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International Racing: Happy Valley – Wednesday 16th October 2019

Jockeys ride horses

Eight races are carded on the Happy Valley Turf, this Wednesday 16th October 2019 and first impressions show a catalogue of competitive racing. 

Three Class 3 events headline the racing and all three races are peppered with quality individuals, all looking to progress early on in the season. The best bet comes early in the form of BEST SMILE and he will be looking to go one better after going close in both starts so far. The value bet on the card arrives in the very next race (race 3) and the exceptionally well-bred son of Frankel, FULL POWER, will be looking to go a lot closer in just his second start. He is worth following at a useful price.

Best Bet: BEST SMILE (Race 2)
Value Bet: FULL POWER (Race 3)

Race
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
1
2
3
7
10
1
2
1
2
6
4
10
3
2
12
8
6
4
4
4
5
3
2
8
5
2
4
3
9
12
6
9
10
2
1
4
7
2
4
11
8
12
8
1
7
6
9
10

Race 1 – 13:15
Selections: 2 – 3 – 7 – 10 – 1
SKY GEM should be the obvious pick to get us off to a winning start, this Wednesday. He has been dropping steadily in the ratings for some time now and after two good efforts over a similar trip, he finds a very useful draw and the bang in form Moreira retains the ride. He finished 0.5 lengths behind MEGATRON on his Happy Valley course debut, in his penultimate start and lines up 4 pounds better off at the weights with the latter, this time. He followed that up with a useful attempt over this trip last time out, albeit on the Sha Tin Turf, but that run was full of merit and a repeat of that effort should be good enough to win this. GOLDEN KID has also been dropping in the ratings for some time now and he finished just 0.5 lengths behind the top selection in his latest effort. He is 1-pound better off at the weights with the top selection, on that run and he lands a much-improved draw this time. He is yet to finish outside the top three places in three attempts over this course and distance and with Sanna retaining the ride, he looks a threat to the top selection. COME ON WONGCHOY has his third start for his new camp and having slipped in the ratings, he is starting to look competitive off his current mark. He too stems from the MEGATRON form line, having finished 1.5 lengths behind the top selection in his last start and he too lines up 1-pound better off at the weights on that run. He appears to be finding some useful form and must be included. YOUNG VICTORY finished just over a length behind the top selection in his last start and goes to post 2-pounds better off with the latter on that run. He has been slipping in the ratings for some time now and despite failing to find the winners box in his 21 career starts so far, he appears to be finding useful form if his last start is anything to go by and he cannot be discounted here.

Race 2 – 13:45
Selections: 1 – 2 – 6 – 4 – 9
BEST SMILE has given a good account of himself in both starts so far, which have happened to come over this course and distance and in this class. He went down a neck in his last start under Zac Purton who retains the ride this time and with the expected improvement to come, he should win this. LOOK ERAS finished behind the top selection last time out when setting a fractious speed before fading over the last 250m. He can be excused for that run, as he may have just gone too hard in the early parts. Going on his form prior to that run, he deserves plenty of respect, especially over this course and distance. Despite not winning over this track and trip in 11 starts, he has finished in the top three on 8 occasions, so his time is just around the corner. He lines up 1-pound better off at the weights with the top selection, on that latest run and he finds himself drawn a little wide this time. Moreira takes the mount and he will be hoping to avoid travelling three-deep in the early stages and with a little luck in running, he has the ability to challenge strongly in this company and must be considered for the minor placings. WINNING WAYS has improved with the decrease in ratings, with his best recent effort coming over this course and distance last time out. That was when finding a decent draw and he will have another wide one to overcome this time out. He finished right behind the top selection in that last run and with Teetan retaining the ride, he must go in. SAM’S LOVE has dropped to a competitive rating and lands a much-improved draw here. He goes to post 2-pounds better off with the top selection, on that latest effort and with the 3-pound claimer retaining the ride, he must be included.

