the leaders with 100m to run but was quickly gobbled up by Speedy Smartie. He held on to run second in a three-way finish for the minor placings. HAPPY HORSE sat on the outside of the leader throughout the run and was hanging in there strongly in the run to the line. He got his nose down on the wire to take home third position in a commendable performance.
Race 3 – Kyoto Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good
Time: 1:09.49 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
Zac Purton got on the board in race three as he guided home the Ricky Yiu-trained TOURBILLON GOLFER (AUS 4yo g Cosmic Force – Parjinka) to a maiden victory. Purton put the foot down from barrier 11, crossing from the deep to take the lead as they rounded the first turn. He was able to lead comfortably down the back, setting a solid tempo up front and he wasn't challenged through the middle stages of the race. Purton still had a strong grip of his mount coming to the home turn where he railed impressively and kicked strongly to keep his nearest rival at bay. He was simply too strong late in the race, going on to win by a length on the line in easy fashion. ROMAN CROWN ended up in a midfield position from barrier two with Hollie Doyle strung up along the fence. He travelled well in the run but didn't have much room to move as they swung around the home turn. Doyle had to wait until she'd entered the straight before she could ask her mount for an effort, and he closed off nicely as he remained to the inside part of the track. He closed off strongly into second position, getting the nod in a tight photo finish. NEVER SETTLE sprouted wings late in the race as Vincent Ho weaved his way through the traffic. He flashed to finish in the placings as a $39 chance in an eye-catching performance.
Race 4 – Tokyo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:38.46 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
CORLEONE (AUS 5yo g Dundeel – Whispering Brook) had threatened to win in his debut season, and he didn't waste any time getting off the mark in season 2025/26, bolting in under Hugh Bowman. The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding jumped quickly from barrier six and rolled across under Bowman to be up on the speed entering the first turn. As the leader pulled away, Bowman slid down to the fence, settling on the back of the leader at a solid pace. The Australian hoop was right on the leader's tail as they worked through the middle stage before switching off the fence as they passed the 500m marker, moving wider and building up his momentum around the home turn. On straightening, the gelding let down as soon as Bowman gave him the queue, taking the lead with a furlong to run and he sprinted clear of his rivals. It was a very impressive win and there's no reason why he couldn't feature prominently in tougher grade at his future starts. STORMI worked across from barrier 12 to land on the outside of the leader for Jerry Chau. The gelding travelled beautifully throughout the race as he continued to apply subtle pressure to the leader who was keen in the run. He moved up to take the lead as they swung into the home straight, but he wasn't the leader for very long as Corleone assumed control early in the straight. He stuck on gamely however, finishing in second position 2-1/4 lengths off the winner. ABSOLUTE AWAKENED enjoyed a lovely run from just off the speed and closed off well to finish in third position.
Race 5 – The Japan Racing Association Trophy (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.08 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
RUN RUN SMART (IRE 3yo g Dandy Man – Lauren's Girl) secured his first win in Hong Kong in a big form reversal under the urgings of Hollie Doyle. The Englishwoman took her mount straight to the front from barrier 11, rolling across to lead heading down the back straight. Doyle was eventually able to work down to the fence with around 800m remaining, leading relatively easily through the middle stages and slowing the tempo just a fraction from the 600m point. The field bunched coming to the home turn, and that's where Doyle kicked clear, swinging into the straight and breaking a couple of lengths clear of her rivals. She was there to be beaten if her rivals were good enough, but they couldn't catch Run Run Smart, who scored by 1-1/4 lengths. LUNAR DASH jumped the $1.7 favourite and was able to get across from barrier nine to settle on the back of the leader in the run. He looked to be travelling sweetly coming to the home turn after having a gun run under Purton, with the Australian hoop pushing his way into the clear. The bump may have cost him some momentum, but he was still rather flat in the way he finished off, unable to make any big dents in the margin and finishing in second position. It was a tight finish for the minor placings with YEE CHEONG SPIRIT getting up for third in a close photo. Richard Kingscote found himself way back in the run and slipped up the inside in the straight, going beneath all his rivals. He finished off strongly to take third place as a $5.5 chance.
