International Racing: Happy Valley Turf – Wednesday 08 January 2020

The third meeting of the year sees an exciting nine-race programme at Happy Valley on Wednesday. The main event of the day is Race 6 which is the Group 3 January Cup run over 1800m. 

The best bet on the day comes in the last race in the form of AURORA PEGASUS who has won his last three starts on this course. He hails from the Caspar Fownes yard with Zac Purton aboard. Purton currently lies second on the Jockeys standings, just four winners behind Joao Moreira. The value bet on the day comes in the 7th race. SUPER ELEGANCE has finished runner-up in his last two starts and looks to set to finally find his way back into the winner’s enclosure.

Best Bet: AURORA PEGASUS (Race 9)
Value Bet: SUPER ELEGANCE (Race 7)

Race 1 – 12:45 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 6 – 1 – 7 – 11 – 10 
FOCUS could give jockey Chad Schofield a winning start to the day. He notched up his first win of his career over this c&d last time under today’s pilot. The son of Per Incanto took the lead at the 150m mark and drew off well to win by 1.5 lengths. Trainer Yiu is currently leading the trainer’s championship standings and may be looking to add another win to his tally. BREEDERS’ SKY has been campaigning in stronger company and takes a drop in class. He should have finished closer in his last start as he was hampered at the 800m mark. Karis Teetan does duty this afternoon and with a bit of luck in running, the pair should pose a big threat to the top selection. GOOD FOR YOU’S last start at Sha Tin was far over 1400m in December. He produced a one-paced effort that day and may enjoy dropping back to the 1200m. He is having his 57th run in Hong Kong and can add another placed finish to his record. SUPER ALLIANCES showed good improvement in his last start over this c&d. He raced without cover for some of that race but kept on well at the business end. Current leading jockey Joao Moreira does duty for the John Size yard. If confirming his recent improvement, he should be right up there as they hit the line.

Race 2 – 13:15 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 2 – 11 – 1 – 6 – 12   
HAPPY ALUMNI is lightly raced and has produced some fair form thus far. He was his own worst enemy last time as he pulled early, but things never went his way after that as he was hampered at the 500m mark. He finished 4.5 lengths behind Focus who races in the first race. Tony Piccone has only had eight rides for a win and two thirds. He will be looking to notch up his second win here. MASTER ALBERT hasn’t finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He ran on well in this last start over this c&d and will more than likely adopt the same tactics this afternoon. Karis Teetan knows this son of Magic Albert well and the pair should pose a threat to the top choice. LORIZ has come well in this last two starts under Vincent Ho. He shared the lead turning into the home straight and kept on well at the business end. From his midfield draw, he should be involved in the finish. SHOUSON was bumped at the start in his last race and produced a one-paced effort at Sha Tin. He finished 1.25 lengths behind the top selection that day and may have to settle for the same result. Top jockey Zac Purton does duty this afternoon and the pair must be included in all bets.

Race 3 – 13:45 – Class 4 – 1650m
Selections: 2 – 1 – 10 – 9 – 11  
NABOO STAR was impressive when winning his last start over this c&d in this class. He meets a similar type of field and can notch up his second career victory. From pole position and with top jockey Vincent Ho retaining the ride, the pair could find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. RULETHEROOST was crowded at the start last time but rallied well down the inside to finish just over a length behind the winner. Zac Purton who was aboard last time will have a better idea of how this horse likes to race and with a bit of luck in running, the pair should pose a big threat to the top choice. HAPPY HOUR was impressive when winning his last start over this c&d in December. He made his run up the inside rail and cruised to win going away by 2 lengths. It must be noted that Zac Purton has opted to ride the second selection as opposed to him, but Silvestre de Sousa was aboard in his previous two starts and knows this son of Mastercraftsman well. NITRO EXPRESS didn’t have things go his own way last time as he was pushed to race three wide. However, the manner in which he finished off the race that day was encouraging to only get beaten, 1.25 lengths at the wire. From a better draw, he should be able to contest the finish.


Race 4 – 14:15 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 7 – 5 – 1 – 11 – 2  
NOBLE MAN produced an encouraging debut effort over this c&d on Boxing Day. He raced from a midfield position that day and produced a good finish. The son of Exceed And Excel would have come on from the run and with natural improvement that is expected, he can go one better here. The big positive is that he has a good barrier position of two. WHAT A LEGEND came back to his best last time over this c&d. He raced from a handy position and drew clear to win by 2.25 lengths. He has another good draw here and with Chad Schofield in the irons, the pair could pick up the pieces should the top choice fluff his lines. CONFUCIUS DAY didn’t have things go his way last time as he raced three wide and understandably faded in the closing stages of the race. His penultimate run was encouraging and if repeating that effort, he should be involved in the finish. SHINING ON should have finished much closer to the winner last time as he was hampered at the 1500m mark and then crowded at the 50m mark. With a bit of luck in running and with some weight taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he should be able to run into the money in this field.

