International Racing: Happy Valley – Wednesday 13th November 2019

Another mid-week meeting at Happy Valley, where 9 competitive races await punters. We’ll have to wait for the last race, the headline race on the card, where the top-rated GREEN LUCK looks a major contender with the 10-pound claimer up this time.

He has some good form to his name and looks tough to oppose. MONKEY JEWELLERY finds a much-improved draw for his second attempt in succession, over this course and distance. An improving sort, his next win looks imminent and in a competitive race, he should present some good value for punters.

Best Bet: GREEN LUCK (Race 9)
Value Bet: MONKEY JEWELLERY (Race 6) 

Race 1 – 12:45
Selections: 6 – 4 – 3 – 5 – 8 
GREAT SON is the pick to win the first race on the card. The son of Danerich has his third run back this term, after two solid efforts when overcoming wide berths. Despite the wide draws, he still managed to feature prominently in his latest effort, with Purton up. He retains the ride from gate 6 this time and he should find the early lead with relative ease. He will enjoy the step up to the 6-furlongs, having won over this course and distance before and he looks well set up to build on that record. GOUTEN OF GARO has landed on a competitive rating since dropping into this class three starts back. He has delivered two encouraging efforts in his last two runs and both have come over this course and distance. He gets the blinkers fitted for his 4th start in this class and he should be the biggest danger to the top selection. BLOOMING SPIRIT showed some useful improvement when dropping into this class last time. He too appears to have landed on a competitive rating and he proved that last time, by boxing on strongly in the closing stages. Moreira rode him on that occasion and he retains the ride for his peak run this season. The blinkers go on this time and he rates a threat if building on that latest effort. ROYAL CHOCOLATE also showed good improvement last time, when dropping back into Class 5 company, where he is yet to finish outside the top 3 places in three attempts. That was his first run back this term when overcoming a wide draw and his chances are boosted from a much-improved draw this time. The shadow-roll seemed to help last time and that stays on here. With Teetan back in the irons, he must be included with the expected improvement to come.

Race 2 – 13:15
Selections: 2 – 12 – 1 – 5 – 7  
TOP SCORE has been knocking on the door in his three starts this season and all three runs have come over this course and distance, where he has a very good record. He rallied well in his last two starts and he looks the likely winner here, with Moreira taking the mount. MISCHIEVOUS SUNDAE drops back to the 6-furlongs after a modest effort over further last time. Having taken hold of the bit in that run, he faded in the final 200m and that may be the last time he tries that sort of trip for a while. On his penultimate run, he looks a major threat here, having overcome a wide draw over this course and distance to finish third. From gate 4 this time, he looks a major threat and must be included. ORIENTAL ELITE found some good consistent form towards the end of last term and as things stand, he should win off this rating soon. He may need the run this time, after a 4-month absence from racing and the wide draw doesn’t help either. But he does like to come from off the speed and if not too in need of this, he has the ability to fight out the finish and must be included. SHIMMER AND SHINE has dropped further in the ratings after that disappointing last start when dropping into this class. He is much better than that effort and may have found the 1000m a touch on the sharp side. Having picked up both of his careers wins in the class of opposition, he will be looking to find his best form here and the removal of the tongue-tie could assist his cause.

Race 3 – 13:45
Selections: 6 – 8 – 4 – 1 – 3 
ENJOY LIFE finally landed a useful draw last time out and he showed good improvement to miss by just a neck. From an even better draw this time, he returns to the same course and distance as last time and Rispoli retains the ride. If building on that run or even just repeating it, he should be the one they all have to beat. SPEEDY WALLY finished right behind the top selection last time out, when overcoming gate 11 to run on strongly in the closing stages. That was on the back of some solid form prior to that run and he will be looking to convert that into a win soon. Drawn in gate 2 this time, Moreira takes the ride and he looks a big threat. CHARITY WINGS went close last time out, when having his second run back this season. He has dropped to a very competitive rating now and van Niekerk retains the ride, so he will be looking to repeat those tactics used in that last run. He is drawn wide, but if using his gate speed, he could find a prominent early position and should be fighting out the finish. PLAY WISE has had little luck with draws in his last two starts and the same applies here. Despite the wide draw last time, he boxed on well in the closing stages to finish just 2.5 lengths off the winner. With this being his peak run after a rest, he should be cherry ripe and if negating the draw once again, he should go close.

