Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham previews Wednesday's season finale card at Happy Valley live on Sky Sports Racing.
Star pupils shine again as Valley faithful get ready to party
The Report Cards are in as HK racing’s Class of 2025-26 prepare for their holidays.
Global superstar KA YING RISING and the ageless ROMANTIC WARRIOR were the star equine pupils again, while ZAC PURTON remained clear top of the jockey class with HUGH BOWMAN and ANDREA ATZENI earning merit marks in second and third.
JERRY CHAU scored strongly in the homegrown hero category, while HARRY BENTLEY was ticking over nicely until injury intervened and DYLAN BROWN McMONAGLE received a special mention for a short winter stint that could lead to bigger things ahead.
Former head boy JOAO MOREIRA returned to his old school to help propel master moonwalker CASPAR FOWNES to a fifth trainers’ title, though DANNY SHUM pushed him all the way and the impressive Derby winning handler MARK NEWNHAM continued his impressive progress to suggest he has clear champion potential.
Alas, the end-of-term report for File fancies reads ‘solid start then faltered in final term.’
The summer break provides ample time for a rethink, but the Season Finale party will be in full swing at Happy Valley on Wednesday and three races in particular catch the eye.
12.00: Fast Most Furious Handicap (1200m)
A low draw provides a handy edge over 1200m when the rail is out wide in the C position and LOVING VIBES has plenty to recommend him in a Class 4 featuring half a dozen who look hard to fancy.
Newnham hasn’t managed to win with this Aussie import this season, but he’s been going close at the Valley, running well for second from gate 12 then travelling best of all from the inside alley last month only to be pegged back in the final strides.
That form has been upheld by a couple of those who finished behind Loving Vibes and a 2lb rise looks very fair.
The consistent Winning Money looks the main danger – and he’s probably worth a saver – but Loving Vibes has the best recent form on show and can make it a case of ‘better late than never’ under that man Atzeni.
15:10 Lucky Patch Handicap (1200m)
History suggests punters will be ready to launch for the last couple of races of the season, and this £270,000 sprint asks them to choose between several old Valley favourites and a couple who have only paid one visit apiece to the city track.
Bottomuptogether has Moreira and the inside draw as he bids to make it three wins from four goes at the Valley, while Magic Control has run two solid races at Sha Tin of late, but I’m tempted to take LUCKY WITH YOU and VICTOR THE WINNER against the field here.
More than four years have passed since Lucky With You finished a good second on his sole Valley appearance.
He’s been in against some of the best around on a regular basis at Sha Tin since, finishing second to Lucky Sweynesse in the 2023 Hong Kong Sprint, and the way he travelled when third over 1400m in the G3 Premier Cup last time suggests he’s back down to a very fair mark.
Shergar Cup bound rider Luke Ferraris gets on well with Frankie Lor’s gelding – while stall 6 looks fine for a stalking trip – and the return to 1200 looks ideal for a horse who looks right back on song as the season draws to a close.
Former G1 winner Victor The Winner took a long while to find his way across the Pearl Delta, but he took to the Valley like a duck to water under Angus Chung in May, making all to beat some smart rivals at 58-1.
He couldn’t quite last out from a 7lb higher mark under Purton at Sha tin last time, but he shaped like a horse who’s still in fine fettle and the fact that the Aussie sticks with him adds to the belief that he’s ready to go close again.
15:50: Sun Jewellery Handicap (1200m)
It’s easy to compile a short list for the final race of a vintage season, much harder to choose between the quartet for win purposes.
Aussie import Endurance Express won’t be the worst longshot of the night after showing bright speed on his first two HK starts, while Flying Wrote has been in fine fettle for a while, splitting a pair who have given the form of his last run a rosy look on his latest appearance.
But it’s down to Andrea and Vincent to send the File into summer recess on a high note.
Atzeni partners DANICA’S CHOICE, who showed marked improvement here three weeks ago, defying a tough trip to win with authority. He still looks fairly treated after a 6lb rise for his return to Class 3 company, while THUNDER KIT has been showing plenty of promise under Vincent at Sha Tin and has the inside gate for his first visit to the Valley.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
12.00: Loving Vibes/Winning Money
3.10: Lucky With You/Victor The Winner
3.50: Danica’s Choice/Thunder Kit
To bet on Hong Kong racing via Betfair's Tote click here
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.