Race 3 – 14:15
Selections: 2 – 12 – 8 – 6 – 4 
FULL POWER is a beautifully bred son of Frankel, who wasn’t disgraced on debut and that run would’ve been a very useful educational experience for him. He finds an improved draw for his second career outing and his first at Happy Valley. Having finished just over 2 lengths behind BUNDLE OF ENERGY last time, the latter is drawn wider here and that may leave the door wide open for an expected bold showing. Rispoli retains the ride and with plenty of scope to improve, he could be a big runner in just his second start. The latter deserves plenty of respect and is the one to beat, with Moreira jumping back up for another crack at the winners’ box for this son of Reliable Man. Despite still searching for that elusive first win, he has gone close over this course and distance and in this class. Off his current mark of 41, Moreira will more than likely opt to commit to a handy position early on and he’ll be hard to shake off late. MURRAY’S PARTNERS has also been dropping in the ratings of late and he gave a decent account of himself last time out when returning from a three-month lay-off. With this just being his 7th career start, he still has plenty more to come and the added benefit of the 2-pound claimer engaged to ride him this time brings him right into contention. He steps up to this trip for this first time and he should relish every bit of the extra 250m. He’s a threat and must be considered. ROYAL RACER is also just getting going in his career, although he has managed to notch up that first career win already. He finds another wide draw this time, but he does have a useful turn of foot and he will enjoy returning to what appears to be his favoured track and trip. Purton retains the mount and he will be looking for a clear passage late. With a bit of luck in running, he’ll be involved in the finish and warrants inclusion.

Race 4 – 14:45
Selections: 4 – 5 – 3 – 2 – 8 
SANGRIA was eye-catching on his return to racing last time out, after a 3-month absence from the course. That was when overcoming a wide draw to challenge strongly in the closing stages and there is little doubt that the run would’ve bought him on a lot for this follow-up effort. He has been dropping in the ratings and he is starting to look an attractive betting proposition off this current mark. Having finished behind DREAM WARRIORS last time out, he lines up 5-pounds better off at the weights for this run and the improved draw will go a long way to enhancing his chances as well. Rispoli retains the ride and a slightly better-timed run should be good enough to land him in the winners’ box. KING’S MAN finished just behind the top selection last time and contrary to the former, he has a wider draw to negate this time and it will take a good ride from Moreira to land him in any sort of contention for first prize. With that said, he too has been dropping in the ratings and he’ll line up 1-pound better off with the top selection on that latest effort. It may not be enough to win, but he should be involved in the finish. FAMILY LEADER is another who stems from the DREAM WARRIORS form line and he will be looking to go a lot closer this time. Having found traffic at a crucial stage entering the straight, he was forced to rally wide and he may have gone a lot closer had he found a clear run down the middle. Drawn wide this time, Purton looks best placed to get the most out of him and on his recent form, deserves inclusion. DREAM WARRIORS as mentioned above, comes off the back of a smart win last time out, his first effort over this course and distance and there are no surprises seeing Karis Teetan retain the ride. He may find it tougher with the weight turn around this time, but having had just 8 outings so far, the son of Smart Missile has plenty of scope for improvement. He clearly enjoyed the extra last time out and can follow up if everything goes to plan.

Race 5 – 15:15
Selections: 2 – 4 – 3 – 9 – 12 
TASHIDELEK is back at his preferred course, after a modest comeback run last time out. That was over a trip far short of his best (1400m) and from gate 14, was clearly treated as a pipe-opener. He struck heels at the 1300m and did relatively well to stay on for a 4-length beating. That run would’ve bought him on nicely for his return over the course and distance, where he ran third in his only attempt. Yet to miss the first three places in three outings at this course and well performed in this class, Purton regains the ride from a much-improved draw and he’s worth following. XIANG BAI QI finished just in front of the top selection in his penultimate run, towards the end of last term. That was over this course and distance and he will be cherry-ripe for his second outing this season. The stable appears to have hit a flat spot, which does raise a few question marks, but he cracks pole position and gets the services of Moreira. Although he is yet to win in 18 starts in Hong Kong, he does have useful form and must be included. HUANGSHAN has had a tough introduction to the scene in Hong Kong, having two wide draws to negate in both starts. He made some improvement on the All-Weather last time when stepping up slightly in trip and he finds a handy draw here. The well-bred son of Redoute’s Choice is going to relish the extra and has the scope to show big improvement, with the blinkers fitted here. CROWN AVENUE is exceptionally well-performed over this trip, although he does have a preference for the All-Weather. With that said he has won on Turf, more importantly over this course and distance and he deserves his step up to this class. He will find it a lot tougher, but keep an eye out for him on his hat-trick attempt.