Race 4 – 14:15
Selections: 1 – 6 – 9 – 4 – 8 
BEST SMILE should land in the winner’s box soon, having run second twice in just three starts so far. All three runs have come at this level, over this trip and he is certainly not outclassed here. He’ll be looking to put that latest effort behind him, having pulled up lame after the run. If over those issues, he should be cherry-ripe for a bid at his first win this time and with Purton up again, he’s the one to beat. VERY SWEET ORANGE has plenty of speed and he had to use it to overcome gate 12 last time. He did well to box on for a very encouraging 2nd place finish and his chances will be boosted by the plum draw this time. The apprentice Chan claims the 10-pounds off his back and that will make him even tougher to catch. He likes this course and distance and must be included here. HAPPY GOOD DAYS finished in front of the top selection last time out when overcoming a very tough draw to find a prominent early position. He rallied well over the final 250m on that occasion, to finish just under a length behind the winner. From an improved draw this time, Poon retains and he should get close to the front with relative ease. With this being just his 7th career outing, he still has scope for improvement and if building on that last start, he’ll be right there. STRATHALLAN was tipped to win his last start and he wasn’t completely disgraced, having found the third box. He has since dropped further in the ratings and he lands a very useful draw this time. Sanna takes the ride and he is almost certain to be in the frame, on his current form. 

Race 5 – 14:45
Selections: 10 – 6 – 1 – 2 – 7
HARDLY SWEARS steps up to Class 3 territory after returning this season with an impressive double. His latest victory was over this course and distance when trying the 6-furlongs for the first time. Drawn 6, he will more than likely be looking for a back seat in the early parts before turning on his powerful finish in the final 2 furlongs. He looks a very progressive sort and capable of stepping up to the plate. SHINING ACE has done exactly that, having notched up a win and two 3rd place finishes in his four outings, since stepping up to this level. All four of those runs have come over this course and distance and with Moreira up from gate 4, he looks a big threat. JOYFUL UNION lands a good draw for his third outing since having his rating raised to 79 and he has shown signs that his next victory is imminent. He is a winner over this course and distance and with this being his second run after a short absence, he has plenty more to come. BREEDER’S STAR has been in consistent form and he has continued to drop in the ratings. He lands a tricky draw this time, but he is a versatile son of Jet Spur who seems to settle regardless of his position. Karis Teetan retains the ride and he could pop up at a good price.

Race 6 – 15:15
Selections: 8 – 3 – 2 – 7 – 9 
MONKEY JEWELLERY has landed two wide draws since stepping up this level in his last two starts.    He has finished in fifth place and has been beaten by just over three lengths on both occasions and he has now landed a plum draw for real go at adding a third win to his short career record. He has his second outing at this course, but he is more than at home over this trip and he appears to be very good value here. PERFECT GLORY lands another wide draw as he drops into a class where he has picked up two wins and a second, in just six attempts. Five of those efforts have come over this course and distance and with Zac Purton in the irons this time, he rates a major threat to the top selection. LONE EAGLE lands an improved draw for his third run back this season and the son of Zoffany will also have his first start at Happy Valley this time. He has been in solid recent form and looks an attractive proposition to follow, with Moreira up. He’ll be right up there with the early speed and if repeating that last run, he’ll go close. STARLIGHT has dropped significantly in the ratings and he is starting to show signs of finding some threatening form. He is a very useful sprinter at this track and trip and Rispoli knows him well, having ridden the son of Red Element on twelve prior occasions for two wins. He retains the ride having jumped up for an improved performance last time and on his current trajectory, he’ll be involved in the finish.

