International Racing: Happy Valley – Wednesday 6th November 2019

There are nine races carded to tantalise punters taste buds, this Wednesday 6th November 2019. With some competitive racing on offer, we have sided with LADY FIRST as the best bet on the card. 

He lines up in the 6th race, from a much-improved draw and with this being his peak run after a rest, Purton retains and he looks tough to beat. The value on the card arrives in the 8th race, where GREY’S EMINENCE has his second start here, after showing up well in his Hong Kong debut. He does face some worthy opposition, but with some improvement, he looks a major threat. See more here.

Best Bet: LADY FIRST (Race 6)
Value Bet: KING’S EMINENCE (Race 8)

Race 1 – 12:45
Selections: 5 – 9 – 1 – 4 – 7
METHANE gave a solid account of himself on debut when flashing home at long odds for a mere 2 length defeat, finishing off in third place. Drawn a little wider today, he returns to the same course and distance and Lyle Hewitson retains the ride. The son of Pierro will have plenty more to come in terms of improvement and he’ll be looking to build on that debut to notch up his first win. NICE KICK made good use of pole position last time out when making his return after a 4-month absence. He’ll strip a lot fitter this time around and Moreira jumps back aboard, having won twice on him prior to this. He lands another useful draw and looks a big threat to the top selection. HERO TIME lands another tricky draw for his third run after a rest. Both of his comeback runs have been over this course and distance and Purton jumps aboard the son of Mint Lane, making this an attractive prospect to follow. He will be looking to avoid the cheap seats in the early parts and like both of his efforts this season, he will be rallying late and must be included. IRON BOY has been dropping in the ratings and he showed signs of improvement in his last run when charging home late for an encouraging 2nd place finish. He has a useful record in this class, with the 2 wins and a second from 6-starts and from an improved draw, he’ll be right there with van Niekerk up.

Race 2 – 13:15
Selections: 1 – 9 – 6 – 2 – 12
CALLING THE SHOTS has dropped in the ratings and he clearly enjoyed stepping up to this trip last time out, when having his third start at this course. That was when dropping into Class 5 opposition and he’s drawn a little wider this time, for his second crack at this level of opposition. With that said, Purton jumps up this time for his first engagement on the son of Exchange Rate and he looks the one to beat. MEGATRON was an impressive start to finish winner in his penultimate start when returning for his first run this season. Drawn wide in his follow up run, he was used up a little too much to find his customary front running position and tired late as a result. That was also over slightly extra and he will relish the drop back to this 1650m, with the 10-pound claiming Chan retaining the ride. Drawn wide again here, he’ll be looking for a soft lead and if finding one, he’ll be tough to catch in the closing stages. GOLDEN CANNON has a useful record over this course and distance and he has been a consistent performer in this class. He lands a slightly improved draw after that promising comeback run last time out and he will relish the step up to the 1650m. Ho retains the ride and he must be included. GOLD VELVET has been knocking on the door for some time now and his winning turn is just around the corner. Moreira regains the ride here, having finished 2nd and 3rd on him on the two previous occasions he has jumped aboard the son of Savabeel. He has a wide draw to overcome, but must be included.

Race 3 – 13:45
Selections: 1 – 2 – 11 – 9 – 7 
A unique situation arises in the 3rd race on the card, where all but two horses (3 and 5) have dropped significantly in the ratings, making this a wide-open event over the 1200m as far as handicapping conditions are concerned. MR PICASSO has dropped into a Class 4 level event and he gets the weight on his shoulders for a change, as a result. With that said, he is very well performed in this class, notching up 3 wins and 2 seconds in 11 starts. He is also rather useful over this course and distance and from a plum draw with Purton up, he’s the one to beat. NAVAS enjoyed the drop to the 1200m last time out, having found traffic late and still finishing just 2.5 lengths off them. That was on his comeback run this season when having his 6th start in a class where he has also made a significant impression. Moreira jumps aboard the son of Written Tycoon and he’s a major threat. MASTER ALBERT finally lands a useful draw, after showing consistent improvement in his last 3 outings and the fall in ratings gives him a very competitive appeal. Teetan sticks with him and he should be involved in the finish. MEHBOOB showed good improvement with the blinkers on last time out and he’ll strip a lot fitter this time, with this being his 2nd run after a solid comeback run over the 1000m. From gate 1, Chadwick sticks with him and the step up to the 6-furlongs should suit.

