Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Wednesday's card at Happy Valley live on Sky Sports Racing.
Ibis flies high as rising star Newnham makes amends
Mark Newnham celebrates his Derby success
Five things became clear on a dramatic Derby day:
INVINCIBLE IBIS is thriving and relished the demanding pace set by Numbers to run out a gallant winner of the fastest Derby on record.
Hugh Bowman remains a man for the big occasion and recorded his third Derby success after Werther and Furore in 2016 and 2019.
Mark Newnham banished memories of My Wish’s agonising 2025 Derby defeat, polishing an increasingly impressive HK record before nominating the FWD Champions Mile (April 26th) as the next target for his emerging star.
Zac Purton ended the day with a double but has paid a hefty price for deserting the Ibis when the Classic Series began in January.
And Hot Delight remains one of the brightest young prospects in town after making it three wins from as many starts under Vincent Ho in the race that preceded the Derby.
Rising ready to roll as Dylan signs off
All eyes were on KA YING RISING on Tuesday and the world’s best sprinter produced his usual commanding barrier trial performance ahead of his bid to make it 19 in a row in the Sprint Cup on Easter Monday.
David Hayes’s gelding cruised down Sha Tin’s 1000m turf track to assert close home and the Aussie handler probably raised a few hopes at Flemington and Ascot in saying: “I wanted to trial him down the straight because, you never know, he might go down the straight somewhere.”
Meanwhile, the HK spotlight switches back to Happy Valley this Wednesday.
Irish champ Dylan Browne McMonagle ends a productive stay that has produced ten wins worth over £2.3m with four rides on a nine-race card that throws up several intriguing questions.
Can Baby make the grade in Class 3?
Youthful Spirits, Mr Desira, Harmony N Blessed and Candlelight Dinner will ensure a fast pace for the 12.40 and that could suit BUNTA BABY and HORSEPOWER ideally.
Bunta Baby has developed into a likeably progressive sprinter at the Valley this season, pouncing late under William Buick on IJC night and producing a very similar effort for Jerry Chau last month to get the better of the reliable Beauty Thunder.
A 7lb hike for the step up to Class 3 poses a new question but his strong travelling style suggests there should be more to come, while Horsepower hasn’t had the rub of the green of late but is worth a saver having dropped to the mark (79) he bolted up from at the Valley last spring.
Britney to seal Superstar status?
Fresh from her return from a serious leg injury on Sunday, Britney Wong has a live chance to break her Valley duck when the reliable BITS SUPERSTAR lines up for the 11.40.
Caspar Fownes supplies a live threat in the shape of The Heir, but Bits Superstar has been knocking on the door for a while at the Valley, most recently when chasing home the well handicapped Northern Fireball last time.
The case against David Hall’s gelding is that he hasn’t been able to seal the deal with Purton aboard for his last three runs. But he’s a straightforward ride with an ideal draw in gate 3 and Britney’s handy 7lb claim might just tip the scales in his favour here.
Giant fast enough to take the high road?
History shows that defying a high draw over 1200m with the rail in the B position is tough and, under normal circumstances, I’d be wary of siding with GIANT BALLON in the 1.45.
But bright early pace is often the best way to offset a wide gate and Douglas Whyte’s gelding showed marked improvement on his latest start, putting his rivals in trouble a long way out and bounding clear of Giant Leap with Purton gearing down close home.
Giant Ballon’s winning time that night compared very well with the other 1200m races on the card and it looks like he’s on the up. Purton will be keen to grab the lead again from gate 11 and, if he can secure the inside rail, then another bold bid looks very likely.
Andrea to form an old Alliance?
A lucrative link with John Size has played a notable part in Andrea Atzeni’s excellent season and the silky Sardinian gets a first chance to shine aboard Beauty Alliance at 2.15.
It’s hard to go nap on this Aussie import given that he comes up against a clutch of dangerous rivals, headed by impressive recent course and distance winner Fivefortwo.
That said, Beauty Alliance looked right back on song at Sha Tin on his latest start, travelling strongly until worn down late in a valuable Class 2 won by the progressive Stunning Peach, and he still looks fairly treated despite a 3lb rise.
Bae to bounce back in fiery finale?
Five last-time-out winners clash in Wednesday’s finale at 2.50 and Symbol Of Strength and Amazing Kid – who have both done the File a favour recently - have plenty to recommend them again.
But Greater Bae is another to keep a close eye on. David Eustace’s gelding didn’t secure an ideal trip when fifth here on his latest start, but the way he settled matters under Purton on his previous start suggests that we haven’t seen the best of him yet.
Wednesday’s Valley Views
11.40: Bits Superstar
12.40: Bunta Baby/Horsepower
1.45: Giant Ballon
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