Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Wednesday's Happy Valley card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Show goes on after Sha Tin falls silent
A minute of solemn Sha Tin silence was followed by a powerful Purton performance with strong supporting roles from three of HK’s resident Brits.
Sunday’s behind closed doors card raised another £7m for victims of the Tai Po fire and Happy Valley’s party atmosphere will be dialled down as the public return to the races on Wednesday.
Zac Purton heads to the city track after a treble – including a spectacular last-to-first swoop on upwardly mobile Colourful King – and Hollie Doyle booted home the third winner of her pre-Christmas stay when Victory Sky scored on the dirt.
Colourful King’s trainer David Eustace snagged a double when James McDonald produced Dazzling Fit with a perfectly timed challenge to pip Purton and Beauty Bolt in the finale.
And big handicap specialist Harry Bentley moved into double figures for the season – with six wins at lucrative Class 2 or above – when Hong Lok Golf worked his way out of a pocket to land the day’s feature.
Rewarding patience for Frankie and Derek
Favourite backers have been having a lean time at the Valley of late and last week’s card was marked by various longshots saluting on a night of wild finishes.
This Wednesday’s meeting looks no less challenging – with loads of tricky handicaps and the rail out wide in the C+3 position – but let’s hope the following hints prove worth following:
First, REWARDING BUDDY should be hard to keep out of the money in the 1.10.
Frankie Lor’s gelding didn’t have a smooth trip on his latest start but his previous close second here reads well in the context of a shallow Class 4 and stall 3 looks ideal as he bids to open his HK account under Derek Leung.
Sense of Wonder
Three horses seem to stand out in the 1.45 – namely Super Universal, California Blitz and Lunar Dash – but the market reflects that and I’m not finding it easy to split them.
It’s a similar story in the finale at 2.50 – with little between reopposing rivals Wrote A New Page, Liveandletlive and Charity Gain – but the at 2.15 looks worth a second look.
Recent form makes Eternal Fortune and Wonderstar the two to focus on in this Class 3 dash.
Eternal Fortune ran a belter when short headed over course and distance last month and has Purton and the inside alley in his bid to make amends, while Wonderstar is a big, fast, hardy gelding who’s been in fine form this season.
Hand on heart, I suspect Purton might pounce late here. But the early market signals suggest Wonderstar will be a little over 4-1 - as against a little under 2-1 for Eternal Fortune – and I suspect there’s little or nothing between the pair on these terms.
Veterans and newcomer vying for the Vase
Maxime Guyon can look forward to a bold effort from Wonderstar and the Frenchman is clearly keen on the prospects of Andre Fabre’s Sosie in next week’s Hong Kong Vase based on his comments to Sam Agars of the South China Morning Post.
“Sosie has run really well twice in the Arc, and he’s won two G1s this year,” he said.
“He has amazing form and good ground is much better for him. He’s very easy to ride, and we know Mr Fabre doesn’t come for nothing.”
French maestro Fabre turns 80 a few days before Sosie bids to give him a fourth Vase, but a youthful Irishman looms as one of his main dangers.
Dylan Browne McMonagle, whose rapid rise will be featured in next week’s HKIR File, partnered his first Classic winner when Al Riffa ran away with the Irish St Leger in September.
A high draw and slow pace kyboshed him under Mark Zahra in the Melbourne Cup, but McMonagle is back aboard on December 14th and, fresh from becoming Irish champion and tasting Breeders’ Cup glory on Ethical Diamond, the 22-year-old feels his favourite partner is in fine form after returning to Joseph O’Brien’s yard.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
1.10: Rewarding Buddy (EW)
2.15: Wonderstar
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