Happy Valley Wednesday is back for another week and the first race on the card is the Gladilous Handicap over six furlongs and Monkey Jewellery for trainer John Size looks a nice type.
The five year old will be ridden by Joao Moreira who is having a fantastic season in Hong Kong so far and this gelding looks to have a huge chance.
He finished a bold third last time out when dropping down to this class and now having a better draw today could see him go better.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/11/20 | SHA | 6 | GF | 9-6 | 6 |
| 11/10/20 | SHA | 6 | Gd | 9-7 | 4 |
| 20/09/20 | SHA | 6 | GF | 9-7 | 7 |
| 12/07/20 | SHA | 6 | GF | 9-7 | 2 |
| 01/07/20 | SHA | 6 | GF | 9-4 | 2 |
Next up is the Lotus Handicap and we like one at a big price that will hopefully see a quick-fire double for Moreira with Royal Racer.
The four year old enters this contest on a very low weight and a decent draw which could just be the making of him in this contest.
Last month he gave his best effort to date over course and when finishing a bright second and only two pounds heavier today makes him interesting.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/06/21 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-9 | 6 |
| 19/05/21 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 8-12 | 4 |
| 05/05/21 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 9-3 | 8 |
| 09/12/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 9-4 | 5 |
| 25/11/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-9 | 1 |
Another six furlong event sees us turn to the likeable Zac Purton to get the job done this time with Bright Kid, who looks to be on a very workable mark.
He has been hit and miss this season racing at both Sha Tin and Happy Vally but his best efforts have come over course and distance at this track and he deserves to be given another chance.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/12/22 | SHA | 10 | GF | 9-2 | 1 |
| 30/11/22 | HAP | 11 | GF | 8-8 | 1 |
| 30/10/22 | HAP | 9 | Gd | 8-6 | 2 |
| 01/10/22 | SHA | 8 | Gd | 8-8 | 7 |
| 16/07/22 | SHA | 9 | Gd | 8-5 | 2 |
The top weighted Methane goes for us in the next and the exciting rider Karis Teetan picks up the ride which is always a bonus.
This four year old has been in decent form of late, winning over course and distance in February and since then placing in two of his three events.
Although he is now on a career high mark he looks to be on the up especially at Happy Valley over course and distance.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/10/22 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 9-9 | 12 |
| 25/06/22 | SHA | 8.5 | St | 8-12 | 6 |
| 08/06/22 | HAP | 8.5 | Y | 8-7 | 4 |
| 11/05/22 | HAP | 8.5 | Y | 8-11 | 8 |
| 20/04/22 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-11 | 9 |
Momentum Galaxy gets the mount of Zac Purton in this one and looks to be a very interesting character having stayed on well from the back.
He never got a clear passage over course and distance that day and still managed to gain seventh and still being on the same mark could make him dangerous.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/03/23 | HAP | 5 | Gd | 8-13 | 2 |
| 15/02/23 | HAP | 5 | GF | 9-3 | 5 |
| 11/01/23 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-3 | 10 |
| 21/12/22 | HAP | 5 | GF | 9-8 | 6 |
| 07/12/22 | HAP | 5 | Gd | 9-5 | 11 |
The five furlong Carnation Handicap looks to be a very speedy affair and Flying Genius at a low weight looks very interesting.
The three year old was a dual course and distance winner back in December and having been hit and miss after that got back to form lately.
He has finished second in his last two runs and last time out at Sha Tin showed some great pace to nearly get up late on and we believe he will go one better here.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/01/22 | SHA | 5 | Gd | 8-11 | 8 |
| 18/12/21 | SHA | 6 | St | 8-10 | 10 |
| 01/12/21 | HAP | 5 | Gd | 8-13 | 5 |
| 07/11/21 | SHA | 5 | Gd | 9-2 | 7 |
| 20/10/21 | HAP | 5 | GF | 9-7 | 11 |
Another Class Handicap beckons but this time over further and Best Alliance two starts ago showed he could make it in this sphere and has a great chance again.
He broke his Hong Kong duck at the 17th attempt when winning over course and distance at Happy Valley and now only six pounds up from that he should go well again.
Joao Moreira takes the ride, which is a plus.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/10/20 | SHA | 8.5 | St | 8-6 | 10 |
| 09/09/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-6 | 6 |
| 15/07/20 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 8-7 | 5 |
| 24/06/20 | HAP | 8.5 | GF | 8-9 | 5 |
| 03/06/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-8 | 5 |
The penultimate race on the Happy Valley card is the Celosia Handicap over six furlongs and Island Shine looks the pick of the bunch.
The four year old has been in sparkling form of late with a second over course and distance in March and then he came back to the track and got off the mark for the first time.
He has gone up slightly in the weights for that run but he looks to be a very progressive gelding that should go well again.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/04/23 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 9-8 | 9 |
| 01/03/23 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-7 | 10 |
| 15/02/23 | HAP | 6 | GF | 8-6 | 8 |
| 29/01/23 | SHA | 6 | Gd | 8-10 | 10 |
| 18/01/23 | HAP | 6 | Gd | 8-10 | 5 |
The final meeting of the day is the Class 2 Camellia Handicap and Happy Dragon for trainer John Moore looks to have a huge chance.
The six year old landed a shock 28/1 win over course and distance and October and although not being at that standard since he has proven ability.
The gelding has now dropped down to a very workable mark and having also been handed a favourable draw he should be there or thereabouts.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/03/20 | SHA | 9 | Gd | 8-11 | 9 |
| 26/02/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-2 | 5 |
| 29/01/20 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 9-1 | 10 |
| 26/12/19 | HAP | 8.5 | Gd | 8-12 | 2 |
| 04/12/19 | HAP | 9 | Gd | 8-13 | 11 |
