Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Happy Valley 23rd December 2025
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Mercury Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.63 Standard Time: 1:10.10 Course/Class record: 1:09.17 Alloy King
CONCORDE STAR (NZ 4yo g Adrossan – Queen Of Pop) finally broke through at start 11, delivering a stylish maiden victory for James Orman and Me Tsui. Jumping fairly from his low draw, Orman allowed the early speed to unfold and was content to settle midfield on the fence, conserving energy while tracking the tempo. Kept tucked away until the turn, he began to edge off the rail and forced his way into clear running at the top of the straight. Taking a few strides to balance, CONCORDE STAR soon lengthened impressively, powering through the final 200m and sweeping past the leader with 100m to go before putting the race to bed, scoring decisively by 1-1/2 lengths. Race favourite NEBRASKAN, under Brenton Avdulla for John Size, showed his customary tactical speed to lead throughout and fought bravely in the straight, but simply couldn't match the winner's finishing burst. From the back, HAPPY BOYS was one of the few to make an impression from the back, weaving through traffic after turning in a tricky spot more than 7 lengths off the pace, before closing strongly to grab third, just 2 lengths away.
Race 2 – Venus Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.64 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Zac Purton and Frankie Lor struck in the second event with ABSOLUTE AWAKENED (NZ 5yo g Adrossan – Miss Rule) overcoming adversity to score. Away fairly, Purton was positive early before easing his mount into a stalking role one off the fence, just behind the speed. Trouble struck near the 600m when a fading runner shuffled them back, costing valuable ground and leaving the pair more than 5 lengths adrift turning for home. Undeterred, Purton angled second widest and asked for an effort, with ABSOLUTE AWAKENED responding powerfully inside the final 200m. Sweeping past rivals, he hit the front inside the last 100m and stretched clear to win softly by a 1/2 length. SETANTA, under Andrea Atzeni for Mark Newnham, produced a barnstorming finish from well back, exploding late to close the margin and leaving a clear gap to the rest. TURIN WARRIOR briefly poked his head in front up the inside at the 200m and stuck on gamely, grinding away to secure third, beaten 2-1/2 lengths.
Race 3 – Venus Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:40.06 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Maxime Guyon and Pierre Ng combined to end a long drought in race three, with QUANTAM PATCH (IRE 6yo g, Gleneagles – Naruko) breaking a 762-day winless streak in emphatic fashion. Allowed to drift back from his wide draw, Guyon was content to let the tempo unfold, settling his mount at the tail of the field. When the pace slackened midrace, the pair began creeping forward and were soon forced onto a four-wide limb without cover, yet Guyon made the decisive move approaching the 400m, launching a bold run. Taking over upon straightening, QUANTAM PATCH quickly asserted his dominance, powering clear and putting the race to bed with 200m to go before cruising to the line for a commanding 3-length victory. SHINKHANSEN, under Lyle Hewitson for Douglas Whyte, produced a strong first-up effort, closing off solidly from worse than midfield to claim second. OUR LUCKY GLORY attempted to match the winner's midrace surge but couldn't go with him, though he stuck on soundly to finish 3-1/2 lengths away in third, running past race favourite QUICK CONTRIBUTION in the process.
Race 4 – Jupiter Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.55 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
SUGAR SUGAR (AUS 7yo g Star Turn – In The Moment) relished the drop in grade and duly delivered under apprentice Ellis Wong for Casper Fownes in race four. Jumping fairly, Wong settled his mount midfield on the fence behind a strong early tempo, conserving energy while keeping the leaders in sight. Urging his mount along from the 500m, Wong ensured SUGAR SUGAR stayed in touch, turning for home still 4 lengths adrift but sticking to the rail in search of runs. The decisive gap appeared inside the final 200m, and the gelding burst through the middle of runners, finishing strongest to prevail by a 1/2 length. GIANT BALOON, partnered by Lyle Hewitson for Douglas Whyte, again filled the runner-up spot. The pair raced alongside the winner for much of the journey but were forced to launch his challenge down the outside, as SUGAR SUGAR saved every inch back to the fence. Race favourite WINNING MONEY, under Zac Purton, set a strong tempo in front and fought bravely when challenged, only fading late to finish 3/4 of a length away in third.
Race 5 – Jupiter Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.45 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
CALIFORNIA BLITZ (AUS 4yo g, Capitalist – Lilith) made it back-to-back wins for the Cody Mo stable, once again guided confidently by Matthew Chadwick. Breaking sharply from his outside-middle draw, Chadwick was intent on pressing forward, urging his mount into stride before surging across to take up the running. From that point the race shape barely shifted, with CALIFORNIA BLITZ dictating terms alone in front. Turning for home with a healthy margin, he was briefly challenged in the straight but showed grit and determination, digging deep to repel the late closers and hold on by a head. On debut, GOOD LUCK HAPPY impressed under Angus Chung for Tony Cruz, settling midfield with cover before unleashing a strong finish that saw him loom as a genuine threat, only to fall narrowly short. Just ahead of him in transit, KNOW AT HEART chased gamely into third, beaten a 1/2 length on the line after sticking on resolutely.
