International Racing: Happy Valley Turf – Wednesday 15 January 2020

Happy Valley is the place to bet on Wednesday with some nice racing. There are competitive races to start off the meeting, but later on the card is where the money could be made. 

The best bet comes in Race 5 with SURREALISM from the David Ferraris stable. He showed good improvement in his last start and meets the right field to go one better. The Mauritian Magician Karis Teetan is in the saddle. The value bet is in the next race with WILD WEST WING. He hails from the John Size stable and Joao Moreira does duty. He is much better than his last start suggests and if repeating his debut run, he should be involved in the finish. He is likely to open up at very nice odds.

Best Bet: SURREALISM (Race 5)
Value Bet: WILD WEST WING (Race 6)

Race 1 – 12:45 – Class 5 – 1000m
Selections: 8 – 11 – 7 – 4 – 9 
This is a very open contest and caution is advised. The narrow first selection goes to ROMAN ODYSSEY from the Manfred Man stable. He showed good signs of a form return last time when finishing 2nd, just a length behind the winner. He raced from a handy position that day and stayed on well at the business end. If he can confirm that improvement and from his good barrier position, he should be involved in the finish. NASHASHUK is showing good signs of returning to his best form. He stayed on well last time when finishing 3rd, just a length behind Lightning Missile. The slight concern for this son of Northern Meteor is his deep draw. However, he gets the services of world-class jockey Joao Moreira. GREAT SON should have finished much closer last time as he was crowded from the 300m mark. He will enjoy dropping back to the minimum trip and with a bit of luck in running, he should be right there at the wire. NICE FANDANGO showed some improvement in his last start on the All-Weather track. He has a decent record over this distance and must be included in all bets.

Race 2 – 13:15 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 8 – 9 – 11 – 12 – 7
This is another competitive race and once again caution is advised. The tentative first choice goes to NICE KICK from the John Size stable. He has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He stumbled at the start last time but boxed on well to finish 4th. Both of his career wins to date have come under Joao Moreira. If continuing his good run of form, he should be tough to beat. AFTER ME is not the most consistent sort, but the manner in which he finished off his last start to get up and win was encouraging. Jockey Matthew Chadwick does duty once again and the pair merit healthy respect. THE SHOW is showing good signs of returning to his best form. He was bumped at the start last time but made up some good ground in the home straight. With a bit of luck in running, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. FLYING GODSPELL’S last three runs have been fair. He set the pace in his last start and was only caught in the last 50m. If adopting the same tactics today, he can cause an upset.

Race 3 – 13:45 – Class 4 – 1000m
Selections: 5 – 4 – 12 – 9 – 10 
FIRE BALL is an unraced son of Burgundy from the Dennis Yip stable. Current leader on the Jockeys log, Joao Moreira does duty and from a good draw, he may start his career with a win. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to his chances. GUNNAR’S last two starts have been good. He won his penultimate start well when racing up with the pace. He was not disgraced last time when staying on well to finish 4th. Lyle Hewitson does duty for the Caspar Fownes yard and should the top selection fluff his lines, he could give the South African jockey a second win in Hong Kong. HAPPY GOOD GUYS last three runs have been good. He didn’t have the best of luck last time as he was bumped at the start, but then overraced from the 700m mark. If switching off early, he should be able to contest the finish. WINNING WAYS was unlucky not to win his last start. He was bumped at the start and then didn’t have a clear passage from the 600m mark. Blake Shinn does duty once again and if overcoming his wide draw, he can run into the money.

Race 4 – 14:15 – Class 4 – 1650m
Selections: 4 – 9 – 2 – 11 – 3   
CHARITY WINGS showed good improvement last time when running on well at the finish over this c&d. Tony Piccone has had a good start to his career in Hong Kong with three winners from 22 rides. From his good draw of four, he should be the one that they all have to beat. MANAGEMENT STAR was slow into stride and raced wide, but despite all that, he won an impressive race over this c&d. Alexis Badel was aboard the son of Darci Brahma that day and retains the ride once again. If repeating that outing, he should pose a big threat to the top selection. HEAVENLY THOUGHT showed good signs of a form return last time. He was given every chance of winning that day, but just missed where it matters most. He drops back in distance today, but that is not a concern as he placed over this c&d on 25 September last year. Joao Moreira retains the ride and he will have a better idea of when to push the button on this son of So You Think. LIGHTNING STEED was a surprise winner in his last start over this c&d. He raced from a handy position, took the lead at the 400m mark and just held on to win. He has a good draw of two and if repeating that run, he should be able to notch up the double.

