Hong Kong Racing
Race Review of Happy Valley - 28th January 2026
Brett Davis provides exclusive Review of Happy Valley races.
Race 1 – Fenwick Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good
Time: 56.98 Standard Time: 57.35 Course/Class record: 56.52 Shanghai Power
SAVVY TWINKLE (AUS 5yo g Capitalist – Exclusive Lass) picked up his maiden win at start 12 as he dropped back into Class 5. The gelding jumped on terms and slotted into a handy position from barrier four, settling on the back of the leader as they sorted their order out. He travelled well off the back and was poised to strike as they worked around the home turn, with the gap appearing for Purton to slide through. He quickly moved up to take the lead with 200m to run and gradually drew away late in the race, scoring by three quarters of a length. MODEST GENTLEMEN was bumped at the start and ended up back in the run from his wide barrier. Matthew Chadwick was in a tricky spot coming to the turn, though the local hoop was able to eventually get his way into the clear midway down the straight. He flashed late to finish in second position after being held up on straightening, finishing in the placings as a $24 chance. ISLAND BREEZES settled midfield in the run and stuck on well back to the inside, finishing in third position.
Race 2 – Fleming Handicap, HK $875,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:39.71 Standard Time: 1:40.30 Course/Class record: 1:38.91 All Joyful
THUNDER BLINK (IRE 5yo g Ribchester – Mad Existence) got the job done at his first start for the Danny Shum stable, making it an early double for Zac Purton on the night. After jumping well, Purton rolled forward and looked to slot into the running line, getting into a midfield position. He travelled well through the middle stages with a decent tempo on offer and moved three-wide as they approached the 600m point. Purton was still motionless aboard the gelding as they rounded the home turn, vbuilding into the race strongly with cover before getting to the middle of the track. The gelding moved up to take the lead with 100m to run but had a fight on his hands as Harry's Hero wasn't going down easily. The two duked it out down to the wire where it was Thunder Blink getting his nose down first, scoring by a head on the line. HARRY'S HERO was on the back of the eventual winner on settling down and was travelling well, though Alex Badel took off as they entered the back straight. The Frenchman made a move three-wide down the back and Purton got onto his back with around 600m left to travel. Harry's Hero worked into the race nicely and took the lead on straightening, though Thunder Blink was breathing down his neck. He fought hard once Thunder Blink got to him in the straight, but he couldn't reverse the result. TELECOM POWER snuck up the inside after being midfield in the run to take third position.
Race 3 – Lockhart Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.76 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
STRAIGHT TO GLORY (AUS 4yo g Hellbent – Witless) made it back-to-back wins, with Derek Leung in the saddle once again for the Michael Chang stable. The four-year-old was quickly out of the barriers and showed good speed, however he was unable to lead with a couple of others taking him on around the first turn. A hot tempo was set early, but the leaders were able to slow the pace through the middle stages with Leung in a stalking role on the back of the leader. The local hoop got off the fence and worked into the race nicely on straightening, though the leader's kicked strongly and he had to work hard to peg them back. You were slightly worried if you'd backed the race favourite with 100m to run, though he eventually stuck his head in front in the shadows of the post and secured the victory. SUPERB KING flew across from out wide and was one of the reasons why the speed was strong in the early stages. He settled nicely through the middle portion of the event and kicked strongly at the top of the straight when James Orman asked for an effort. He took control shortly after straightening and fought hard as Straight To Glory loomed up. He was unable to fend off the final challenge however and was forced to settle for second. HAYDAY was another who fired out of the barriers and looked to get across for Ellis Wong. He did lead the race but was quickly passed by Superb King at the top of the straight. He stuck on well to finish a clear third, with the first three across the line never giving anything else a sniff.
Race 4 – The Hong Kong Football Club Centenary Cup (Handicap), HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 56.95 Standard Time: 57.20 Course/Class record: 56.39 Gentle Breeze
COPARTNER FLEET (AUS 4yo g Nicconi – Bedizened) returned to winning ways in race four, coming back to the 1000m journey and proving too strong as he rounded up his rivals for Hugh Bowman. Copartner Fleet didn't have much early speed and ended up near the tail of the field on settling down with a strong tempo being set up front. Bowman raced along the inside rail through the middle stages before working his way through the traffic and getting to the outside in the straight. He came with a withering burst late in the race, making up plenty of ground inside the final 100m to steal the victory in an impressive return to form. BEAUTY THUNDER was able to work across and settle on the speed for Zac Purton after getting out of barrier seven quickly. He travelled well in the run and quickly took the lead shortly after straightening. He was wobbling about as Purton tried to ride him out, opening the door for Copartner Fleet to reel him in. BUNTA BABY was in a tricky position on straightening and snuck up the fence to make his mark for Vincent Ho. He scraped the paint to get through and grab third position.