Race 4 – 14:15
Selections: 4 – 5 – 7 – 9 – 11 
ZHAN JIANG ROCKS gave a solid account of himself in his comeback run last time out, when dropping into Class 4 company. Having taken an untimely bump at the 200m and he’ll be looking for a little more luck this time. He had the tongue tie removed for that run, with Purton taking the mount for the first time and the same applies here, albeit from a wider draw. Off his current mark of 57, he looks competitive and should be a massive runner if building on that last start. KIRAM showed solid improvement last time out, when returning to his favoured course. That was when returning for his first run back this term and he’ll strip a lot fitter here. From pole, he looks a major contender and must be included. C P POWER has been finishing just off them in recent times and he is quickly approaching a competitive rating, where he will be expected to go close. He is drawn wide here and that will make things a lot tougher, but he does have a useful finish and if repeating that penultimate start with van Niekerk up, he’ll be flashing home. DOR DOR clearly needed his last start and that was over a trip far short of his best. He’ll enjoy the extra ground on offer here and will be looking to repeat that eye-catching penultimate run at the end of last term when utilising his fast finish to go down narrowly in 2nd. From another wide draw, he’ll be dropped out and should be flashing home late.

Race 5 – 14:45 
Selections: 4 – 10 – 6 – 1 – 11 
CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE has dropped to a mark of 52 for his 4th career start and his 3rd run back this term. He found a soft lead last time out and stayed on nicely in the closing stages, for just a 1.75 length beating. He steps up to the 1800m a fitter horse and with plenty of scope for improvement, the son of Holy Roman Emperor should relish the extra and should be a big runner. BULLISH GLORY has found some solid form of late and he went close over this course and distance last time out, when overcoming a tricky draw. Caught wide on that occasion, he did well to rally late and from gate 2 this time, he looks a big threat to the top selection with Moreira up. He is well tested over this trip and with his latest effort being just his second outing at this course, he cannot be discounted. ROYAL RACER is showing good intent in his last two starts when having gate 10 to overcome and he finds a much-improved draw here. As such, he’ll be looking for an incident-free run to the line in contrast to his last two starts, where he has found traffic. Callan takes the ride this time and he must be included. HEAVENLY THOUGHT has his first start in this class, having dropped 12 points in the ratings in his last 5 starts and he is starting to show signs of a big run. Against this lesser class, he will be expected to give a very good account of himself and with Purton up from another useful draw, he must go in.


Race 6 – 15:15
Selections: 1 – 11 – 3 – 2 – 10
LADY FIRST has found three-wide draws since dropping into this class of opposition and he has featured prominently in all three, which also happened to be over this course and distance. Purton has stuck with him and he finally lands a plum draw to launch his challenge from. This appears to be his best chance yet, to pick up his maiden win in Hong Kong and he’ll be tough to beat. FOCUS finished just behind the top selection last time out, when landing an improved draw with van Niekerk in the irons for the first time. His fortunes have changed once again and he will have gate 11 to overcome, but having dropped significantly in the ratings, he looks like a major threat if finding a bit of luck in running. SHOUSON has also dropped in the ratings and he is starting to look competitive off that mark of 55. He appears to have taken a liking to this course and with this being his 3rd start here, he deserves plenty of respect. Drawn wide this time, Moreira faces a tough task of attempting to get him close to the front, where he generally likes to settle just off the speed. If he manages to find cover, he will be involved in the finish. SPEEDY DRAGON returns from a 5-month lay-off, on the back of some solid form towards the end of his last campaign. He lands a useful draw and gets the cheekpieces removed for this outing and if repeating his penultimate effort over this course and distance, he’ll be fighting out the finish once again. With that said, there will be the obvious concern about race fitness, but he’ll be worth including nonetheless.