Race 5 – 14:45 – Class 4 – 1650m
Selections: 3 – 8 – 2 – 5 – 12  
WINNING ENDEAVOUR is showing good signs of returning to his best form in his last two starts. He raced wide around the turn last time, but the manner in which he finished off his race was encouraging. If Karis Teetan can get him into a good position turning for home, he should be able to go one better here. Trainer Douglas Whyte has got his training career off to a good start and will be looking to notch up another win here. MURRAY’S PARTNERS was unlucky not to win his last start as he raced three wide and just missed out by going down a short head. The son of Towkay has a much better draw this afternoon and with Joao Moreira retaining the ride, the pair pose a big danger to the top choice. FLAME LILY has shown good consistent form of late. If he can repeat his last run from a good draw, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. DOR DOR beat the top choice the last time they met, but with his three-pound penalty, WINNING ENDEAVOUR may be able to turn the tables today. Alexis Badel retains the ride and the pair should be included in all bets.

Race 6 – 15:15 – Group 3 – 1800m
Selections: 5 – 1 – 6 – 2 – 8  
The January Cup looks to be a competitive contest and caution is advised. The narrow first selection goes to SACRED CAPITAL from the Joseph Lau yard who raids from Macau. He finished second in his last start in his home country and ran on well at the finish that day. He finished behind SOUTHERN LEGEND in his penultimate start and that too was in Group 3 company. He is chosen to get the better of his conqueror purely based on consistency. Joao Moreira does duty this afternoon and the pair could give Joseph Lau his first winner in Hong Kong. SOUTHERN LEGEND raced in Grade 1 company last time and faded badly to finish some way behind the winner. Zac Purton does duty for the Caspar Fownes yard and the pair will be looking to upset the raiding Lau party. HARMONY VICTORY showed good signs of a form return last time when finishing runner-up despite receiving a bump at the 200m mark. Grant van Niekerk knows this son of Public Purse well and the pair could run into the money. TIME WARP has been disappointing when setting the pace in his last two starts over ten furlongs. The drop back in trip should suit him well and on his run on 3 November 2019, he should be right there at the finish.

Race 7 – 15:45 – Class 3 – 1800m
Selections: 6 – 4 – 2 – 12 – 1 
SUPER ELEGANCE has finished runner-up in his last two starts. His last start over the mile was impressive when making up good ground in the straight to finish just a length behind the winner. His penultimate run over this distance was equally encouraging as he got beaten a short head after being crowded at a crucial stage in the closing stages. The son of Teofilo reunites with Chad Schofield who has ridden him five times for two seconds. From his wide draw, he is likely to be taken back once again and should be doing his best work up the straight. WORLD FAMOUS finished just a neck behind the winner despite getting bumped at the start. Vincent Ho retains the ride and the pair could be right there at the finish. XIANG BAI QI’S last run can be completely ignored as he had no running room and was not tested in the straight. On his penultimate run when running on well to win, he should be right there at the finish. It is encouraging that Zac Purton does duty for the David Ferraris yard. GREAT TREASURE was crowded at the start last time but rallied well to finish 1.5 lengths behind the winner. With luck in running, he should finish in the money once again.

Race 8 – 16:15 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 2 – 1 – 6 – 4 – 11  
SHINING ACE had plenty of excuses in his last start when crowded at the jump and receiving a bump at the 450m mark. Despite all that, he was running on well at the business end of the race. From his midfield draw of seven, he should be hard to beat in this line-up. JOYFUL UNION’S last two runs over this c&d have been promising. Zac Purton retains the ride and the pair should be right there to pick up the pieces should the top selection fluff his lines. VICTORIAM should have finished closer to the winner last time as he was crowded in the final 100m of the race. That race was over the minimum distance and he will enjoy stepping back over the extra furlong. Blake Shinn knows this son of I Am Invincible well and the pair merit healthy respect. BALLISTIC KING was his own worst enemy last time as he didn’t settle in the early stages of the race. He managed to box on nicely that day and finished just over a length behind the winner. Chad Schofield knows him well as he has ridden him three times for a second and third-placed finish.

Race 9 – 16:50 – Class 3 – 1200m 
Selections: 2 – 10 – 4 – 5 – 11  
The best bet on the card is AURORA PEGASUS from the Caspar Fownes stable and could close off the meeting for top jockey Zac Purton. He raced from a handy position and despite racing three wide, he managed to dead-heat and notch up three wins in a row. His conditioner has picked his races well and he should be able to get his quartet of wins. VICTORY POWER took the lead at the 200m mark last time and drew off well to beat Noble Man who races earlier on the card. He takes a slight rise in class here, but if repeating his last start he could fill the exacta spot. BEAUTY SPARK was disappointing in his last start in an International Jockeys Challenge race. He was taken back that day and never found a kick. If he can repeat his penultimate run under this apprentice, he should be able to earn a cheque. BABY has produced two decent runs in his last two starts. He finished behind the top selection in his penultimate run and may have to settle for the same result. If overcoming his wide draw, he can run into the minor money.