Race 7 – 15:45
Selections:  7 – 10 – 3 – 9 – 1 
UNIVERSAL GO GO has taken well to the step up to this class, finishing second in all three of his efforts here. A consistent performer over this course and distance, he has picked up a win and five second-place finishes in his nine outings here and he lands a favourable draw for his third run back this term. Ho retains the ride and he will be looking to go one better here. MERRYGOWIN is starting to slip to a competitive rating and he lands a much-improved draw for his third run back this term, after picking two wide barriers in both comeback runs prior to this. Having pulled in the early parts of his latest effort, he clearly didn’t enjoy the more sedate tempo and he should settle a lot better this time over the slightly shorter trip. He likes this course and distance and with Ho retaining the ride, he looks a bit threat. JADE FORTUNE showed signs of a big run last time out, when lining up for his second run back. That may be a result of his rating having slipped over 10 points in his last five starts and he looks competitive off his current mark of 69. He will be cherry-ripe for this run and with this being back at his favoured course and distance, he deserves plenty of respect. CINQUANTE CINQ returns from a five-month absence, having wrapped up his last campaign with two good performances when rising to this class. With this being his 6th career start, he still has plenty of scope for improvement and if not too in need of this, he should be right there.

Race 8 – 16:15
Selections: 9 – 4 – 3 – 10 – 8
AMBITIOUS HEART found traffic in his last start, when overcoming a tough draw and he would’ve finished a lot closer, had he found a clear passage. He will jump from gate 5 this time, as he reverts to the Happy Valley course where he seems to be better performed. Moreira takes the mount and with this being his peak run back, he looks the one to beat. SNAP FIT is unbeaten in his three starts so far and he proved his ability last time out, when stepping up to this class in victorious fashion. All three wins have come at this course, but he now steps up to the 1200m and there may be a few questions marks around him staying the trip. With that said, Purton knows him well having ridden him in all three starts so far. From a useful draw, he deserves plenty of respect. SMART LEADER has felt the 5-point penalty he received after his win three starts back, finishing just over three lengths back in his two subsequent runs. He found traffic last time out and that may have hindered his effort to finish closer to the winner and from another useful draw, his followers can expect more improvement. Shinn retains and he must be included. HAPPY LIFELINE hasn’t had much luck with draws in his three starts so far and the same continues here. He finished just behind the second selection last time out, when overcoming gate 9 and he now lines up 9-pounds better off with the latter. With just the 8 starts to his name (3 in Hong Kong), he still has plenty of scope for further improvement and must be considered here. 

Race 9 – 16:50
Selections: 1 – 6 – 5 – 2 – 10
GREEN LUCK has put in two solid efforts, since picking up his third win in Hong Kong, three starts back. He finished just 2,5 lengths behind HAPPY DRAGON last time out, when returning to his favourite course and distance trip – where he also lines up this time. However, he gets a 15-pound favourable turn around at the weights on that last run, with the 10-pound claiming Chan in the irons. From anther useful draw, he looks hard to oppose and the Fownes yard will view this as a great opportunity to continue their good run of form. The latter, as mentioned above, does have the added weight to carry this time but he has found some useful form since returning this term. He lands another useful draw and Chadwick retains the ride. Having finished right behind PLAYA DEL PUENTE last time, he gets a favourable 9-pound turn-around at the weights with the latter and that should bring him right into the equation. The latter was a very impressive winner last time and it is no surprise to see Moreira retain the ride. A four-time winner from seven starts, he has plenty of scope and ability and despite the draw, he deserves plenty of respect. HEZTHEWONFORUS has been in good consistent form in this class, as he lines up for his Happy Valley course debut. Drawn wide, Shinn will be tasked with chasing him out the stalls to settle just off the early speed and he will be looking to be involved in the finish once again.