Race 6 – Saturn Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 2200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 2:15.25 Standard Time: 2:16.60 Course/Class record: 2:14.14 Vincy
Favourite backers were rewarded in race six as Maxime Guyon and Me Tsui combined with THE AUSPICIOUS (NZ 4yo g Almanzor – Holly Holy) to secure their second win of the night respectively, in thrilling fashion. Relishing the step up in trip, the gelding enjoyed a perfect stalking run just behind the speed, travelling comfortably until Guyon began to shake him up approaching the 400m. With just under 3 lengths to bridge, Guyon angled his mount to the centre of the track and asked for an effort, and THE AUSPICIOUS responded with a sustained surge. Working through his gears, he left it late but arrived right on time, collaring the leader in the final stride to prevail by a nose. LIVEANDLETLIVE, under Matthew Chadwick for Tony Cruz, looked set to deliver a race-to-race double for his rider after showing sharp tactical speed to dictate in front, but heartbreakingly was caught in the shadows of the post once again. From further back, MONEY CATCHER produced a strong effort under Hollie Doyle, navigating a tricky position on the fence when turning before hitting the line hard to finish 1-1/2 lengths away in third.
Race 7 – Jupiter Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:10.12 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
AWESOME TREASURE (NZ 8yo g Charm Spirit – Bizz) snapped a long run of outs in race seven, giving Lyle Hewitson a deserved breakthrough win for David Hayes. Sent forward from a middle draw, Hewitson was intent on taking control early, pushing his mount into the lead where the race complexion barely shifted thereafter. Bowling along comfortably in front, AWESOME TREASURE maintained a margin of just over a length before finding more when asked the question in the straight. Despite a late challenge, the seasoned gelding dug deep and kept responding, holding on gamely to prevail by half a length. REWARDING BUDDY, under Vincent Ho for Frankie Lor, produced a strong run up the fence from midfield, closing off well to claim second. The clear eye-catcher was FORTUNE WHISKEY, who settled back and launched late with a determined burst to snatch third, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
Race 8 – Uranus Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.07 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
SPORTS LEGEND (AUS 6yo g Deep Field – Twist Tops) delivered on his billing as race favourite, giving Angus Chung his second winner of the evening, this time for the David Eustace stable. Breaking only fairly from the low draw, Chung allowed the early tempo to unfold, settling his mount just off the speed in a solitary position one off the fence. Travelling smoothly throughout, he began to urge SPORTS LEGEND forward prior to straightening, shifting to the outside to launch his run. The gelding responded with authority, working through his gears and taking control at the 100m before stretching clear to score comfortably by 2-1/2 lengths. FRIENDS OF SHAJING tracked the winner every step of the way but was caught flat-footed when the sprint went on, though he chased stoutly to finish second and proved best of the rest. LUCKY PLANET showed his customary dash in front, leading them throughout and refusing to fold in the straight, digging deep to cling to third, beaten 3 lengths.
Race 9 – Neptune Handicap, HK $3,120,000
Class 2 – Turf – Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:38.99 Standard Time: 1:39.30 Course/Class record: 1:37.90 Woodfire Bro
The finale produced a pulsating finish as honours were shared between the Danny Shum-trained HELENE FEELING (IRE 5yo g Sioux Nation – Cynthia Calhoun) and the Casper Fownes-trained KAHOLO ANGEL (GB 5yo g Havana Grey – Starboard Watch) in a dramatic photo finish. From a middle draw, Hugh Bowman had HELENE FEELING prominent early before easing back to settle worse than midfield, while Ellis Wong aboard KAHOLO ANGEL found the fence and tracked the leaders throughout. With the tempo only moderate, Bowman began creeping forward three-wide from the 800m, stalking into the turn before asking his mount to extend at the top of the straight. HELENE FEELING took time to hit top gear but gradually built momentum down the outside, while Wong enjoyed clear running on the rail, driving KAHOLO ANGEL to the front at the 200m. The pair fought tooth and nail to the line, Bowman's mount lunging late to join Wong's in a dead-heat thriller. Just behind them, HUGE WAVE produced a strong finish, weaving through traffic after turning 3 lengths off the leaders and flashing late to be beaten only a short head in third. It was a fittingly dramatic conclusion to the card, with three brave performances separated by the barest of margins.
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