Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Happy Valley and Tampa Bay Downs.
Other international racing tips for Wednesday:
Ascot
Warwick Farm
Happy Valley
Neil Morrice tips
Anthony Delpech – Happy Valley
Happy Valley Best Bets
Race 1: No3 CROWN AVENUE
Trainer: Dennis Yip – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
Although failing to menace on his last couple of starts at Sha Tin, CROWN AVENUE is more than capable of taking this out if in the mood. It’s a wide-open affair that features mainly out of form horses, but Hamelin should be wiser about what to expect from his mount after getting a first feel of him at Sha Tin earlier in the month. EXALTATION has been edging towards a first success of the year and for top connections, warrants respect, while at a big price infrequent scorer GIANT TURTLE could turn back the clock in this step back into a Class 4.
Prediction: 3-6-1
Race 2: No2 VICTORIOUS SEEKER
Trainer: Paul O’Sullivan – Jockey: Joao Moreira
A final chance is afforded to perennial bridegroom VICTORIOUS SEEKER whose form figures of 23332 this year paint a frustrating picture. The five-year-old appears equally effective at this course and Sha Tin, where he chased home wide margin scorer Mcmunigal earlier in the month. The fact remains he’s a 12-race maiden that clearly has the ability to win if he wants to, and it’s up to Moreira to make the difference on the third time he’s ridden him. One who should be doing his best work at the finish is ENJOYABLE SUCCESS for whom a fast early pace will help. AEROFLASH is also ticketed for some kind of an earn, having responded positively to blinkers last time.
Prediction: 2-3-8
Race 3: No6 EVERYONE’S ELITE
Trainer: Manfred Man – Jockey: Joao Moreira
While blinkers are no longer seen as a ‘rogue’s badge’ there will be many prepared to say that EVERYONE’S ELITE may not be resolute, though I’m not among them. With the headgear he’s gone 22-2222 which more than ever in a digitally advanced place like Hong Kong takes one heck of a lot of achieving. However, habits are there to be broken, and with Moreira choosing to stick with him he can end the drought. HAPPY WARRIOR does the majority of his racing at the Valley and appeals as a horse getting ominously close to a first win of 2020, while Purton jumps on him for the first time in almost a year. He has a good chance of turning the tables on FOCUS, who came out on top in their meeting at the start of the month.
Prediction: 6-2-5
Race 4: No7 SIMPLY FLUKE
Trainer: Doug Whyte – Jockey: Joao Moreira
Hopefully, Everyone’s Elite will have taken a leaf out of the book of SIMPLY FLUKE, who when scoring over course and distance three weeks ago was ending a run of three near-misses. It was on a first outing for ‘Durban Demon’ Whyte and also the first time Moreira had partnered the gelding. The main thing standing in their way is the outside gate. SUPER ALLIANCES failed by a paper-thin margin to score at this track three weeks ago but it appears his then jockey Moreira has jumped ship. COLONEL is another with a tricky draw to overcome but has the ability to go close if he can.
Prediction: 7-6-3
Race 5: No8 TRAVEL DATUK
Trainer: Richard Gibson – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
One of several horses looking to end frustrating runs on this card, TRAVEL DATUK can make it third time lucky following two near misses. His overall profile of being a 39-race maiden is off-putting, but against that he came back well from a break to chase home Simply Fluke and now has Hamelin on his back for the first time. Also, Simply Fluke can give us a nice line onto him in the previous race. THE SHOW is well into the veteran stage but is in the right class and racing off his last winning mark, making this honest performer one to have on your side. And one that should arrive late on the scene is VICTORY MASTER who, with only eight career starts under his belt, has room for progression.
Prediction: 8-9-10
Race 6: No6 FLASH FAMOUS
Trainer: Frankie Lor – Jockey: Joao Moreira
FLASH FAMOUS is a horse racing on an upwardly mobile curve that can take another step up the ladder. A winner of four of his last seven starts here at the Valley, he has a good record of two wins and a second under Moreira. From a good gate one off the fence it’s hard to imagine him being out of the frame, while equally he’s a worthy favourite to win. XIANG BAI QI is also well-drawn and should enjoy a clean trip. He responded positively to first-time blinkers on his latest start and now gets ‘hot’ jockey Karis Teetan at the controls. DELIGHTFUL LAOS is an interesting addition to the Tony Cruz yard from Ireland, but may just need this on first run for more than 200 days and first in Hong Kong.
