A great nights racing at Happy Valley, checkout the race by race preview including top selections.
Race 1 – YEE WO STREET HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1650m
Rating: 40-10
Difficult race to asses due to most of the fancied runners having tricky draws and are also up in weight on their latest runs so I’m going to put my faith in a horse who has been a nightmare to punters Aipoder Image (5) who just cant crack it for his third win. He has placed at his last five starts and has been beaten favourite in nearly all of those occasions. I think tonight is his race as he has drawn ideally and will relish the 10 pound claim for Ben So who rode so well here last week. Smart Code (3) needs to find a spot from gate 8 and if he does will be mighty hard to hold out. He has placed twiced here at the Valley over this distance and looks the testing material with Prebble up for trainer Manfred Man. Lucky Tycoon (1) has very handy form lines through the likes of A Walk In The Park and Penglai Xianzi, even including Travel Guide, who won well here last week. He has to defy a big weight but with any luck he can figure. Sugar On Top (2) only battled to the line last start when a beaten favourite with a similar weight. I cant have him on the win line and is therefore a place chance in an open affair.
Selections:
5-3-1-2
Race 2 – JOHN PEEL HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1000m
Rating: 60-40
The first starters hold the key here from the powerful Size and Hall stables in which Dr Win (7) looks a nice type in the making by Encosta De Lago, who makes his debut for trainer John Size. He trialled impressively down the Sha Tin straight where he led and wasn’t asked for the supreme effort going down in a tight three way photo to wind up in third spot. He gets the gun alley and has Douglas Whyte to steer him to debut success. Asali Victory (12) might be a bit of a price here as he did run quite well behind St Didar down the straight last time out where he was held up for a run late which cost him finishing closer to the winner. He looks more than capable of finding the frame here tonight with an ounce of luck. My Good Friend (9) is another first starter, this time from the David Hall camp and hasn’t had an official trial. With the Prebble factor he should shape well at his debut. Next best is Fly High (1) who looks nicely weighted here but will have to overcome a horror draw.
Selections:
7-12-9-1
Race 3 – MATHESON HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1200m
Rating: 60-40
Blade Force (1) drops in grade here and looks set for a forward showing after some handy runs in tougher grade. He races best when able to run to the top and has been trapped wide at his last couple. He should take up a forward position from a middle draw and be hard to run down. Many Gains (2) has drawn ideally for his assignment over 1200m tonight and has strong form lines on the Sha Tin course with horses such as Plentiful and You Gotta Pay defeating him over the same distance. He should get a charmed run from this gate and looks the danger to the top weight. Solar Up (10) is another one with claims but has a poor gate and can only have him on the place line at this stage but he was just behind the handy Just Chill last time out in a similar race. Fortune Spirit (5) is a sparingly raced 5 year old who battled on fairly behind Master Rio last start. Give him another chance.
Selections:
1-2-10-5
Race 4 – THE EWO CHALLENGE TROPHY (HANDICAP)
Turf ,”A” Course ,1000m
Rating: 80-60
Even field of sprinters assemble here over the 1000m where I’m going to stick Go Fay Fay (9) on top, purely on his performance down the Sha Tin straight over 1000m where he placed behind the highly promising Sweet Sanette. Forgive his latest run where he pulled up with mucopus in the trachea and he looks nicely placed from gate one. Golden Bauhinia (4) was an impressive winner in class 4 last start defeating Achilles Of Troy who went on to run well behind Eight Plus Nine on the Sha Tin circuit recently. He draws awkwardly tonight but should push forward and put himself into the race at the right time. El Zonda (6) races well here under these conditions and did make good late ground behind Our Pegasus last time out. He won’t get as far back tonight and will certainly be putting in the big bounds late. At Moment In Time (10) was super at his debut a couple of weeks ago where he sat wide on the speed and just failed to run down Our Pegasus. He has drawn wide yet again and further improvement should hopefully see him go one better.
Selections:
9-4-6-10
Race 5 – EAST POINT HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1800m
Rating: 105-80
The class 1 on the program here sees some talented horses step out over 1800m where Ambitious General (7) looks hardest to beat. He saluted as favourite in a similar race late last year on this circuit and followed up with a couple of handy performances on the Sha Tin circuit making good headway on both occasions. From gate two, he looks awfully hard to beat. Legend (8) steps up in grade here for his tough last start win holding off the fast finishing Always Something over the mile. Although he steps up in grade, he comes in with a nice weight and is certainly the testing material. Redragtoabull (9) gets Beadman back and his last start was a total forgive run when trapped wide on the C course. He looks nicely placed here tonight. Next best is top weight Blue Sky (1) who has to defy an 8 point hike in the ratings since his last start success over rival Dumbarton Rock (3) when he rallied well between horses. Go well with Prebble up and a good gate.
Selections:
7-8-9-1
Race 6 – NOONDAY GUN HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1650m
Rating: 65-40
Royal Knight (1) was sighted making solid ground behind Sapelli last start and clearly is the one to beat here tonight as he makes his course debut. He looks suited tackling the mile here tonight and goes on top from Handsome Batchelor (2) who could be a bit of a price here as he too should enjoy the rise in distance after tackling some competitive affairs over 1200m on this circuit. From a wide gate, he will go back but if the speed is on watch for him to be motoring late. Implied Volatility (6) has been a revelation in recent times over the Valley mile and should find the frame again with the right run. He’s aiming for a hat trick of wins but has to defy a 6 point hike in the ratings from gate three. Istide (4) is a sneaky chance as he loves to bowl along in front. If he gets an uncontested lead he will be mighty hard to shake off.
Selections:
1-2-6-4
Race 7 – JARDINE HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1200m
Rating: 80-60
Merry Way (2) made a slashing return to racing last start when he sprouted wings late to just go down to Nugget Warrior in the closest of finishes. Brett Prebble sticks with him tonight and this boy could be something special although he will have to be tonight to overcome a tricky draw. Perfect Gear (12) just died on his run last start behind the handy National Treasure after sitting a little wide throughout. Jeff Lloyd takes over tonight and he should have him ready to ping upon straightening and should add to his already impressive record from just the 5 starts. Flying China (11) finds it hard to win but rarely puts in a bad run and gets in with the lightest weight he has had for some time as he tackles this slightly harder grade. If he gets the breaks, a win wouldn’t totally shock. Noble Choice (9) is the pace in the race and can hold on for some minor prize money.
Selections:
2-12-11-9
Race 8 – JARDINE’S LOOKOUT HANDICAP
Turf ,”A” Course ,1650m
Rating: 85-60
A class 3 to close the program off tonight and I’m keen on Mellifluous (8) pushing forward and proving too strong as he really does enjoy the Valley mile. Last time out on the Sha Tin circuit he battled on bravely for third behind Brave Kid which is solid form for this. Solider (12) is crying out to win a race and I was really keen on him last start but he just couldn’t reel in all the way winner Eight Plus Nine over 1400m. He looks better suited at the mile and deserves a win. Green Jacket (5) won well here two starts back over the mile then closed well when a beaten favourite back in distance. He is better placed at the mile and will be hard to beat from a middle draw. Sunrise (9) has won 3 from 12 and draws to be in the finish tonight on the back of a solid performance last week when closing well for 4th.
Selections:
8-12-5-9
Written by Xavier Blair