Race 6 – 15:45
Selections: 9 – 1 0 – 2 – 1 – 4
The lightly raced HOLEE MONEY has been quietly dropping in the ratings and he has shown good improvement off his recently lowered mark, despite having excuses. He was hampered at the 200m mark in his penultimate start and his jockey lost his crop in his latest effort, both crucial incidents occurring at critical stages of his assault. He steps up to the 6-furlongs this time and he looks set to claim top honours. LIGHTNING STEED has been finishing just off the money in his last few starts, over this course and distance. He too has been sliding in the ratings and he lands another useful draw for his 6th attempt at this track and trip. He has finished 3rd in four of those efforts and could cause an upset if things go his way. CONFUCIOUS DAY has improved since having the blinkers fitted in his last two starts. He has clearly enjoyed the decrease in trip and one gets the feeling that his first win in this class is just around the corner, if not this time. He is drawn wide, but Moreira takes the mount and from a handy position, he will be involved in the finish. The top-weighted LADY FIRST has his third outing since dropping into this class, having finished second and fourth in two of those starts respectively. Both came over this course and distance and Purton retains the ride from a tough draw. But with a well-timed challenge from off the pace, he should be in with a shout. 

Race 7 – 16:15
Selections: 2 – 4 – 11 – 8 – 12
MY ALLY has been in good form and he gave a solid account of himself last time out when dropping to this trip. That was on the back of a win over the 1650m at this course. He overcame a wide draw on both occasions and his chances will be buoyed this time around, having landed gate 7. He likes to race handy and that makes him ideally suited to this decrease in distance. Purton takes the ride for the first time and he should be the one to beat. YOUNG LEGEND also finds an improved draw for a change, after three-wide draws in his last three starts. He too has been in good form, before that modest showing on the All-Weather in his penultimate start. He followed that up with a strong finish over the 1000m last time out and all signs are pointing to him making a big impression over the 1200m here. He has won and placed third on two occasions in his five attempts over this trip and he is more than at home in this class. Big runner from gate 3. BREEDER’S SKY has been dropping in the ratings for some time in this class and he improved last time when partnering with the 3-pound claiming apprentice from a much-improved draw. Drawn well again, he steps up to the 1200m and he looks a major threat off this mark of 63. BUOYANT BOY has been in good consistent form in recent time, over this course and distance and in this class. His record goes someway to back that claim up and from another useful draw this time, he looks a likely contender and must be respected.

Race 8 – 16:50
Selections: 1 – 7 – 6 – 9 – 10
ARCADA has been in good form over this sort of trip in recent times, having won two of his last five starts. He had a tough draw to overcome last time out and despite being hampered at the 500m mark, he did well to stay on for just over a 3-length beating. He lands in pole to mount his challenge from this time and he’ll be partnered with the 10-pound claiming Chan. He clearly likes this course and distance and he is well performed against this class of opposition. With that in mind, this race is his for the taking. HIGH REV has finished first and second in his two attempts over this course and distance. He put in a solid effort over shorter when stepping into this class last time out. That was after winning well over this course and distance in his penultimate start when overcoming a tricky draw. Purton takes the mount and he looks the biggest danger to the top selection. LOOKING GOOD has been showing up well since stepping into this class and he appears to get along well with Grant van Niekerk. He likes this course and has gone close over the trip and from another useful draw, he should be right there again. UNIVERSAL GO GO returns from a 4-month absence from the course, after finishing off his last campaign with a string of solid performances. He has only missed the first three places on one occasion, from seven attempts over this course and distance and he clearly had no concerns stepping into this class last time out, when finishing back in second over this track and trip. A repeat of that effort brings him right into the equation and he must be included.

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