Race 7 – 15:45
Selections: 6 – 3 – 7 – 1 – 2 
HAR HAR HEART has dropped to a competitive rating, as he returns to the same course and distance where he has been competing in his last 5 starts. He finished just behind HIGH REV last time out, when having his second run after a rest and he lines up 11 pounds better off with the latter, this time around. From gate 1, Moreira jumps aboard the son of Myboycharlie and he will be looking to settle just behind the first line of horses. With the expected improvement, he looks to be the right one here. HIGH REV, as mentioned above, won his latest effort impressively and with that being just his second outing at this Class 3 level, he must have more to come. He was penalised 10 points for that win, so he will have an unfavourable weight turn around, but Purton retains the ride from anther good draw and he must be included. STIMULATION has dropped in the ratings and he returns for his peak run after a rest, after showing good intent in both comeback runs. Drawn a little wider this time, he will be looking to avoid being stuck out wide and if finding cover he should be involved in the finish. The top-weighted MY ALLY gets the 10-pound claiming Chan up for his third run back this term. From gate 9, he will be looking for the early lead and he could be tough to catch in the latter stages. Both comeback runs have been over the 6-furlongs, so he will be crying out for the extra here and must go in.

Race 8 – 16:15
Selections: 3 – 2 – 4 – 7 – 8 
KING’S EMINENCE gave a solid account of himself in his Hong Kong debut, when boxing on well for 4th over this course and distance. He lands a similar draw and should strip a lot fitter for his second start here. He clearly has ability, having notched up 2 wins from his 8 career starts so far and the well-bred son of Exceed and Excel will be looking to add to that here. With the expected improvement, he looks the right one. FRUSTRATED has a solid record over this track and trip and he showed solid improvement last time out when being fitted with the blinkers. They stay on and he gets the services of Zac Purton for his third run after a rest. If building on his last run, he looks a major threat. SPECIAL STARS has also performed well over this course and distance and he returns after a solid effort last time out, under the guidance of Moreira who retains the ride. He does have a tougher draw to overcome and will be forced to settle wider out, if not getting across at the jump. If finding a bit of luck in running however, he does have the form to feature prominently and must be included. BEAUTY CHARISMA has dropped in the ratings and he appears to be going on the right direction, after that encouraging performance last time out over this course and distance. That was under the 10-pound claiming Chan and he retains the ride from a similar draw. If building on that last run, he should be right there.

Race 9 – 16:50
Selections:  11 – 6 – 8 – 9 – 3 
DANCING FIGHTER has had an impressive start to his career and he enjoyed the step up to this 6-furlong trip last time out, albeit from a wide draw. That was when rising to this class and it is no surprise to see Moreira stick with the ride, from another tricky draw. He is yet to miss the first two and should be tough to beat this time. FIRST RESPONDER has his peak run after a rest and he showed good improvement last time out when being fitted with the cheekpieces. He found traffic in that run and if finding a clear run this time, he should be well set up to make another good impression. Callan knows him well and he must go in. BUOYANT BOY is a regular contender over this course and distance and he has been in good, consistent form off his current mark of 69. He finds another solid draw here and the son of Zoffany looks set to fight out the finish once again. He deserves plenty of respect. NORDIC WARRIOR has another wide draw to overcome, but he will be looking to maintain that good run of form regardless, having shown up well in his last few starts. He was caught in the closing stages last time out and his followers will be encouraged by the fact that Zac Purton has stuck with the ride. He has the course and distance form to fight this out and with a bit of luck in running, should be involved in the finish.