Race 5 – Jaffe Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1650m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:38.72 Standard Time: 1:40.10 Course/Class record: 1:38.42 Highland Rahy
Hugh Bowman quickly made it a winning double on the night as RAGGA BOMB (IRE 5yo g Kodi Bear – Malilla) broke his maiden in impressive fashion. The son of Kodi Bear jumped well from an inside barrier and kicked up in the early stages to try and hold his position. He would settle in second place around the first turn with the leader kicking away through the first half of the race and opening a gap on the rest of the field. Ragga Bomb was leading the chasing pack and was making plenty of headway as they turned off the back straight, working into the race strongly on the home turn as he moved up to take the lead with 200m to run. The race was all over from that point, with the five-year-old putting a gap on his rivals as he scored by three lengths. TAKE ACTION was in a midfield position in the run as Brenton Avdulla got to the outside entering the straight. The Australian hoop had plenty of ground to make up, but his mount closed off strongly down the middle of the course to finish in second position as a $15 chance. ACE WAR ended up jumping an odds-on favourite and had every chance in the run as he stalked Ragga Bomb. Purton produced the gelding at the top of the straight, though the challenge was short lived as he finished 3-1/4 lengths away in third.
Race 6 – Lockhart Handicap, HK $1,170,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.65 Standard Time: 1:09.90 Course/Class record: 1:08.60 Happily Friends
AMAZING KID (AUS 4yo g Exceed And Excel – Josdesanimaux) brought up the hat-trick in good fashion with Andrea Atzeni once again in the saddle for trainer John Size. The $4.8 chance got away well from barrier two and was able to land on the back of the leader as they worked around the first turn. Atzeni was stalking the tempo as they continued through the middle stages, waiting patiently before popping off the fence with around 400m remaining. The gelding worked into the clear on straightening and made his run down the outside, taking the lead with 150m to run. He was just too strong in the end, extending his winning run as he got the job done by a half-length. MEOWTH was on the back of Amazing Kid in the run after being a little slow into stride from the inside barrier. As they turned for home, Derek Leung elected to stay near the inside rather than swinging wide like the winner did, cutting the corner and sneaking through beneath his rivals. He closed off nicely to finish in second place, but the winner was just too good. THUNDER PRINCE closed off nicely under Hugh Bowman to steal third place right on the line, getting his nose down in a photo finish.
Race 7 – Southorn Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.32 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
Dylan Browne McMonagle continued the positive start to his stint in Hong Kong, getting the job done aboard ROMANTIC SON (AUS 5yo g Smart Missile – Remlaps Jewel) for the David Hayes stable. With the aid of an inside draw, the gelding jumped well and landed on the back of the leader as they rounded the first turn. He travelled well through the middle stages and was there to strike around the home turn despite a solid tempo being set through the middle stages. McMonagle peeled off the back of the leader on straightening and made his challenge. He ground away and took the lead close to home, inching clear late in the racer to score by a half-length on the line. LUCKY PLANET worked across from the deep and showed good speed to take up the running as they settled into stride. The gelding ran along at a good tempo throughout and proved tough to run down in the straight. He was only caught late by Romantic Son who had a dream run in transit, finishing in second place. PERFECT GENERAL stuck on well after being on the outside of the leader, crossing the line in third position in a tight tussle for the minor placing.
Race 8 – O'Brien Handicap, HK $2,050,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1800m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:47.79 Standard Time: 1:49.45 Course/Class record: 1:47.91 Leap Of Faith
David Hayes quickly made it a training double on the night as CHINA WIN (NZ 4yo g Super Seth – Miracle Miss) picked up his second win in a row. Keith Yeung rolled forward from the inside barrier to sit close to the speed aboard the four-year-old, landing on the back of the leader as they entered the first turn. There was no change to the order through the middle stages with a good tempo on offer up front. The leader tried to skip away as they turned off the back, but China Win was up to the task, and he chased gamely as they swung around the home turn. He still had a length to make up with 150m to run, but he continued to grind away out wide and his final 50m was very strong. He reeled in the leader and got his nose in front where it mattered most, scoring in a photo finish in an impressive display. LIVEANDLETLIVE went to the front for Matthew Chadwick, and he set a solid tempo up front throughout the race. As they turned off the back straight, the local hoop tried to get away from his rivals, putting the foot down and aiming to break the field apart. China Win stuck with him around the turn, though Liveandletlive was clear early in the straight. He proved very tough to run down with the light weight on his back, with China Win only getting to him in the final couple of strides. MONEY CATCHER continued his return to form, finishing off well from back in the pack to run third, 2-1/4 lengths off the winner.
Race 9 – Southorn Handicap, HK $1,860,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1200m – Track Good to Firm
Time: 1:09.36 Standard Time: 1:09.60 Course/Class record: 1:08.68 Speed Vision
GREATER BAE (AUS 4yo g Pierata – Plastered) scored comfortably in the last event of the night, bringing up a double for trainer David Eustace and a winning treble for Zac Purton. Despite jumping on terms, the gelding ended up in the second half of the field around the first turn with Purton easing back shortly after the start. With a good tempo on offer, Purton was well positioned turning off the back and he was able to work into the race three-wide with cover. As they swung for home, Purton got to the middle of the track and the gelding sprinted quickly, coming down the outside in fine style with the Australian hoop sitting up for the final 50m. He took the lead and raced away from his rivals, finishing 1-1/4 lengths clear. REFUSETOBEENGLISH was another who got back in the run after drifting back from an outside barrier for Andrea Atzeni. The Sicilian hoop was on the back of the eventual winner throughout the run and tracked Purton into the race, coming wide in the home straight to make his mark. He couldn't reel in the winner who was just too good, but he stuck his nose out where it counted to steal second position in a three-way photo finish for the minor placings. The $26 chance narrowly edged out TOURBILLON GOLFER who stuck on gamely after setting the tempo for Alex Badel.
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