Prediction: 6-4-9
Race 7: No4 BEAUTY AMIGO
Trainer: John Moore – Jockey: Derek Leung
On sixth run back BEAUTY AMIGO delivered in convincing fashion here last week and has definitely gone forward for the fitting of blinkers. He got the job done in taking style under the same jockey who does the steering tonight. DIAMOND BRILLIANT is overdue a win and from gate 2 should enjoy a clean trip from close to the pace. It’s a high percentage call that he will be right in the thick of things at the business end, while SHINING GEM looks to be nearing a first delivery of 2020 and has sound claims to do so if enjoying a trouble-free run in the straight.
Prediction: 4-9-1
Race 8: No11 OWNER’S STAR
Trainer: Danny Shum – Jockey: Dylan Mo
Since winning here last October OWNER’S STAR has rarely run a bad race, and two recent near-misses indicate he’s ready to return to the winner’s circle. In order to do that he requires the rub of the green as he will need to find his way through horses in the straight, but he appeals as a horse worth chancing. RED ELYSEES picked up a cheque on three consecutive outings at the city track and should enjoy his return after a spell operating at Sha Tin. SURREALISM has placed in six of his seven races here and is greatly feared if settling into a rhythm leaving the gate.
Prediction: 11-3-7
Race 9: No7 BEAUTY SPARK
Trainer: Frankie Lor – Jockey: C Wong
BEAUTY SPARK can confirm his superiority over CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT and SHOUSON from their meeting over course and distance earlier in the month. In a blanket finish just a short head and head separated the trio and it was by identical margins that the selection had finished third to Winning Method on his previous outing. There is nothing between the three on the book but after a string of third placings Beauty Spark might have derived the confidence from that deserved success to enable him to follow-up.
Prediction: 7-5-1
Tampa Bay Downs Best Bets
Race 3 (Allowance Optional Claiming) No8 PASSING OUT
Trainer: Shug McGaughey – Jockey: Antonio Gallardo
PASSING OUT returns to Florida for the first time since breaking her maiden on debut at Gulfstream more than a year ago. She then enjoyed a mixed bag of success in five subsequent outings on the New York circuit, winning at this level at Saratoga last summer and placing on her latest start at Aqueduct back in November. The daughter of Orb needs to show she’s ready following her subsequent break. Bramble Queen skipped an opportunity last week and is a pea out of the same pod in that her last five outings were at Saratoga and Belmont. She’s here off a 220-day break but has shown good form in similar situations.
Prediction: 8-4-3
Race 5 (Allowance Optional Claiming) No3 ASSIDUOUSLY
Trainer: Chad Brown – Jockey: Daniel Centeno
Figuring to progress from a good solid start to his career, ASSIDUOUSLY can take out some more experienced foes on just a third career start. The Lope De Vega colt is well drawn for his bid to back up a conversion over course and distance in late December. Blood Moon has placed twice for new connections after breaking his maiden and should be on the case after a near miss at this level earlier in the month. But a bigger threat could stem from Casino Grande, who landed some good bets on his introduction over seven furlongs here last month, and whose jockey is operating at a high strike-rate.
Prediction: 3-13-11
Race 7 (Allowance) No10 NORTH DAKOTA
Trainer: Shug McGaughey – Jockey: Antonio Gallardo
After some promising efforts NORTH DAKOTA broke his maiden on debut for his trainer, and though needing to step up has the wherewithal to do that. It’s a fiercely competitive heat in which all of half a dozen are in with a squeak, including the dual winner Uhtred who will have learned from his first venture here before Christmas when a beaten favourite. First time blinkers worked a treat for Last Promise when he scored over a slightly shorter trip here, and this frequent winner should also get into the shake-up.
Prediction: 10-1-7