Race 6 – Tokyo Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good
Time: 1:39.28 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Derek Leung and Cody Mo combined to win race six on the card with FORTUNATE SON (NZ 5yo g U S Navy Flag – Pinstripe) breaking his maiden at start number 16. From a middle stall, Leung tried to roll forward heading into the first turn and while he didn't have the speed to get up on the pace, a gap opened up in a midfield position for him to slot into. The pace was red hot early in the race as Leung found himself 6-1/4 lengths off the lead at the halfway stage of the race, though the gaps began to close as they turned off the back straight. The local hoop swung three-wide off the back to avoid being caught behind tiring horses and it was a masterstroke, taking the lead shortly after straightening and breaking away from his rivals. He was strong right down to the line and score by 1-1/2 lengths. It was another close finish for the minor placings, with SUNDAY'S SERENADE getting his nose down for second place between horses. Britney Wong settled on the back of the eventual winner in the run and stalked his every move throughout the race. The apprentice was there to strike on straightening, though didn't have the sprint to match the winner as he got away early in the stretch. To the gelding's credit, he dug in when the fight was on for the minor places, sticking his nose out on the line to take second position in a strong performance. ACE WAR was to the inside of Sunday's Serenade in the run and David Probert tried to shove his young rival out of the way as they came to the home turn the pair went to battle over the final 400m of the race and only the judge could split them at the line.
Race 7 – Kyoto Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.41 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
CHARMING BABE (AUS 5yo g Pride Of Dubai – Dubawi's Image) backed up his fresh performance with a strong victory in race seven on the card. Luke Ferraris used the inside barrier to his advantage, jumping well and holding a position on the speed with ease. The South African jockey settled on the back of the leader with a good pace on offer through the middle stages. Ferraris was able to bridge the gap around the home turn as he kicked up along the inside, before getting off heels midway down the straight to launch his attack. He moved up boldly with 100m to run and blew right by the leader, going on to win by a length. BITS SUPERSTAR showed good early speed to lead the field on settling down. Britney Wong wasn't waiting around, setting a solid tempo through the middle stages and the gelding kicked strongly at the top of the straight. He was in front until the final 100m where Charming Babe got to him, with Bits Superstar finished a clear second. THUNDER PRINCE had been on the back of Charming Babe in the run and followed him wherever he went. Hugh Bowman snuck through late to steal second position, but he never looked like winning aboard the $2.2 favourite.
Race 8 – Nakayama Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.36 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
REGAL GEM (GB 3yo g Zoustar – Sassy Dresser) picked up his second win in-a-row for Frankie Lor and Derek Leung, handing the local hoop a winning double on the night. Leung eased the gelding out of the speed battle early in the race to land in a midfield position, racing along the rail down the back straight. He travelled well with a strong tempo being set up front, with Leung beginning to niggle at the gelding to build into the race at the 500m point. It was a sticky watch early in the straight with Leung looking to get into the clear, copping a couple of bumps and losing his momentum. The three-year-old picked himself up however, finishing off strongly to take the lead inside the final 50m and inch away to score by three quarters of-a-length. While the winning margin was rather standard, it's the way he had to do it which was most impressive. SPICY GOLD raced on the outside of Regal Gem in the run with Alexis Badel taking off from the 450m point with a run around the outside. The Frenchman worked into the race strongly and moved up to take the lead down the middle of the track. He may have felt the pinch late in the race, just holding on for second position in a photo finish after Regal Gem had speared through late. PRESTIGE ALWAYS finished off nicely from a midfield position to end up in third place after jumping a $17 chance.
Race 9 – Hanshin Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.04 Standard Time: 1:39.90 Course/Class record: 1:38.34 Highland Rahy
Zac Purton picked up a winning double on the night in the final race of the evening, steering URANUS STAR (AUS 4yo g Brazen Beau – Lerina Gold) to victory at his second start in Hong Kong. He was a little awkward into stride and copped a bump on jumping, but that didn't bother the four-year-old as he ran to the lead under Purton. He was setting a solid tempo out in front and looked to be overdoing it just a touch in the run, stretching the field out through the middle stages of the race. He wasn't challenged up front in the run and travelled sweetly off the back straight, with Purton looking to kick away on the home turn. The gelding did just that, shaking his nearest rival and leading by over a length with 100m to run. They were coming at him from out wider on the track, but Purton had rated the four-year-old beautifully up front, making every post a winner. SILVERY BREEZE raced in a midfield position throughout under Brenton Avdulla and he looked to be getting a good run with the tempo on offer. Things didn't quite go right for him in the second half of the race however and he arguably should've won. He was held up behind horses coming to the home turn with the Australian not really having room to move, and then he had to wait for gaps to open. Once he got through, he let down impressively, but he couldn't catch the leader and finished a neck away in second. A AMERIC TE SPECSO finished off nicely from well back in the run, coming down the middle of the track to finish in third position.