Race 5 – 14:45 – Class 3 – 1650m
Selections: 7 – 6 – 4 – 3 – 8
SURREALISM is the best bet on the day. He was unlucky not to win his last start over this c&d. He was hampered at the 650m mark, but the manner in which he finished off his race was encouraging. He has a good draw once again and gets the services of in-form Karis Teetan and the son of Exceed And Excel may be tough to beat. PICKEN is better than his last two starts suggests. He had to ease in his last start and raced wide, but managed to finish his race off well. Joao Moreira is back in the saddle and if overcoming his wide draw, he should pose a big threat to the top choice. SUPERBELLA is making his Hong Kong debut. He won his last two starts well in Great Britain and has first run for in-form Frankie Lor. Alexis Badel does duty and if this son of Passing Glance is fit and well, he should be involved in the run down to the wire. PLANET STAR was his own worst enemy last time as he took a hold of the bit from the 1000m mark. If settling and producing his previous form, he must have a say in the outcome of this race.

Race 6 – 15:15 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 7 – 4 – 5 – 2 – 10 
The value bet on the card, WILD WEST WING can cause an upset in The Hong Kong Club Challenge Cup. He is much better than his last run when trying different tactics. He produced a good debut when running on well at the finish. He returns to Happy Valley and will enjoy the extra furlong that is on offer. From his wide draw, Joao Moreira is likely to drop him out and let him do his best work up the straight. VICTORY IN HAND set the pace in his last start and cruised to victory under today’s pilot, Karis Teetan. That was his first career win, but the manner in which he put the rest of the field to bed suggests that there is more to come from the son of O’Reilly. MEHBOOB is in very good form. He ran a good 2nd last time despite receiving a bump at the 450m mark. From his good draw of four, he merits healthy respect. CASA DE FORCA showed good signs of a form return in his last start over this c&d. He was crowded at the 1150m mark that day but rallied well in the final 250m. He set the pace in his previous three starts and if getting to the front today, he should be one to fight out the finish.

Race 7 – 15:45 – Class 3 – 1650m
Selections: 5 – 2 – 7 – 11 – 9 
BEAR AGAIN was an easy winner of his last start when going to the front. Alexis Badel was aboard that day and retains the ride. From pole position, he should have his own way in front and the son of Var should notch up the double. MAGNIFICENT took the lead at the 250m mark last time and cruised clear to notch up the victory. He gets a claiming apprentice in the saddle today and if the top choice fluffs his lines, he should be the one to pick up the pieces. SOLAR WAI WAI raced three wide in his last start and understandably lacked a finish up the straight. He jumps from a midfield draw and with a bit of luck in running, he should be right there at the finish. RULE THREE showed good signs of a form return in his last start at Sha Tin. He is much better suited to Happy Valley with two wins from nine attempts. His pilot Derek Leung knows him well and the pair merit healthy respect.

Race 8 – 16:15 – Class 3 – 1000m
Selections: 8 – 6 – 3 – 11 – 5
HONG KONG WIN showed good signs of a form return last time. He has been racing at Sha Tin in his last three starts and returns to Happy Valley which is his favourite course. He has recorded a win, two seconds and a third place finish from as many outings. Joao Moreira steps back into the saddle and his record on this son of Mossman is very encouraging. From his midfield draw, he should be hard to beat. FLYING GENIUS won his last two starts well. He pushed to the lead last time and cruised to victory. The son of All To Hard takes a step up in class this afternoon but looks to have some class about him. He has a good chance of notching up the hat-trick. HARMONY AND RICH produced a decent debut effort over this c&d in December. He lost his balance early that day but rallied well up the straight. With natural improvement that is expected, he should be involved in the run down to the wire. G UNIT is in very good form and takes a step up in class. He was a game winner of his last start despite being hampered at the 500m mark. From pole position, he must be included in all bets.

Race 9 – 16:50 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 8 – 9 
HIGHLY PROACTIVE is the pick to close off the meeting. He showed good improvement with each run and won notched up his first career victory last time. He had a tough trip last time, but took the lead at the 250m mark and won well. Karis Teetan does duty once again for the Francis Lui stable. From his good draw of three, he may be hard to beat. SNAP FIT has produced four top runs, winning three and finishing second in his last start. The slight concern for this son of Nadeem is his wide barrier position, but he gets the services of world class jockey Joao Moreira. Should the top selection fluff his lines, he should be the one to pick up the pieces. SHINING ACE is in very good consistent form. He had every chance to win his last start but was caught in the dying stages of the race. Blake Shinn knows the son of Testa Rossa well and the pair merit healthy respect. MARVEL DRAGON is making his Hong Kong debut. He was a winner of both his starts in Australia. If not too green in his first run at Happy Valley, he should be able to earn a cheque.