Racing in Hong Kong is at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening for a nine-race program.
Here is our preview of the meeting
Race 1 – Class 5 (1650m)
PODIUM (7) can kick off proceedings with a win. The Dave Eustace-trained galloper has placed at his past three at the track and trip and copped a bit of traffic in the straight here on May 7 when running on for 3rd behind Cool Blue. With a clear crack at them this time around, the six-year-old can go a couple of spots better. BEAU GOSSE (12) finished ahead of Podium as the runner-up horse in that race and will settle handy from barrier 2. He can stick on in a race that lacks pressure. WINDICATOR FAMILY (5) has been in solid touch recently and was a track and trip winner three starts back, while he has placed at his past two. He will be within striking distance from barrier 5. FOREMOST TEDDY (9) is a likely leader that can stick on.
Selections: 7-5-9-12
Race 2 – Class 4 (1000m)
Willing to go with the former Queensland galloper, FLYING TING LOK (1), in Race 2. The four-year-old hasn’t measured up at Class 3 level since coming over but wasn’t too far away at the track and trip on May 14 when 6th, beaten less than three lengths. He drops in grade for this and should enjoy a nice run from the inside barrier with Hugh Bowman to ride. HAPPY UNITED (3) has been edging closer in recent times and comes off a last start runner-up behind Lean Master. The Jamie Richards-trained galloper won’t be far away in the run from barrier 7 and should be strong late. CANDLELIGHT DINNER (2) might push forward to lead and was an improver at his most recent start when grabbed in the shadows by Thriving Brothers. He should be in it for a long way. WINNING CIGAR (6) is a first starter that has shown promise in trials. He is worth throwing in, despite drawing wide.
Selections: 1-3-2-6
Race 3 – Class 4 (1650m)
SOARING BRONCO (8) can chalk up the second win of his career. The Pierre Ng-trained galloper scored at Sha Tin five starts ago and has finished top four at his four runs since then. He over-raced last time when filling the exacta behind California Moxie and just needs to relax a bit better this time around. RUN RUN TIMING (12) is a possible leader that has stuck on well at his past few starts. He won’t have to work too hard from barrier 5 early on and should be in it for a long way. DASHING DRAGON (4) draws wide again and will get back. The David Hayes-trained galloper caught the eye late last time when 4th and will strip fitter. He just needs a bit of tempo in the race. ICONICAL (5) is another that will go forward and is capable of sticking strong.
Selections: 8-12-4-5
Race 4 – Class 4 (1200m)
This is a wide-open affair. AUTUMN DELIGHT (12) produced a career best when 4th behind New Power at the track and trip on May 21 and looks ready to produce. The Casper Fownes-trained galloper can settle just forward of midfield and will be running on late to challenge them. ISLAND BUDDY (8) might spear across from the draw and has finished less than a length off the winner at his past two. He was a tad unlucky when 5th last time and should be around the mark at the business end. GAMEPLAYER ELITE (3) draws to enjoy the favours from the inside barrier and can land closer in the run this time after a last start 5th. He came close here three starts ago. KNOW AT HEART (1) will be running on.
Selections: 12-8-3-1
Race 5 – Class 4 (1650m)
TURIN WARRIOR (5) can go close in Race 5. The seven-year-old was a track and trip winner earlier this preparation and has been unlucky in a few races since then. He was held up on multiple occasions last time when 4th behind California Moxie and with clear air this time around, he can land a few spots better. Monitor betting for GLORIOUS JOURNEY (1). The Frankie Lor-trained galloper resumes and was competitive at Class 3 level at his last preparation before closing off with a 3rd in this company at Class 4 level. He comes in with a winning trial and gets the steer from Zac Purton. CAPITAL LEGEND (9) shows promise and landed in front of Turin Warrior as the 3rd horse home at his most recent start. He just needs to negotiate the wide draw. FOREVER GLORIOUS (2) is next best.
Selections: 5-1-9-2
Race 6 – Class 2 (1650m)
This is the pick of the nine races on offer with the Class 2 gallopers in action over the 1650m. Hard to go past HONG LOK GOLF (4), who has won five of six. He rose to this grade at Sha Tin on May 4 and settled handy before drawing clear late to win ahead of Pray For Mir. He tackles the Happy Valley circuit for the first time and draws to enjoy the run of the race from barrier 4. SOLEIL FIGHTER (5) is the danger. The David Hayes-trained galloper has finished top three at his past nine starts and has narrowly gone down at his past three. He can sit leaders back from barrier 1 and will be ridden by Purton. THE GOLDEN SCENERY (7) adds value to multiples and will appreciate a genuine tempo. He can close off with some slick late splits. STEPS AHEAD (8) meets Hong Lok Golf 2.5kg better at the weights for a last start 3rd and has less than a length to make up. Include.
Selections: 4-5-7-8
Race 7 – Class 4 (1200m)
GALAXY WITNESS (1) can end a three-year drought when he steps out in Race 7. The six-year-old won his first four starts but it has been slim pickings since then. He has been edging closer at his rating has dropped and narrowly missed out as the exacta horse behind King Lotus when dropping to this grade on May 14. He draws perfectly in barrier 4 with Hugh Bowman to ride. NEW POWER (5) was 6th in the same race and has since come out and won. He was posted wide no cover in that race but kept coming and is another that draws well. GLORY B (6) will settle handy and just faded late when 4th last time, while he finished in the top two in his three runs prior to that, winning one. He will slide across and can stick on. FORTUNE WHISKEY (2) is next best.
Selections: 1-5-6-2
Race 8 – Class 3 (1650m)
EXCELLENCE VALUE (2) can bounce back in Race 8. The Mark Newnham-trained galloper didn’t handle the Soft track a week ago when 5th behind Keefy but was excellent prior to that, winning once and placing in three of four. The four-year-old will settle handy and just needs to handle the short back-up. SAMARKAND (9) should enjoy a nice time of it from the inside barrier and overcame a slow start to place 4th behind Jumbo Legend at his most recent start. He might sit leaders back. KING OF FIGHTERS (5) is yet to win in 11 starts but has placed in four of his past six. He will settle midfield and can close off well. LUCKY TOUCH (8) is a first four contender.
Selections: 2-9-5-8
Race 9 – Class 3 (1200m)
Nice race to finish off. SOVEREIGN FUND (11) was a Class 4 winner three starts ago and hasn’t looked out of place in this grade since, finishing 3rd in narrow fashion in both runs. The four-year-old will settle midfield and should be strong late. KING MILES (4) draws awkwardly but might push across to settle handy and has finished runner-up at his past three. With any luck early on, he should be hard to hold out at the business end. VERY GRATEFUL (8) represents a bit of X-factor. The former Kiwi was sent over after a win on debut in NZ and caught the eye late with a 4th behind Gracious Express on May 28. He will strip fitter. CHATEAUNEUF (1) must be included.
Selections: 11-4-8-1